SURVEY: White Center Ponds project has update, and questions, for you!

June 25th, 2025 Tracy Posted in King County, White Center news No Comments »

Received from King County – new information for you about the White Center Ponds project:

Project Overview:

King County is redesigning the White Center Ponds between SW 100th and SW Roxbury Street to improve water quality, increase public safety and improve the usability of the site. The County has reached 30% design for the project, which includes the proposed project elements:

Excavating the existing ponds to make them wet year-round 

Removing invasive weeds and replanting with native plants in a way that maintains sightlines  

Create a loop trail with lighting by adding a new multiuse pathway on the east side of the ponds  

The project team wants to hear from YOU! We would like to hear your thoughts on our early design plans and how a redesign of the White Center Ponds will benefit your community. The project team will be hosting various meetings with small groups, community organizations and programs, and one-on-one interviews.

Take our survey to share your feedback and to receive additional information about the project as design progresses over the next several months!

Project Contact Details:

Project Webpage: tinyurl.com/bdwht6rs

Project Email: KC-WhiteCenterPonds@cascadiaconsulting.com

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Acts on Stage founder Michelle Lang-Raymond honored with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service

June 10th, 2025 Tracy Posted in King County, White Center news Comments Off on Acts on Stage founder Michelle Lang-Raymond honored with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service

(Photo courtesy King County Council)
Congratulations to Michelle Lang-Raymond, founder of White Center’s own Acts on Stage Theater, for this honor bestowed today by King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda:

King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda on Tuesday awarded Michelle Lang-Raymond with the Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service, an award that recognizes individuals whose work has answered the question asked by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “What are you doing for others?”

“Michelle and her team are building community within White Center and throughout King County. Dr. King was a man of faith who recognized the power of the arts in propelling a vision of equity and social justice for all, and Michelle and Acts of Stage are using the arts- song, dance, theatre- to infuse social justice through the programs and services they offer to community,” Mosqueda said. “Art, music and dance bring people together, but the arts can also be a powerful form of resistance. In these challenging times, Michelle’s organization is telling the stories, and providing real-life stage experience and guidance to the next generation of leaders through the expression of art as record of change and tool for social justice.”

Lang-Raymond is the Founder and Executive Director of Acts on Stage Theater, a theater company located in White Center that serves various artistic communities within the Pacific Northwest, focused on centering the voices, talents and initiatives of People of Color and Creatives of Faith. This artistic project is a culmination of over 20 years of work combining Michelle’s gifts in the arts with her commitment to her faith.

She has answered the call of “what are you doing for others,” by continuing the tradition of using the arts as a powerful tool for social change and empowering artists as messengers who generate thought-provoking art and action, challenging and inspiring us to advance social justice in our communities.

Lang-Raymond is proud to have Acts on Stage be part of the cultural hub of White Center in District 8.

This marks the 10th year that councilmembers have each selected someone from their district whose work embodies the spirit of King’s question.

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Need a home repair? This might help

June 10th, 2025 Tracy Posted in King County, White Center news Comments Off on Need a home repair? This might help

From County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda‘s newsletter:

Minor home repair program available at no cost to income-qualified homeowners in White Center:

Habitat for Humanity’s Minor Home Repair Program is currently offering no-cost services to income-qualified home owners in White Center, Skyway, and Glendale. To apply, submit an intake form on their website or call their office at 206-866-7617. Note: the website says the minor repair program charges a $50 fee, but that fee is currently being waived in White Center and Skyway.

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Sales-tax increase proposed to help ‘offset budget cuts’ that could affect criminal-justice services

June 5th, 2025 Tracy Posted in King County, White Center news 1 Comment »

Just in from the King County Executive’s Office:

Today, King County Executive Shannon Braddock sent a proposal to the King County Council that would establish a new revenue measure to support public safety and criminal justice work.

The new proposal, if approved by the Council, would enact a 0.1% sales and use tax, authorized by state legislators and signed into law by Governor Bob Ferguson last month. The sales tax is forecasted to generate $95 million a year. Since nearly 75% of the General Fund is dedicated to public safety and the criminal legal system, the measure would generate sufficient funding to offset the County’s previously projected $150 million biennial General Fund deficit, avoiding deep cuts to essential services and programs.

“This new revenue tool will allow King County to continue to advance community health and public safety. I hope that the legislature continues the conversation on how we can make our tax system less regressive and better support our local governments that deliver so many of the important services our communities rely on,” said Executive Braddock. “With approval of this proposal, we can craft a responsible budget that invests in people while preventing deep cuts, and I would like to thank Councilmembers Zahilay and Dembowski for their commitment to working together and quickly charting a path forward for this critical measure.”

“Without urgent action to stabilize our general fund, real people will suffer. In unincorporated King County, police service will be reduced or delayed during the moments people need help the most. More people in crisis will remain on the streets or end up in jail without access to the mental health and addiction care they need. Victims of crime will wait even longer for their day in court. Public defenders will face even more crushing caseloads,” said King County Council Chair Girmay Zahilay. “A sales tax isn’t what I’d choose to fix these issues in an ideal world—it’s a regressive tool. But it’s the only option we have to avoid devastating cuts to our public safety services. That’s why I’ll support this proposal and work with communities across King County to shape it and protect the services we all rely on to survive.”

“King County’s public safety, public health and other general fund programs are in very serious trouble. Without new revenue, we face at least $150 million in cuts over the next two years,” said King County Council Budget Chair Rod Dembowski. “That is why Council Chair Zahilay and I advocated for and now fully support Executive Braddock’s proposal to implement the authority provided to us by the state legislature to prevent these cuts. For the cost of ten cents on a $100 taxable purchase, we can and will keep our sheriff’s office, prosecutor’s office, our courts, victim advocacy services, and prevention and diversion programs adequately resourced. This program will also give needed support to our public health and human services programs. We will move this proposal forward without delay.”

As part of her 200-Day plan, Executive Braddock will convene a public safety roundtable at the end of July, bringing together elected representatives from King County, community perspectives, law enforcement, and other partners in the criminal legal system.

