News from and about King County… from health updates to community news affecting our daily lives.
Dear Friends:
Today’s update includes news on King County Council Proclamations, recipients of the 2026 Steve Bleifuhs Memorial Flood Reduction Grant, recruitment for the King County Rural Forest Commission, Federal Way Lions Club eyeglass donation, transit and travel industry updates, local events, and more.
Washington Trivia
This week, several decades ago, commemorates three significant anniversaries in public transit. Which transit agencies were established during this time?
(Answer is at the bottom)
King County Council Proclamations
On Tuesday, September 15, the King County Council presented proclamations honoring Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, as well as Welcoming Week from September 10 to 19, 2026.
 With King County Councilmembers Rod Dembowski, Teresa Mosqueda, Claudia Balducci, Sarah Perry, Rhonda Lewis, Jorge Barón, and Steffanie Fain, along with Kent Mayor Dana Ralph, King County Executive Advisor Rich Stolz and Immigrant & Refugee Commission Co-Chair Maha Roy, Tim Kniffin from World Relief, and El Centro de La Raza’s Child Development Center Director Hilda Magaña
2026 Steve Bleifuhs Memorial Flood Reduction Grant Program Awards Over $14.3 Million to Local Flood Risk Reduction Projects, Including Over $1.7 Million to District 7
The King County Flood Control District (FCD) announced on Tuesday, September 8, the recipients of the 2026 Steve Bleifuhs Memorial Flood Reduction Grant Program, awarding $14,307,027 to 39 projects across King County, aimed at reducing flood risks and improving resilience for local communities.
The Flood Reduction Grant Program supports vital flood risk reduction and resiliency projects, helping protect life, property, and the environment across King County. Four great projects in District 7 received funding this year, including:
- City of Algona received $359,000 for the 11th Avenue North Flood Reduction Property Acquisition.
- City of Auburn received $300,000 for the Auburn 400 Flood Mitigation Ponds/15th St SE Culvert.
- King Conservation District received $350,000 for the KCD Agricultural Drainage Project - Phase 13.
- City of Kent received $750,000 for the Earthworks Sediment Pond Culvert Replacement.
Read more on the FCD website to see a complete list of recipients.
Transit Updates
Metro Flex Launches in Auburn and Federal Way
Metro Flex has officially arrived in Auburn and Federal Way. This pilot program aims to improve transportation access in South King County, linking riders to essential destinations such as neighborhoods, schools, and transit hubs for a duration of two years. Metro Flex allows users to book rides via an app or phone, using Metro-operated minivans.
This initiative is funded by the Federal Highway Administration’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program. The funds were allocated through the Puget Sound Regional Council and are managed by the Federal Transit Administration, while King County Metro covers the remaining 20 percent of eligible project expenses. Read more in the Metro Matters blog here. Watch this video to learn how to ride Metro Flex.
 Download the app in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, call 206-258-7739, or visit metroflex.app.ridewithvia.com to book a ride.
Auburn Resident Tamieko Cook is Metro’s 2025 Operator of the Year
King County Metro honors Auburn resident Tamieko Cook as Operator of the Year, celebrating her dedication to public service. A ceremony at Metro’s South Base included King County leaders and colleagues.
Inspired by her mother, a former transit operator, Cook applied to drive despite initial hesitations. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, she returned to Metro, earned degrees, and engaged in union leadership. Metro provided her with opportunities for education, homeownership, and community service, with her favorite route being the 128, which connects her to her South King County roots.
Read more in Metro Matters blog here.
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Federal Way Lions Club Eyeglass Donation
I recently met with Erik Scott, President of the Federal Way Lions Club, to hand over hundreds of glasses that were left on Metro buses. This program, an annual tradition, focuses on recycling these glasses to provide support to deserving individuals in our community. I always appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with King County Metro and the Federal Way Lions on this meaningful project.
