On Tuesday, the King County Council unanimously passed legislation I sponsored that calls for a stress test of King County’s exposure to federal funding volatility. The legislation asks for an assessment of the county's risk and exposure and a plan for future funding uncertainties.
Last week’s announcement from the federal government that they were going to freeze most grant and loan funding caused chaos. Many organizations in King County that depend on federal funds to provide critical, life-saving work—from homelessness services to support for survivors of sexual assault to people with mental health issues—voiced serious concerns. While the federal government was forced to walk back the announcement, the volatility has already caused fear and uncertainty, here and across the country.
It could happen again, and it’s clear that we need to prepare. This legislation calls for a briefing, which will take place on February 25 at the Committee of the Whole, on the risks to local programs and services and a plan of action if the threats from the federal government materialize. We will do everything we can to protect the rights of and services for King County residents regardless of federal actions.
King County has about 50 active boards and commissions that bring together community members to advise the Executive and the Council on a wide range of policy issues and programs. It’s a great way to get involved and make your voice heard in your government and your community. There are currently openings for District 6 residents on the following boards and commissions:
King County Regional Homelessness Authority’s Governing Board
The King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) is a body dedicated to reducing unsheltered homelessness in King County through regional coordination and cooperation. Under the recent reorganization of the Governing Board, King County is responsible for appointing one person to serve on the Board as a representative of those with lived experience of homelessness or housing instability.
Please note that this position is open to applicants from all 9 Council districts. If you’re interested, please complete this application. Applications are due February 12, 2025. For questions reach out to Tala Mahmoud at tmahmoud@kingcounty.gov.
WaterWorks Grant Ranking Committee
The WaterWorks Grant Ranking Committee is responsible for recommending grants for projects that improve water quality in the King County Wastewater Treatment Division Service Area such as green stormwater infrastructure (rain gardens and cisterns), education and community engagement, research and monitoring, and stream and river bank restoration.
Please note that this position is open only to applicants from District 6. If you are interested in applying, please contact Madeline Cavazos, my community liaison, at madeline.cavazos@kingcounty.gov.
There are currently two open transportation-related surveys that we need to hear from people about:
Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) Draft Regional Safety Action Plan
PSRC has released a draft Regional Safety Action Plan to help address the alarming increase in serious injuries and deaths on our roadways. This is a pressing issue that I prioritized as President of PSRC and this plan seeks to improve regional traffic safety by using a Safe System Approach to protect vulnerable roadway users, identifying safety issues and proven solutions, complementing local safety action plans, and informing future project funding decisions and Regional Transportation Plans. The public comment period is open through Friday, February 14.
Metro’s RapidRide K Line
Metro is working to bring new RapidRide service to the Eastside, offering faster, more frequent, more reliable bus service to Kirkland and Bellevue. This is especially exciting because they suspended this work during the pandemic. I’m proud to have worked with Metro to restart this project and by 2030, Metro plans to have the RapidRide K running between the Totem Lake Transit Center, downtown Kirkland, downtown Bellevue, and the Eastgate Park-and-Ride. You can help shape the route by taking their survey by Thursday, February 13.
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