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Board of Health Rule & Regulation on Food Safety (Passed!)
 Last Teresa Tuesday I talked about the proposal coming to the Board of Health helping prevent the spread of food borne illness. I'm proud to share with you that the Board of Health overwhelmingly voted in favor of the new Rule and Regulation. This will take effect next year to give Labor and Industry, Seattle's Office of Labor Standards, the Attorney General's Office and Public health time to work out how they will communicate data about offenders.
Board of Health Vice Chair Quiana Daniels summed up why this was need perfectly: “With the CDC scaling back parts of foodborne illness surveillance especially for listeria, we are losing some of those upstream warning lights that help us act fast. If the federal early warning lights are dimmer, it’s on us locally to turn ours up. I think this rule does exactly that, by linking proven labor standards violations to more frequent health inspections. It’s really simple public health math.”
Thank you to all the workers in the food industry, small business owners, my fellow board of health members, public health experts and worker advocates who contributed to this effort to improve the safety of our food establishments and help make working in them better.
Here is some of the coverage:
KUOW - New placards are coming to King County food businesses to warn about labor violations
King5 - King County restaurants with labor violations will have to post warning signs
Board of Health Chair Mosqueda leads passage of food safety through new rule to better enforce labor standards
Prohibition on AI rent price fixing (Passed)
 In my last newsletter I shared about the legislation I've been working on to ban AI rent setting platforms. Last week, with overwhelming support, the legislation passed. King County is now the 11th jurisdiction across the nation nixing the use of these AI tools which make it harder for working families to have a fair shot at a fair rent. We don't let big corporate landlords collude on rents in smoke filled rooms and now we don't let them use AI to collude either.
You can see the media coverage about it here:
Seattle Times - King County Council bans rent-setting software, like RealPage
Kiro7 - King County Council approves rent price fixing ban
Knkx - King County Council votes to ban tech used to set apartment prices
 Community Health Providers Won: MIDD expanded for 9 years
 The Mental Illness and Drugg Dependency(MIDD) sales tax provides critical funding for programs supporting those struggling with their behavioral health. I was deeply concerned about a recently-surfaced two-year proposal and believed the Council should vote to approve the 9-year proposal as originally planned so that providers can have the certainty they need to plan around. Thanks in no small part to our community-based human service providers, the County's behavioral health sales tax was renewed for a 9-year period!
It is difficult to quantify the impact of a shorter levy period on direly needed MIDD-funded services, especially when we are seeing such drastic cuts at the federal level. Switching to a 2-year proposal when all of the stakeholder engagement on the MIDD renewal has centered around a 9-year plan would have created uncertainty for providers at a time when the County should be one of the governments they can count on.
Now, we move forward with a close look at MIDD investments for 2026-27 in our biennial budget process, as well as an implementation plan for the new iteration of MIDD!
National Service Dog Month Proclamation
 My Colleagues and I all agree that Kevin is a very good boy! Thank you Heath and Katie Owensby for your work.
Last week, we celebrated the important work of service dogs by recognizing September as National Service Dog Month. This year’s was an extra special occasion, as 2025 marks 50 years since the concept of a service dog was created by a national non-profit called Canine Companions! Canine Companions provides expertly trained service dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships, free of charge. National Service Dog Month aims to educate our community about the benefits of service dogs and the laws protecting their handlers. Big thanks to Canine Companions for coming to us with this request, and to Heath and Katie Owensby, volunteer service dog trainers, along with their current trainee, Kevin, for coming to accept this proclamation!
Week Without Driving
 Not only am I on the Water Taxi instead of being in a car, this is a video, click the picture above to see it.
King County Council proclaimed September 30th - October 5th as WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING. Participate in the Week Without Driving Challenge to understand how our transportation system can meet the needs of people who are non-drivers, while also benefiting our community and environment. Join me this week, getting out of your car and onto, different methods of Transporation liek the water taxi, the bus or your own bike if you can.
Westside Baby - Sip and Sort
 CM Mosqueda with Allie and Morgan of Westside Baby.
I joined the incredible team at Westside Baby for their annual Sip and Sort event and to present them with a big check. They help working families meet their basic needs with diapers for their kiddos. For many, having diapers is the difference between being able to have your child in day care while you work or not. Their Sip and Sort event was a great chance to help get donations ready for families in a fun, festive and community filled evening. I'm proud to have awarded $25,000 in grant funding to Westside Baby early this year to help provide diapers to families in our area.
White Center Food Bank Podcast
 Hosts Carmen Smith and Gabbi Gonzales are podcasting pros!
The White Center Food Bank is a place where our neighbors who are struggling with food security can get healthy foods all while being treated with dignity and respect. It is also a community hub that has their ears close to the ground. I was so happy to join them on their Podcast, Keep the Community Fed, to talk about what I love about D8 and what I'm most excited about for the future of our region. This was the last episode of their first season you can listen to the episode here. If you are like me and want to support this incredible organization, consider attending their Cultivating Community dinner and auction on October 10th.
Washington State Black Legacy Institue
 CM Mosqueda and President Atterberry.
