Council passes CM Mosqueda's Legislation to Strengthen King County contracting and procurement policies, in contrast to federal trajectory!
 Click image above to go to video on our social media about the legislation.
On the 101st day of the Trump Administration, the King County Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee approved two pieces of legislation that I prime sponsored and drafted to strengthen labor standards and further values-based purchasing. Last Tuesday, the full King County Council on Tuesday passed those bills into law with unanimous support and co-sponsorship from Councilmembers Dembowski, Barón, Quinn, Balducci and Chair Zahilay. While the federal administration is eliminating decades-old policy that support minority contracting and rolling back labor standards, these policies advance the County’s commitment to contracting with those who adhere to high labor standards, support small businesses, promote women- and minority-owned businesses, and ensure that no county funds are being used to enforce immigration law. This is not only the right thing to do, but it also makes economic sense.
Executive Shannon Braddock had this to say about the legislation:
“King County has continually partnered with unions to ensure that we are a leader in labor standards for our employees and workers on county projects. Now, we continue that collaboration so that everyone working on behalf of the county or at county properties can benefit from these standards, I thank Councilmember Mosqueda for her leadership in bringing this legislation forward, and the rest of the Council for their support of this measure.”
Thank you to the Executive for feedback and support, to the co-sponsors of this legislation, and to the labor and diverse small business communities for calling for and shaping these policies.
Impacts of the ordinances include:
- Responsible Contracting for Services, Ord. 2025-0093: When the County procures services, such as security, janitorial or food services, starting this fall, it will apply a set of responsible contracting criteria when evaluating submitted bids, such as giving consideration to business recruiting and hiring from economically distressed areas of the county, and to those committed to high labor standards and environmental stewardship. This legislation builds on existing standards for construction and procurement of goods by expanding and delineating contracting criteria that further County values and ensure contracts don’t just go to the lowest bidder, but instead to the most responsible. The criteria give consideration to contractors that invest in workers and safe working conditions, support small women- and minority-owned businesses, aid climate justice and more. The County will apply these criteria when contracting for services over $100,000, and the legislation sets forth a process to minimize the administrative burden placed on small businesses seeking to work with the County.
- Community Workforce Agreements (CWAs) for Tenant Improvements on County-Owned Land, Ord. 2025-0092: When the County undertakes large construction projects, CWAs are used to ensure public dollars are put to public good. Now, when major construction projects – above $5 million – are undertaken by tenants on County-owned leased land, they will be covered by CWAs, helping to boost apprenticeship utilization, and providing a pathway into good, union, family-wage jobs for people from communities in the region. CWAs are a proven way to expand participation in the trades, helping to address labor shortages in construction, and ensuring local communities have access to these good jobs through local hire.
You can read more about the policies here:
Health, Housing, and Human Services Meeting Highlights
 Photo Credit: Kevin Clark Seattle TImes
On May 6th, I chaired the Health, Housing, and Human Services Committee meeting where we focused on critical issues impacting King County residents. The committee received several key briefings, including:
Federal Funding Cuts and Threats: Budget Director Dwight Dively of the Office of Performance, Strategy, and Budget shared the latest on potential federal cuts to essential services and the dire circumstances we face. Read some highlights about it in this Seattle Times article, At this budget meeting, the crackup of America was right at the surface.
Wage Theft in King County: The Fair Work Center presented findings from their new report analyzing wage theft and offering recommendations for stronger labor standards enforcement. The report recommends a two-phase plan to address the issue:
Phase One calls for funding trusted community organizations to educate workers and small businesses, build trust, and collect data to better understand wage theft in our region.
Phase Two proposes creating a County enforcement division to uphold wage laws and partner with cities to enforce local protections, ensuring all workers have access to fair pay and safe reporting.
Fair Housing Analysis: DCHS presented the King County Consortium’s “Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice,” outlining barriers and paths to greater housing equity.
