Dear King County District 2 Resident,
This is your King County Council Chair, Girmay Zahilay. Below are some news, updates, and events that I think you’ll find useful. This email will provide you a snapshot of recent updates. For a more comprehensive list of my office’s legislation and priorities, check out my King County website, where I list what we’ve been working on over the past year. You can also follow my Facebook and Twitter for real-time updates on all our work!
Here's what we’ve been up to, what’s ahead, and how you can plug in.
Announcements & Policy Updates
Public Safety Funding Passes Council
Earlier this week, the Council unanimously passed the Safe and Stable Communities Sales Tax. I sponsored this proposal alongside Budget Chair Dembowski to enact a 0.1% sales tax to avert a looming budget crisis that would have devastated our region’s public safety systems. This new revenue will support our county’s essential services like maintaining appropriate staffing levels for prosecutors, public defenders, and sheriff’s deputies; sustaining our court operations and victim advocacy services; gun violence and gender-based violence prevention; and supporting behavioral health programs and diversion initiatives.
Right now, King County is facing a projected $180 million deficit in the upcoming biennium. Without this revenue, the consequences would have been severe and immediate. In unincorporated King County, police service would be reduced or delayed during the moments people need help the most. More people in crisis would remain on the streets or end up in jail without access to the mental health and addiction care they need. Victims of crime would wait even longer for their day in court. Public defenders and prosecutors would face even more crushing caseloads, making it harder to deliver timely and fair justice. A sales tax is not our ideal tool, but the cost of inaction is far too high. I’m grateful to Executive Braddock for swiftly advancing this proposal, and to my colleagues for ensuring King County remains a place where safety and justice are not optional.
(photo courtesy of Seattle Times)
Fighting for King County After Massive Federal Cuts
Just before Independence Day, Congress passed H.R. 1, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, which slashes critical safety net programs to fund tax breaks for the wealthy. I want to be clear: this bill will hurt King County families.
It guts Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion, threatening care for nearly 500,000 people in our county and putting Harborview’s trauma services at risk. It cuts SNAP by up to $200 billion, jeopardizing food access for thousands of local families. It defunds reproductive health providers like Planned Parenthood, strips housing vouchers from over 14,000 households, and undermines mental health and emergency services.
These aren’t just numbers. These are real people, our neighbors. As Chair of the King County Council, I’m working closely with partners to assess the impact, protect critical services, and fight for the dignity and wellbeing of every resident. We've faced challenges before, and we’ll meet this one together.
Read my full statement on the passage of the devastating budget bill and how it affects King County.
Regional Transit Safety Task Force Solutions Summit
This month, our team joined transit workers, riders, and advocates throughout King County for the Regional Transit Safety Task Force Solutions Summit. I'm incredibly grateful for the work of ATU 587, King County Metro, and all the organizers who've made this possible.
The Task Force was convened following the tragic death of Metro bus operator Shawn Yim to create a unified, region-wide approach to safety on transit. The Solutions Summit centered on 8 focus areas to advance this critical topic:
- Regional Alignment & Systemwide Coordination: Unifying the transit safety system so every response is timely and consistent, regardless of agency or jurisdiction
- Care-Based Safety Responses: Improving response to prioritize health, housing, and behavioral care by integrating care-based outreach, mobile support, and diversion pathway
- Transit Employee & Rider Reporting: Improving and unifying reporting systems so transit employees and riders can quickly share concerns, receive clear follow-up, and trust that their input leads to visible safety improvements across the region
- Staffing Expansion & Field Capacity: Investing in response teams and support to ensure timely, specialized, and consistent assistance, especially when and where it’s needed most
- Workforce Training & Support: Equipping frontline transit staff with real-world preparation, mental health support, and legal protections ensuring safety for the people who keep the system running
- Transit Environment & Safety Design: Improving transit spaces so they feel safe, clean, and cared for through better lighting, thoughtful design, and community ownership
- Youth Engagement & Safety: Advancing safer and more supportive transit experiences for youth by expanding partnerships with schools, focusing outreach in areas where young riders need help, and fostering a culture where operators know how to respond and youth understand what to expect on transit
- Public Messaging and Campaigns: Unifying the region around shared expectations and rider responsibility through clear messaging, inclusive education, and visible tools that increase rider confidence and make safety resources easy to understand and use
While there's still work ahead to fully implement these solutions, we're hopeful that with continued collaboration and dedication, we’ll get it right. Together, we can create a safer, more supportive transit system for everyone.
King County and City of Seattle to increase Metro’s safety and security presence
In line with this work to improve safety on public transportation, King County Executive Shannon Braddock’s proposed 2025 supplemental budget includes $26.1 million in safety and security investments for King County Metro. In partnership, the City of Seattle has also committed more than $5 million in voter-approved funding to support Metro’s 2025 safety and security efforts.