 With Erik Scott, President of the Federal Way Lions Club
King County Rural Forest Commission Recruitment Announcement
The King County Rural Forest Commission (RFC) is recruiting new board members until October 31. Established in 1997, RFC advises the King County Council and Executive on rural forest policies and conservation. The commission consists of 13 volunteer members representing various rural forest interests. For more information, contact Wendy Sammarco at 206-263-6916 or wsammarco@kingcounty.gov, or visit the King County Boards and Commission website.
Travel Industry Update
Visit Seattle’s travel industry report for the second quarter of 2026 showed a Downtown Seattle hotel occupancy rate of 75.9%, down 2.3% from the prior year, with rooms sold declining 2.0% to 1.1 million. Despite the drop in occupancy, the rate growth helped achieve nearly 3% year-over-year RevPAR growth in Q2, although it was below expectations.
Leisure and Hospitality jobs rose to 145.3K in June, a 1.0% increase from last year, driven by seasonal hiring. Accommodation jobs increased by 3.5% to 14.9K but remain 7.5% below 2019 levels. Food Services jobs rose 0.8% to 99.3K, while Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation jobs grew 0.6% to 31.1K, surpassing 2019 numbers. In contrast, Retail jobs fell 1.0% to 103.2K, 6.6% below 2019, reflecting uneven recovery in visitor-facing sector. Read the full report here.
Local Events
21st Annual Federal Way Lions Scholarship Car Show
I was honored to present the Top Cop Award to William Day for his 2022 Ford Mustang at the 2026 Federal Way Lions Car Show. This annual event raises funds for scholarships benefiting high school seniors in the Federal Way School District.
 With Top Cop Award recipient William Day and Miss Washington Teen Volunteer Sydney Brandt
Taste of Federal Way
The Federal Way Farmers Market will host the Taste of Federal Way on Saturday, September 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its new location, 31510 Pete von Reichbauer Way S. The event features a 'Battle of The Decades' theme, with each restaurant booth representing a different decade. Enjoy local cuisine while supporting community nonprofits; tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the information booth or from participating nonprofits.
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Save the Date: Seattle Home & Garden Show
Save the date for the Seattle Home & Garden Show, the Northwest's largest consumer home show, taking place at Lumen Field Event Center from February 25 to 28, 2027. The Spring show features hundreds of exhibits, including builders, remodelers, and landscaping. More details at www.seattlehomeshow.com.
Since its inception in 1939, the Seattle Home Show has remained a family-owned venture, originally founded by W. G. “Bill” McDonald’s family. The show was inaugurated by Eleanor Roosevelt and William Randolph Hearst under the theme: “Everything Fine in 1939.” After Bill McDonald managed the show until 2002, it is now overseen by Mike and Pam Kalian. Their granddaughter, Tara Kalian, is dedicated to strengthening relationships with exhibitors and introducing innovative ideas, ensuring the event's ongoing success.
South King County Non-Profit Corner
Learn more about the nonprofit organizations listed below:
Auburn Food Bank | Auburn Noon Lions | Auburn Valley Humane Society | Bloodworks Northwest | Eileen & Callie’s Place | Federal Way Historical Society | Federal Way Kiwanis | Federal Way Lions | Federal Way Public Market | Federal Way Senior Center | Friends of the Federal Way Libraries | FUSION Décor Boutique | Kent Lions | Multi-Service Center Food Bank | Orion Works | Rotary Club of Federal Way | Soroptimist International of Auburn | Soroptimist International of Federal Way | The Salvation Army | Unleash the Brilliance
Crime & Public Safety
To view local community crime maps, visit: Auburn Crime Rates | Federal Way Crime Map | Kent Crime Rates | King County Sheriff's Office Crime Data
 Did you ever wonder where words and phrases originated from?
Blueprint
Meaning: A photographic print in white on blue (or blue on white) used for copying maps and architectural plans, or something resembling a blueprint, serving as a model or guide.