The roundtable discussion, alongside community engagement, will ensure a collaborative process to help inform strategic investment opportunities to address public safety and legal system issues the County is facing. This could also include recommendations to expand or adjust diversion and reentry programs, programs to reduce the number of people interacting with the criminal legal system, community outreach and assistance programs, alternative mental health crisis response programs, or initiatives addressing gun violence.

The allocation of the funding will be proposed in Executive Braddock’s 2026-2027 budget, which will be sent to the Council for consideration in September.

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Community-planning grant money for your organization? Here’s an opportunity

April 3rd, 2025 Tracy Posted in King County, White Center news Comments Off on Community-planning grant money for your organization? Here’s an opportunity

From the WCN inbox:

King County’s Department of Community and Human Service is excited to share that the Skyway-West Hill & North Highline Permanent Affordability Community Planning Support Request for Proposals (RFP) is now open! This funding opportunity closes on April 22, 2025, at 2PM PT. Eligibility determination must be completed and reviewed before access to the full application is provided. Please complete the eligibility determination tab in ZoomGrants as soon as you are able!

Click here to view the full funding opportunity details and apply.

Background and Overview

Directed by Ordinance 19146 and Motion 15539, King County released the Anti-Displacement Strategies Report in 2021. Motion 15539 directs the Executive to pursue “strategies to implement community land trusts; including funding a year-long community engagement process with monthly meetings to ensure that the North Highline and Skyway-West Hill community voices are being included in the process to shape any possible strategy; and exploration into a variety of funding sources for such a community land trust.” In response to that recommendation, this RFP will deploy up to $175,000 to initiate a year-long community planning process, or a year-long implementation process to further explore permanently affordable housing models in Skyway-West Hill, or North Highline.

The goal of this RFP is to increase the supply of affordable housing to mitigate, repair, or prevent residential displacement in Skyway-West Hill and North Highline. These RFP funds are intended to fund either a community planning process or implementation process to explore permanently affordable housing models in Skyway-West Hill and North Highline communities.

For questions or more information regarding this funding opportunity, please contact Skye Haeffele, the RFP Lead, at shaeffele@kingcounty.gov

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De’Sean Quinn appointed as newest King County Councilmember

January 28th, 2025 Tracy Posted in King County, White Center news Comments Off on De’Sean Quinn appointed as newest King County Councilmember

Since King County is the “local government” for White Center, this appointment is of note even though it involves a council district south of ours. Here’s the official announcement:

The King County Council on Tuesday voted to appoint De’Sean Quinn to fill the District 5 council seat vacated when Dave Upthegrove was elected as Washington State Lands Commissioner.

“I am thrilled to welcome our new colleague, Councilmember De’Sean Quinn, to the King County Council! With his strong, steady leadership and deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our region, he’s ready to hit the ground running,” said King County Council Chair Girmay Zahilay. “Together, I look forward to partnering on the critical issues impacting South King County, ensuring that workers and families have the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference, and I’m eager to partner in creating a stronger more prosperous feature for our communities.”

Quinn is a current Tukwila City Councilmember who has served in that role since 2008. He is also a King County employee, working as assistant general manager of Partnerships and Strategies for King County Metro. He will resign both these positions before he is sworn in as a King County Councilmember. Quinn also previously served as community relations manager for former Executive Ron Sims, as council relations director, and as regional relations manager under Executive Dow Constantine.

District 5 represents the cities of Renton, Kent, Des Moines, SeaTac, and Normandy Park. Quinn will serve until the results of the November general election are certified.

(Photo credit: City of Tukwila)

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VIDEO: $11 million party! King County celebrates participatory budgeting and those who won a share of it

December 18th, 2024 Tracy Posted in Arts, Health, King County, White Center news Comments Off on VIDEO: $11 million party! King County celebrates participatory budgeting and those who won a share of it

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

Think the term “participatory budgeting” sounds boringly bureaucratic? Hundreds of people involved in King County arts and culture organizations and service providers would vigorously disagree, in the wake of a celebratory gathering tonight in White Center, for the organizations around urban unincorporated King County who won a share of $11 million. Here are two of them:

(WCN video)

Young poetry performers Chellsea Vales (a 6th grader from Dimmitt Middle School) and Amiracle Hayes (a 5th grader from Campbell Hill Elementary School) were there for Speak with Purpose, “the only public-speaking program directly offered in classrooms throughout King County.” Speak with Purpose is receiving $96,000 from this year’s participatory-budgeting allocations.

Though the announcement of the celebration said County Executive Dow Constantine was expected to join Local Services Director Leon Richardson, Constantine’s deputy executive Shannon Braddock was there with Richardson instead. They and PB program manager Gloria Briggs had warm words for the program, as did others who were involved in the process that started with community nominations and continued into community voting:

Many of the recipients were there to officially accept their awards, which came from two pots of money, including cannabis-related dollars that went specifically to North Highline and Skyline. Briggs announced some of the NH winners:

And there were more performances – including Evergreen High School’s own Mariachi Ocote, led by Gabriela Olivarez.

They’re part of a Highline Public Schools program that stands to get a $120,000 PB grant if the school board approves acceptance. And White Center-based Acts on Stage presented a youth performer, too, Kaia Houston, who wrote the song she sang:

Acts on Stage won two grants for two programs, $82,000 and $180,000. One of the largest contingents there to accept their grant was the Khmer Community Center group:

They’re receiving $600,000 to “finish the transformation” of their under-construction building. Other major grants for unincorporated North Highline include $750,000 for Evergreen Aquatic Center, $700,000 for the White Center Heights Elementary (where this event was held) playground, $700,000 to more brightly illuminate downtown WC, and $200,000 for the White Center Food Bank. Community voting for potential grants was held this past October.

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King County’s participatory-budgeting awards include White Center winners

November 26th, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County, White Center news 2 Comments »

Just announced by the King County Executive’s Office, more than $11 million in participatory-budgeting awards. See the full list here. Among the White Center winners:

The Evergreen Aquatic Center, a non-profit indoor pool in White Center, will receive $750,000 for building and facility renovations. The aquatic center promotes health, wellness, and water safety for people of all ages — supporting equitable access to swimming programs.

