 “We will fail when we fail to try.”
-- Rosa Parks --
 We held our first Safe Auburn: Community Conversations Part 2 meeting Tuesday at West Auburn High School, a follow-up to our first go around where we asked you to share out all of the public safety issues you're seeing in your communities.
We collected feedback over seven meetings across the city, and then got to work. One of the most valuable things we learned was the hyper-specific issues our residents see down to a neighborhood or block-by-block level.
 Part 2 of our meetings is about sharing what we learned, communicating and reiterating existing solutions, and brainstorming new and inventive ways to reduce crime. Because as some of you may know, throwing more police at a problem won't reduce crime wholesale. It's a community-wide issue requiring community-wide solutions. Some of those ideas we heard included recommendations for more active and attentive parenting for our youth, activities and programs for after-school, parks and play areas for weekends, road and infrastructure construction, adequate homelessness and drug resources, and of course, good policing.
 I want to thank the dozens of residents who came out to West Auburn High School Tuesday night, and especially to those who felt brave enough to speak during the question and answer period at the end. I also want to thank our City electeds in attendance, Deputy Mayor Cheryl Rakes, and Councilmembers Tracy Taylor and Hanan Amer. You can expect the rest of our council at future meetings.
I also want to thank our City of Auburn staff for coordinating the meeting and to our Department Directors who presented! And of course, to our amazing Auburn School District and its staff for our continued partnership, presenting during the meeting, and for allowing us to use your beautiful buildings!
On to the next meeting!
 * Thursday, Jan. 23
* 5:30 - 7 p.m.
* Mt. Baker Middle School | 620 37th St. SE
* Free, refreshments provided
Missed the meeting? Watch the video!
Missed Tuesday night's meeting? Not a problem! Our Communications team recorded the entire discussion, which is now available on YouTube, Vimeo and TV21 Auburn. Follow these links or click on the image below.
(Click image to watch video)
 Friday was the first day of the US Conference of Mayors (USCM) 93rd Winter Meeting in Washington DC. I am here with fellow King County Mayors Dana Ralph (Kent); Armondo Pavone (Renton); Mary Lou Pauly (Issaquah); Thomas McLeod, Angela Birney (Redmond), and Bruce Harrell (Seattle). The first general session featured Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy – in his final public appearance as he ends his second term in the role. He spoke about the people in our country struggling with loneliness and no sense of purpose or meaning. He said we often strive for fame, wealth & power instead of relationships, purpose & service. He reminded us that Thomas Jefferson encouraged “the pursuit of happiness“. Dr. Murthy encouraged us all to do one small thing a day to build relationships. We should choose to lead with love and not fear. Love is required to build a community. He referenced President Jimmy Carter when he us that it’s the people we love and the people we serve who help us find our purpose.
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A mayor’s role includes being on the frontlines - not frozen by partisan politics – because we need to get things done. We need to constantly ask ourselves How can our policies bring people together?
It’s up to us to make sure the American Dream is available, and we must put people first to serve our country. He was such an inspiration!
I also attended a session on immigration and homelessness. We’ve often heard that we can’t arrest our way out of the problem, but today added a new twist – we also can’t enable our way out of it. The messaging was clear and very validating for the work that we are doing in Auburn – there must be compassion, but there must also be accountability.
The final session I attended for Friday was very special as well. We were honored to have President Biden address the 280+ mayors in the room. Regardless of your politics, it is always an honor to be addressed by the President of the United States! One of President Biden’s first appearances was four years ago at the USCM, so he felt it very appropriate that one of his last appearances was also at the USCM.
You may have heard that the Inauguration for President Trump has been moved inside due to the bitter and dangerous cold. I can attest to the fact that it is extremely cold, and that the move inside was a great choice! I will not be attending; I’m coming back home on Sunday. There’s much work to be done, and I’ll be coming with some new inspirations to share!
 This week, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Representative Adam Smith (D, WA-09) announced nearly $80 million in federal funding for King County Metro’s RapidRide I Line expansion project, which will upgrade Metro Route 160 and connect residents of Auburn, Kent and Renton to communities throughout the region.
The RapidRide I Line expansion will mean more frequent buses, better connections, and an easy-to-use service for riders in South King County. The project includes sidewalk improvements, crossing and signal improvements, and easy-to-board buses to make RapidRide I Line more efficient — with buses that come every 10 minutes at peak, and most stations will provide real-time arrival information and lighting, as well as a dry place to wait for the bus. The I Line expansion is estimated to connect 14,000 residents to the places they want to live, work, shop, and play every day — approximately 6,000 more daily riders than the routes the I Line will be upgrading served before the pandemic. The project is the result of extensive community engagement throughout Renton, Kent, and Auburn.
This grant represents a remarkable investment in King County Metro and public transportation as a whole in South King County. As our region continues to grow, access to public transportation, especially frequent transit like the RapidRide system, continues to be an important cornerstone for our city, and King County’s expansion of services illustrates a promise to our riders, both current and future.
You can read more about the project by following the link below.
 On Monday, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
King’s leadership was instrumental in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, ending legal segregation and racial discrimination in voting. King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his nonviolent advocacy, but his strides towards justice didn’t come without a price— he endured imprisonment, violence, and ultimately death for his fight for equality. Today, let’s remember his values of racial equality, economic justice, and international peace while reflecting on the ways we can work towards equity in our own lives.
In observance of the holiday, City of Auburn buildings will be closed Monday!
 Bloodworks Northwest is headed back to City Hall next month and they could really use your blood!
As creepy as that sentence may seem, it's true! With the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, and the fact that blood supplies never takes a winter, rainy or snowy day, Bloodworks Northwest will take any and all help they can get.
Consider donating outside of City Hall at the Bloodmobile, or the following week at MultiCare Auburn Medical Center across the street!
Appointments are required for best experience. Photo ID required.
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* Tuesday, Feb. 11
* 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
* Auburn City Hall Plaza
* Tuesday, Feb. 18
* 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
* MultiCare Auburn Medical Center | 202 N. Division St.
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