Origin: The term "blueprint" originated from the cyanotype process, invented by Sir John Herschel in 1842, which created white lines on a dark blue background. This inexpensive method allowed architects and engineers to replicate technical plans without hand-tracing. Although the blue paper is no longer used, "blueprint" still serves as a metaphor for detailed plans or guides.
Melting pot
Meaning: A metaphor for a place or society where diverse peoples, cultures, or ideas merge to create a unified whole.
Origin: The term "melting pot," popularized by Israel Zangwill’s 1908 play, The Melting Pot, reflects a long-standing idea of cultural blending. In 1782, J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur noted that people from various nations in America formed a "new race." In the 19th Century, Ralph Waldo Emerson and German immigrants using the term schmelztiegel highlighted the concept of cultural assimilation and the mingling of diverse ethnic backgrounds in the U.S.
 Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S. at 14,410 feet, with 28 major glaciers.
Mount St. Helens lost the top of its head in its 1980 eruption, reducing its height from 9,677 feet to 8,363 feet, creating a crater over a mile wide.
Lake Chelan, at 1,486 feet deep, is the third deepest lake in the U.S., sitting 386 feet below sea level.
Washington features both a rainforest and a desert. The Hoh Rain Forest, located on the Olympic Peninsula, receives about 140 inches of rain annually, making it one of the wettest areas in the contiguous US. In contrast, the rain shadow created by the Cascades leads to a drier shrub steppe, receiving less water than some areas in Arizona.
Washington State Ferries is the largest ferry system in the U.S., carrying about 20 million riders annually across Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands.
Seattle Mariners 2026 Schedule
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Seattle Seahawks 2026 Schedule
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With best wishes,
Pete von Reichbauer
King County Councilmember
Washington Trivia Answer:
On September 19, 1972, King County voters approved the creation of Metro Transit. Previous Metro transit plans had been rejected multiple times, but the new all-bus plan was needed due to the impending bankruptcy of local transit systems. The Metro Transit system began operations on January 1, 1973, and was absorbed by King County in 1993. Seattle voters simultaneously rejected the second Committee for Modernization of Electric Transit (COMET) initiative for full electrification, as well as the first COMET initiative in 1964.
On September 21, 1977, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) was established, merging the Department of Highways with various transportation agencies. The new agency, overseen by a seven-member State Transportation Commission, included members from both sides of the Cascade Range and aimed for political diversity. Initial commissioners included former Highway Commissioners and appointees from Governor Dixy Lee Ray. At the first meeting, Ray Aardal was elected chairman, and William A. Bulley became the first Secretary of Transportation. The transition to WSDOT was seamless, retaining key management from the previous department and integrating staff from other agencies.
On September 17, 1993, the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (RTA) board convened for the first time, comprising elected officials from King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, and Washington State Secretary of Transportation Sid Morrison. They aimed to plan a regional transit system, leading to the eventual establishment of Sound Transit. Initial efforts faced setbacks, including previous voter rejections of rail transit. However, a successful 1988 advisory ballot shifted public sentiment, paving the way for legislative support and the creation of the RTA.
 Left: A bus entering the Metro tunnel in Seattle on March 16, 1989. Image courtesy of MOHAI (2000.107.124.37.01). Right: Metro Transit Express in Seattle, circa 1973. Image courtesy of King County Archives (MetroTransit1stYear).
Photo source: HistoryLink.org
King County Emergency Preparedness Guide
Emergencies can happen at any time, often without warning, and their impact can be reduced with the right preparation. This Emergency Preparedness Guide is designed to help individuals, families, and communities take practical steps to stay safe before, during, and after a crisis. From natural disasters to unexpected disruptions, being prepared means knowing what to do, having essential supplies ready, and staying informed. By planning ahead, you can protect yourself, support others, and respond with confidence when it matters most.
Read the Emergency Preparedness Guide compiled by my office here.
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