As you read this, my team and Council colleagues are wrapping up the 2024 calendar year and preparing to take a break in order to gear up for a busy 2025!

Since my last newsletter, we’ve had an election which will bring new leadership at the local, state, and federal levels, and both the 2025 annual budget and the final set of adjustments to the 2023-2024 budget have passed. In addition to that, our region experienced a devastating bomb cyclone, leading to a tragic loss of life, downed trees and property damage, and leaving some of our neighbors without power for extended periods.

We also experienced a tragic loss within our county community. Yesterday, Shawn Yim, a Metro Bus Operator, was killed following a physical altercation with a passenger while on duty. Words cannot capture the devastating impact of the loss, and my heart is with Shawn’s family, Metro colleagues, and community. The safety of transit operators and passengers is paramount in our transit planning and operations. I joined other county leaders yesterday at an event organized by ATU 587, which represents Metro operators, to mourn the loss of this frontline worker and to express our commitment to working together to help ensure this type of tragic incident does not happen again.

Even as we process this tragic news, I would like to go over some of the highlights from the past few months, share resources and ways you can participate in the work the county is doing, and give you all a glimpse of what we should expect come January.

I am honored to have had the opportunity to represent you at the county level in 2024 and am looking forward to tackling challenges in the coming year.

With gratitude,

By now, my end of year newsletter should either be on its way to your mailbox or waiting for you there! 

You are receiving this mailer because you or someone you live with is a registered voter. This newsletter is a way for me to share with you, a resident of District 4, some highlights of work our office and the County Council has done to tackle pressing issues in our community in 2024. 

In an effort to increase accessibility, and with help from the talented team at KCTV, King County communications, and my team, we have put together a video and digital version of that newsletter. 

Access those below to learn more about the work we have accomplished this year!

The County Council concluded our work on the 2025 Annual Budget with a final vote on November 19. This budget directs funding for the upcoming year and ensures the continued provision of core county services to the public.

For King County and District 4, the approved budget includes: 

• Strategies that better align Metro’s climate goals to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions with the best available technology and service goals. 

• An additional $729,000 for rental assistance, which will support households in distress and prevent homelessness.  

• Investments of $3.9 million towards increased capacity for public defense, which will address high rates of attrition of skilled professionals, ensures that due process is available to all people, and prepares the county to comply with new state standards.  

• Efforts that will lead to improved health, including maintained funding for public health clinics that serve tens of thousands of residents, and $87 million for facility improvements and operation support at Harborview Medical Center. 

In mid-2025, Council will discuss a supplemental budget to make any needed adjustments for the remainder of the year. During this deliberation, I expect that Council will need to take important steps to prepare for and address the anticipated $150 million shortfall in the General Fund for the 2026-27 Biennial Budget. As I and my team have done all year, we will continue working to build a resilient and connected King County. 

 

Final Action on the 2023-24 Biennial Budget 

Supporting Arts, Culture, Heritage, and Science through Doors Open  

I’m thrilled to share a couple of important updates about the new Doors Open program, a new initiative to enhance access to cultural programs throughout the County. 

First, the County Council concluded our work on the program’s Implementation Plan, which was approved on November 26. The implementation plan will guide the work of Doors Open during the 2025-2031 period. I was pleased that amendments I submitted were adopted, including changes to codify a commitment to improved access for people of all abilities, enhance sustainability for organizations by ensuring that funding can meet annual inflationary and cost of living increases, and facilitate the ability of organizations to access education and assistance provided by Doors Open.  

 

The second big update regarding this initiative is that 4Culture announced the first batch of grants from Doors Open last week. More than $165 million will be invested in cultural organizations throughout the county over the next three years, including many in District 4. I was pleased to visit just two of the recipients this past week to celebrate these new investments: Partners in Print, in Belltown, and the Pacific Science Center in the Seattle Center.  

Doors Open holds the promise to deliver sustained support for our regional arts, culture, heritage, and science organizations for years to come. District 4 has been a strong supporter for Doors Open, and I’ve appreciated hearing from many of you about the strong support in District 4 for this new program.  I also want to recognize the critical work that my predecessor, former Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, played in making this program a reality, as well as the work of State Representative Julia Reed in sponsoring the legislation that facilitated the launch of this program. 

 

The King County Comprehensive Plan Update Has Passed!  

On December 10, the Council passed revisions to King County’s Comprehensive Plan, which guides planning for the County’s unincorporated areas. This year’s review was a robust, once-in-a-decade deep revision of the Comprehensive Plan, and this legislation is the result of a yearlong process of community meetings and extensive stakeholder feedback from subject matter experts from around the region.  

While District 4 does not include any unincorporated areas, our team was active in this work and I was pleased that the amendments we proposed were accepted into the plan earlier this year. Our amendments focused on elevating the voices of folks with lived experience of housing instability, encouraging development of multi-generational housing, ensuring that County climate change education is culturally and linguistically appropriate, and more. 

I am deeply grateful for the work of Councilmember Perry, who serves as the Chair of our Local Services and Land Use Committee. Councilmember Perry and her team shepherded this long and complex process and were dedicated to hearing diverse voices from around our community. I am also grateful to our Council’s Central Staff for their expertise and countless hours of working and reworking this plan to ensure it advances the needs of King County residents.