The White Center Food Bank will receive $200,000 to support the growing demand for food from community members, up nearly 40% from last year.

To see other White Center winners, including the Khmer Cultural Center, here’s the full list.

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Got something to say about the King County Comprehensive Plan? Tuesday’s your chance

November 17th, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County, White Center news Comments Off on Got something to say about the King County Comprehensive Plan? Tuesday’s your chance

The Comprehensive Plan is meant to envision King County’s future – and your feedback matters, county leaders say. Tuesday you have a chance to participate in a major public hearing about it:

The Council will accept public testimony on the 2024 Comprehensive Plan package, including the changes to the 2024 Comprehensive Plan and the Countywide Planning Policies, on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, beginning at 11:00 a.m. No votes will be taken at this meeting. This meeting will allow for in person or virtual public testimony. Information on how to participate in this hearing is available at this website.

The Council is expected to vote on the 2024 Comprehensive Plan package at the December 3, 2024 meeting, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. The agenda for this meeting will be issued on or around November 27, 2024, and any additional materials or amendments will be posted to the Council’s Comprehensive Plan website as they are made available.

Also: Written comments on the proposed plan are welcome at any time during the Council’s review. Comments can be submitted electronically by emailing CouncilCompPlan@kingcounty.gov.

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Participatory budgeting returns: Vote how to spend $ in White Center / North Highline!

October 7th, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County, White Center news Comments Off on Participatory budgeting returns: Vote how to spend $ in White Center / North Highline!

“Participatory budgeting” is back, and your chance to vote is happening right now. Here’s the announcement we received from King County:

Residents and other community members in East Federal Way, East Renton, Fairwood, North Highline/White Center, and Skyway/West Hill are casting their votes this month to choose proposals for King County to fund and/or carry out in their traditionally underserved communities.

This is the county’s second round of Participatory Budgeting, a two-year, community-led process in which residents gather ideas from their neighbors, create proposals from those ideas, and hold a vote to decide which proposals to pay for with county funds. Each community vote takes place both online and in person at pop-up voting events.

Ballots are available in English and several other languages, and multi-lingual community members will be on hand at voting events to help explain the process.

The King County Council has made available a total of $11.8 million to be divided among the urban areas. This includes revenues from the marijuana tax, which benefit White Center and Skyway—so those areas receive larger shares of the funding.

From now through Oct. 31, anyone who lives, works, owns a business, receives services, goes to school, or worships in one of these five areas is encouraged to cast their vote to choose projects to benefit their community.

How to vote

Residents and other community members can vote in-person or online. Get more information about how to vote in your community.

More on Participatory Budgeting

In 2021, the King County Council approved Executive Constantine’s proposal to try this new approach to community investment, which is centered on racial equity. It gives people who live, work, play, or worship in the county’s five urban unincorporated areas the chance to directly choose how more than $11 million is spent in their communities. 

Participatory budgeting allows communities to identify, discuss, and prioritize public spending. Residents help decide how to spend money on capital projects (physical things that are bought, built, installed, or fixed up) or programs and services. 

The Community Investment Budget Committee, a group of appointed residents from King County’s urban unincorporated areas, met virtually to create the framework for the new participatory budgeting process. 

Where does the money come from?

The funds for the capital projects are backed by bonds. The funds for programs and services in North Highline/White Center and Skyway-West Hill come from King County’s general fund and are supported by marijuana retail sales tax revenue.  

Learn more by visiting publicinput.com/yourvoiceyourchoice

As you’ll find when you click through to learn how to vote, you can do it in-person at pop-up events as well as online. Be sure to vote on BOTH WC/NH ballots – capital projects AND services. Here’s the list of the in-person events coming up:

*(Tue) October 8, 6 PM – 8 PM |Southwest Boys & Girls Club* (Kick-off Event) – 9800 8th Ave SW #105
*(Thu) October 17, 2 PM – 3 PM | White Center Library – CSA Office Hours* – 1409 SW 107th St
*(Thu) October 17, 5 PM – 8 PM | Art Walk Parade – Puffy Pandy to Roxbury St*
*(Sat) October 19, 6 PM -9 PM | Evergreen Aquatic Center – 606 SW 116th St
*(Thu) October 24, 2 PM – 6 PM | White Center Library* – 1409 SW 107th St
*(Wed) October 31, 6 PM – 8 PM | White Center Halloween Event (Block Party)

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VIDEO: What’s next for 16th SW street-safety plan, and how to speak up before decision’s made

July 29th, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County, Safety, Transportation, White Center news 4 Comments »

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

King County Road Services expects to finalize a plan for the 16th Avenue SW street-safety project by the end of August.

That’s what county reps told us after last Wednesday’s meeting at the White Center Food Bank to re-explain the project and listen to community comments. If you weren’t there, you can still voice an opinion via the survey linked here, which will remain open into early August – an attendee asked for a one-week extension, and county reps said OK. At issue is whether or not to include bike lanes in the plan to remove two driving lanes on 16th between 100th and 107th.

The meeting was held by request of the community, and moderated by community advocate Kimnang Seng. First, here’s our video, which is in two parts, starting with the presentation and some Q&A/comments interspersed throughout:

The second part is entirely Q&A and community comments:

Seng explained the reason for the meeting – people felt they hadn’t been adequately heard regarding the project, which was first announced two years ago (here’s our report on the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting where we first learned about it). He said he and others started inquiring about it this past May and learned many felt they didn’t know about it, particularly BIPOC community members, refugees, and merchants. (During the meeting, a WCFB rep said they had contacted Road Services knowing they’d move to this area, and were told the department would get in touch when design was further along, but never did.)

On behalf of King County Local Services, parent department to Road Services, David Daw promised they were trying to fix that, insisting, “We’re here to listen … We are your city hall.”

Road Services director Tricia Davis said the project was rooted in a belief that “this area really needed to be safer for everyone.”

