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Fall should be a time of leaves turning, breaking out sweaters and settling back into school routines with kiddos. However, for up to 14,000 residents in Washington State who will start losing their health coverage on Thursday, they are more worried about what the change means for themselves, their families and the community. Up to 40% of these residents are right here in King County. Why? Their health insurance is being ripped away by HR1, also known as the Big Bad Bill, which effectively terminates coverage for lawfully present immigrants on October 1st. It’s cruel, it’s inhumane, and it’s only the beginning.
These cuts don’t stop there, up to 215,000 King County residents could be impacted by the cumbersome and unnecessary employment verification process that is intended to cause Medicaid (Apple Health) enrollees to lose their health beginning January 2027. When people lose health insurance, they don’t stop getting sick and needing care, they rely on our public health system and our emergency rooms, like Harborview’s. When people lose health insurance, that means fewer health care visits are reimbursed and thus less funding for our clinics and hospitals - health care providers will be laid off, care will be harder to get, wait times will get longer, care will be delayed, people will die. That’s the consequence of HR1 in King County which will compound existing fiscal cliffs for both Public Health and Harborview. But we are not helpless - we must act now!
King County has two revenue tools we should use to stand up against these drastic cuts to coverage. In this fall’s budget, and in the months ahead, I will be urging the county to utilize the revenue tools the State Legislature has authorized specifically for King County. I want to be clear, as we approach this budget, the largest looming threat to our community is the compounding effect of HR1 on the existing fiscal cliff we face in Public Health and at Harborivew.
We asked for the ability to generate revenue from the State Legislature and they granted us those tools. What we cannot do is to “wait for there to be lines out the door at Public Health clinics, or for Harborview to run into the red.” If we do, people will die. If we think we can plug a budget hole after we see the public health crisis unravel and systems collapse - it will be too late. It would be like going out to buy a fire extinguisher when the house is already on fire. The time to act is now - and that’s what District 8 residents can expect from me. More details and links from the committee hearings in the sections that follow to help explain what is at stake.
  Note: As of Sept 2026 for Harborview, and as of June 2026 for Public Health - more updated numbers still be analyzed.
 You can see KIRO's full story about the devastating impacts of HR1 by clicking the picture above.
Briefing on HR 1 at Board of Health
At the last Board of Health meeting, we received a briefing on the Federal Impacts of HR1 to our public health system. Thank you to Mark Ritacco of Manatt who spoke about the federal reality and the fact that counties are the backstop as there is no change expected at the federal level, from Daphne Pie from Public Health-Seattle/King County who spoke to healthcare navigators increasing work to mitigate people having their Medicaid taken away, and from Harborview Medical Center CEO Sommer Kleweno-Walley who detailed how this will impact our County owned Hospital and the mission population of patients it serves.
What all these presenters made clear is that HR1 will be devastating for our community here in King County and across Washington State. This means people newly without insurance showing up later in worse conditions in our emergency rooms and at our Public Health clinics - in addition to compounding pressure, need and less resources for Community Health Clinics around our region too. This will lead to not only worse health outcomes for those who have had their insurance taken away, but also increased costs for all of us as health systems begin to see levels of uncompensated care on par with what it looked like for them before the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion. Even more reason for King County Council to release a $31 million allotment it’s been holding onto - Harborview needs those dollars now to respond to Medicaid cuts, but the need will be even greater than we anticipated.
We are not helpless in the fight against HR1 and I'm thankful that the legislature has provided King County with two key revenue tools to help direct needed funding to both Harborview and our Public Health Clinics to respond to the existing financial cliff - and now these dollars are needed more than ever as there will now be an influx of patients, compounding needs and weakened safety net due to the looming impacts from HR1:
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HR 2442: Approximately $45.8 million could be generated annually for public health investments with councilmanic passage of the five-cent property tax authorized for King County by the state legislature earlier this year.
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HB 2348: An additional $45.8 million could be generated annually for Harborview Medical Center by fully implementing the taxing authority, another five cents, within the authority granted by the state legislature in 2024.
As you know, I am the first to advocate for progressive revenue, and will continue to ask for progressive revenue authorization from the state legislature. Yet, these are the only tools we have available and I don’t take the impact lightly. But the consequence of us not passing these taxes means more people will die without access to healthcare services around our county. You can see some of the coverage of the Board of Health meeting here and here.
Harborview Operations Spending Plan in the Face of HR1 at Committee of the Whole
 You can watch the video of the Committee of the Whole by clicking this picture.
Committee of the Whole welcomed Harborview CEO Sommer Kleweno-Walley to share the work of the County owned hospital and how County revenue directed to support operations is being spent. The funding we invest in Harborview goes to support critical programs like the international medicine clinic that serves our immigrant and refugee communities, the street medicine team who care for some of our most vulnerable neighbors and it helps recruit and retain the incredible healthcare workers who make Harborview a globally recognized institution. Harborview is only able to reach a net positive budget because of this County support and this is before the impacts of HR1 have shown up.
