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Last Friday, we met with Kent Mayor Dana Ralph to discuss space in the Kent Professional Center, the countywide Parks Levy, public safety, and public funding and potential state legislative actions.
Bus Routes will be re-routed to connect Highline Community College
and Green River Community College with the Kent/Des Moines Light Rail station!
On Monday, Metro Transit briefed us on plans for revising bus service around the extension of light rail between Kent and Federal Way – a plan known as the South Link Connections.
Metro started briefing South County residents last year, providing information about potential route changes at 3 open houses, 9 city council meetings, 14 community meetings, 25 outreach shifts at bus stops, 100 bus stop alerts, and with over 200 community organizations. Metro has also formed a 15-member Mobility Board and the 47-member Partner Review Board to advise transit planners. The proposal was distributed in 15 languages to ensure everyone is included. For more information, click here.
Left to right: CM Sara Perry (D3), retiring Executive Dow Constantine,
CM Jorge Baron (D4) and CM De’Sean Quinn (D5)
After serving as King County Executive for 16 years, Dow Constantine stepped down on Monday March 31. He was surrounded by colleagues who thanked him for his service.
CM Quinn asks questions about how federal funding cuts
may impact housing, public health and emergency management in South King County. Click the image to watch a clip from the meeting.
The 2025 King County budget includes $200 million in congressionally approved federal funding including funding for housing, public health, critical human services, and also natural disaster relief currently supported by FEMA. That funding is now uncertain. To see the full committee meeting click here.
One of the hallmarks of democracy is the peaceful transfer of power.
The Council voted to make Shannon Braddock Acting King County Executive.
A final vote on the appointment will be in coming weeks. Click the image to watch her swearing in.
The full council met and voted to advance Shannon Braddock from interim to acting King County Executive. You can watch this meeting here. Shannon had been serving as Deputy Executive under Dow Constantine. The Council will be appointing a King County Executive in coming weeks who will serve until the November election. We received a constituent request for more information about Shannon Braddock which you can find here.
Following the Council meeting, CM Reagan Dunn and I met with property owners in Tukwila regarding flood protection along the Green River.
On Wednesday, the Flood District Executive Committee met and received a briefing on risk, severity, and consequence – three main factors when considering flood protection investments. The Flood District is also offering grants. For more information, scroll below or click here.
I also introduced Tukwila Mayor Tom McLeod at the State of the City Address.
CM Quinn speaks to amendment for City of Des Moines.
On Thursday, I proposed an amendment to parks levy legislation at the Regional Policy Committee for the City of Des Moines. The amendment provided Des Moines flexibility with parks funding. You can watch the Regional Policy Committee meeting here.
We also received a state legislative update which included information on the budgets being considered in the legislature and discussed the King County Federal Agenda.
CM Quinn advocates for riders at the Sound Transit Rider Experience Committee.
I then participated in my second Sound Transit Rider Experience Committee meeting where we received a briefing on transit planning for impact of thousands of visitors attending the FIFA World Cup in 2026 as well as on passenger safety.
On Friday, my staff and I received an all-day council orientation.
Sincerely,
De’Sean Quinn
King County Councilmember, District 5
Des Moines, Kent, Normandy Park, Renton, SeaTac, Tukwila
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