Your Weekly Update on What's Happening at the King County Council  

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Election Day is next Tuesday, November 7! Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy, so if you haven't yet, I encourage you to return your ballot as soon as you can. Here's how you can do that:

• Learn about the ballot measures and candidates up for election.
• Find a ballot drop box, where you can return your ballot, no stamp required, by 8 PM on November 7. 
• Alternatively, you can return your ballot by mail, no stamp is required, but the Elections team recommends you mail your ballot by today, November 3, to ensure your ballot is postmarked by Election Day.
• If you need help completing your ballot, visit a Vote Center near you.
• After you submit your ballot, you can track it to make sure your vote is counted by signing up for ballot alerts.

If you have questions about voting in King County, contact the King County Elections team at 206-296-VOTE (8683). Thank you for exercising your right to vote!

All my best,

Reagan Dunn
King County Councilmember
District 9

Traffic Alert: Southbound I-405 in Renton closed this weekend

If you are planning to travel this weekend, keep in mind that all lanes of southbound I-405 will close in Renton from 11 p.m. Friday until 4:30 a.m. Monday. Drivers will be detoured off the southbound freeway at Exit 3/Talbot Road South, then to Southwest Grady Way where they’ll proceed west to the Interurban Avenue/I-405 interchange for reentry to I-405.

This closure will allow contractors demolish the damaged half of the Lind Avenue Southwest overpass. Over the next several weeks, WSDOT will close southbound lanes of I-405 overnight as contractors install new girders, followed by partial lane closures to build the new Lind Avenue deck. For more information on this project, see the Seattle Times article here. 

DOH warns that the WA emergency blood supply is dangerously low

The Washington State Department of Health is warning that blood banks are facing critical shortages of life-saving blood and blood products. Your donation can help save lives. The shortages are particularly severe for types O and Rh negative blood, and for platelets.

Donating blood is easy. Appointments can be scheduled at your convenience and take about an hour. Learn more details, including eligibility requirements, by visiting Northwest Blood Coalition members’ websites:

• Vitalant
• Cascade Regional Blood Services
• Bloodworks Northwest
• American Red Cross

Alan M. Painter Grants

King County’s Alan M. Painter Grant Program funds community projects that allow unincorporated area residents to participate in, and be more connected to, their communities and King County. Funded projects must demonstrate how they are accessible to all residents regardless of race, income, or language spoken. Please note: These funds may not be used for political activities.

Applications are due Friday, December 15, at 5 PM. Find more information at the Department of Local Services website.

Storefront Repair Grants

Small businesses in unincorporated King County can apply for funding to repair damage caused by vandalism or break-ins that they’ve experienced since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. The Storefront Repair Program serves small businesses (10 employees or less) by providing a one-time grant up to $5,000 to repair and damage and restore storefronts of commercial buildings occupied by operating businesses. Retail, grocery, food service, and personal, professional, or medical services are eligible to apply.

Applications are due December 31. Find more information at the Department of Local Services website.