The funding would support more Transit Police and Transit Security Officers across Metro’s regional network, larger and stronger operator safety partitions for all Metro buses investments in the SaFE Ambassador program, and more. Read more here.
New Minority Vets Community Center
King County is partnering with Minority Veterans of America to open the Minority Vets Community Center, a first-of-its-kind space where minority veterans can access resources, including case management and financial assistance. Funded by King County's Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy, the new center is a significant investment in inclusive, safe, and culturally informed services for underrepresented veterans.
Read more here.
Devastating Hit and Run in Skyway
We recently received news that a devastating hit and run in Skyway took the life of Susana Garcia-Perez last week. This senseless tragedy has left a family reeling, and it has reverberated throughout our entire neighborhood. My heart aches for her children, who have lost not only their mother but a pillar of strength, love, and devotion.
As we grieve this devastating loss, we can also take some comfort in knowing that the person responsible for this tragedy has been apprehended. While nothing can undo the pain that Susana’s family is enduring, it is a small measure of justice that the individual who caused this harm will be held accountable for his actions. In the face of such grief, may we find solace in justice.
In moments like these, words can feel insufficient. We are united in grief, but we are also united in strength. As we mourn, we also find ways to support one another, hold each other close, and work to ensure that our community remains a place where no family has to endure such loss again.
While nothing can undo the pain that Susana’s family is enduring, in the face of such grief, may we find solace in justice.
Please keep Susana’s family in your thoughts. You can read more about her and ways to support her family here. Her family’s GoFundMe is available here.
Disability Pride Month Proclamation
July is Disability Pride Month! July marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a law passed in 1990 to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities, passed after years of activism by people with disabilities and their allies.
Disability Pride Month isn't just about awareness—it's about embracing and celebrating the full spectrum of human experience. Today and everyday, we are dedicated to working towards a world where everyone, regardless of ability, is valued and empowered to live their fullest life.
Recognizing Captain Dan
Earlier this week, I joined my colleagues on the King County Council in recognizing Captain Dan Krehbiel, who is retiring from the King County Water Taxi after years of service. Captain Dan was the first Captain of the King County Ferry District, which later became the Water Taxi, and helped train the other captains and deckhands.
Most famously, Captain Dan helped stop an unmoored 300-foot loaded container barge heading toward the downtown Seattle waterfront. He steered the water taxi toward the barge to push it away from the crowded waterfront. Because of his skillful piloting, the water taxi only sustained minor damage, no one was injured, and the water taxi trip was only 15 minutes late. It’s a truly miraculous story and a testament to Captain Dan and his crew’s quick thinking and brave actions.
I appreciate the work of CMs Quinn and Mosqueda for leading this touching recognition for Captain Dan. For more about Captain Dan, watch this video here.
Woodland Park Zoo Seeks Community Feedback
The Woodland Park Zoo is seeking community feedback! Your feedback will guide plans to strengthen commitment to conservation and sustainability, celebrate diversity, and build deeper connections across people, animals, and nature. Fill out the survey here: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8372640/2025-Community-Voice-Survey
Call for Entries: National Film Festival for Talented Youth
Submissions are now open for the 19th annual National Film Festival for Talented Youth. NFFTY is the largest and most influential film festival for emerging directors and will take place in Seattle from March 26 to 29, 2026.
The festival is seeking short films and screenplays from filmmakers who are 24 years old or younger. This is a powerful platform to showcase your creativity, connect with industry leaders, and join a global community of young storytellers.
The early bird deadline to submit is August 15. Learn more and apply today.
Auditor’s Office Seeks Public Input
Have you experienced challenges with King County services or have ideas for how things could work better? The King County Auditor’s Office wants to hear from you! They’ve launched a public input portal where community members can share their experiences and suggest potential topics for future audits. You input helps ensure government works effectively, efficiently and equitably for everyone. You can read more about the King County Auditor’s Office here.
Upcoming Events
Skyway Recreation Aide Program
The 2025 Skyway Recreation Aide Program is in full swing! Check out the following:
- Summer Sack Lunch for Ages 18 and under: Tue - Fri from noon – 2pm at West Hill CC (at the Dimmitt MS Campus.)
- Recreation Aide Pop ups at Skyway Park featuring snacks and craft kits every Tue - Fri from 2:15 – 2:45pm, July 1 – Aug 15
- Teen Program for Ages 12 – 19, Tue - Fri from 3 – 7pm at West Hill CC (at the Dimmitt MS Campus.)
- Teen Program Field Trips to Skyway Park every Thursday between July 3 – August 14 (permission slip required.)
- Additional STEM and Art programs at Skyway Library and Skyway Park between July 1 – August 15.
