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Tuesday, September 8: Council
Click on image above to hear CM Lewis and CM Mosqeuda speak in memory of the work and dedication
of KL Shannon leader, community organizer and honored D2 constituent.
On Tuesday, the King County Council received public comment on a number of issues and voted to approve the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO) 2025 annual report. The Council also appointed three new members to the Citizens Advisory Committee to the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (CACLEO) including D2 constituent Kyle Jones (thank you for your service Kyle!).
You can find this report from OLEO and other materials here.
CM Lewis requested adjourning the meeting in the memory of KL Shannon.
KL Shannon grew up in Seattle’s Central District and dedicated her life to organizing, public speaking, and commitment to social justice. She inspired countless people to become involved and work toward a more just and equitable society. KL started her organizing career with Jobs with Justice and Mothers for Police Accountability. Her body of organizing work included issues that impact communities of color: Economic Justice, Environmental Justice, Housing, Immigration, Police Accountability, and Transportation. KL was the Executive Director of Whose Streets? Our Streets! and a coalition organizer with Puget Sound Sage and community organizer with Seattle Streets Alliance. She served as Vice Chair of the Seattle MLK Jr. Organizing Coalition and worked with the Defender Association’s Racial Disparity Project. She has received several awards for her work, including the 2019 Community Organizer Award.
KL was a loving Aunt, who helped raise her nephews.
Her commitment to community will be missed by many many friends, neighbors, activists and organizers.
Click on the photo above to hear comments from D2 constituent Emijah Smith – a friend of KL Shannon who gave remarks to the council about KL Shannon’s work
Wednesday, September 16: Local Services and Land Use Committee
Click on image above to view the Local Services and Land Use (LSLU) committee meeting chaired by CM Lewis. The LSLU committee reviewed modifications to the Building and Energy Code as it relates to EV charging parking requirements for new construction.
CM Lewis chaired the Local Services and Land Use Committee (LSLU) which heard an annual report from the King County Conservation District (KCD). The King Conservation District (KCD) works with farmers and local land owners – particularly in rural King County- on ways to enhance environmental protection.
LSLU also considered lengthy proposed changes to the King County Building and Energy Code with particular focus on parking requirements for new construction and how new construction should include the ability for EV’s to charge in parking spaces.
Wednesday, September 16: Growth Management Planning Council (GMPC)
Through the GMPC, jurisdictions in King County work together to plan for economic and population growth. Developing a countywide vision involves collaboration, trade-offs, and difficult choices about the appropriate level of growth, its location, the type of growth to be encouraged, public spending, governance decisions, environmental protection, and the quality of life in King County.
The council's current members are elected officials from King County, Seattle, Bellevue, other cities and towns in King County, special purpose districts, and the Port of Seattle.
At GMPC the committee voted on Motion 26-1 which designates Countywide Centers. The opportunity to establish Countywide Centers help guide regional growth allocations, advance local planning, inform transit service planning, and represent priority areas for PSRC’s federal transportation funding.
Some of these Countywide Center applications are right here in District 2 and include Skyway, Central District, Graham, Mount Baker, Beacon Hill, Othello, Rainier Beach, and Columbia City! To learn more about Countywide Centers click here.
Thursday, September 16: Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC)
 The Puget Sound region comes together at PSRC to make decisions about transportation, growth management and economic development.
PSRC develops policies and coordinates decisions about regional growth, transportation and economic development planning within King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
PSRC is composed of nearly 100 members, including the four counties, cities and towns, ports, state and local transportation agencies and Tribal governments within the region.
At PSRC’s Growth Management Policy Board, there were briefings on regional housing needs and where federal dollar investments stand.
Thursday, September 17: Board of Health
Click on the image above to hear a presentation on the loss of Medicaid coverage for King County residents – the result of federal congressional action known as HR 1 or “the big beautiful bill” which is big, brutal
and not at all beautiful.
CM Lewis and the King County Board of Health received a briefing on the impact of HR 1 which was named the “Big Beautiful Bill” by the President. Presenters outlined that the impacts of this bill are far-reaching and will promote increased poverty.
It is expected at least 10% of those currently receiving Medicaid health insurance in King County will no longer be eligible for this insurance. It is unlikely they will quality for other insurance which means this congressional action will increase the number of neighbors and family members who will be uninsured.
By making the pool of people with health insurance smaller, the HR 1 bill will effectively cause premiums for all health insurance plans to rise. So, it is anticipated that it will cost more to get health insurance through Apple Care (Obamacare) and for employer plans.
The impact on local government is that King County residents without health insurance will need local emergency rooms in case of sickness or injury and will not have preventative care. This means demand on hospitals – particularly at Harborview Medical Center – will increase as will demand on jail services.
Thursday, September 17: Regional Transit Safety Task Force
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