 News from and about King County… from health updates to community news affecting our daily lives.
Dear Friends:
Today’s update includes news about the “Good Eggs” Breakfast with UW Medicine CEO Dr. Tim Dellit, the King County Council’s Recognition of the King County Water Taxi crew’s diversion of the runaway barge, an update on a D7 alum, crime and health updates, and more.
Washington Trivia:
This day in history, the hunt for one of the deadliest killers in the nation ended as he was arrested in Washington. Who is he?
(Answer is at the bottom)
“Good Eggs” Breakfast with UW Medicine CEO Dr. Tim Dellit
Congratulations to Dr. Tim Dellit! This week, he was confirmed as the permanent CEO of UW Medicine and Dean of the University of Washington School of Medicine, and yesterday morning, he was the speaker at our November “Good Eggs” breakfast meeting. In addition to its own campus programs, UW Medicine operates Harborview Medical Center, as well as educates students in Washington state, including from Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. Dr. Dellit gave an update on the current flu season and spoke about emerging technologies changing healthcare today.
 With South King County Mayors Dana Ralph, Leanne Guier, Troy Linnell, Jeff Wagner, Nancy Backus and Sean Kelly, South King Fire Interim Fire Chief Dave Van Valkenburg, and UW Medicine CEO Dr. Tim Dellit
King County Council Honors King County Water Taxi Crew for Diverting Runaway Barge, Protecting the Seattle Waterfront
On Tuesday, the King County Council honored the West Seattle Water Taxi MV Doc Maynard captain and crew who sprang into action and diverted a runaway barge to help protect the Seattle waterfront from possible damage and danger.
Captain Dan Krehbiel saw a container barge moving quickly across Elliott Bay toward the Seattle waterfront with no tug escort, so he immediately told Deckhands Nick Williams and Cory Bantam to position the vessel to help divert the barge away from the central part of the waterfront. They successfully maneuvered the barge to avoid a collision with the waterfront near the Great Wheel and the Seattle Aquarium, and averted a disaster which could have claimed many lives. After their heroic efforts, the water taxi returned to its regularly scheduled trip undamaged and only 15 minutes late from its scheduled arrival to Pier 50.
 With my King County Council colleagues, Assistant Deputy Executive Shannon Braddock, Metro Transit Director Michelle Allison, and Water Taxi Captain Dan Krehbiel and Deckhands Nick Williams and Cory Bantam
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Alumni Corner |
While our work is based on policies and programs, it is the people we work with who make the difference.
In today’s District 7 Alumni Corner, I am featuring Agnes Wooters, who worked in my office from 2009 to 2013. Agnes filled a variety of positions during her tenure, but to her, what stands out the most was being a legislative aide. While working for me, she got her master’s degree in education from Seattle Pacific University and pursued a teaching profession. She is currently a middle school Humanities teacher in Walla Walla, WA. Agnes enjoys reading, hiking, riding her Peloton, and hanging out with her husband and teenage daughter.
Arts Corps: Make Art Anyway
I recently joined Arts Corps Executive Director Shawn Roberts and Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard at an event with Arts Corps to learn about free programming to engage youth in opportunities for artistic engagement. Keeping youth engaged in extracurricular activities, whether through sports or arts, is vital for the health of our communities.
Non-Profit Corner
South King County Non-Profit Organizations
Auburn Food Bank
https://www.theauburnfoodbank.org/
Auburn Valley Humane Society
https://www.auburnvalleyhs.org/
Bloodworks Northwest
https://www.bloodworksnw.org/
Federal Way Kiwanis
https://federalwaykiwanis.square.site/
Federal Way Senior Center
https://www.federalwayseniorcenter.org/
FUSION Décor Boutique
https://www.fusiondecorboutique.com/
Multi-Service Center Food Bank
https://mschelps.org/getinvolved/donations/
The Salvation Army
https://federalway.salvationarmy.org/federal_way_corps
Donations for Maui Residents
Maui County has listed links to organizations accepting donations to benefit Maui residents affected by fires.