Housing and Childcare Permitting Updates: The Department of Local Services provided an update on efforts to streamline permitting for housing and childcare projects.
These discussions underscore our commitment to protecting working families, ensuring equitable housing access, and maintaining vital community services. Watch the full meeting here.
Shannon Braddock Officially Appointed Executive
 Last week the Council unanimously voted to approve the motion to appoint Shannon Braddock as King County Executive until the certification of November's general election.
Executive Braddock then unveiled her 200-Day Plan focused on delivering results for the people of King County, preparing a responsible and balanced budget, and ensuring a strong, stable transition to the next administration under her experienced leadership.
 Click on the image above for more detail on the 200-Day Plan.
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
 The Council proclaimed April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, recognizing the pervasive and traumatic impact of sexual violence, which affects someone in the U.S. every 68 seconds. In Washington State, 61% of women and 34% of men experience sexual assault in their lifetimes, with even higher rates among transgender and nonbinary individuals. The proclamation acknowledges the disproportionate burden on BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, and those living in poverty, who often face additional barriers to reporting. By standing with survivors, investing in supportive resources, and challenging harmful attitudes and behaviors, King County affirms its commitment to preventing sexual violence and building a safer, more equitable community.
Celebrating AANHP Heritage Month
 This May, we celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pasifika (AANHP) Heritage Month – an opportunity to honor the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of AANHP communities in Seattle and across the nation. My colleagues and I were joined by leaders in the AANHP community to issue a special proclamation celebrating the contributions and achievements of the AANHP community that we all benefit from. Thank you to Councilmembers Von Reichbauer and Zahilay for bringing this forth. From shaping our neighborhoods to leading in civic life, AANHP residents have long been integral to the fabric of our city. Let us reflect on the resilience, leadership, and creativity that define this vibrant community, while recommitting ourselves to advancing equity and inclusion for all. Check out some ways to celebrate at events going on in the CID.
May Day Rally for Workers' and Immigrants' Rights
 It was great to be with over 1,000 people in Seattle on May Day showing up for workers' rights, immigrants' rights and all of our rights! We won't be divided because our struggle is one and the same! It was especially great to see so many folks from District 8 including Vashon Island and Burien. I was interviewed by real change about why it's important for us as local governments to stand up for our community now.
““I think the most important thing that local governments can do is to not capitulate, not preemptively comply,” Mosqueda said. “Don’t stop any of your programs because of whatever conditionalities the Trump administration is trying to attach to the money. No dollar, no million dollars, is worth putting our residents at risk and harming their human rights.”
You can read the piece here.
White Center Small Business Association Visit
 Earlier this month I joined the White Center Business Alliance meeting held at the Lumber Yard to talk about how positive changes I sponsored in the comprehensive plan will help support small businesses and the community at large. I also got to share some of the things included in the upcoming Parks Levy that will benefit the area. White Center is such a vibrant hub of community and culture that it's awlays good to get out and about and hear from folks.
Standing up for Democracy Conference
I was honored to speak on the role of elected officials in resistance to mass detentions and deportations for the Standing for Democracy: Resistance to Mass Deportations Conference. This was a regional conference/seminar addressing the legal and political challenges posed by the Trump Administration’s plan to engage in “mass detentions/deportations” of undocumented persons and their relatives, including the use of federal and state police personnel to identify, find, arrest, detain and deport such persons. Panels included immigrant rights, allies in resistance, role of elected officials in the resistance, faith-based organizing, workplace organizing, school-based organizing, voter organizing, affirmative litigation strategies, and a rapid response training for ICE raids, mass detentions, and immigration legal hearings.
South Park Plaza Grand Opening!
