 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 King County Superior Court Judge Sean O’Donnell, the South King County Shelter Program, the King County WaterWorks Grant recipients, transit, crime and health updates, and more.
Washington Trivia:
This month in history, two aircraft had their first public preview and flight from Seattle almost 40 years apart. What were they?
(Answer is at the bottom)
“Good Eggs” Breakfast with King County Superior Court Judge Sean O’Donnell
“There are more bad mistakes than there are bad people” said Judge Sean O’Donnell, Chief Judge for King County’s Unified Family Court, at our monthly “Good Eggs” breakfast. Judge O’Donnell focused on victims yesterday morning, highlighting the fact that our criminal justice system does not place enough emphasis on making sure that justice is served for those who have endured crimes. Thank you, Judge O’Donnell, for shining a light on our judicial branch.
 (Above) With Kent Mayor Dana Ralph, outgoing King County District Court Presiding Judge Matthew York, outgoing Pacific Mayor Leanne Guier, King County Superior Court Judge Sean O’Donnell, Algona Mayor Troy Linnell, Maple Valley Mayor Sean Kelly, Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, and incoming King County District Court Presiding Judge Rebecca Robertson; (Bottom) Auburn Food Bank Executive Director Debbie Christian, Windermere Managing Broker Nancy Colson, 47th LD Rep. Chris Stearns and Judge Sean O’Donnell
South King County Shelter Program
In support of increasing shelter capacity and rapidly serving people and families experiencing homelessness, King County is releasing a $5 million funding opportunity for cities in South King County to assist in local response efforts. This investment will provide a city or cities with potential funding for additional, safe, emergency shelter for unsheltered families and individuals as they work to find long-term, stable housing.
Eligible proposals include:
- Acquiring ownership or site control of land/property for residential uses through purchase, donation, or other means.
- Building construction, including feasibility, due diligence, permitting, architectural design, engineering, etc.
- Purchasing furnishings (e.g., beds/bedding, lockers, tables, and chairs) and appliances (e.g., refrigerators, washers/dryers, air purifiers).
- Supporting operational and program costs associated with an existing shelter.
The RFP is open now, and applications will be rolling until the funds are exhausted. The first round of applications will be reviewed beginning January 8th, 2024. Only responsive proposals that meet the threshold requirements will be evaluated by a King County designated review panel. Notifications of awards will begin in early 2024. The funding will cover costs incurred from the contract start date through December 31, 2026.
61 Community-led Projects Receive King County WaterWorks Grant Funding
King County announced $5.4 million for 61 projects led by cities, schools, nonprofits, and research groups that will protect and improve water quality in the Puget Sound region starting in 2024 following unanimous approval by King County Council. The WaterWorks Grants Program, funded and administrated every two years by the King County Wastewater Treatment Division, has provided more than $22 million for 305 community-led projects since it began in 2015. Each grant recipient has demonstrated community involvement and partnerships. For a complete list of grant recipients, click here.
 Volunteers with Sno-King Watershed Council collect stream bugs to assess water quality in Bear Creek. Sno-King runs a large volunteer water monitoring program where community members, schools, and organizations are trained and collect samples regularly to test for contaminants and bacteria to become more aware of and keep an eye on local waterways.
Transit Updates
King County Metro Fares Cabinet
King County Metro is looking for community members to join their Fares Cabinet to meet with Metro regularly throughout 2024 to share ideas and suggestions on transit fare policies and projects. As a thank you for your time, cabinet members will be compensated at the rate of $75 per hour for attending meetings and other events. This is your chance to make a difference and ensure your voice is heard! The deadline to apply is December 31st. To learn more and apply online, visit King County Metro fare policy webpage.
Custom Limited-edition ORCA Cards
Starting December 6th, two new limited-edition custom RapidRide ORCA cards designed by emerging regional artists are now available from King County Metro, celebrating the forthcoming RapidRide G and I lines. 4Culture and Metro commissioned the artwork by emerging artists, featuring imagery tied to the contexts, histories, cultures and communities of a specific line scheduled to open in 2023 and beyond. Read more here.
Travel Industry Update
In Visit Seattle’s most recent travel industry update, it shows October 2023 was a successful month for downtown Seattle, with occupancy reaching 77.4% (up 2.3% YOY). Revenue and average daily rates also saw growth vs 2022, surpassing 2019 pre-pandemic figures. The $86.7 million in revenue collected in 2023 marks a new record for the highest October revenue in downtown history. Read more here.
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/
Rotary Club of Federal Way
https://federalwayrotary.com/
The Salvation Army
https://federalway.salvationarmy.org
Donations for Maui Residents
Maui County has listed links to organizations accepting donations to benefit Maui residents affected by fires.
Crime Update
Seattle/King County Ranks the Highest in the Nation for Porch Pirates
According to a study from SafeWise, the Seattle/King County area has the highest rate of porch pirates in the nation, with 67% of residents in the area worried their packages will be stolen, particularly this holiday season.
 With an estimated 119 million packages stolen in the past year, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area ranked the highest in the top 10 worst metros for package theft.
 SafeWise asked people in every state to find out if they are worried about package theft and if they use any deterrents. The results above show that 67% the Puget Sound region has the highest number of people worried about their packages being stolen, up from last year’s ranking, with most of them already using a camera to deter porch pirates. The report also shows 4 in 10 people who had a package stolen in the past year were hit by porch pirates more than once. 71% of all packages stolen were valued at less than $100, but an average loss of $50 is estimated to be $6 billion in losses, with over half of all stolen packages delivered by Amazon.
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.
King County COVID-19 Case Update
Yesterday, Seattle – King County Public Health reported 66 daily average positive cases, bringing the total in King County to 576,069. In addition, Public Health reported 0.5 daily average deaths, bringing the total in the county to 3,687.
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.
Holiday Message
As we celebrate the holidays, we also remember the sacrifices of those who cannot be with their families this time. Wishing you and your family and friends a safe holiday, and a healthy 2024!
With best wishes,
Pete von Reichbauer
King County Councilmember
Washington Trivia Answer:
On December 2, 1969, the Boeing 747 “Jumbo Jet” had its first public preview as 191 people, most of them photographers and reporters, flew from Seattle, WA to New York City, NY. Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) was the first to place an order with 25 Boeing 747s, launching the 747 program. During the launch day in February 1969, 26 flight attendants representing each of the airlines that had ordered the 747 were present in Boeing’s 747 assembly building in Everett, Washington. The 747 was certified by the FAA for commercial passenger service on December 30, 1969. The last 747 left the Everett plant and was handed over to Atlas Air in January this year.
 Photo Source: https://sites.northwestern.edu/747anniversary/
40 years later, on December 15, 2009, Boeing’s new 787 “Dreamliner” made its maiden flight from Paine Field in Everett, WA on a damp and chilly day before hundreds of Boeing employees, company CEO Jim McNerney and executives of the 787’s first customer, All Nippon Airways (ANA). The flight landed three hours later at Seattle’s Boeing Field (King County International Airport) despite being scheduled for a 5-hour flight due to weather conditions. The 787 made its first appearance at an international air show at the Farnborough Airshow, United Kingdom, on July 18, 2010.
 Photo Source: Simply Flying, (Boeing)
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