On Tuesday, the King County Council approved the implementation plan for the Doors Open science, heritage, and arts levy, an historic initiative that will raise over $700 million for cultural organizations in King County through 2031. I am so proud to not only have sponsored the legislation, which lays out how to spend funds through 2031, but also to have negotiated an amendment that makes an additional $17.5 million available right away to meet the urgent needs in the cultural sector that continues to recover following the pandemic.
Arts and culture aren’t a “nice-to-have”, they are an essential part of healthy individuals and healthy communities. Here in King County, we are blessed to have a vibrant science, heritage, and arts sector, full of talented and passionate individuals, innovative and enthusiastic nonprofits, and world-class cultural institutions. This levy is the key that will open the doors to renewed vibrancy, welcome audiences of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds, and bring joy, connection, and self-discovery to the lives of King County residents.
Thank you to Executive Dow Constantine, 4Culture, Inspire WA, and the many, many sector leaders and advocates who have been unwavering in their support during the nearly two decades of work that brought us to this transformative moment.
For much of the Eastside, power that was lost during last week’s bomb cyclone has been restored, but recovery from the damage will take a while. (If you are still without power, you can track the outage here.)
Property Damage: If your property (home or business) was damaged in the storm, please report it to King County Emergency Management. This information may help us request disaster assistance from the state and federal government. In addition, if your home or business was damaged, you may qualify for property tax relief.
Food support: If you are on SNAP benefits and your food spoiled as a result of power outages, you can file a claim to replace that food within 10 days of its loss. Call 877-501-2233, visit a Community Services Office, fill out the Basic Food Affidavit Replacement for Household Disaster form, or request replacement benefits at a DSHS mobile office event.
Storm Debris Collection: If you live in Bellevue, Kirkland, or Redmond, there will be free extra storm debris collection along with your regular curbside pick-up. Please visit your city’s website for details. All King County residents can drop off tree limbs and other woody debris without paying the standard yard waste fee at the Bow Lake, Cedar Falls, Enumclaw, Factoria, Shoreline, and Vashon recycling and transfer stations until December 9 (please note there will be a pause for storm debris drop-off from Thursday, November 28 through Sunday, December 2).
This storm, with the resulting power outages, was one of the most impactful weather events we have seen in District 6 in many years. I have joined Councilmembers Sarah Perry and Reagan Dunn to propose legislation to support storm recovery and resilience in King County.
To hear that legislation and to get an initial after-action report on the storm, I scheduled a special meeting of the Committee of the Whole that I chair next Wednesday at 9:00 am to hear from King County Emergency Management and others, review what happened, and discuss how we can handle emergencies like this better in the future. You can tune into the meeting next Wednesday, December 4 at 9:00 am on KCTV, or attend in person in Council Chambers on the 10th floor of the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle.
Each year, we observe Adoption Day to raise awareness about the importance of helping foster children find permanent, safe, and loving families. Last week, I was honored to join King County Superior Court and over fifteen new forever families to present a proclamation from the King County Council declaring November 22 Adoption Day in King County. This joyful event, held at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, shows the huge positive impact of adoption and the importance of sharing homes and hearts with children in need.
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