 Juneteenth is almost here and King County has long led on this recognition – back in 2020, we were the first local government in Washington State to make Juneteenth an official employee holiday, ahead of it becoming a federal holiday the following year. It’s a day to reflect, celebrate, and recommit to the work that remains toward full economic and social justice for the descendants of enslaved African Americans and there is no better way to do that than in community. This year I'm excited to share that our neighbors in South Park are throwing a full Juneteenth celebration on June 19th at The Scene in South Park. We're talking Double Dutch Divas, a community line dance with The Styles of Steppin', live music from Zhanea June & the Mach X Band, and DJ Red Culture to keep the party going. It's a celebration of liberation, and ALL are welcome. See you there!
King County Transportation District
Click on the image above to hear my final remarks on why this measure is so important for District 8.
Friday was a big win for unincorporated King County. As a member of the King County Transportation District Board – comprised of all nine Councilmembers – I voted yes on a measure to address our region's dire roads funding shortfall. The need is real and well documented: in places like White Center, Vashon Island, and Skyway, nearly every major arterial road needs investment, and unincorporated areas have nowhere else to turn since there's no other governing body to make these fixes. We need more than $200 million a year to keep our roads and bridges in good shape; until now, we've had just $6 million to work with. The measure approved Friday is estimated to generate roughly $100 million in the first year:
“For too long, communities in unincorporated King County areas, like White Center and Vashon-Murray Island, have faced roads and transportation infrastructure that continues to deteriorate, and the only governing body with direct ability to invest in unincorporated infrastructure is King County.
Today’s action provides much needed relief for unincorporated roads, bike lanes and sidewalks to be built on the horizon. Whether a person is driving a vehicle, riding the bus, walking, rolling or biking – we all deserve to be safe and protected from undo injury or death due to failing roads infrastructure. Today’s vote keeps the majority of funding focused on investments in unincorporated areas while also investing in the transportation needs of our regional cities – creating a more connected, safe and accessible transportation infrastructure across our region. The measure also calls for the County to continue to pursue a robust Transit measure to complement this investment in roads with additional alternative modalities to driving.”
Budget and Fiscal Management
Click on the image above to watch a recording of the meeting.
Last week, the Budget and Fiscal Management committee voted to advance our mid-year 2026 budget revisions on to the full Council. Team Teresa has been hard at work pushing for investments in health, housing, worker, and investments that support District 8 communities. The committee passed a “chair’s striker”—the package that will now be considered by Council moving forward—and I’m thrilled that many of my priorities were included. Here’s a rundown of what we secured in the striker:
Becoming a Man, $108,328 – Expanding violence prevention workshops to middle schools feeding into Evergreen High School
Somali Community Services of Seattle, $86,172 – Continuing case management services for Somali seniors
SeaMar Community Health Center in White Center, $5,500 – Training on new device to treat concussion and chronic whiplash – this can mean the difference between a person being permanently disabled and being able to return to their typical life
King County International Airport Community Coalition, $50,000 – Multi-lingual community education on lead exposure risks from aviation fuel; navigation and referrals for blood lead testing, follow up services, and public health resources.
Congolese Integration Network, $80,000 – Welcoming center for newly arriving asylum-seekers and immigrants
Downtown Emergency Services Center, $320,000 – Capital improvements for several of their permanent supportive housing sites
Comunidad sin Fronteras, $70,000 – Rental assistance to prevent eviction for asylum-seekers who are losing support from state refugee and asylum-seeker program before they have received their work permit or a job
Survivors FIRST, $473,000 – Diversion program for domestic violence survivor-defendants with intervention services - charges dismissed; safety planning, court support, housing & employment resources, therapy, and support groups
King County Department of Local Services, $15,000 – Two murals for buildings in White Center that are frequently defaced with graffiti
Public Health revenue analysis – I continue to raise the alarm that our public health clinics are in a financially perilous situation that could cause those who rely on these clinics for care potentially finding their doors closed unless we take action. As we work to address the financial outlook it was important to hear from those doing the work that our public health clinics actually sign more people up for Medicaid or eligible marketplace insurances than any of our community healthcare clinics helping ensure all possible revenue is being tapped to help support the care the clinics provide.
Government Accountability and Oversight
Click on the image above to view a recording of the meeting.
Last week I made a special guest appearance in the Government Accountability and Oversight committee to advance some amendments to Proposed Ordinance 2026-0101, which establishes a new county office called the Inspector General. Inspector General offices provide independent and objective oversight of government programs and operations through audits, investigations, and inspections and are generally known for addressing fraud, waste, and abuse; promoting efficiency and effectiveness; and keeping senior leadership informed about issues and corrective actions.
