Many people across our county are still feeling the effects of last month’s bomb cyclone—cleaning up debris, replacing spoiled food, assessing damage to homes and businesses. As Chair of the King County Council Committee of the Whole, I called a special meeting Wednesday to hear an after-action briefing. I would like to thank Mayor Kelly from the City of Maple Valley, as well as representatives from the King County Fire Chiefs Association, Puget Sound Energy, Comcast, Tanner Electric Cooperative, and the King County Office of Emergency Management for sharing their experiences and observations from the storm. Their experiences will directly feed into the work ahead for King County to prepare to be more resilient in the face of future storms and disasters.
In addition, we passed a motion that I was proud to co-sponsor, along with Councilmembers Sarah Perry and Reagan Dunn, that asks the King County Executive to explore expediting permits for storm-related damage repairs, waive permit fees for repairs related to storm damage, set recommendations for a recovery grant program, waive fees for disposal of storm waste, identify technical support and additional storm recovery resources, and develop an after-action report and recommendations for how King County can be more prepared for future emergencies.
This storm hit our community hard. I know how stressful, frustrating, and scary it has been for families across the Eastside. I’m committed to ensuring King County does our part to help our residents along the road to recovery.
Impacted by the storm? Fill out King County’s damage survey
King County Emergency Management wants to know if the November 17-25 windstorm caused damage to your residence (this could include damage from the bomb cyclone, straight-line winds, flooding, mudslides, and/or landslides). This information may help us request state and/or federal government disaster assistance.
We are focused on collecting information about your primary residence, not for sheds, fences, or yards. Also, keep in mind that assistance programs cannot cover costs that are covered by your insurance.
If your primary residence or your business was damaged by the weather, we’d like to hear from you. Here is the link to report your damages. Visit kcemergency.com for more information.
The King County Assessor’s Office will contact people who respond to share information about potential property tax relief.
I hear regularly from my constituents about how our region’s housing crisis is affecting them, from rapidly rising rents to displacement from their community to the dream of homeownership falling increasingly out of reach. We know it’s a problem, and we need data to inform our policy discussions and research to help drive innovative solutions in order to make the most effective decisions.
That’s why I was thrilled to join other regional housing leaders at the Housing Research Center Summit on Tuesday, where the University of Washington announced they would explore hosting a new Housing Research Center for Washington State, a collaboration with the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance and the College of Built Environments. A Housing Research Center is one of the missing components we need to truly address our housing crisis with the urgency and creativity it requires.
Former King County Councilmembers Bruce Laing (left) and Ron Sims (right) with a plaque commemorating the renaming of King County in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Last week, we lost Bruce Laing, one of the most effective and respected leaders from the Eastside. A longtime King County Councilmember, he approached difficult topics thoughtfully and civilly, looking to build consensus to tackle big issues, including land conservation, transit investments, and smart growth. He is perhaps best known for working with then-Councilmember Ron Sims to rename King County in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Additionally, he was an early champion of regional light rail and helped lead the charge to win voter approval to begin building the Sound Transit light rail system in 1996.
He leaves a legacy of good governance, collegiality, and dedication to public service that we should all remember and honor. My thoughts are with his loved ones during this difficult time.
Yesterday, the City of Bellevue announced that next Tuesday during their final meeting of 2024, the City Council will consider the potential purchase of a 12.2-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Coal Creek Natural Area, located at the south end of Bellevue. This acquisition would conserve open space, protect wildlife habitat, improve safety for people recreating around Cougar Mountain, and preserve local coal mining history. If approved, the property would be acquired with the help of the $9.2 million in King County Conservation Futures funding that I helped secure last year with the support of Councilmember Reagan Dunn.
I am thrilled that King County stepped up to support the preservation of this unique property in partnership with the City of Bellevue. The public advocacy by the Save Coal Creek campaign has been unequivocal and inspiring, showing how deeply our community cares about conservation of natural environment, safety for trail users, and preservation of our region’s history. I’m so proud to have played a part in this effort for the benefit of our residents and our environment.
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