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Stay informed about the policies we are championing, the progress we are making, and the impact we are creating as we work to serve you better.
Happy Labor Day: Let’s Raise the Wage for Workers!
 As we celebrate Labor Day this week, I want to take a step in improving conditions for workers. That’s why I have officially introduced legislation to raise the minimum wage in unincorporated King County!
Workers in unincorporated King County are always left out of policies that increase the minimum wage in neighboring cities. That means someone working in Skyway could be paid several dollars less per hour than if they went a block north to Seattle or a block west to Tukwila. That’s not right. If passed, our proposal to increase the minimum wage in unincorporated King County would be a big step toward investing in the workers and economy of every corner of our region.
I’m proud to have stood with workers, small businesses, and my colleagues just earlier today in Skyway’s business district to launch this legislation.
Thank you to everyone who showed up and supported at our press conference today. Thank you also to our host, Suprina Ford, owner of Royal Life Boutique.
You can read the full text of the legislation here or check out our one-page infographic here. The legislation introduced today is just a starting point. We will be working together to create the best possible proposal before taking a final vote in the coming months.
U-District Town Hall
 Join me for a town hall in the U-District on Tuesday, September 12th at 5:30 PM. We're holding this town hall to hear directly from our constituents who live in the U-District, Ravenna, Laurelhurst, and Eastlake. We will be joined by members of King County agencies focused on transportation, public safety, public health, homelessness, and more.
This town hall will take place in room #209 of the University Heights Center, at 5031 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105. We will be holding an additional town hall in the following weeks for Capitol Hill and the Central District. You can RSVP to the town hall at https://tinyurl.com/udistricttownhall
If you have any questions, please email rosa.mai@kingcounty.gov.
Crisis Care Centers Initiative
 Planning is underway for the voter-approved Crisis Care Centers Initiative! The initiative makes a generational investment in the behavioral health system and will create a countywide network of five crisis care centers, restore the number of mental health residential treatment beds in the region, and bolster the community behavioral health workforce.
The nine-year levy begins in 2024 and will strengthen our community’s behavioral health system. Your input is critical to the overall success of the approach so you are being invited to virtual planning meetings so the CCC Implementation Team can listen to your feedback. Below are five ways to get involved now:
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CRISIS CARE CENTER OVERVIEW & UPDATE – Monthly, 3rd Tuesday, 1-2pm (next meeting 9/19). Hear an overview and update on the CCC planning process. Register here.
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CRISIS CARE CENTER CLINICAL DESIGN OVERVIEW & UPDATE – Monthly, 2nd Thursday, 11am-12:30pm (next meeting 9/14). Hear about the CCC clinical design, service, and system integrations. If interested, email CCCLevy@kingcounty.gov.
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CRISIS CARE CENTER SUBSTANCE USE COMPONENTS UPDATE – Monthly, 4th Tuesday, 3-4pm (next meeting 9/26). Hear about the CCC substance use components. If interested, email CCCLevy@kingcounty.gov.
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CRISIS CARE CENTER YOUTH-SPECIFIC COMPONENTS – Monthly, 4th Wednesday, 1-2pm (next meeting 9/27). Hear an overview on the youth-specific components of the Levy. If interested, email CCCLevy@kingcounty.gov.
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CRISIS CARE CENTER OLDER ADULT-SPECIFIC COMPONENTS – Wednesday, 10/4, 2-3:30pm. Hear an overview on the older adult-specific components of the Levy. Register here.
If you’re unable to attend any of the community feedback sessions, you can help guide the CCC implementation by taking this online survey. To learn more, please visit the Implementation website here.
Metro Trip Changes
 Effective September 2nd, Metro will update transit schedules to improve schedule reliability for riders and help reduce last-minute cancellations. To better match transit service with bus and workforce availability, Metro will suspend 20 peak-only commuter routes and reduce service on 12 routes. Alternatives are available for nearly all affected routes.
To keep transit services in sync with fleet and workforce availability, Metro will focus upcoming service changes on 20 low-ridership routes. Most (92%) boardings will not be directly affected by these cuts, which will help prevent last-minute cancellations and improve reliability for riders. Learn more at Metro’s web page here.