The county received grant money that “narrowed down the options” for how to achieve that, and affected the timeline too – they have to start building this project within a year or they’ll lose the money.

While much attention has been on whether the project includes bicycle lanes or not – Davis said they had decided in favor of them but could reconsider – county traffic engineer Wally Archuleta said the flashing lights and curb bulbs are important parts too. He stressed that the area had a “pretty high” collision rate, which is a major reason this stretch was singled out for changes.

County reps also reiterated that the options would result in more parking spaces than the stretch holds now. Davis said they’re aware how “meaningful” parking is to businesses.

An attendee said she felt the road was already “fantastic” and wondered if Road Services had counted current numbers of pedestrians and bikes, and whether they’d studied the “outcomes” of rechannelization projects on Ambaum in Burien and 35th SW in West Seattle. Overall, she felt the project was just “a federal money grab.” That declaration drew some applause.

Another attendee, after expressing his concern about adequate business parking, wondered how the survey results would be used. Davis clarified that the survey “is not a vote – it’s a gauge of community input … an important piece of data,” though, she added, “so is this conversation.”

To try to allay concerns about parking, they showed the before/after potential views, plus a slide showing how the numbers of parking spaces would change and compare:

Both options would increase the number of street spaces, the county said, though by a smaller number of added spaces than the design options presented two years ago.

One attendee voiced concern about “a lot of focus on the street parking,” since, he said, he had counted more than 700 offstreet spaces in the area.

White Center bike-shop owner Aaron Goss noted that bike lanes would improve safety for more than the riders: “People who ride bikes make the world safer for everybody.” That drew applause.

Another business owner countered by saying he felt bike lanes would lead to “a lot of people (getting) killed” and observed that “nobody bikes on this road.” He too drew applause.

The county delegation countered by saying that “road diets” cut the number of crashes “almost overnight.”

Another concern they tried to counter was the cost of bike lanes, which they said, if implemented in this project, would cost about $87,000.

More questions: Did Road Services consult the King County Sheriff’s Office? Archuleta wasn’t sure if they directly reached out to KCSO but said they routinely work with them closely. Did they notice the bike lanes along 16th would not directly connect to others? Davis replied to that by saying that 107th, at the south end of the project zone, is an east-west bike route, that there’s a north-end narrowed street that connects, and that this would be a springboard to growing the bike-lane network – in the “if you build it, they will come” vein.

That didn’t impress the next commenter, who suggested that “lofty goals” are being pursued over “daily life,” and that sidewalks in areas without them would be more useful than driving-lane loss.

Will any trees be planted? another attendee asked. Davis said no. The attendee said that’s bad news for White Center, which has too few trees as it is. But, county reps said, they do now have an urban forester to consult. Also, added Daw, a White Center “beautification survey” starts next month.

A representative of the Khmer community echoed the request for more trees. She also said the previous project survey hadn’t reached her community, and that she feels driving-lane reductions would decrease safety, not improve it.

What about the cultural impat of bike lanes and the dynamics of gentrification? another person asked. Davis said they’re aware gentrification is a concern, but right now “the most important thing they’re thinking about … is safety.” The attendee countered that “economic safety and cultural safety” should be considered too.

What about making 17th a greenway and sending bike traffic there? suggested another participant. Then came a voice in support of bike lanes, someone who moved here seven years ago and gave up riding because it was so unsafe, and would be glad to see this start to move in the other direction: “The neighborhood needs to prioritize all modes of transportation.”

Back to cars – a representative of the Easy Duz It Car Club wondered about the cost of parking, and whether the county had considered the results of a national study on reverse-angle parking. Archuleta said they didn’t have the cost information at hand but would find it and get it out.

Speaking of money, another person asked if money would be available for anyone who had to make changes to offstreet parking or signage because of the eventual plan. Davis affirmed that federal rules might require property owner to pay for “encroachments.”

A question with an unexpected answer: Was reducing the speed limit considered? Archuleta said, “Reducing the speed limit doesn’t make drivers go slower.” The followup: “Is that a data-based statement?” No, he said, “it’s our experience – traffic-calming measures have been (what’s) most effective.”

Those measures will not included added stoplights, he said in response to another question, but there will be more push-button-activated flashing crossing lights. Will timing be improved for existing signals? Archuleta said timing is an “ongoing” matter, so if there’s a particular signal that you think should be examined, report it.

In conclusion, Davis promised her team would “continue to listen (and) read survey results,” and she promised those would be shown to the community. Granting a request to extend the survey would mean it’s open until August 7; you can take it here. But, she warned, “it’s late in the process … (we) need to make a decision and move forward pretty quickly.”

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New leader for King County Department of Local Services: Leon Richardson

July 1st, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County, White Center news Comments Off on New leader for King County Department of Local Services: Leon Richardson

A new director for the King County department that most directly impacts communities such as White Center, the Department of Local Services, has just been announced:

Leon Richardson has been appointed the new director of King County’s Department of Local Services. He was previously at the County Department of Community and Human Services, where his achievements include helping stand up vital assessment and recovery centers at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a matter of weeks, he built out King County’s vaccination infrastructure, ensuring equitable access and distribution. Additionally, he administered a $400 million eviction and rent assistance program as well as overseeing the renewal of the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy.

Richardson – whose appointment requires King County Council confirmation – succeeds John Taylor, the department’s first-ever director, who moved to the Department of Natural Resources and Parks earlier this year.

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Minimum wage goes up for unincorporated King County. Here’s what co-sponsoring Councilmember Mosqueda says about it

May 14th, 2024 Tracy Posted in Jobs, King County, White Center news Comments Off on Minimum wage goes up for unincorporated King County. Here’s what co-sponsoring Councilmember Mosqueda says about it

County Councilmembers have approved a new, higher minimum wage for North Highline and other unincorporated areas of the county. Our area’s Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda co-sponsored it – here’s how she announced it in her newsletter tonight:

Today, the King County Council passed a new minimum wage for the unincorporated areas of the County. This new law, which I was proud to co-sponsor, will help bring unincorporated areas of the County, like White Center, Vashon Island, Skyway and more, in line with the many and growing jurisdictions in this county that have a higher minimum wage than the state minimum. Thanks to Councilmember Zahilay who was the prime sponsor, Committee Chair Rod Dembowski who also sponsored the legislation, and their teams for leading the effort on this bill with community.