Crime Update
Study: Washington First in Nation for Retail Theft as Shoplifters Get More Violent
According to a National Retail Federation (NRF) survey, shoplifting is not only up this year, but retailers are saying shoplifters and organized retail crime offenders are even more aggressive and violent than they were a year ago. In 2022, NRF successfully advocated Congress to pass the bipartisan INFORM Consumers Act as part of the omnibus spending package, which was signed into law in January 2023. Now in effect, the measure will help bring transparency to online marketplaces by requiring them to verify the identities of high-volume third-party sellers. Doing so will help curb the fencing of stolen merchandise and address the sale of counterfeit goods.
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In a recent study released by Forbes, Washington state ranked first in the nation for retail theft, with a total score of 100 out of 100 in their retail theft index metric, which accounts for 48% more retail theft than expected based on its share of the nation’s population. Washington also ranked third worst in total value of stolen goods averaging $347 lost per resident, compared to the study’s $173 average. It also ranked in the top 20 worst states for retail crime’s cost to businesses, including higher insurance rates, lost product costs, and other categories. Larceny theft incidents in the state are the second-highest per capita, placing as the second highest in larceny-theft growth rate metric of up to 24% just between 2019 and 2022.
King County Offers Storefront Repair Grants to Help Victims of Vandalism
Small businesses in unincorporated King County with 10 employees or less can now apply for the Storefront Repair Grant Program to repair damage caused by vandalism or break-ins they have experienced since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. Applications are accepted through December 31st, 2023, subject to funding availability. For questions or application assistance, email localbusinessgrants@kingcounty.gov.
Health Updates
King County First-Responders to Study Cardiac Arrest Interventions
King County emergency medical technicians (EMTs) will use two approved CPR approaches and researchers from UW Medicine will compare the outcomes to learn more about which CPR methods best support people to survive cardiac arrest. Patients who are rescued will be notified of their study enrollment when they are awake and alert. At that point, they can opt out of the study and decline future follow-ups associated with the clinical trial.
People can also opt out of trial participation in advance. To do so, email the FACT study’s administrators at FACTstudy@kingcounty.gov. To learn more about the study, including the emergency research exception, please call 206-263-8577 or visit www.kingcounty.gov/ems/study.
King County COVID-19 Case Update
Yesterday, Seattle – King County Public Health reported 60 daily average positive cases, bringing the total in King County to 575,018. In addition, Public Health reported 0.5 daily average deaths, bringing the total in the county to 3,677.
For more information on the latest data, visit the King County COVID Daily Summary Dashboard here.
 Vaccine Locator: To find COVID-19 vaccine appointments, visit Vaccine Locator.
For the uninsured and underinsured: Visit Vaccines.gov to find appointments near you. This website will allow users to search for locations that offer "Bridge Access Program" vaccines for uninsured and underinsured people.
For students: School Based Health Centers (SBHCs) offer free vaccinations for students at many schools including COVID-19, flu, and required childhood vaccines. For information and to find a SBHC, visit kingcounty.gov/immunization/SBHC.
For in-home vaccination: Call 206-848-0243, weekdays, from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Say your preferred language when connected. You will be asked a few questions to confirm you are eligible for in-home vaccination. When scheduling, please note how many people in your home would like to get vaccinated.
For Veterans: Call 1-800-698-2411 or visit www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine.
For more information, visit getting vaccinated or getting tested in King County.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat https://988lifeline.org/ to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
With best wishes,
Pete von Reichbauer
King County Councilmember
Washington Trivia Answer:
This day in history, the hunt for Gary Ridgway, also known as the Green River Killer, ended as he was arrested in Washington on November 30th, 2001. Born in Salt Lake City, Ridgway’s family moved to what is now SeaTac. At the time of his arrest, he was living and working in the state at the Kenworth truck factory as a spray painter when DNA linked him to the murders of four women. However, though he claimed to have murdered as many as 80 women, he only pled guilty to 48 murders committed between 1980s-1990s. Most of the bodies were found near the Green River, hence the nickname. Ridgway was sentenced to 48 life sentences and an additional 480 years for tampering with evidence (10 years for each of the 48 victims), without the possibility of parole. He was given another life sentence after the remains of the 49th victim was found.
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