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Committee of the Whole (COW): Tuesday, October 27 - 9:30 am
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Click on the image above to hear CM Lewis’ speak to the need for Promise scholarships, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs to ensure our kids get a best start!
On Tuesday the Committee of the Whole (COW) discussed King County’s 2027 State Legislative Agenda. This is the guiding document for how King County works with the Washington State Legislature in the coming year.
Councilmember Lewis advocated for adding requests for State support for expanding Promise program scholarships and apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs for youth.
Promise Scholarships are currently available in Seattle, Renton and Tukwila and provide public high school graduates with free college tuition to a 2-year public college or vocational program. Promise scholarships can help high school graduates cut the cost of a 4-year degree in half or provide the certifications and training needed for a job that will pay right away.
COW went on to receive several presentations on work underway to build a new tower at Harborview Medical Center to increase capacity to meet demand for hospital services. Harborview is our region’s trauma hospital serving 4 states including Washington, Alaska, Idaho and Montana.
Click on the image above to hear CM Lewis ask about the staffing plan for the Harborview Construction Project.
COW Committee members also received an update on the Executive’s proposed Return to Office plan which would require King County employees to be in the office 3 days per week. This shift involves making improvements to office space.
Click on the image above to hear CM Lewis ask about work points in the Return to Office proposal.
Finally, the committee received an update by the legal team in Executive Session on the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Plan.
For more information on this agenda please click here. To see the meeting, please click here.
Council: Tuesday, October 27 - 1:30 pm
CM Balducci and CM Baron co-sponsored a recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Left to right: CM Baron (District 4); CM Fain(D5); Project Be Free advocate, Bella Lomax, Katya Wojcik Executive Director, Project Be Free, CM Balducci (District 6); CM Lewis (D2); Amarinthia Torres, Co-Executive Director-Policy Coalition Ending Gender-Based Violence; Council Chair Perry (D3) and CM Mosqueda (D8).
If you or someone you know is in desperate need of help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233 or TTY 1−800−787−3224.
On Tuesday the Council received public comment on a variety of issues including increasingly passionate concerns about deportations of local residents by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the King County International Airport (Boeing Field).
Constituents shackled themselves to speak in solidarity with shackled deportees being loaded onto airplanes for deportation.
The federal government has authority over deportations, immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) and airports which limits the power of local elected officials to make desired changes. This was not acceptable to those giving comments.
King County International Airport keeps a log of ICE flights and has cameras that livestream ICE flights that you can see here.
Votes at the Council meeting:
The Council voted to approve changes to Countywide Planning Policies and – separately- in favor of a contract for the wastewater treatment division to sell biomethane – a byproduct of treating sewage – to Puget Sound Energy.
King County has been a leader in finding ways to utilize byproducts from wastewater and solid waste services.
The Council also voted on continuing Mo McBroom’s service as the interim Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks. A final selection of a new DNRP Director is expected in early 2027.
For more information on this agenda please click here. To see the meeting, please click here.
Left to right: CM Mosqueda (D8); CM Balducci (D6); John Tirpak, Executive Director Unemployment Law Project; CM Baron (District 4); Council Chair Perry (D3); Judy J. Lin, King County Bar Association, Michael Terasaki, Washington Pro Bono Council Manager, Abigail Daquiz, Executive Director NW Justice Project, CM Lewis (D2); and CM Fain (District 5). Not pictured, Huy Nguyen, Executive Director, Benefits Law Center.
CM Baron and CM Fain co-sponsored a Pro-Bono Week proclamation recognizing legal work done for free by attorneys for individuals and families who are not able to pay.
Check out the following links to learn more about Pro-Bono week at the Washington Alliance for Equal Justice and the American Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association and King County Bar Association.
Budget & Fiscal Management (BFM): Wednesday, October 28 - 9 am
Click on the image above to hear Skyway Community Leaders: Cherryl Jackson-Williams, founder of the Skyway Coalition and Mark Tate speak to the Budget Committee about a youth-designed after-hours community program in Skyway
On Wednesday, Skyway was in the house! (or rather the council chambers). Skyway community leaders Cherryl Jackson-Williams and Mark Tate were joined by Skyway youth speaking on developing the Skyway Teen Late Night program. Created locally by youth, the Skyway Teen Late Night program seeks $150,000 in funding support.
Click on the image above to hear Skyway youth speak to the Budget committee about a youth-designed after-hours community program in Skyway.
It is great for the Budget Committee members see and hear the intergenerational motivation, unity and drive in the Skyway community!
Click on the image above to hear CM Lewis speak about the leadership of youth including the Skyway youth designing and advocating for after-hours programming
For more information on this agenda please click here. To see the meeting, please click here.
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