Continuing to invest in the medical center in the face of these cuts is now more important then ever as our community will see the mission population it serves greatly expand in the coming months. Harborview projects $120 million in enrollment-related losses in the first full year of HR1 alone. It is important to note that when programs close, or health systems close their doors, it is not just the neediest they serve who lose access to care, it is everyone.
Update on Food Safety Rule at Board of Health
 You can watch the Board of Health meeting by Clicking the image above.
We received an update on how the new Rule and Regulation the Board of Health adopted last year to hold bad actors in the food establishment space accountable to labor laws is going. Now, if a restaurant has failed to comply with a final order remedying a worker’s rights around things like being paid correctly, having time to wash their hands or even just being able to stay home when they are sick, this new placard will be placed in that business’ window. You can see some of the coverage of the new signs here.
Budget and Fiscal Management
Investing in Homeless Youth
 You can watch the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee by clikcing the image above.
Last week’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee hosted a robust discussion about our efforts to support homeless youth and their families. The legislature this year, gave the County the ability to generate revenue specifically for this vulnerable group. Thank you to CM Barón for his leadership on this and to all the advocates who shared their voices in support of this dedicated revenue. I’m proud to have brought a friendly amendment to this legislation making clear the funds can be used towards critical programs like rental assistance to help our youth from experiencing homelessness in the first place.
Dolly Parton Day Proclamation
 As I shared in the last edition of Teresa Tuesday, I brought forward the proclamation of 9/25 as Dolly Parton Day in King County. I was thrilled to sponsor this Proclamation, with co-sponsorship from CM Dembowski, and joined by representatives of the Imagination Library in Washington, Page Ahead and our King County Library System partners. Dolly was an advocate for literacy, a strong supporter of the vaccines that allowed us to emerge from the Covid pandemic and a champion for working people as a proud union member. All of this on top of her incredible contributions to music and culture. May she rest in power!
 Footage of Fox13's coverage of the Dolly Day Event at the Tukwila branch of the King County Library System can be found by clicking this image.
Standing up for our LGBTQIA+ Community
 You can watch the Ful Council meeting by clicking the image above.
At full council we took a stand opposing the hateful ballot initiatives targeting our children, and the LGBTQIA+ community, initiatives 638 and 001. There is no place for hate in our communities and these initiatives seek to marginalize those already targeted. I am proud and appreciative of my colleagues for making it clear that we oppose these harmful efforts. You can find the resolutions we passed in opposition to Int 638 here and Int 001 here.
Recognition of the Korean American Community
 We took time to recognize not only the work of the new Consul General Sung Gil Chang but also of the Korean American Community. The ties between our region and the republic of Korea are strong and the trade between us results in jobs in our local economy. Thank you to Councilmembers Fain and Von Reichbauer for bringing this recognition forward.
SeaMar Community Health Centers' Fiestas Patrias Parade
 It was an incredible honor to be the Grand Marshall of this year's Fiestas Patrias Parade in South Park hosted annually by SeaMar Community Health Centers. It showcased the wide gambit of culture and creative contributions we all help weave into the fabric of our community, making it stronger and more vibrant. Watch our social media coverage of the day here, and my comments condemning the targeting of the South Park Community by ICE that day - a pattern we’ve seen replicated in White Center, West Seattle and throughout our community. This Fiestas Patrias, we celebrate our resilancy and condemn the attacks on immigrants.
9/25 Dolly Day Story Time in Tukwila
 Photo Credit: Truong Nguyen, KCLS Photo Video COntent Strategist
What a day celebrating the incredible Dolly Parton on 9/25! She will always be remembered not just for her pioneering contributions to music, but for her huge heart and legacy of service to kiddos literacy and vaccine research. Thank you to the King County Library System, Public Health, the Imagination Library of Washington and Page Ahead for working together to make the read aloud story time at the Tukwila KC Library branch and incredible success. So glad Tukwila Mayor McCloud and City Councilmember Kate Kruller were able to join as well. You can see the news coverage of the event here.
Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust Tour
 It was wonderful to get out on the trails with the Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust to hear about their river basin restoration efforts, bringing Coho salmon back to their natural habitat, and even some chinook in the local estuaries!
Road Safety Tour on Vashon Island
 While on island last week, I was joined by Department of Local Services Director Leon Richardson and others from the Roads Department to hear directly from residents about road safety concerns they had about a stretch of Gorsuch Road. The Roads Department has announced proposed speed limit reductions in this area. You can offer public comment on these changes by going here.