From neighborhood gatherings to grassroots initiatives, stay tuned to see how we are working closely with you to address your concerns and bring positive change to our district.
Rainier Beach Community Healing Space
 Photo courtesy of The Stranger
On August 25th, I joined SE Network as they held a community gathering in the parking lot of the Rainier Beach Safeway. This is the first community healing space SE Network has held since experiencing a mass shooting in Rainier Beach in July.
The SE Network’s work and effect on the area is invaluable, and it’s more important than ever that we come together to support our frontline teams fighting against gun violence. Their intervention and prevention work is vital in reaching people most likely to be involved in or victims of gun violence, and it makes a tangible difference to our communities.
We all have a role to play in reducing the violence — every level of government, the private sector, nonprofits, neighbors, teachers, activists, parents, siblings, everyone. Today and everyday, I am dedicated to doing everything I can to fight gun violence and invest in the people and organizations who are on the frontlines of this fight. We stand with you.
Launching the D’Vonne & KeAnna Pickett Scholarship with the CD Panthers
 Last year, the CD Panthers youth football and cheer team lost one of their coaches, D’Vonne Pickett, to gun violence. We wanted his legacy to live on, in part, through the D’Vonne & KeAnna Pickett Scholarship that Councilmember Rod Dembowski and I just launched!
This $100,000 fund will support a positive vision and positive engagement for hundreds of our kids. It will help current and future youth participate in the CD Panthers program by covering costs associated with membership, equipment, travel, events, and more.
And a special thank you to the Seattle Seahawks for coming out and supporting the kids with all kinds of swag. We appreciate you!
For more on this, check out this video from Converge Media and this video from KCTV.
Creston Point Town Hall
 We saw great turnout at our Creston Point Community Safety Town Hall. In this era of high stress, gun violence, and low staff levels, it’s more important than ever that we collaborate regularly and focus our resources on places facing the biggest challenges.
Thank you to all our partners for showing up and supporting this community.
International Overdose Awareness Day
 August 31st was International Overdose Awareness Day, the world's largest annual campaign to end the overdose crisis. I joined Vocal WA, POCAAN, and other organizations to remember those who have died, and to share life-saving strategies with the community like how to use Narcan to treat overdoses.
Reminder that King County has released the first in a multi-part blog series detailing the response to our current fentanyl crisis and substance use disorders more broadly. Please share this resource to help individuals seeking substance use care.
Arte Noir Visit and Tour
 Thank you to the lovely folks at Arte Noir for inviting me to tour their space! I encourage everyone to visit Arte Noir on 23rd & Union in the heart of Seattle’s historical Central District. It’s a beautiful space that displays the creativity of Black artists and gives them 100% of proceeds from their products sold in the shop. Visit soon!
Share your thoughts, suggestions, and concerns on key issues, as we value your input and believe in the power of collective voices shaping our policies and decisions.
Garfield Super Block Public Art Calls
The Garfield Super Block Coalition (GSB) has two exciting public art opportunities open now, with application deadlines of September 12th!
1) Pillars of Promise
The GSB is seeking seven artists to create seven separate pillars, and one collaborative pillar to tell the stories of the seven ethnic communities that settled in the Central District from 1800 to 1975. The pillars will be fabricated by a third party for the Garfield Super Block site.
Link to call: http://publicartist.org/call.cfm?id=6545
2) Reforesting the Central Area
The GSB is seeking an artist to create three separate tree stump designs to be used for seating that will be fabricated by a third party for the site of the Garfield Super Block.
Link to call: http://publicartist.org/call.cfm?id=6546
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Updated proposals for the 2024 arrival of the RapidRide G Line are out! Take the survey by August 31st to let King County Metro know what you want for transit service on Capitol Hill, First Hill, Central District and the Madison Valley. Survey and more information can be found here: https://wp.me/p1GXf3-6dv
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King County Local Services has opened their Community Needs Assessment for unincorporated areas!