Starting on January 1, 2025, the minimum wage for businesses with 500 or more employees will start at $20.29 and increase with inflation annually starting in 2026. There is a phase in for smaller businesses: Employers with 15 or fewer employees with an annual gross revenue of less than $2 million will have an hourly minimum wage rate of $3.00 less ($17.29). The reduction would decrease annually by $0.50 until no reduction is remaining in 2030. Employers with more than 15 employees but fewer than 500 employees would have an hourly minimum wage rate of $2.00 less ($18.29). The reduction would decrease annually by $1.00 until no reduction is remaining in 2026.

Coming from the labor movement, lifting up the voices of workers, community and small businesses to raise the wage for low wage workers in Washington State and at the local level, I know it works. When low wage workers get a raise they spend that money putting it back into their local economy. One Seattle Times article literally said: “the sky is not falling from Seattle’s minimum-wage hike”. Eight years ago, I helped lead the statewide minimum wage and sick leave initiative 1433, because reports showed the minimum wage has not kept up with the cost of living – especially in this region. Study after study have shown that raising the minimum wage spurs economic growth by putting more money in our local economies – and that’s actually good for business. This is why I joined with my colleagues on the council to bring in worker advocates, small businesses and other stakeholders to craft policy raising the wage for our unincorporated areas.

With outreach and engagement done by our office, we’ve heard from workers and small businesses across District 8 that they support the new minimum wage. Many small businesses in the district are already paying wages above what the new minimum will be because they believe in paying a living wage and want to recruit and retain workers. One of the best ways to do that is to make sure workers can afford to live near their places of employment. A 2 bedroom apartment in White Center on average goes for nearly $2,000 a month, which would take up to 70% of your income before taxes if you made only the state’s minimum wage. As we work on scaling up housing and affordable units, one job really should be enough to make ends meet. I am proud to have voted yes to raise the wage for workers in District 8 and will continue to support additional strategies to grow small business, invest in equitable development, increase housing stock, and build more affordable units around our region. Raising the minimum wage is just one part of the effort to create a more equitable economy.

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WEDNESDAY: King County Job Launch!

April 15th, 2024 Tracy Posted in Jobs, King County, White Center news Comments Off on WEDNESDAY: King County Job Launch!

From the White Center Teen Program:

King County Job Launch for ages 16 – 24 is coming up on Wednesday, April 17th.

The Fall Job Launch Program features Pathways to Working in Healthcare. Ages 16 – 24 are encouraged to join virtually on zoom or in person at the White Center Teen Program (1321 SW 102nd St) or the Skyway Library (12601 76th Ave S ) on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 from 3:30 pm-5:30 pm. Scheduled presenters include:

IHAP (Introduction to Healthcare Employment and Mentorship Program)
Multicare
Career Work$ Medical Free Job Training Program
Walgreens
Insider Panel of careers in Healthcare

For additional Information, please contact Vana Danh, King County Parks @ 206.477.2105 or visit Job Launch & PNTH Job Fair – White Center Teen Program (wcteenprogram.org)

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White Center sidewalk-repair project postponed again

April 10th, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County, Transportation, White Center news Comments Off on White Center sidewalk-repair project postponed again

Announced this morning:

In Fall 2024 – King County Road Services will repair sidewalks in two areas of White Center:

SW 108th Street between 4th Avenue SW and 1st Avenue SW
26th Avenue SW between SW 106th Street/SW 107th Way and SW 112th Street

We originally planned for these repairs to occur fall 2023 and then rescheduled to spring 2024. However, due to crew availability the work has been rescheduled to fall 2024. When we know when we’ll be in your neighborhood, we’ll be back in touch.

Details about the work

Damaged sidewalks can make it challenging for people’s mobility. Sidewalks can buckle and break in part due to tree roots. To fix these sidewalks, the county also will remove trees that are causing the sidewalk to lift and crack. We will work with the Department of Natural Resources and Parks to plant replacement trees in nearby locations.

This work is part of our ongoing sidewalk repair program to improve mobility for walkers, wheelchairs, and strollers.

It is informed by our Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, plan. To find out more about our Accessibility Program, visit: Roads’ ADA Transition Plan and Accessibility Services – King County.

We know trees are an important part of the community. We will replace or exceed the canopy provided by the original trees in nearby community parks.

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SURVEY: King County seeking feedback for next parks levy

March 29th, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County, Parks, White Center news Comments Off on SURVEY: King County seeking feedback for next parks levy

You won’t vote on it until next year – but King County is collecting early feedback before drafting the next version of the parks levy, so you’re invited to answer a survey now, and/or attend an online community meeting. Here’s the announcement:

The King County Parks Levy is a voter-approved property tax that keeps both city and regional parks, trails, and open spaces available for everyone. No matter where you are in King County, the Parks Levy goes to support local parks and trails. The current levy is in effect through 2025.

What should be in the next (2026-2031) levy to improve the parks and outdoor spaces in your community? King County Parks would like to hear from you. Your input will help shape parks and trails for years to come.

Take a 10-minute survey (and enter to win two tickets to any concert at Marymoor Live!).

-Register to attend a virtual community meeting on April 9 (5-6 pm) or April 23 (6-7 pm). To request interpreter support for the April 23 meeting, send email to Helen Potter (hpotter@kingcounty.gov) with the name of the language no later than April 11.

Deadline for the survey is April 29.

