 From left to right: Celebrating the opening of Blaine Veterans Center with Dow Constantine, Michael Bailey, Leon Richardson, me, and Charlene Mitchell.
Celebrating the Opening of Blaine Veterans Center
Earlier this month, I joined King County Executive Dow Constantine, Compass Housing Alliance President Michael Bailey, Department of Community and Human Services Adult Services Division Director Leon Richardson, and Compass Housing Alliance Director of Emergency Services Charlene Mitchell for the grand opening of the first 24/7 enhanced emergency shelter focused only on veterans in King County.
Operated by longtime partner of the county, and located in Uptown, Blaine Veterans Center will serve single veteran male-identifying individuals. This project was made possible by the King County Veterans Program. While we still have far to go to meet the significant need for local housing, Blaine Veterans Center is an important step to provide safe and secure housing for veterans who have given so much to our country.
Update on Hiring a new King County Regional Homelessness Authority CEO
In January, I began serving as a member of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) Governing Committee, and I recently joined a subcommittee that is leading the search for the agency’s next Chief Executive Officer. The process continues to progress on schedule, and I am hopeful that a new leader will be in place this summer.
I wanted to highlight an upcoming opportunity for community feedback on the finalists for the CEO position: On May 23, finalist interviews will be held at the Seattle Public Library and will be open to the public. I invite you to participate in this event and to help us identify the next person to fill this critical role. I will share any additional information as it becomes available via my social media platforms.Â
Introducing: Rian Watt
The KCRHA currently has three boards: The Governing Committee, on which I serve, the Continuum of Care Board, and the Implementation Board, composed of those with lived experience and subject matter experts who have an active role in overseeing day-to-day governance of the agency. King County Council is responsible for appointing two members to the Implementation Board.
One of my first priorities as a member of the Governing Committee was to fill a vacant seat on the Implementation Board. After interviewing candidates and talking with community providers and leaders, I recommended Rian Watt as the Council’s new appointee. Rian has over a decade of experience as an advisor on homelessness to other jurisdictions throughout the country and the world. Rian’s appointment was unanimously approved by the King County Council and KCRHA Governing Committee, and he’ll start his new role as an Implementation Board member at their next meeting on May 8th. Welcome Rian and thank you for your service!
Now Recruiting: KCRHA Continuum of Care Board!
The KCRHA is recruiting new members to serve on the agency’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Board. The Continuum of Care Board is a federal requirement under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure continued federal funding for homelessness in our region. The Board also plays an important role in interfacing with community members and advising the Governing Committee and Implementation Board. More information about the role of the Continuum of Care board is available in the CoC charter.
Apply Here
Crisis Care Centers Levy Update
The schedule for the Council’s deliberation on the Crisis Care Levy Implementation Plan has been extended and remains in the control of the Regional Policy Committee. Below is the revised schedule, noting upcoming opportunities to listen in on the discussion. I will continue to keep you up to date on any new information in next month’s newsletter.
Watch Live on KCTV
Access Recordings
To share feedback with all committee members in advance of any of the above hearings, please send your comments to kcccomitt@kingcounty.gov by 8 a.m. on the meeting day. Include the topic and related committee in the subject line. Comments will be forwarded to committee members and appropriate staff.Â
Proposed Minimum Wage Increase for Unincorporated King County
 On April 16th, the Transportation, Environment and Economy Committee (TrEE) voted to advance a proposal that would raise the minimum wage in unincorporated King County. As a cosponsor, I am pleased that this proposal will now move to the full council for further work and review. As the cost of living across our region grows, this is not the only solution to address the issue of affordability, but I do consider it to be part of the solution.
I appreciate the outreach I’ve received from both supporters and opponents of the proposal to discuss their concerns and priorities regarding the legislation. I was pleased to support changes to the original proposal that seek to address and mitigate some of the concerns raised by small business owners. I will continue to engage collaboratively with the community and colleagues as the proposal continues to be considered by the full council.
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An Update from the Law and Justice Committee
After last month's newsletter, I received questions from many of you about the proposed closure of the youth detention facility at the Clark Children and Family Justice Center (CCFJC), primarily focusing on issues such as community safety, accountability, cross-systems partnership, youth development, and due process.
I wanted to clarify that the county government has not made any firm final decisions on this topic. Last month, I invited representatives from the Executive’s team, Prosecutor’s Office, Superior Court, and the Department of Public Defense to the Law and Justice Committee, which I chair, to provide a status report on the work that they’ve done to explore these questions with community members. The Care and Closure Advisory Committee has reached consensus on certain recommendation to reduce reliance on juvenile incarceration, but other significant points have not earned consensus. Conversations on those points will be ongoing. A recording of this meeting is available here, and if you’re interested in engaging with the Advisory Committee, information is available here. Even though there is not currently a proposal before the King County Council, I am committed to engaging on this work and doing everything I can to keep community apprised of developments.
In the meantime, as we continue to discuss the future of the youth detention center, the county continues to have a responsibility for the appropriate care of all people while they are held in detention as they await case resolution. In last Wednesday’s Law and Justice Committee, the King County Auditor’s Office presented their new audit on juvenile conditions of confinement in the CCJFC titled “Juvenile Detention: Many Youth Face Long Stays in Facility Designed for Short-Term Support”. The audit is comprehensive and includes important recommendations on how to improve the CCFJC for young people and staff. The committee also discussed updates to other audits focused on the criminal legal system since 2020 and efforts to increase juror participation and diversity in King County Superior Court. To view the April Law and Justice meeting, click here. Â
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