Kateesha Atterberry, CEO and President of the Washington State Black Legacy Institute was kind enough to give me a tour of their incredible space located in the heart of the Admiral District. In a moment where we are seeing efforts to erase and whitewash our collective national history, this is a refreshing place to celebrate the contributions of Black Washingtonians to our state's rich history.
Standing with the Nurses of WSNA at Children's Hospital
 RN Lindsey K, CM Mosqueda, State Rep. Gerry Pollet (LD 46) and State Sen. Javier Valdez(LD 46) standing in solidarity with WSNA today.
Today I stood with the nurses of the Washington State Nurses Association at Seattle Children's Hospital in their fight for a fair contract. These nurses cared for our kiddos during the pandemic and showed that they were essential and not disposable. When they have what they need to provide quality care, we are all better off for it. It was a powerful sight to see not just so many WSNA members standing together but also being joined by other elected officials, parents, unions and community members.
Here's some local coverage of the picket.
Weekend Water Taxi Service
 Just two super excited District 8 residents excited for Saturday Water Taxi Service. Click this photo to read the Beachcomber story all about it.
Starting next Saturday on October 11th, you can ride the Water Taxi to and from Vashon Island with weekend service on Saturdays. Saturday water taxi service to Vashon has been a dream for islanders and mainlanders alike—and thanks to the tireless advocacy of Vashon residents, the leadership of Sen. Alvarado, and partnership with the Executive and Metro, that dream is now a reality. This is a major milestone in our continued efforts to enhance connectivity to the mainland—supporting Vashon’s community health, local economy, and creating more opportunities for recreation and enjoyment for communities on and off the island. I can’t wait to take a Saturday sail for a day on Vashon!
Larry Gossett Service Award
The Larry Gossett Service Award recognizes and affirms an individual or organization who has made significant contributions in the areas of racial equity, social justice, and/or human rights. Nominations will be accepted until December 1, 2025 nomination form online
The awardee is selected by the King County Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Planning Committee.
Alan M. Painter Grants: Community project organizers in unincorporated King County have until Dec. 5 to apply for 2026 funds
The Department of Local Services is now accepting applications for the 2026 Alan M. Painter Grant Program. This popular program supports projects and investments that promote inclusivity and enhance unincorporated communities. Funded projects benefit all community members, regardless of race, income, or language spoken. Funds may not be used for political activities.
A total of $90,000 will be awarded for projects in 2026, in individual grants of less than $5,000 per project. Funding for chosen projects will begin in March 2026.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, December 5.
The King County Council approved renaming the grants program to honor Alan M. Painter, the founding director of King County’s Community Service Areas program. Alan was a long-time public servant who also worked in the City of Seattle and served communities across King County.
The grant program that now bears his name supports projects that advance the King County Strategic Plan and achieve one or more of the following goals:
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Promote the engagement of unincorporated area residents in community or civic activities
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Educate local residents about issues that affect them
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Identify and gather community needs and priorities
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Meet King County’s equity and social justice goals of increasing fairness and opportunity for all people, particularly people of color and those with low incomes and/or limited English.
Since the program began, King County has awarded more than $1 million in grant money to community organizations.
Veterans Seniors & Human Services Levy Request For Proposals
The Department of Community and Human Services - Adult Services Division is pleased to announce the release of a new Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) Request for Proposal (RFP) for FS 6 DCHS-wide Human Services Workforce Stabilization .
The RFP focuses on funding entities to provide workforce stabilization supports to the human services workforce, with the goal of improving staff recruitment and retention within organizations providing human services in King County . We welcome your office to share information about the RFP with community members or potential applicants as you have the opportunity. For more information about this RFP, please visit https://www.zoomgrants.com/zgf/VSHSL_WorkforceStabilization_FS6 .
Rural Forest Commission
 The King County Rural Forest Commission ("RFC") was established in 1997 to advise the King County Council and the King County Executive on policies, programs and regulations affecting rural forests and to advise on ways to conserve forestland and retain working forests in King County. The King County Rural Forest Commission is an advisory group of 13 volunteer members, appointed by the King County Executive, who represent a variety of rural forest interests. The RFC is now looking for more members, click the picture above to apply.
Vaccines for Fall and Winter Cold and Flu Season
Below is a reminder from Public Health Seattle/King County about the upcoming flu season and the need to get your vaccines.
  Drive-Thru Gun Buy Back Event
  South Park Bridge Closure
 Photo by Andrew Pogue
The South Park Bridge will be fully closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for four nights, from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting the evening of October 1 and ending the morning of October 5. During this time, the bridge will be in the ‘open’ position to accommodate dredging activities underneath the bridge. Recreational vessels may be diverted around the construction work during closures.
Depending on the progress of cleanup work under the bridge, King County Road Services may need to close the bridge to traffic again overnight on Friday, October 10, and Saturday, October 11.
Seattle Latino Film Festival
 The Seattle Latino Film Festival from October 10th -17th is a presentation of a wide selection of 64 films between feature narrative, documentaries, short narrative and animation from twenty countries based in Columbia City. This is Latino Heritage Month, making this film festival ever more important, especially in the shadow of the national threats and hateful rhetoric towards our Latino/Chicano community. Please turn out for this Latino Film Festival, to share the love and support both the arts and our community.
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Thank you for allowing us to represent you on the King County Council!
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