May 2nd Community Update
King County, Washington sent this bulletin at 05/02/2024 04:25 PM PDTHaving trouble reading this email? View it in your web browser.
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News from and about King County… from health updates to community news affecting our daily lives. Dear Friends: With Unleash The Brilliance Founder Terrell Dorsey, Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus, Kent Mayor Dana Ralph, Ukraine Hon. Consul Valeriy Goloborodko, Algona Mayor Troy Linnell, Judge Fa'amomoi Masaniai, FUSION Founder Peggy LaPorte, King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, Federal Way Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Dani Pfeiffer, Auburn School District Superintendent Dr. Alan Spicciati, KOAM-TV Asst. Dir. Shelley Ko, Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, Council President Linda Kochmar, Councilmembers Susan Honda, Lydia Assefa-Dawson and Jack Walsh, Kent Councilmember Toni Troutner, and Auburn Councilmembers Yolanda Trout-Manuel and Traci Taylor-Turner.
State of the King County District and Superior Courts At the most recent King County Council Committee of the Whole meeting, members received updates from District Court Presiding Judge Rebecca Robertson and Superior Court Presiding Judge Ketu Shah about the state of the courts, including their caseloads, accomplishments, and challenges. Visit KCTV to watch the meeting or review the presentation as published on the agenda. State of King County District Court State of King County Superior Court
Innovative Safety Program to Target Distracted Drivers The signs will detect whether drivers are distracted, wearing their seat belts, or speeding, and will display appropriate messaging that is relevant to each driver. Learn more on the Target Zero website.
South County Recycling and Transfer Station Project Updates Construction crews have completed initial work to survey and prepare the site. Improvements to West Valley Highway South are expected to begin as early as late May and last through October. Read more here.
Final PEIS Guides the Way to a Safer Lower Green River The King County Flood Control District recently celebrated the completion of a study of ways to manage flood risk in the Lower Green River Corridor. This landmark achievement was marked by the release of a final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) on April 30th. The final PEIS analyzes three approaches to mitigate flood risk that would all substantially lessen flooding along the Lower Green River during a major flood while pursuing positive benefits that support people, the environment, and Tribal interests such as salmon recovery, habitat restoration, open spaces, and recreation opportunities. For more information, visit LowerGreenSEPA.org to review the final PEIS or go to KingCountyFloodControl.org to see meeting schedules as the Board considers next steps.
King County 2024 Flood Reduction Grant Application Round is Open
Transit Updates Sound Transit East Link 2 Line Now Open The 6-mile corridor extends from the South Bellevue Station next to I-90 to the Redmond Technology Station. While the line was supposed to reach Seattle by now, it is not expected until late 2025 as contractors continue to rebuild deficient concrete track ties in the former express lanes of I-90. The $3.7 billion, 14-mile East Link project eventually will add Mercer Island and Judkins Park stations on the way to the International District/Chinatown Station. Read more in The Seattle Times article here.
Metro Transit Survey
Alumni Corner While our work is based on policies and programs, it is the people we work with who make the difference. Previously featured alumni included: Chris Cho, Tom Pierson, Bailey Stenson Gordon, Agnes Wooters, Jim Ferrell, Jackie Schneider, Megan Rage, Thomas Efrem, Jenny Faubion, Sue Park, and Dani Cortez. “While working for Pete, I learned that people are what really move the needle. It is all about relationships and working with people who have a passion for making the lives of others better. It does not matter what side of the aisle you are on, but rather the care and compassion you have for your fellow neighbor. If we are able to put the interests of those in need above our own, our local community, district, county, state, country, and world will be a better place.” After his time with District 7, Joey left to continue his dream of working in the National Football League. He was hired as the Salary Cap Analyst/Assistant to the General Manager for the Seattle Seahawks in February of 2022, a role he currently still holds with the organization. When he is not working, which is not very often as there is no real off season in his world, he enjoys traveling the world with his wife Jackie (another District 7 alum). He also tries to spend as much time as he can on the lake or on the golf course during the summer! Thank you, Joey!
Non-Profit Corner Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, in partnership with local nurseries, continues to host featured vendor weekends throughout May. Shop for rare plants, perennials, natives, succulents, houseplants, groundcovers, trees, and plants for all growing conditions. Admission to shop is free, but tickets are required to visit the garden (2525 S 336th St., Federal Way, 98003). Click here for more information.
Federal Way Library’s Explore STEM Kits Event
Code Enforcement Links: Auburn | Algona | Federal Way | Kent | Pacific | Unincorporated
May is Mental Health Awareness Month According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community, statistics show that one in five people will experience a mental health condition in any given year, and loneliness is at an all-time high. At King County, we recognize the importance of mental health and the impact mental health challenges have on our lives. This year’s theme from Mental Health America, “Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World,” reminds us that everyone deserves to feel supported and empowered to support their mental health and well-being and to seek help and support when needed.
With best wishes, Recognizing the strategic importance and crucial role of Boeing Plant 2, the US Government worked with Boeing and Hollywood to develop an elaborate camouflage on the roof of the plant, turning the factory’s appearance into an innocuous suburb to deceive potential aerial attacks. At the same time, employees could continue to work at the plant underneath this “town,” nicknamed Boeing Wonderland. Buildings that were not much taller than a person were constructed from wood, while the ground was made from canvas fabrics and camouflage netting. The trees were made of chicken wire coated in tar and dipped in chicken feathers and the ground had varying colors to indicate different areas of use or wear. Streets and neighborhoods were designed to fit in with the real ones nearby and street signs reading “Synthetic St.” and “Burlap Blvd.” were erected, while outdoor areas, such as parking lots, were covered with camouflage netting. To disguise the coming and going of the workers, entrances and exits were built into mock cafes and shops. Boeing Plant 2 built 6,981 of the 12,731 B-17s produced during the war as well as the first three, B-29 Superfortress bombers. While Boeing Wonderland was dismantled in 1946 after the end of the war, the houses did not go to waste, with Duluth Timber Company salvaging scraps as well as heavy timber beams. Photo source: https://planehistoria.com/boeing-plant-2/
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The King County Target Zero Traffic Safety Coalition has announced a new pilot program that provides real-time, educational feedback to motorists to reduce unsafe driving. Over the next six months, four “smart signs” will rotate between 12 locations in unincorporated King County, staying at each for eight weeks at a time.
In May 2023, King County broke ground on a state-of-the-art recycling and transfer station just north of the existing Algona Transfer Station. The new station will replace the existing station and is scheduled to open to the public as soon as summer 2026.
The King County Flood Control District announced the availability of at least $12 million in grant funding for projects that reduce the impact of flooding. The program targets flood reduction projects throughout King County and the deadline to apply for a 2024 grant is May 31st, 2024. The grant application will be accessed via an online portal. The information session will feature a demonstration of the portal. For more information, please visit the 
On April 27th, Sound Transit celebrated the opening of the much-awaited Link Light Rail 2 Line (Bellevue-Redmond) with 8 new stations on the Eastside, as well as the opening of the Redmond Technology Station pedestrian bridge that will connect communities east and west of SR 520 earlier last week.
This week’s featured District 7 alum is Joey Schneider. Starting in the summer of 2017, Joey began working in my office as a legislative intern and continued to do so while attending Seattle University School of Law. After he graduated in 2020, I hired him as Director of Communications, a position he held until December 2021.
Children ages 6 to 17 are invited to come to the Makerspace at the Federal Way Library (34200 1st Way S, Federal Way 98003) on May 9th, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM or 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM, to learn about robotics, circuitry, stop motion and more. Registration is not required, but space is limited. Click 
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