We were fortunate to receive analysis of the ordinance from our existing Auditor and Ombuds offices, which are similar but distinct oversight bodies at the county. My amendments advanced specific recommendations that these two offices offered on ways to improve the processes of this future office. More amendments to come to address some ideas and concerns from our labor partners before a final vote in Full Council. Let's get this right!
I appreciate Committee Chair von Reichbauer for having me at this committee meeting, and my colleagues on the committee for their unanimous support of each of my amendments! There is still more work to be done, as is to be expected when standing up a new oversight body, and I look forward to continuing to engage with my colleagues and interested stakeholders to ensure we are passing the strongest and most practical ordinance possible.
Food Safety Rating Online Search
 For safer food in King County, only buy from businesses that have a food safety sign with the below smiley faces shown. This sign means the business has a permit from the health department and follows safe food practices, like washing hands and keeping food at safe temperatures. For more information, see kingcounty.gov/foodsafetyrating and just in time, food safety ratings are back online! Visit kingcounty.gov/foodsafety/ratings.
Use the King County Food Inspections and Safety Rating lookup map to search for food safety ratings.
- To find a business, type the name or address in the lookup in the upper right corner of the page. You can also find businesses directly on the map using the zoom feature (the plus sign).
- To find inspection history, after finding and selecting the business on the map, the business name should display in the left panel of the map. Select the "History" link to see recent inspection history.
Public Health’s Environmental Health Services Division transitioned to a new permitting system in late 2025. Because of this transition, they needed to build a new mapping platform and complete several rounds of testing to ensure the new system is accurate and accessible.
Juneteenth Proclamation
 Council proclaimed June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth in Martin Luther King, Jr. County – marking 161 years since General Gordon Granger arrived in Texas to deliver the news that enslaved people were free, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. King County has been a leader on this recognition – back in 2020, we were the first local government in Washington State to make Juneteenth an official employee holiday, before it became a federal holiday the following year. This Friday is a day to reflect, celebrate, and recommit to the work that remains toward full economic and social justice for the descendants of enslaved African Americans.
LGBTQ+ Proclamation
 Council also proclaimed June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month – and this year's Seattle Pride theme, "Rally," couldn't feel more fitting. Pride started as a protest at Stonewall in 1969, and 57 years later, that spirit of resistance and solidarity is as necessary as ever. LGBTQ+ people – including two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual residents – continue to face real threats to their civil rights in housing, employment, education, and public life, and King County stands firmly on the side of dignity, safety, and belonging for every single one of our neighbors. Seattle’s Pride Parade is on June 28th – come ready to Rally!
Tubman Center for Health & Freedom Soil-Turning
 From left: Seattle Deputy Mayor Brian Surratt, Seattle Council President Joy Hollingsworth, Representative Brianna Thomas (34th LD), Former Seattle Councilmember Mark Soloman, Representative Chipalo Street (37th LD), myself, Seattle Councilmember Eddie Linn, Senator Rebecca Saldana (37th LD), King County Councilmember Rhonda Lewis, and Representative Nicole Macri (43rd LD).
Last week I had the honor of joining community members, elected colleagues, and the incredible team at the Tubman Center for Health & Freedom for their soil-turning ceremony in Rainier Beach. The new 26,000-square-foot health center, located steps from the Rainier Beach light rail station, is expected to open in winter 2027 and serve 12,000 primary care patients annually with a model of care rooted in community design, cultural affirmation, and the deep belief that you can't truly heal a community without confronting the systems that make it sick. The center was founded in 2020 by six Black, Native, and queer community members who recognized that healthcare as it currently exists wasn't designed with marginalized people in mind and everything about this new facility, from the apothecary and hydrotherapy spa to the mammography suite designed to be affirming rather than traumatic, reflects what the community actually asked for. Read more.
King County Children and Youth Advisory Board
Myself pictured with members of King County Children and Youth Advisory Board.
Last week I joined King County Children and Youth Advisory Board for a conversation about opportunities and challenges facing young people in our region – and it really comes down to jobs and affordability. District 8 is home to more union halls than any other in King County, and I believe access to good union jobs is one of the biggest opportunities we can create for young people, which is why I'm excited about new tools like YouthWorks and UnTemp (read on for more information about both)! College is the right path for some, but trades and healthcare careers are just as valuable and a lot more AI-proof than we were led to believe. Furthermore, we're making progress on childcare access, banning AI-driven rental price fixing, supporting food access, investing in behavioral health, and working hard to divert young people away from the justice system before they ever enter it. Because as is said in the labor movement, nothing about us without us, and young people deserve to have their voices at the center of every decision we make.
