King County Councilmembers with Kirk Hovenkotter and Iz Berrang from Transportation Choices Coalition
This week, I was happy to lead the King County Council in proclaiming June as Ride Transit Month. As a regular transit rider myself. this is an especially exciting Ride Transit Month, on the heels of brand new light rail stations opening in Redmond and the first light rail car crossing the I-90 bridge—the first time light rail has crossed a floating bridge anywhere in the world!
Ride Transit Month is an opportunity to discover or rediscover the joys of transit. You can participate by taking the pledge to ride transit five times this month, attending a celebratory event organized by Transportation Choices Coalition, and playing transit bingo!
Last month, the federal government changed their guidance on the COVID-19 vaccine, departing from medical consensus that the vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent severe illness, long COVID, and death. Here in King County, Public Health Seattle-King County, along with the Washington State Department of Health, continue to recommend everyone 6 months and older to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
If you are insured, most plans cover COVID vaccines, and you can still access it through your local pharmacy or healthcare provider. If you are uninsured, you may still be able to get the COVID vaccine at no cost through the Adult Vaccine Program or Childhood Vaccine Program.
For the third consecutive year, I am honored to serve as Chair of King County’s Regional Water Quality Committee (RWQC). The work we do to ensure an effective and modern wastewater treatment system often goes unnoticed, yet it is essential for maintaining clean water for recreation, environmental health, and public well-being—all while balancing the impact of rising sewer rates.
Right now, we are at a critical juncture. We must keep sewer rates affordable while addressing new regulatory requirements to treat emerging contaminants like PFAS and replacing aging infrastructure that is vital to keeping our wastewater treatment system running smoothly. Members of RWQC, including representatives from King County cities and water districts, collaborate with the County’s Wastewater Treatment Division and regional partners to plan for the future of this essential public service.
I remain deeply committed to ensuring we strike the right balance—preserving clean water for future generations while managing costs responsibly.
As part of current planning efforts, King County is developing a vision for clean water. Please add your voice to this process by completing a 5-minute survey that will help shape how King County's wastewater system protects our water.
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