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Tuesday, September 1: Health, Housing and Human Services
Click on image above to hear CM Lewis ask presenters about how mental health/drug dependency funding will address emerging issues and also about constituent concerns about procurement practices.
The HHHS committee considered legislation to rename the Mental Illness and Drug Dependency (MIDD) program to the Bridge to Behavioral Health program. CM Lewis supports this effort to focus on positive outcomes.
Executive staff presented the plan for the expenditure of MIDD funding. CM Lewis asked about the decision to eliminate the “New Strategy” category of funding. Staff reported that the intent is to ensure all of the MIDD funds are available to be used for emerging issues.
CM Lewis asked about procurement practices. She specifically told the committee and presenters that she has been hearing from agencies in her district concerned about payment procedures. Doing so made it clear to the committee, the Executive and Department staff and the audience that changes need to be made.
You can see this exchange by clicking on the photo above.
Tuesday, September 1: Council
Councilmembers Lewis and Mosqueda hold the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies proclamation with former state legislator Velma Veloria. They are joined by members of the King County International Airport Community Coalition (KCIACC) and Councilmembers Steffanie Fain, Sarah Perry and Jorge Baron.
Councilmembers Lewis and Mosqueda led the council in a proclamation commemorating International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
The United Nations Environment Programme observes the celebration of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies annually on September 7th.
The King County International Airport Community Coalition brought this commemoration forward to also increase public awareness of the need for public action to protect and improve air quality in neighborhoods near airports.
Click on the image below to learn more about International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies and the work of the KCIACC.
 Wednesday, September 2: Law and Justice Committee
Click on the image above to hear CM Lewis ask the King County Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO) Director Tamer Abouzeid about recommendations for police accountability.
The Law and Justice Committee, Chaired by CM Lewis, interviewed and recommended three new members of the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (CACLEO) including District 2 resident Kyle Jones. Kyle – thank you for your service!
The committee also heard a presentation of the annual OLEO report by Director Tamer Abouzeid. This report includes information about investigations conducted by OLEO of external allegations of misconduct by officers in the sheriff’s office and recommendations made by OLEO to prevent future misconduct.
CM Lewis asked questions about how the sheriff’s office received those recommendations. To view her exchange with the OLEO director, click on the photo above. To see the meeting in its entirety, click here.
Finally, the committee received a presentation by the King County Human Rights and Civil Rights Commission. The Human and Civil Rights Commission was created in 2024 by the King County Council. To see their inaugural report click here.
Wednesday, September 2: Flood District Executive Committee
The Executive Committee for the King County Flood Control District met to review and approve expenditures including grants to agencies and non-profits countywide. The full Board will be considering recommendations next week on September 8.
For more information on the King County Flood Control District, click here.
Wednesday, September 2: Regional Water Quality Committee
CM Lewis tours the King County South Treatment plant
with members of the Regional Water Quality Committee in March 2026.
The Regional Water Quality Committee discussed Vision for Clean Water a 75-year plan for protecting our waterways until the year 2100.
Part of this discussion included consideration of what our region’s needs may be for level of treatment. This could be influenced over time by changes such as increasing amounts of pharmaceuticals in our waterways including hormones, antidepressants, weight loss medications and how that might affect fish, wildlife and human health.
To see this meeting in its entirety, click here.
Coming up: King County will be closed Monday September 7 in observance of Labor Day. The Council will reconvene on Tuesday, September 8 at 1:30 pm. The agenda will include consideration and vote on the Solid Waste rate.
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