Elected Officials Soccer Match
 Before Team USA takes on Australia in Seattle this Friday, elected leaders from Washington state and King County will take the field for an international soccer friendly against a visiting delegation of Australian parliamentarians.
Coordinated by King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, Jessica Pierce, owner of West Seattle Junction FC and Rhodies FC, and Cameron Caldwell from U.S. Representative Rick Larsen's office, the match will celebrate the spirit of international friendship, civic exchange, and the global excitement surrounding the FIFA World Cup.
The match is supported by West Seattle Junction FC and Rhodies FC, members of the United Soccer League's League Two and W League. Coaches and players from both clubs will participate alongside elected officials from across Washington.
Elected roster so far, and growing:
- Representative Julio Cortes (38th Legislative District)
- Representative Osman Salahuddin (48th Legislative District)
- Senator Marcus Riccelli (3rd Legislative District)
- Senator Emily Alvarado (34th Legislative District)
- Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (King County Council, District 8)
- Representative Chipalo Street (37th Legislative District and former MLS referee)
- Joe Mizrahi, Seattle School Board (District 4)
- Gina Topp, Seattle School Board President (District 6)
- Councilmember Jorge Barón (King County Council, District 4)
- Councilmember Rob Saka (Seattle City Council, District 1)
- Councilmember Vivek Prakriya (Redmond City Council)
- Representatives from the offices of U.S. Representatives Adam Smith and Rick Larsen
As Seattle welcomes visitors from around the world for the FIFA World Cup, this friendly match brings together public leaders from both sides of the Pacific in celebration of sport, community, and international partnership.
The event is free and open to the public. Families are encouraged to attend.
UNTemp – A Dispatch Platform for Temp Work
 Really excited to share that something I've been proud to support is officially here. The MLK Worker Innovation Center just launched UNtemp, a union-backed dispatch platform for temporary work, timed to the arrival of the FIFA World Cup in Seattle this summer. The idea is simple but powerful: give temporary workers the flexibility of gig work without stripping away the protections they deserve. UNtemp connects workers through industry-specific cooperatives starting with the Seattle Janitors Cooperative and Seattle Event Services Cooperative so workers can coordinate jobs, pool resources, and keep the full value of their labor without a middleman taking a cut. I'm proud to have been a partner in getting this off the ground, and I can't wait to see it grow far beyond this summer. Read more.
King County Metro Pilots New Throne
Public Restrooms At Burien Transit Center
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Click on the image to read more.
Great news for Burien Transit Center riders – there's a new, clean, accessible restroom available 24/7 as part of a pilot project between King County Metro and Throne Labs. The new unit is fully accessible for people using mobility devices and can be opened via QR code, text message, or the Throne Bathroom Network app. For folks without a phone, tap cards are available from Behavioral Health staff who are on-site at Burien Transit Center on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 8 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 10 pm – and Metro's Transit Security Officers are there 24/7 if you need help getting in. This is exactly the kind of practical, dignity-centered investment our transit riders deserve.
YouthWorks – New Employment Program
for Teens and Young Adults
Click on the image to go to the YouthWorks website.
Know a young person looking for something meaningful to do this summer? King County just launched YouthWorks, a new workforce development program with more than 200 paid internships and volunteer opportunities for residents ages 16-24. Placements span 12 county departments across fields like public health, public safety, environmental services, and recreation. Volunteer opportunities can even count for academic credit! What makes this program special is that it was designed with young people, not just for them – youth helped shape the platform itself from the ground up. Applications are open now and deadlines vary by opportunity, so don't wait – head to kcyouthworks.org to apply or share with a young person in your life! Read more about it!
Events Ahoy! West Seattle Water Taxi is Set for Sailing to Mariners Games, Soccer Matches and More This Summer
Crossposted from The Captain's Blog
Click on the image to read more.
You don’t need a soccer tournament to stay busy in Seattle this summer, and the King County Water Taxi wants to help you get to all of the events taking place downtown—as well as to that soccer tournament!
Weeknight trips after Mariners baseball Weeknight post-game sailings for the Seattle Mariners are returning this summer. The weekday post-game trips from Pier 50 to West Seattle started June 1, after an interleague game between the M’s and the New York Mets.
The water taxi will provide evening post-game service Monday through Thursday. The scheduled trips between Pier 50 and the Seacrest Dock in West Seattle will operate.