The Community Needs Assessment (CNA) survey is your opportunity to tell us how you want to see funding spent and what services you need to see in your community. Does your community have the services it needs? Do you need more summer camps, food banks, or tutoring services? Complete the Community Needs Assessment survey to help plan and prioritize future spending for your neighborhood. Fill out your survey today at https://publicinput.com/CommunityNeeds
BestStarts KC Health Survey
Best Starts for Kids, a King County voter-approved initiative, is now in its eighth year! Its annual health survey intends to track how well its efforts are doing to improve children’s health in King County.
The survey is currently open through early fall and is available in Chinese, English, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. They are looking for responses from parents and caregivers with infants through elementary school aged children.
For more info and to fill out the survey, go to http://bit.ly/bsk-survey23.
Apply to serve on the King County Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee
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The King County Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee (CEOC) is a 16-member committee of volunteers, who have interest or expertise in elections. They produce an annual report to the King County Council on their observations, findings, and recommendations on election-related matters.
The CEOC has the following unfilled positions:
- One representative of the Vietnamese-speaking community. Term ends in Dec 2023, but the successful candidate may be appointed to serve for 3 more years
- One jurisdictional representative from a junior taxing district or city with population under 20,000. Term ends May 2025, but may last an additional 3 years.
Applications requested by Sep 26, 2023. More information can be found here: http://kingcounty.gov/ceoc
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Free Vaccination Events for South King County Students
Free covid vaccination clinics for South King County families with kids ages 4 to 18 will be available this summer and early fall.
Families with healthcare providers are encouraged to make a vaccination appointment with their child’s healthcare provider to receive all school-required vaccines. For families who are uninsured, experiencing homelessness, or recently immigrated and currently without a healthcare provider, children may receive their school-required vaccines for free at the covid vaccination clinics.
Vaccination events are hosted by Go-Vax Kids, HealthPoint, Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, and Stepping Stone Pediatrics in collaboration with school districts and community-based organizations. Each of these events will provide COVID-19 vaccines and boosters as well as all vaccines required for K-12 school entry, including Tdap, DTaP, MMR, hepatitis B, varicella, and polio. Every child who gets vaccinated at these clinics will receive two free tickets to a Seattle Storm home game, while supplies last.
Please wear short sleeves. Families are strongly encouraged to bring any vaccination records from other states or countries. Interpretation available upon request.
No insurance or proof of citizenship is required. Walk-in or pre-register. For more info, go to: http://kingcounty.gov/findaclinic
King County Developmental Disabilities and Delays Annual Legislative Forum
The King County Developmental Disabilities Legislative Forum is an opportunity to educate elected officials on issues that are important to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) or delays and their families, friends, and supporters. This is done through sharing King County's I/DD legislative priorities, and also by having our community members share their personal stories as they relate to the priorities.
The forum will be held on Thursday, November 30th at the DoubleTree Suites, 16500 Southcenter Pkwy, Seattle, WA 98188. The schedule is as follows:
- 6 PM - 7 PM: Connect with Constituents
- 7 PM - 8:30 PM: Forum
- Opening remarks from Executive Constantine’s Office
- King County’s proposed intellectual and developmental disabilities and delays legislative priorities for 2024
- Hear from individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and delays and their family members
- Opportunities for legislators and county councilmembers to share their perspectives and priorities
For more information, visit https://kingcounty.gov/depts/community-human-services/developmental-disabilities/forum.aspx
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Heat Pumps for Skyway Residents
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King County’s Energize! program is offering heat pump installations in Skyway & White Center with up to 100% cost-coverage for income-qualified households. Heat pumps provide efficient air conditioning and save energy. Learn more at http://EnergizeKingCounty.org.
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2nd Annual Black Vendors Market Back to School Function
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4Culture grants for cultural equipment
4Culture is currently offering grants for King County cultural organizations to purchase and install equipment that can be considered as fixed assets, including computer hardware. You can request a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000 for this grant. Applicants often receive partial funding of their request.
The grants are available for King County-based, tax-exempt, nonprofit cultural organizations and public agencies with a primary mission focus on arts, heritage, or preservation. You must have a legally-constituted board of directors, have no ongoing and continual deficits in your operating budget, and have the ability to demonstrate a minimum two-year operating history of offering public benefit to the residents of King County.
For more information and assistance with applying, visit https://www.4culture.org/grants/equipment/
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