 On Saturday, April 26th, I was thrilled to join the community in celebrating the grand opening of the new South Park Plaza – a long-anticipated project I had the honor of supporting during my time on the Seattle City Council. Located at 8456 Dallas Ave S, this vibrant 0.83-acre park now provides much-needed open space in the heart of South Park, thanks to years of community advocacy from the Duwamish Valley Affordable Housing Coalition and dedicated investment through the Seattle Park District. The ribbon cutting marked not just the opening of a park, but the realization of a community dream and a process that our office has been involved with for over six years with pre-development costs and analysis support.
Critical Condition: Health in Black America
Click on the image above to watch the documentary.
Recently Community leader and activist, Cindy Domingo flagged for us this powerful documentary, and we wanted to share with you too. Black Americans are nearly twice as likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease than White Americans, and their life expectancy is about five years shorter. Black women also face some of the worst maternal health outcomes in the U.S. and are three times more likely than White women to die during pregnancy and childbirth.
Critical Condition, directed by Firelight Media Co-Founder and Lead Mentor Stanley Nelson, investigates the causes of these dramatic health disparities in the U.S., even as scientists confirm that there are no meaningful genetic differences between races. From the deep history of pseudoscientific beliefs about race that still permeate modern medicine, to the latest research on how experiencing discrimination can directly damage the body’s DNA and biology, Critical Condition reveals the factors behind the health crises facing Black Americans.
Services Provided by King County in Little Saigon
 Photo credit: Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times
I, like many of you, am continually interested in improving the health and safety at 12th and Jackson. This piece in the Seattle Times celebrating the vibrancy and heritage of Little Saigon is a good reason to share some info on what is happening in the area. Here is some of what is being done from Public Health Seattle King County on the various activities currently being undertaken.
Overdose prevention and more:
-
Through City of Seattle funds, Public Health supports the work of Hepatitis Education Project (HEP). HEP provides office-based services at 18th and Jackson and street-based outreach services throughout Little Saigon. HEP serves people who use drugs and people living homeless, offering overdose prevention services, infectious disease prevention services, treatment for hepatitis C, wound care, limited primary care, and treatment for opioid use disorder (i.e. buprenorphine access).
-
CID / Little Saigon – Street Medicine, every Tuesday: As of April 2025, Public Health’s expanded street medicine program provides outreach based medical care in the CID/Little Saigon every Tuesday. As always, outreach services are subject to change depending on acuity, follow-up needs, and where individuals in need of services are located.
-
CID – REACH Pop-up event on May 29. The Street Medicine team will join this REACH-sponsored event for clients (others scheduled for the event include: DSHS mobile van; Catholic Community Services; WDC (We Deliver Care); CoLead; Weld; CARE; LIHI; UCT). For details on this event please contact ETS-REACH.
-
SoDo – Salvation Army shelter (1039 6th Ave S.) – Scheduled monthly mobile clinic. Monthly schedules and Street Medicine updates are posted at: kingcounty.gov/streetmed
-
Belltown – at ETS-REACH drop-in center (Markham Bldg, 2133 – 3rd Ave) Once fully staffed, Public Health will operate a clinic at the REACH site, 4 days a week.
Healthcare for the Homeless Network (HCHN)-funded services include:
-
Plymouth Housing operates Almquist Place at 501 Rainier Ave. S. (permanent supportive housing), at which HCHN provides some health services through our partner ETS-REACH.
-
HCHN funds Chief Seattle Club to provide mental health and nursing services at their Day Center (410 2nd Ave Extension S, Seattle), as well as at two permanent supportive housing buildings in Pioneer Square (Salmonberry Lofts – 224 S Washington St, and at 410 2nd Ave Extension S, adjacent to the Day Center).
Additionally, Public Health’s Environmental Health Food Protection Program teams are regularly in the area doing their work with restaurants.
King County Sheriff’s Office:
-
KCSO maintained emphasis work for most of January and February. During that time, there were 21 calls for service, 535 KCSO on view (KCSO initiated) responses with 50 arrests. Since February 20th, when the emphasis work discontinued, to today there have been 42 calls for service and 261 on view responses with 7 arrests (one from calls for service and 6 from on view responses).
