Last year, Executive Constanine detailed the cuts that would need to be made if lawmakers in Olympia did not provide relief from the 1% revenue cap the County is currently working under. These cuts would result in the closure of the public clinics over 78,000 residents in King County rely on.

I am hopeful a solution will come out of Olympia this session but, as Chair of Public Health, I’m committed to turning over every rock, and making every call to find any possible resources to keep these closures from happening. During the pandemic, these clinics served as a crucial component of our Public Health System that helped our County have some of the best outcomes in the Country. Shutting down our brick and mortar sites would indicate that we haven't taken the lessons learned from the previous years seriously and the impacts of the closures would fall disproportionately on BIPOC communities.  

In the Board of Health committee last week, we also went over our draft workplan for the year. One of our focuses will be addressing the shadow pandemic of homelessness and addiction in our communities. You can see the draft work plan here: https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/council/agendas/Board_of_Health/20240215-BOH-packet.pdf 

Today the Transportation, Environment and Economy Committee held a fourth briefing on the proposed Minimum Wage increase sponsored by Councilmember Zahilay. I am excited to be briefed on these items now in this role, and have been reaching out to community partners, employers and worker organization to understand more about the proposal. The minimum wage in Seattle right now is 19.97 for large employers, in Tukwila it’s now $20.29 for large employers, and in Renton the minimum wage will be $20.29 for large employers starting in July - after voters approved an increase just this month! 

However, within minutes from these locations, in a place like White Center right next to Seattle and a short drive to Tukwila and Renton, the minimum wage is nearly 4 dollars less at the statewide minimum of $16.28.  If you worked full time at the statewide minimum wage you would earn $33,862.40.  If you tried to rent a 2 bedroom apartment in White Center at $1,795 a month it would take up over 60% of your income, double what is considered rent burdened. Regional Affordable Housing Dashboard - King County, Washington

We know that when workers have more money in their pocket, they spend it in the local economy which creates a multiplier effect that helps spur more opportunity. Raising the Minimum Wage Would Boost an Economic Recovery—and Reduce Taxpayer Subsidization of Low-Wage Work - Center for American Progress  

 My office is working to hear from working people, small business and community about what elements need to go into a minimum wage ordinance as we seek to do more to show that King County is leading the way for workers.

My team and I toured the Seattle King County Clinic this past week and met with healthcare workers who volunteered to help those in the community who are unable to afford regular access to Healthcare including Dental and Vision care. This is the 9th year of the clinic taking place and is a great example of us coming together to take care of each other as a community. Seattle/King County Clinic, where compassion meets healthcare for all | seattlechannel.org 

One of the many great things about the work of the SKC Clinic is that once patients are seen, followed up is coordinated by the Washington Health Access Alliance or (WHAA) who help with referrals and follow ups to ensure patients are getting the best health outcomes possible. Washington Healthcare Access Alliance (wahealthcareaccessalliance.org) 

The plague of addiction is concerning to everyone, and the effects of fentanyl have devastated our community, however the impacts have been even more pronounced for our native populations. Recently, I met with Councilmember Nickolaus Lewis of the Lummi Nation and Chairman of the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board along with Abigail Echo-Hawk, Vice President of Seattle Indian Health Board and Director of the Urban Indian Health Institute,  Sara McNally, Public Health Fellow, Youth Council President, Damian Kamkoff, Youth Council Vice President Marc Bogg, and Valencia, Youth Council Coordinator to learn how we can best support their efforts to address what we are seeing happen in a way that is both effective and culturally informed.  

https://apnews.com/video/washington-opioids-addiction-and-treatment-recessions-and-depressions-manuel-valdes-3f04f6e11ff2462fbe21678f0e22f15d 

After requests for additional safety measures from the Vashon Island community, the Department of Local Services is proposing two areas of Vashon Highway SW for speed limit reductions in 2024 and opening a 14-day public comment period starting in late February:  

• On Vashon Highway SW between SW 182nd St and SW Cemetery Road (reduction from 40 mph to 35 mph) 
• On Vashon Highway SW between SW 127th St and SW 153rd St (reduction from 50 mph to 45 mph) 

 The proposal to reduce the speed limit at each location will match the existing speed limits posted nearby. This change will provide consistency for drivers along this corridor.  

Members of the Vashon Island community will have 14-days to comment, from February 26, 2024, to March 11, 2024, and share their feedback about this proposal with decision makers. Community members can share their feedback in any of the following three ways: 

• Online response form (preferred method) which is available only during the comment period. 
• Email abresslour@kingcounty.gov 
• Write to: Amy Bresslour, DLS 

Road Services Division 

KSC-LS-0313 

201 South Jackson Street 

Seattle, WA 98104 

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) has successfully pushed the Biden Administration to designate Deferred Enforcement Departure for Palestinians. This means no Palestinian currently in the US will be faced with the horrific possibility of being deported to an active war zone. I commend Rep Jayapal and those others in the House and Senate pushing for peace and diplomacy in this conflict.   

Jayapal, Schakowsky Statement on Announcement of DED for Palestinians - Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (house.gov)