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VIDEO: Conversation with your new King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda

February 12th, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County, White Center news Comments Off on VIDEO: Conversation with your new King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda

(Also published on partner site West Seattle Blog)

After six years on the Seattle City Council, West Seattle resident Teresa Mosqueda moved to the King County Council last month. Following her November election win with 55 percent of the vote, she took office last month in the District 8 seat vacated by Joe McDermott after 13 years. As shown on this map, her district stretches from downtown Seattle to Burien, also encompassing West Seattle, Georgetown, South Park, Tukwila, and Burien, as well as White Center and the rest of unincorporated North Highline, plus Vashon and Maury Islands. As she had said during the campaign – announced almost exactly a year ago – her big focuses are on health and housing, but there’s a lot more to pay attention to. We sat down with Councilmember Mosqueda for a half-hour video-recorded chat at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse this past Thursday. The unedited video is above; below, key points from our conversation.

We asked what the transition’s been like. She had words of praise for the county staff having to bridge such geographic and political diversity. She’s already been back to a variety of places around the district and is scheduling community meetings. “What I’m hearing in these meetings is what I heard in the campaign,” she says – concerns related to her signature issues. But economic challenges are a major concern, and she says she’s talking with businesses and workers about how to support what they’re doing. The county itself is facing a budget crunch, which Mosqueda points out could shut down public-health clinics on which tens of thousands of people rely for health care, she says, so she’s been lobbying for state action that would enable a tax-collecting boost by the county (but this Seattle Times story the day after our chat suggests it’s not happening), and talking to the feds too.

Also on the topic of health, she’s been elected as chair of the Seattle-King County Board of Health, and says a current priority is addressing the “shadow pandemic – isolation, depression, behavioral health, substance-use issues.” She also chairs the council’s Health and Human Services Committee. One major task ahead is the implementation plan for the Crisis Care Centers Levy that voters approved last year, meant to combat the lack of places to take people to get the care they need. Before the brick-and-mortar facilities are opened, she said, there’ll be a “mobile response.” The levy also funds “workforce training … so that [more] people are able to provide services” early on. She says the implementation plan should be complete by the end of the second quarter.

On housing, a major topic we tackled was the King County Comprehensive Plan update, which is currently before the council – “really important decisions that will be made for the unincorporated areas … more walkable, livable neighborhoods,” Mosqueda summarized it. She says it could lead to more affordability and, just to pick one unincorporated area of note, a “new vision” for downtown White Center; she recounted a conversation with a local doctor who hopes that’s what will happen. She says the review of the comprehensive plan has just begun, so she’s joining at an opportune time. She hopes to hear from community members about their thoughts about the next 10 years, too (the period the plan update is to cover).

We asked about displacement risk, given higher rents in the new buildings that replace old ones. Mosqueda says that she is wants to ensure anti-displacement action, with strategies including community preference and affirmative marketing. That means the people who have to leave get first preference for returning to the new buildings – and that they’ll be able to afford to. That requires more incentives for developers, though, she says – including more height – so she hopes the comprehensive plan will include that.

What’s her concept of “affordable housing”? Market rate plus affordable units on the same site will be a crucial mix. And community-focused services like child care on the ground floor would be optimal.

So where has this concept already become reality? we asked. She mentioned a Seattle project at 13th/Fir on a site that once held a parking lot. (Read more about it here.)

We also talked about dealing with the many jurisdictions that the county spans – many cities and neighborhoods. Mosqueda says they have to offer help and support as an “ally, partner, maybe even a co-conspirator.”

On the subject of public safety and criminal justice, we asked Mosqueda about King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s recent reiteration that he still wants to move toward eliminating youth incarceration, though it will take longer to get there than he had previously hoped. His update also included an advisory committee’s recommendations, such as a “respite center” and community “care homes” for some juvenile defendants. Mosqueda told us, “I am interested in seeing that kiddos have a place to go so they can get stabilized and back into society. … If folks are going to interact more with law enforcement, we have to have an array of services we can offer those youths … Ultimately working toward the timeline (Constantine) laid out is the right thing to do.” But what about the current wave of violent crime involving youth? Mosqueda says looking at the underlying issues is important too.

The county administers other major parts of the criminal-justice system – courts, prosecutors and defenders, sheriff, etc. – so we asked if anything else is bubbling up in that area right now. She mentioned a recent “joint meeting to reconvene the Gun Violence Task Force” with jurisdictions including King County and Seattle, and noted legislators working on that. Anything specific she is proposing? Mosqueda responded that “listening to the youth directly” is her focus, and some with whom she’s met already are particularly interested in mental-health services.

Concluding our conversation, we asked how best constituents can interact with her and her staff. She says they’re going out for tours and meetings on “District 8 Days,” with Vashon her first stop and White Center next. She’s also involved in roundtable discussions and responding to constituents’ individual meeting requests – email her directly at teresa.mosqueda@kingcounty.gov. To find out what’s happening at County Council meetings, check agendas here.

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King County Local Services director moves to Department of Natural Resources and Parks

February 6th, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County, White Center news Comments Off on King County Local Services director moves to Department of Natural Resources and Parks

A new job just announced for the King County department director with whom unincorporated North Highline has dealt the most in recent years, John Taylor of Local Services. Here’s the announcement:

King County Executive Dow Constantine today appointed John Taylor as the new director for the Department of Natural Resource and Parks, selecting a proven leader to reinforce King County’s reputation as a trusted environmental steward and manage one of the largest metropolitan natural resource agencies in the country.

Taylor has served as the inaugural director for the King County Department of Local Services since 2018, when Executive Constantine established the agency to better serve the nearly 250,000 residents who live in unincorporated communities. He previously served as a member of the leadership team at the Department of Natural Resources and Parks, where he led a landmark accord signed by Executive Constantine that has restored salmon habitat, strengthened the local agricultural economy, and reduced flood risks.

“John brings the strengths and talent we need to build on King County’s reputation as a trusted environmental steward: Outstanding leadership skills, a lifelong commitment to protecting and restoring the natural environment, and the proven ability to produce lasting, measurable results for all living things that make King County home,” said Executive Constantine. “He will succeed as he has for five years as a highly effective member of my Cabinet, by upholding our values to create a more resilient, sustainable, equitable King County for this generation and for all those who will come after us.”