-
Also, KCSO had 490 coach checks, 5 coach rides, and 362 employee contacts during the emphasis period. Since then to last week, there have been 369 coach checks and 309 employee contacts.
One-on-One Help with Mobile Food Business Permits
 Session to help people get permits for mobile food businesses, such as food trucks, trailers, carts, and pop-ups (tables and booths). Join us to get step-by-step and one-on-one support to start your food business. See the event flyer for more information.
27 New Accessible Curb Ramps are Coming to White Center!
 Each brown dot on this map shows a place where new curb ramps will be installed.
This spring and summer, the King County Road Services Division will replace 27 outdated curb ramps at 10 intersections in White Center. Many of the ramps that will be replaced are more than 30 years old and don't meet modern standards. Curb ramps benefit the whole community—they're used by pedestrians, cyclists, and people with strollers as well as those with disabilities.
The new ramps will be installed along the RapidRide H Line, which operates between the Burien Transit Center and Downtown Seattle. The cities of Burien and Seattle recently improved the curb ramps along their sections of this corridor, and now King County is doing its part to improve safety and mobility for all.
Crews will also install two new crosswalks on 15th Avenue SW, at SW 104th Street and SW 106th Street.
Find exact construction dates on MyCommute or visit the project website.
Get (ACT)ive, Stay (ACT)ive!
 Click on the flyer above to access the registration form.
Acts On Stage is committed to fostering opportunities for youth to Get Active, Stay Active!
(ACT)ive is our new 8 week fitness program for youth (12-18yrs old).
One hour classes are facilitated by a skilled professional who is committed to guiding youth through interactive strength building activities while offering positive encouragement for each kid's development. Participants can select to engage 2-3 sessions per week.
Registration is FREE!
Call for Artists: Transform Public Spaces Through Art in the Utility Box Art Program
Click on the image above to apply.
The King County Department of Local Services seeks submissions from local artists for artwork to be showcased on public utility boxes in two urban unincorporated areas of King County:
- East Federal Way – 9 Utility Boxes
- Skyway/West Hill – 12 Utility Boxes
Community members chose these two areas to receive funding for this project through King County’s participatory budgeting program. Through this program, community members submit ideas for improvements, projects, programs, or services that would make a positive difference in their neighborhoods and then vote to choose which of these will be funded. Since the participatory budgeting program’s launch in 2021, more than $23 million has been committed to community priorities.
Selected artists will be paid a total of $550 for 1-3 designs once the artwork is print ready for the utility box wraps and the artist contract is signed. Find out more! Application deadline May 30th at 11:59 pm.
First-ever Waterfront 5K Race on May 31st
Click on the image above to register.
After years of vision, construction, and collaborative efforts, Waterfront Park – a new place for connection, celebration, and community – is nearing the finish line. Kick off summer in Seattle by experiencing the full 20 acres of transformed shoreline with the first-ever Meet Me at Waterfront Park 5K, presented by Brooks Running, on Saturday, May 31st, 8 am–2 pm. The 5K will be followed by a free, open community celebration featuring live music, food, family-friendly activities and more.
Proceeds from the 5K support Friends of Waterfront Park’s work to ensure this new public space is beautiful, welcoming, and safe for our community.
Human and Civil Rights Commission Recruitment
Help make a difference in King County! The County is launching the Human and Civil Rights Commission, a dedicated group working to advance equity and protect residents from discrimination.
This is your chance to contribute to meaningful change. Applications are open until June 3rd, and stipends are available for commission members.
📌 Learn more and apply: bit.ly/KCHCRC
King County Community Development Block Grant: RFP for 2026 Non-Housing* Capital Funds
Applications due by June 20th at 2 pm (pre-applications due May 19th at 2pm).