Catch a Ride on the Free Waterfront Shuttle
The free Waterfront Shuttle is back for the summer, connecting key destinations across downtown Seattle and the waterfront. Supported by Friends of Waterfront Park, Seattle Historic Waterfront Association, and the Alliance for Pioneer Square, and funded by the City of Seattle and King County, this service helps residents and visitors explore the city with ease.
The shuttle operates daily from 10 AM to 8 PM, with stops at Seattle Center, Pier 69, Pier 56, Pioneer Square, and King Street Station in the International District. A new Evening Hotel Loop is also available from 5:50 PM to 7:45 PM, reaching deeper into the downtown core. This evening loop runs on a separate route from the main shuttle.
Learn more about stops, schedules, and service updates at this website.
Summer Events at Waterfront Park
After nearly twenty years of dreaming, planning, and listening to community voices, Waterfront Park is coming to life. This space is not just a park. It is a civic gathering place shaped by culture, connection, and care.
From May through September, Friends of Waterfront Park will host more than 270 free public events as part of a season-long celebration leading up to the park’s Grand Opening in late summer 2025. The programming includes live performances, family-friendly activities, cultural celebrations, and the new Waterfront Park Market, alongside other markets happening throughout the summer.
Learn more about what is planned by visiting the Friends of Waterfront Park 2025 Summer Programming Announcement.
Minor home repair program available at no cost to income-qualified homeowners in White Center and Skyway
Habitat for Humanity’s Minor Home Repair Program is currently offering no-cost services to income-qualified home owners in White Center, Skyway, and Glendale. To apply, submit an intake form on their website or call their office at 206-866-7617. Note: the website says the minor repair program charges a $50 fee, but that fee is currently being waived in White Center and Skyway.
Home repair funds are available for residents in unincorporated Skyway/West Hill and East Renton
As part of King County's Participatory Budgeting program, residents in Skyway/West Hill and East Renton voted to provide funds to repair homes for income-qualified owners in these areas. The funds—$300,000 for Skyway and $100,000 for East Renton—are available to cover roof repair or replacement; plumbing, electrical, or furnace repairs; painting, drywall, weatherization, home access modifications, and more.
Call 206-263-9095 to learn about the process, who is eligible, and how to get services. Let them know you heard about the repair program through Participatory Budgeting!
4Culture Building for Equity: Project Development
Applications are due Thursday, August 7 @ 5 p.m. Apply now at this link!
Details: The Building for Equity: Project Development Grants invest in the planning and development phases of a cultural facilities project. Applicants in the preparation, project initiation and planning, fundraising, and/or the early design phases are encouraged to apply.
There is $1.7 million available in the funding pool for this cycle. Applicants may receive awards of up to $50,000.
For more details, please visit the grant website here, or if you have questions, email Jay Robles (Chumash/Cahuilla/Ohlone) at jayden.robles@4culture.org or Lauren Miles at lauren.miles@4culture.org.
Puget Sound Energy Solar Grant
Applications are due Wednesday, August 13 @ 5 p.m. Find the application form here!
Details: Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is offering $750,000 in competitive funding to community-based organizations, government agencies, and tribal organizations in PSE’s electric service area to install solar at their property. Priority will be given to applicants serving communities with the deepest need including low-income and historically marginalized communities.
It is highly recommended you reach out to Spark Northwest for free grant writing assistance through this intake form. Request for grant writing assistance is due Thursday, July 31.
For more details, please visit the grant website here, or if you have questions, email solarfunding@pse.com.
King Conservation District Regional Food System Grant Program
Applications are due Monday, August 25 @ 5 p.m. Apply now at this link!
Details: This grant supports projects that strengthen the local food system in King County and advance climate resilience, food access, and community equity. The King Conservation District invites proposals in these categories:
- Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices
- Produce Quality and Health
- Capacity Building for Resiliency
Grant awards range from $25,000 to $100,000, with $440,000 in total funding available. The maximum project period is two years starting in January 2026.
For more details, please visit the grant website here, or if you have questions, contact Jessica Saavedra by email at Jessica.Saavedra@kingcd.org or by phone at 425-773-9065.
NW Children’s Foundation Grant
Applications are due Friday, September 5 @ 11:59 p.m. Apply now at this link!
Details: This funding will go toward programs that focus on the prevention, early intervention, and treatment of child abuse, neglect, and trauma. Programs must aim to support children, strengthen families, and empower youth. NW Children’s Foundation prioritizes programs that focus on children, youth, and families who are in the foster care system, and/or experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, abuse, neglect, and other trauma.
Grants generally range from $5,000 to $20,000.
For more details, please visit the grant website here, or if you have questions, contact NW Children’s Foundation by email at office@nwcf.org.
4Culture Launch Program Workshops Begin This Summer
4Culture is introducing a brand-new grant program called Launch, designed to support new and emerging cultural and science organizations in King County. Selected organizations will receive three years of unrestricted general operating support along with access to capacity-building services.