“I am grateful and excited for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead one of the nation’s premier natural resource agencies, one that has the talent and expertise needed to achieve ambitious goals,” said Taylor. “Executive Constantine has provided clear direction that he wants to build on the momentum King County has made in recent years to produce better results faster for people, salmon, and orcas, and that’s what we will accomplish with our employees and partners.”

Taylor will lead an agency that manages a large portfolio of services and initiatives that protect and restore the region’s natural environment, including climate action, land conservation, protecting water quality, restoring habitat, reducing waste, and promoting equitable access to parks and trails.

Taylor has already contributed to successes on several environmental initiatives created by Executive Constantine, including Clean Water Healthy Habitat by directing King County Road Services to help restore access to high-quality salmon habitat. He also helped create the framework for the Land Conservation Initiative, a partnership to protect the last, best 65,000 acres of open space within a single generation.

He will lead a workforce of 2,000 employees and manage the largest capital portfolio of any King County government agency. Executive Constantine recently toured the department’s new award-winning treatment station in Georgetown that was built to withstand climate impacts to better protect the Duwamish River and Puget Sound for the next century.

=The Wastewater Treatment Division is building and modernizing infrastructure that can withstand climate impacts to continue protecting Puget Sound for the next century

=The Water and Land Resources Division is restoring habitat and reducing flood risks throughout King County

-The Solid Waste Division is designing and building new recycling and transfer stations in the south and northeast areas of King County

-King County Parks is enhancing parks and trails throughout the region, promoting equitable access to places where communities connect

The Department of Natural Resources and Parks is contributing to King County Climate Office initiatives to prepare the region for increased risks to wildfire, extreme heat, and flooding

-The Department of Natural Resources and Parks leads Executive Constantine’s Local Food Initiative, making access to healthy, homegrown food more equitable

Taylor’s previous role at the department was deputy director for the Water and Land Resources Division, which has completed major restoration projects over the past several years. Recent successes include transforming dilapidated buildings along the Duwamish River into healthy habitat and much-needed greenspace for the nearby community, and simultaneously improving habitat and reducing flood risks along the Cedar River and Green River.

Taylor’s leadership team will implement Re+, the initiative Executive Constantine launched a year ago to rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions by reducing waste and transitioning to a sustainable, circular economy. The department will also contribute to the King County Climate Office’s initiatives to better prepare communities for increased flood risks, extreme heat, and wildfire risks.

King County Parks – one of the department’s four divisions – will continue to expand and enhance its facilities and programs under Taylor’s leadership. In addition to making parks safer, more accessible, and more inclusive, the agency recently completed King County’s contribution to a 44-mile trail corridor that connects Golden Gardens Park in Ballard to Eastside cities and the Cascade foothills. This summer, King County Parks will complete a 500-foot-long trail bridge that connects Eastrail to Sound Transit’s Wilburton Station in Bellevue.

Taylor succeeded on multiple fronts as the first director for the Department of Local Services, producing measurable results that advance King County’s commitment to equity and racial justice.

He is credited with establishing the highly successful participatory budget process that creates opportunities for residents to decide how public funds are invested in their communities His leadership team also established the Community Needs List Program that gives residents in unincorporated areas a voice in King County’s budget process.

He has 20 years of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors, contributing to Vermont’s first Smart Growth legislation, Seattle’s Restore Our Waters Initiative, and establishing the Puget Sound Partnership. He previously served as a strategic advisor to the director of Seattle Public Utilities, legislative analyst for the Seattle City Council, and senior policy advisor to the governor of Vermont.

Taylor will begin serving as director of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks on Feb. 12. He will replace Christie True, who is retiring after a 39-year career at the agency, including 13 years as department director. Mo McBroom will continue to serve as the department’s deputy director, strengthening partnerships to produce results for climate action, equity and racial justice, land conservation, and resource recovery.

Taylor’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the King County Council. The Executive Office will begin recruiting for a new director for the Department of Local Services.

We’ll be following up for more on that search and who will run Local Services in the meantime.

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Here’s what happened at the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council’s first 2024 meeting

February 1st, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County, Libraries, North Highline UAC, White Center news 5 Comments »

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

Moments ago, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council wrapped up its first meeting of 2024, facilitated by NHUAC’s Liz Giba.

KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM: For the third consecutive meeting, NHUAC had guests from KCLS. This time, trustee Verna Seal, who just joined the KCLS board last year, was first up. (She spent more than a decade and a half on the Tukwila City Council, until 2021.) “I love libraries .. so when this opportunity came up, I saw it as a way to give back,” she said, explaining that the board deals with policy, not operations. She’s one of just two people on the board who are from South King County. She invited questions; Giba asked, “How much money is the board in control of and how is it determined how much goes to each area?” Seal didn’t have specifics but said the system’s budget is $100 million-plus. They get a proposed budget and then review it, ask questions, etc., before eventually voting to approve a final budget (she noted you can see it online). Regional manager Mary Sue Houser added that the board meets at 5 pm on the last Wednesday of each month and anyone can attend online or in person (in Issaquah).

NHUAC’s Pat Price, who’s on the White Center Library Guild, said they’d love to see the board out here. Houser said that once the schedule and locations are finalized – maybe not until the new executive director Heidi Daniel is on board (she starts March 11) – they’ll make sure everyone knows.

Houser talked about programming for kids – including 10:30 am Thursday story times – and a LEGO Block Party at 3 pm February 16. (Check the library website for event listings.) Tax season just started – only 10 returns done so far but Houser said they’ve already found $15,000 in refunds for patrons.

Seal said that while she’s just one board member and can’t directly order changes – like “more hours, everybody wants more hours” – she can advocate, and ensure that issues are discussed. You can contact her and the rest of the board by email (find the address here).

ANNOUNCEMENTS: NHUAC’s Barbara Dobkin announced that King County Parks has volunteer opportunities – including work this Saturday at Dick Thurnau Park and other upcoming events at Glendale Forest and North Shorewood Park, all 9 am-noon work parties. (Find out more about the events, and how to volunteer, by going here.)