 This grant provides funding for community development, non-housing capital projects including acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of non-profit and public facilities, public improvements, housing rehabilitation, and economic development. An estimated $1 million of funds is available. Examples of eligible projects:
- Sidewalks
- Community and recreation facilities
- Child care and early learning facilities
- Sewer and water main projects
- ADA improvements
- Microenterprise assistance
- Park improvements
- Minor home repair programs
- Affordable family or youth housing
2025 Steve Bleifuhs Memorial Flood Reduction Grant Program Applications due by May 23rd.
VSHSL SE 7: Vets Engaged Funding Opportunity
Applications due by May 30th at 2 pm.
Re+ (zero waste) grants
Applications due by May 30th at 5 pm.
Comcast RISE grants for small businesses
Applications due by May 31st.
4Culture Landmarks Capital
Applications due June 25th at 5 pm.
Best Starts for Kids Investing Early Together Request for Proposals in Community-Based Parenting Supports (CBPS), Home-Based Services (HBS), and Universal Developmental Screening & Promotion (UDSP) Applications due by June 30th at 2 pm.
4Culture Launch Program
Applications due by August 27th at 5 pm.
2025 Bus Ticket Program Rolling Request for Proposals and Requests for Additional Allocation for Current Awardees
Applications due by September 2nd at 5 pm.
King Conservation District Seed Money Grants
Applications accepted on a rolling basis until September 30th, or until funds are exhausted.
|
Seed Money Grants support the creation of new community agriculture projects and help sustain existing projects. In turn, this promotes resilient food systems and communities and safeguards food sovereignty. Up to $3,500 in funding is available. Examples of eligible projects:
- Composting systems
- Micro (drip) irrigation
- Rainwater catchment
- Fruit tree/shrub plantings
- Native plantings
- Invasive species removal/weed control
|
|
 |
Wildfire Protection Survey
 Did you know that May is Wildfire Awareness Month? A wildfire in unincorporated King County could have major impacts. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to prepare for and prevent fires, including reducing flammable material on and around your home, making an emergency plan, following local burn bans and regulations, and signing up for ALERT King County, a regional public information and notification service.
Another important thing you can do is take five minutes to complete King County’s 2025 Wildfire Protection Survey, which is available in multiple languages.
King County is developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan to help reduce the risk of a destructive wildfire. Your input helps ensure the plan addresses and reflects the communities’ priorities. Questions? Send an email.
The Orange Couch Open Mic at Mam's Books – May 16th
Mam’s Books in Seattle's Chinatown-International District is a space for uplifting and amplifying Asian American & Pacific Islander stories and perspectives.
The Orange Couch Open Mic at Mam's Books is an open mic centered on local and diasporic Asian American & Pacific Islander creative expression and experience.
Come through and hang at the community family talent show, cozied up around the living room orange couch at Mam's Books!
Hosted by Dahlay in collaboration with Mam’s Books & Seattle Chinatown Book Club.
- All talents, genres, and forms of expression welcome
- In-person sign-up list at 6:30 pm
- 20 performer spots, 5-minutes each.
- show from 7–9 pm
- tickets are available for $10 online or in-person at Mam's Books
|
Remembering Nancy Amidei
This month, we remember and celebrate Nancy Amidei – a beloved mentor, teacher, and friend – whose legacy continues to shape advocacy and democracy in Washington and beyond. With humor, heart, and heaps of chocolate, Nancy made civic engagement feel joyful and accessible. Her simple mantra, “Advocacy just means speaking up,” inspired generations to raise their voices for justice, housing, healthcare, and human dignity. Nancy was a passionate supporter of the Coalition on Homelessness and the Housing Alliance, where her influence is still felt today. In her honor, we invite you to keep her work alive – speak up, organize, and consider making a gift in her memory. Rest in power.
|
 Thank you for signing up for the #TeresaTuesday Newsletter. We will send you regular updates every other week. If you’d like to reach out or have an issue we can help with, please reach out anytime.
Thank you for allowing us to represent you on the King County Council!
|
