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Crisis Care Center Update
 Councilmember Mosqueda chairing Health and Human Services Committee
One of the most important pieces of legislation my Health and Human Services Committee has taken up this year is the implementation plan for the Crisis Care Centers. This past week the committee advanced the legislation to full council and referred it back to the Regional Policy Committee for one final touch – an amendment the Executive is working on with RPC members and Sound City Association representatives. We are excited about this final step, supportive of the amendment concept, and hope to have the final plan passed at full council on June 18th. This plan will allow the County to start work on getting these centers up and running so that families have a place to take their loved ones in crisis and our first responders have a landing zone when they respond to people in need.
Comprehensive Plan in Land Use
Over the last 6 months, my team and I have been out in community and in the policy weeds as we work on the 2024 King County Comprehensive Plan update, the County’s guiding document for growth over the next twenty years. This is an update to the zoning map that contains our regulations for what can be built, and where. We have heard from community about how we can better support housing, small businesses, childcare, health, and climate resilience, and have worked to translate that into detailed planning policy. Last week, the Comprehensive Plan was voted out of the Local Services and Land Use Committee, including nearly 50 amendments I sponsored to support equity, affordability, and resilience as our region grows. A special shout-out to our unincorporated District 8 communities of White Center, Vashon, and the South Park “sliver” for your engagement on the plan!
If you haven’t yet had a chance to weigh in on the King County Comprehensive plan, have no fear—the process continues! Over the coming months, the Council and Executive will continue to work on enhancements to the plan as well as needed environmental review. There will be more opportunities to weigh in over the summer and opportunities for public comment, including a public hearing, this fall. The full Council will take a final vote the Comprehensive Plan in December.
I’ll be continuing to dig into this policy as we work to address some of the most pressing issues facing our communities: housing availability and affordability, access to healthcare services of all types, accessible and affordable childcare, and environmental and climate equity. You can read more about the committee passage and next steps for the Comp Plan here:
Cuban Ambassador Visit
 CM Mosqueda with Cuban Ambassador Lianys Torres Rivera, her staff and former Chief of Staff to Councilmember Gossett, Cindy Domingo.
I hosted the Cuban Ambassador, Lianys Torres Rivera. We discussed potential areas of cooperation between our region and Cuba. One particular area of interest is the ability for our local biotech firms to partner with Cuba on a promising treatment for Alzheimer’s and a vaccine against Lung Cancer. It will benefit both of our nations to lift the embargo on the island that is a relic of the Cold war.
4Culture
 Khazm Kogita of 206 Zulu, Michelle Raymond-Lang of Acts on Stage and Jake Prendez of Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery
This month, the 4Culture Board had the pleasure of hosting a BIPOC artists panel to highlight the work of community-based artists from District 8. Jake Prendez of Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery, Khazm Kogita of 206 Zulu, and Michelle Raymond-Lang of Acts on Stage spoke to the Board about each of their work, as well as challenges they navigate as smaller organizations that may lack grant teams and institutional backers and have smaller budgets. It was a great learning experience, and one that I hope informs our work on the Doors Open Implementation Plan. A huge priority of mine is making King County the funder of first resort, rather than last!
White Center Pride
 CM Mosqueda and Brian of White Center Pride
I kicked off Pride month at White Center Pride which gets bigger and better every year. It isn’t an understatement to say so many people, me included LOVE WC. From bouncy castles and face paint to Dance Parties and wrestling there was something everyone to enjoy and celebrate Love! Congratulations to Eliot, Brian and the whole team who did a lot of work to pull of such an incredible event. See some of the photos here: 5th Annual Pride Street Festival | White Center Pride
North Highline Unincorporated Area Council
 Hearing from community is always a priority for me. I joined the North Highline Unincorporated Council meeting to share what I've been working on for these past 5 months in office and hear concerns and happenings for our neighbors living in the White Center area.
Highline Heritage Museum's 5th Anniversary
 Folks got glammed up to celebrate Highline Heritage Museum.
It's always the right time to recognize all we have in common as we celebrate the history and community that makes up Highline. Highline Heritage Museum celebrated their 5th anniversary with a Spring Soiree at the end of May. It's a must see and visit in District 8.
IBEW 46
 CMs Mosqueda, Zahilay and Barón joined by leaders of IBEW 46
I am proud to be able to stand with the workers of IBEW 46 in their fight for a fair contract. These are the electricians doing dangerous work throughout the area helping us power our economy and we can't do it without them. I was joined by my Council Colleagues CM Girmay Zahilay and CM Jorge Barón.
Meeting with Roman Torres of the Sounders
 Councilmember Hugo Garcia joined me and my team to meet with Roman Torres and his team to talk Futbol.
My team and I met with Roman Torres of the Sounders to discuss opportunities to support youth in the district to get plugged into programs supporting their love of sports. I’ve heard from many in community that we need more open times for the great play fields in the district and we are working towards that.
Boys and Girls Club Lockbox Give Away
 Orange is the color of gun violence awareness.
In recent days our County has lost 3 young residents to gun violence. That is 3 too many. I joined the Boys and Girls Club of King County to distribute free gun lock boxes in White Center. Safe storage is one step in our fight to eliminate senseless deaths like these, but we know much more can and will be done.
Makini's Kitchen in Georgetown
 My friend and celebrity chef Makini Howell is starting a tofu factory in district 8, right in the heart of Georgetown. We are so excited to have this, and other incredible small businesses take off in District 8. If you are in Georgetown and want to try some top-notch tofu stop by Makini’s Kitchen when it opens this year. Plum Bistro's Makini Howell Is Building Her Own Tofu Factory in Georgetown - The Stranger
Metro Transit Control Center
 A behind the scenes view of what the people keeping our transit system up and running see every day.
I’m an avid transit rider, so I jumped at the chance to go with my colleagues on the Regional Transportation Committee to see Metro Transit Control Center. We learned about all the logistics it takes to run such a large and important system that connects our region, and the many improvement and safety efforts being undertaken by Metro. It was impressive to see such a well-oiled machine for such a complex system!
Heat Pumps for White Center
 Photo Credit: Ellen M. Banner for the Seattle Times
In addition, I am also working to make it easier to install heat pumps through the Comprehensive Plan update that’s underway. Currently, there is a required 5-foot setback for heat pumps, along with a required recorded agreement prior to installation. This creates a barrier in multifamily housing such as duplexes or townhomes where there may not be as much clearance between units—I've experienced this first-hand when trying to retrofit a heat pump to my own home. I have sponsored an amendment to remove this requirement, which will apply to all unincorporated King County areas. The Comprehensive Plan is expected to be adopted at the end of this year, and new code will be in effect by early next year.
Taste of White Center
The Taste of White Center is happening June 29th from 11am-3pm and benefits the White Center Food Bank. This is a good time and supports a great cause. More info found here: 3rd Annual Taste of White Center — White Center Food Bank
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Thank you for allowing us to represent you on the King County Council!
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