WeTrain Gala
 WeTrainis an incredible organization that is helping members of our community enter apprenticeships in the grocery space. These apprenticeships can lead to good paying union careers in fields like meat cutting and fish mongering. I was so lucky to get to join their annual gala and hear directly from some of the participants in their programs about how they are literally changing lives.
Update on Judd Creek Bridge Repairs
 Roads inspection crews found additional cracks and delamination on the Judd Creek Bridge yesterday and notified the contractor that DLS/Roads will not be accepting the work. The contractor will not be able to complete the re-work until next spring because of weather constraints. Roads will be removing the detour signs and barricades today. It is safe for travel but there will need to be a future closure next spring.
Flood Preparedness Month
 Did you know flooding is the most common natural disaster in King County? As we move toward months with more rain and snow the chance of flooding increases. Just a few inches of floodwater can damage your home and create hazardous road conditions. Take the time to prepare now to keep yourself and your loved ones safe this flood season.
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Know the risk of flooding at your home, school, or workplace. Visit kingcounty.gov/FloodMap to look at flood risk maps. You can search for any address in King County.
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Get flood insurance. Visit floodsmart.gov to learn more about buying a policy and finding an insurance agent.
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Create an emergency plan and gather supplies in case you must leave or if services are cut off. Learn more at MakeItThrough.org.
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Identify alternate routes to and from home to avoid driving through roads with standing water. Check the My Commute map to see closed and restricted roads in unincorporated King County.
Find out what else you can do to prepare for flooding
Duwamish Valley Affordable Housing Fair
 Mark your calendars! 📅 The Duwamish Valley Affordable Housing Fair is next Saturday! Swing a hammer at their Community Build, explore the Affordable Housing Resource Fair, drop into a first-time homebuyer session, or catch the “Rooted in White Center” docuseries. 🔨🎬 And while you’re there, grab free lunch from a local South Park restaurant!
Community Stop the Bleed Training
 Investing in the Power of Youth: Portraits of Public Health
Last August, Public Health – Seattle & King County launched its fourth annual Public Health Camp, welcoming its largest cohort of high school and college students, between the ages of 16-21 years old, who are passionate about working in public health. Public Health Camp creates opportunities for students from underserved schools to explore careers in STEAM while helping build a pipeline for the next generation of public health professionals.
Upcoming Family Events with the Environmental Science Center at the Tukwila Community Center
Friday, October 9, Noon to 2pm (Seattle Schools day off)-Fry-Day Fest
Onsite King County Flu and Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics for KC Employees Happening Now
Getting your flu and COVID-19 shots is an important part of protecting your health, your family’s health, and your community’s health. Each year, King County’s Balanced You arranges onsite flu and COVID-19 shot clinics for employees who work onsite making it simple to stay healthy.
Find a time that works for you here: Onsite King County flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics for 2026 – Balanced You
Girls on the Run
I wanted to share a little bit about an organization in District 8, Girls on the Run, that we were able to support with a grant. They are doing incredible work, and I wanted the community to know. From GOTR:
Girls on the Run had a great year in District 8!
Our organization serves girls in 3rd-8th grade throughout King County. We took a look at the teams from your district and put together this report for you and your team.
In additional to building their confidence, empathy, and skills of how to show up in community, they also train over the season to run and complete a 5k. Unlike track or cross country, it’s never about who runs the farthest or finishes first, each week girls set their own growth girls from the previous week and work hard to reach their own goal. All while learning that physical movement can be joyful and fun and accomplished alongside friends.
As one of our principals said:
"Girls on the Run is an amazing program that has positively changed the culture of our school. Our 3rd-5th grade students have learned how to gain self-confidence while supporting and encouraging the growth of their peers. We see the effects of this in the new friendships that blossom at GOTR and remain present during the school day. In addition, Girls on the Run teaches girls how to use movement as a tool, which is an invaluable lesson I hope our students carry on with them throughout life!"
This year we are kicking off our 25th year serving kids in King County! We expect to register our 25,000th girl later this year.
La Cueva in White Center
 Step through the portal into La Cueva, White Center's newest destination where creativity, spirituality, and community come together. Located above the Tomb of Treasure, visitors can browse a thoughtfully curated collection of local art, collectables, handmade goods, and metaphysical treasures, including crystals, perfumes, candles, divination tools, and ritual supplies. Those seeking a deeper connection can meet La Hija De Lilith, a bruja, tarot reader, and astrologer, whose intuitive readings and spiritual guidance invite guests to embrace curiosity, intuition, and the mystical. At La Cueva, you can also find events that bridge art, spirituality, the occult, and empowering community. Find out more on social media at @lacuevaseattle or at the website www.lacuevaseattle.com.
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Thank you for allowing us to represent you on the King County Council!
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