 

 

Investing in King County’s Hospital 

Harborview Medical Center is one of our county’s most important assets. It’s a place where King County’s values are put into practice every day through a focus on ensuring care for the mission population - those who are furthest from access to care due to poverty, language barrier, insurance status, domestic violence, behavioral health needs, and more.   

In the time since I last shared about our work on the county’s hospital, the King County Council adopted a proposal for $87 million in resources to address much needed essential improvements to infrastructure and capacity at Harborview, which will greatly enhance our ability to meet the health care needs of our community. I saw the need for these improvements up close when I visited Harborview earlier this year. Our community deserves better than health care in hallways and overcrowded patient rooms.  

This proposal is the culmination of intensive engagement by so many people, building upon work begun earlier this year by Executive Constantine and his staff, our labor partners, and representatives of Harborview Medical Center, the Harborview Board of Trustees, UW and UW Medicine. My team and I spent many hours over the last two months working on this proposal while it was being considered by the Council, and I sincerely appreciate my colleagues and Council staff whose efforts made this possible.   

 

2026 FIFA World Cup Labor Agreement 

Last month, I was invited to join several union representatives, community leaders, and organizations at Climate Pledge Arena in the heart of District 4 to witness the signing of an agreement with the Seattle Organizing Committee for the World Cup Fan Fest to ensure strong labor standards for the 2026 World Cup. I am thrilled that this agreement will help ensure people in our region and those who come to visit us will be able to enjoy the beautiful game while knowing that the workers who make this event possible are being compensated and treated fairly. 

 

23rd Annual John D. Spellman Awards 

I was honored to join County Executive Dow Constantine and dozens of community members at the ceremony for the 23rd Annual John D. Spellman Awards for Achievement in Historic Preservation. I especially appreciated the opportunity to recognize my fellow Queen Anne neighbor and constituent Nancy Ousley, who received the Career Achievement Award for her decades of public advocacy for the protection and rehabilitation of historic places in King County.  

Congratulations to Nancy and to all of the award recipients! 

 

Swearing in Ceremony: Congratulations Tina Orwall and Edwin Obras! 

On December 10th, the 33rd Legislative District (LD) welcomed a new delegation to the Washington State Legislature. After serving the 33rd LD for fifteen years as State Representative, the County Council appointed Tina Orwall as the new State Senator. The Council also appointed Edwin Obras as the new State Representative in the seat previously held by Senator Orwall. I look forward to working with the 33rd LD delegation, including Senator Orwall, Representative Mia Gregerson, and Representative Obras, and the full delegation of Legislators representing King County in the upcoming legislative session starting in January 2025.  

I want to express my sincere thanks to Senator Karen Keiser, who represented the 33rd LD for thirty years and announced her retirement from the Legislature earlier this year. I also want to convey my gratitude to all of the candidates who put themselves forth for these appointments for their willingness to serve as legislators and for their respective work in the community. 

 

Share Your Concerns About Safety and Violence Involving Firearms in King County 

The King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention invites you to share your thoughts on violence involving firearms in our communities. You can share insights anonymously in a short survey or by scanning the QR code above. The survey takes 7 minutes or less to complete, and your responses will remain confidential.  

Your input is crucial in guiding the King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention's efforts to improve community safety. For questions, please contact the King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention at rgv@kingcounty.gov.

 

Help Shape the Future of King County’s Local Food System     

Local food is vital to King County’s economy, environment, and our communities. That is why King County, King Conservation District, and the King County Food Systems Advisory Council have partnered to develop the 2025 Local Food Initiative (LFI). The LFI is a regional strategy to grow the local food economy and increase access to healthy food for everyone. The initiative is interested in hearing from the community as they continue their work

Please submit your input by Friday, January 31st. 

 

 

Order Your 4 Free At-⁠Home COVID-⁠19 Tests 

Each U.S. household is eligible to receive four free COVID-19 tests. These at- home tests can help you know if you or someone in your household have COVID-19, helping you decide what to do next, including getting treatment to reduce your risk of severe illness and taking steps to lower your chances of spreading the virus to others. Stay prepared and stocked as we continue this winter season by ordering yours today!  

 

Help Shape Our Region’s Homelessness Response! 

The King County Regional Homelessness Authority Governing Board is seeking applications for individuals to represent those with Lived Experience on the Board. The Governing Board is responsible for setting strategic policy direction for the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, providing fiscal oversight, and ensuring the Authority is making adequate progress in fulfilling its mission.   

If you or someone you may know is interested, please complete the questionnaire below! For questions, reach out to Austin Christoffersen. 

 

King County Responds to the Bomb Cyclone Aftermath 

In November, our region was hit by a bomb cyclone storm affecting many residents in our region. While people across the county felt the effects of this storm, reports have shown that a significant amount of damage was concentrated in certain areas of the region. Many King County residents are still recovering and facing costly property damage, whether from downed trees, wind, or loss of electricity for days on end.  

If you or someone you know needs support at this time, the King County Office of Emergency Management team is here to help. See below for resources and share with those who were affected by the storm.  

I would like to highlight the Best Starts for Kids Stopping the School to Prison Pipeline Strategy funding opportunity. This strategy seeks to intentionally and effectively partner with communities to create school to life success pathways for young people 12 to 24 years old and their families, who are disproportionately impacted by systemic racism and most likely to be involved in the criminal legal system or are already so involved.

Applications are due Thursday, January 30th at 2 PM.