While applications are not open yet, the deadline to apply will be Wednesday, August 27. In preparation, 4Culture is hosting a series of informational workshops throughout July and August. These sessions are a chance to meet staff, learn about the application process, connect with other applicants, and ask questions.
Upcoming workshop dates include:
For more information, contact Casey Moser at casey.moser@4culture.org or call 206 477 2316.
King Conservation District Seed Money Grants
King Conservation District is offering Seed Money Grants to support the launch and sustainability of community agriculture projects across King County. These grants promote food sovereignty and help strengthen resilient food systems in local neighborhoods.
Grants of up to three thousand five hundred dollars are available and can support a wide range of activities, including composting systems, drip irrigation, rainwater catchment, fruit or native plantings, and invasive species removal.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through Tuesday, September 30 or until funds are exhausted. To learn more, visit the grant website or contact Miranda Smith at Miranda.Smith@kingcd.org.
Landowners Invited to Help Address Homelessness in King County
The King County Regional Homelessness Authority is seeking landowners who are interested in being part of the solution to homelessness. Through the Land Bank Program’s Request for Information, KCRHA is collecting information on sites that could be used for tiny house villages, micro modular villages, sanctioned tent cities, safe lots for vehicles and RVs, and RV storage.
Although King County and the City of Seattle have several land-based shelter programs already in place, the demand for safe shelter far exceeds available space. This RFI invites property owners to help identify new sites and build a bank of viable options for when funding becomes available.
While this is not a direct funding opportunity, participants in this RFI may be eligible for future shelter development funding. There is no deadline to apply and the RFI will remain open for the foreseeable future.
To read the full RFI and learn more about the Land Bank Program, visit the latest KCRHA blog post.
Heat Pumps Available to Qualifying Homes for Low or No Cost
King County’s Energize program is expanding to offer free or reduced-cost heat pumps to more households. Heat pumps provide an energy-efficient way to heat and cool your home while lowering utility costs compared to traditional systems.
Eligible residents can also access other home improvements through the program. Family home child care providers may also qualify for these energy upgrades.
To learn more or find out if you qualify, attend an upcoming in-person or online workshop. Visit the program website or call (206)263-3003 for more information.
Request Free Mobile Health Services with Care-a-Van
Organizations across Washington can request free mobile health services through the Washington State Department of Health’s Care-a-Van program. Care-a-Van offers COVID-19, flu, and mpox vaccines, childhood immunizations, blood pressure and glucose screenings, naloxone, and community-based care coordination.
This service is available statewide and is designed to meet communities where they are. Availability begins in February, and organizations are encouraged to submit a request early.
To learn more or schedule a visit, go to the Washington State Department of Health website.
Prep Now for Summer Heat
Just when you think it's safe to pack away your rain gear for the season, here come soaring temperatures. Sure, it feels pretty good to dry out at last, but remember—heat can bring increased health risks, especially to those in vulnerable groups.
Here are some suggestions:
Before heat is in the forecast
► Identify places where you might go in a heat emergency to stay cool if your home isn’t air conditioned. Shopping malls, libraries, movie theaters, and community centers can be good options.
► It’s not enough to just prepare for yourself. Checking in on your neighbors is an important part of every emergency plan. Exchanging contact information with your neighbors now is a great place to start.
When it gets hot
► If you're outside, drink fluids, wear a hat, and rest often in shady areas during the heat of the day.
► Pay close attention to your body for signs of heat exhaustion. These may include sweating, clammy skin, weakness, vomiting, and other symptoms. (Learn more on King County's Extreme Heat Preparedness website.)
► If you have symptoms of heat exhaustion, move to a cooler location, apply cool, wet cloths, and sip cool fluids. If symptoms get worse or don’t improve after an hour, seek immediate medical attention.
Learn more
► kingcounty.gov/heat
► Sign up for emergency alerts from King County
► Find heat forecasts for your location on the National Weather Service's HeatRisk map.
Have a safe summer!
Where to go During a Medical Emergency
Check out this guide to help you decide whether to go to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care based on your symptoms. Translations are available at the bottom of the page in Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Somali, and Vietnamese.
Help us grow our reach!
My team and I send email updates like the one you’re currently reading every couple of weeks and we want to ensure we’re reaching as many of you in our community as possible. If you know anyone who would like to receive these updates, please be sure to send them over to our County Council website to sign up!
And as always, for more frequent and daily updates, you can check out our Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter pages. For the latest news, resources, and opportunities to engage with your King County government, follow me on the social media channels of your choice:
Facebook: facebook.com/Councilmember.Girmay
Twitter: @CMGirmayZahilay
Sincerely,
Councilmember Girmay Zahilay
King County Council
District 2
206-477-1002
girmay.zahilay@kingcounty.gov
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