ORCA 3-Day Pass
Crossposted from myORCA
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If you're planning to get around the region this summer – whether for the World Cup or just everyday life – ORCA has launched a new promotional 3-Day Puget Pass, available through August 31st, that lets adult fare riders travel unlimited across the Puget Sound region for a flat $18, or just $6 for ORCA LIFT, Senior, and Disabled cardholders. It's a great deal for anyone taking transit more than a couple of times a day over a long weekend or multi-day event. You can purchase the pass online at myORCA.com, through the app, or at an ORCA Ticket Vending Machine. Leave the parking headaches to someone else – grab your pass here!
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CID Summer Kickoff on June 18th
Click on the image for more information.
The Chinatown-International District is throwing a massive FREE block party on Thursday, June 18th from 3-9pm to kick off World Cup excitement – live music, food, art, shopping, and local performances celebrating AANHPI culture. Participation is free and open to everyone – find out more at cidsummer.com!
Taste of White Center – June 20th
Click on the flyer for more information.
The White Center Food Bank is excited to bring together our neighborhood’s wide variety of restaurants for a family-friendly event and fundraiser. With 30+ restaurants participating, attendees purchase $5 tickets to try a variety of foods like banh mi sandwiches, bubble tea, Indian fry bread tacos, and much more. Iconic restaurants like Sap Sap, Farm Boy Burgers, Young’s and others are ready to serve up amazing bites! Join us for a fun-filled event with food, a kid’s area and music! This event is FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, so get there early before things sell out!
Gather for Goals – June 26th
Crossposted from King County Local
Click on the flyer for more information.
As the soccer world descends on the Pacific Northwest next month, King County Department of Local Services and White Center Pride are teaming up to bring together community to celebrate in a way that’s uniquely White Center.
On Friday June 26th, they will hold a free community watch party and festival called “Gather for Goals” along 16th Avenue SW in the heart of White Center.
The watch party is a chance for community members to enjoy the world’s largest soccer competition without leaving their community or venturing into the neighboring host city. And see more places to catch the game in White Center here.
King County Youth Diversion and Intervention
Applications due Wednesday, July 15th @ 2 pm
Details: The purpose of this program is to fund community navigation and restorative justice services to youth and community members who have experienced harm referred by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Applicants must be a non-profit with tax-exempt status, a federally recognized tribe or tribal organization, or a public or government agency. The total funding available is $3 million.
For more details, please visit the grant website here, or submit questions via the Questions and Answers tab in the grant application portal, Agiloft.
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King County Youth Healing Project
Applications are due Tuesday, July 21st @ 5 pm
Details: The Youth Healing Project is a youth-led community funding effort that provides resources and support to organizations and young leaders advancing solutions that improve the mental health, connection, and well-being of young people ages 14-24 in King County.
There are two separate applicant tracks:
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Youth applicants are young people between ages 14-24 who are interested in leading projects either collectively with another group of youth or on their own. These young people are well versed or interested in youth leadership development and should be interested in youth mental health and growing their leadership skills. Youth applicants can apply for up to $9,999.
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Organization applicants are organizations within King County well suited to support and mentor a group of young people in leadership development as well as peer-to-peer mental health support. These organizations will have experience working with and training young people to lead their own projects as well as learn more about supporting the wellbeing of other young people. Organization applicants can apply for up to $50,000.
For more details, please view the proposal request here, or contact Phil Thompson at phithompson@kingcounty.gov.
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Medic One Foundation Community AED Grants
 Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Details: Medic One Foundation offers a limited number of grants for the purchase of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to be placed in public areas such as local government facilities, community centers, playfields, parks, and law enforcement vehicles within King and Snohomish counties. Priority will be given and grants awarded based upon demonstrated financial need, population served, location, and potential impact. Organizations must be a nonprofit or public entity.
For more details, please visit the grant website here, or contact Medic One Foundation at info@mediconefoundation.org or 425-625-2137.
Arts in Nature Festival
Click on the flyer above for more information.
The Arts in Nature Festival is coming back in 2026 after a pause from the pandemic. We're ecstatic to bring you an exciting new lineup of different music and visual artists - but in case you missed it the past couple of years, here's a quick throwback. The festival will take place on Saturday June 27th from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm at Camp Long in West Seattle. This event is FREE and open to all ages, welcoming individuals and families from across our community to come, enjoy, and participate. Come be a part of the amazing green space, 30+ artists, and community vendors that will be a part of Arts in Nature this year!
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Thank you for allowing us to represent you on the King County Council!
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