 Bridging Kirkland
 Nearly a decade ago, the City of Kirkland had a vision to acquire the Cross Kirkland Corridor, the portion of the abandoned Eastside Rail Corridor (now called Eastrail) running through their city, and turn it into a multi-modal transportation trail, allowing pedestrians and bicyclists to safely travel to school, work, shopping, and entertainment. Through the City’s energy, creativity, and persistence and the community’s support and enthusiasm, tomorrow we will celebrate Bridging Kirkland, the opening of the Totem Lake Connector Bridge, another milestone in making the Eastside more accessible and inviting.
From 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, celebrate the opening of the Totem Lake Connector, which connects the Cross Kirkland Corridor across Totem Lake Boulevard and Northeast 124th Street, with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, petting zoo, the University of Washington Drumline and Lake Washington High School Dance Team, and more, including a once-in-a-generation aerial group photo on the bridge.
Due to expectations of high turnout, attendees are encouraged to arrive by bike, bus, or foot. A bicycle valet service will be provided by Kirkland Greenways, limited to available space. Metro bus routes 239, 225, and 255 have stops near the bridge. Attendees who do drive will be able to park at The Village at Totem Lake's Green garage and walk over the Totem Lake Connector to the event site. Limited mobility community members should contact Rosalie Wessels at rwessels@kirklandwa.gov for information on drop-off locations and nearby parking.
Bellevue Centers Communities of Color
 The Bellevue Centers Communities of Color Initiative supports a community-led effort to advance the City of Bellevue’s values and commitment to racial equity by building trust and awareness through dialogue with the city’s diverse population, ensuring all Bellevue communities have the opportunity to grow and thrive.
In July and August, Bellevue will be holding a series of community dialogues for people who live and work in Bellevue to discuss the needs and opportunities for communities of color in Bellevue. The ideas raised in these conversations will help inform recommendations for policy changes that will help improve equity and inclusivity in Bellevue.
Sign up to attend one of the nine meetings between Saturday, July 29 and Wednesday, August 23:
 Click on the image above to read the Seattle Times article.
During COVID, our government learned quickly how to be very nimble to adapt to serious needs and rapidly changing circumstances. In 2021 and 2022, King County government put those skills to use by temporarily housing Afghan refugees as they prepared for resettlement at some of our Health through Housing sites, including the location in Redmond.
Pivoting to housing refugees took partnership and coordination with the cities where the hotels were located. I want to thank the City of Redmond for their enthusiastic partnership. They took the opportunity to welcome these families, lending support to create a safe and inclusive environment during an incredibly stressful, difficult time in their lives.
Thanks to our partnerships with the cities, along with support from state, federal, and nonprofit partners, 97% of the people we served have found permanent housing in King County, becoming valued and important parts of our community.
Last weekend, the Seattle Times’ Pacific NW Magazine recounted the County’s efforts and some of the individual stories of the 793 guests who called these sites home as they sought resettlement. While the use of these facilities for Afghan refugees has ended, I couldn’t think of a better temporary use than to provide safety and support to them as they rebuilt their lives.
Spread the word!
Please forward this email widely and invite others to sign-up to my email updates to receive important and timely information for District 6 constituents.
Sincerely,
 Claudia Balducci
King County Council
District 6
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