KING COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT: Tom Campbell, code-enforcement officer with the county Department of Local Services’ Permitting Division, was invited to talk about a couple White Center-area cases. First one, a residential property on 19th SW, where an “inoperable vehicle filled with garbage … had been there for a long time.” The occupants had “bagged the garbage and moved it to their driveway,” he said, but they decided what more they could do via the abatement process. They found the owner, he said, and “she agreed to remove the garbage within one week.” They gave her vouchers so she could take it to the transfer station. As for the inoperable vehicle, the owners plan to have it taken to a scrapyard and will move a vehicle that still works into its place on a gravel pad. “So that should get it cleaned up,” he said, noting that the trash had become an issue for neighbors because it was attracting rats. He explained that they have authority to do “abatement” on this kind of situation and to place a lien on the property to recover costs – but that requires court action, and can “take a fairly lengthy period of time,” so they tried instead to locate the owner first, and were successful via an online search. If she doesn’t keep her commitment, then they can pursue court action, Campbell explained.

He said NHUAC also had asked about the outdoor music from Tim’s Tavern, a frequent topic at meetings last year, with nearby residents hearing it inside their homes. “An outdoor performance center is not allowed in (this kind of) business zone,” he said, so they’ve pursued a code violation there, and also the fact the outdoor seating was constructed without a building permit. “There may also be an occupant load issue,” he said. “We do have an active enforcement case there,” just opened last week, and they’ll be following up. Today they sent a violation letter to Tim’s, he said, and the only way to resolve it is to “stop the activity, stop the use as an outdoor performance center.” If they don’t comply, but appeal it, there’ll be a hearing, and if the violation stands, there would be a compounding daily fine for however long the violation continues. Beyond that, Campbell said, eventually the county could seek “injunctive relief.”

Campbell was also asked about the stripped vehicles and trash at 2831 SW Roxbury, the former Roxbury Auto Parts (which has a sale pending, according to its online listing); he promised to look into it.

With situations like 19th SW, he was asked, what can be done about repeat violations? Campbell said they’re working with the King County Council to review policies that tend to drag these things out. He said people should be aware that code enforcement is funded by the county General Fund and that’s facing a budget crunch, so money woes may affect this kind of work. “We’ve had a position taken away, so we’re down some staff in code enforcement … one of the things we’re going to have to prioritize is the types of violations” that they pursue. Some smaller-level problems may not get immediate action, he warned – they may have to prioritize even more than they do now. They already have a large backlog of ‘very substantive code violations,” he said, that they’re working on.

The 19th SW situation might not have been prioritized if not for everything from the rats to the various people who contacted Permitting about it, Campbell said, including the County Executive’s Office.

Dobkin asked if other downtown White Center businesses also are supposed to not be allowed to have outdoor music; Campbell said he’s not certain about the boundaries of the “community business” district but anyone within it is prohibited from that use. Dobkin said there are rumors that other venues are planning it, with encouragement; Campbell said he’ll look into that too. Dobkin said, “I’m not trying to close a business …. but when it interferes with our life, that’s when it’s a problem.” The King County Sheriff’s Office had been dealing with the Tim’s situation previously, and storefront Det. Glen Brannon said he had lots of background to share with the Permitting Division.

Campbell then was told the Blu Grouse on 17th SW also is a concern, with outdoor music during good weather. Campbell said he’ll check into it, including whether the venue is in the district where this use would be banned.

How can businesses be educated that this is not an allowed use? King County’s Bong Santo Domingo, who’s also with Local Services, was asked, since he’s working with a new alliance involving local businesses. Campbell suggested that assembling and distributing a flyer with what’s not allowed and what is allowed in the business district might be a good idea.

Discussion then turned to concerns that special-event music also was running too loud and too long; longtime residents said they had never had a problem before the past year or so.

KING COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Then it was Det. Brannon’s turn. He elaborated on the ex-Roxbury Auto Parts building situation. He said the building was sold a year ago but it fell through (a plumbing company was going to move there); now another sale is pending, as we mentioned above, and he says his understanding that it’s going to be “some kind of car wash facility.” The owner doesn’t have the resources to tow the abandoned car(s) but they have been working to keep squatters out. Regarding the ex-Bartell Drugs building, which is owned by a California woman, it’s up for sale, he said, and it’s been burglarized and vandalized, so they’re trying to get it fenced. The “encampment on 13th” is still an issue, he said, and it’s being reviewed by King County higher-ups, though right now he says it’s only home to two full-time residents, with others coming and going. It might take two months “to get through all the bureaucracy it has to go through,” he cautioned. He talked about other sites he’s tracking, including one behind Little Caesar’s.

Brannon was asked about the much-reported regional enforcement inspections by Liquor Control Board agents and other law enforcers, which drew outcry because several venues were LGBTQ+. White Center’s Lumber Yard Bar was among them. Brannon wasn’t aware of the situation and the usual LCB rep wasn’t present. It was noted that reports also said Roxbury Lanes and Southgate Roller Rink had been visited as well. The regional reports mentioned Seattle Police and LCB involvement; why not KCSO? Brannon said LCB “has its own authority” and doesn’t require other law-enforcement approval or involvement, but he’ll look into it.

He received compliments for the department’s huge drug bust in Burien, and was asked about the most-recent freeway shooting; he said that largely was a State Patrol investigation, but said in general it’s related to gang activity – “young kids shooting each other.”

COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER’S ASSISTANT: Chris Lampkin from new King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda‘s office introduced himself and invited everyone to let their office know about issues of concern.

NEXT MEETING: NHUAC usually meets the first Thursday of the month, 7 pm, online – watch nhuac.org for updates.

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Our area’s new King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda introduces her team

January 12th, 2024 Tracy Posted in King County, Politics, White Center news 2 Comments »

(From left: Chris Lampkin, Melanie Kray, Councilmember Mosqueda, Kamilah Brown, Erin House)

This week, Teresa Mosqueda took office as District 8’s King County Councilmember. Today we received this photo and announcement introducing her team:

King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda on Tuesday announced her staff at her historic swearing-in Tuesday, bringing together an all-star team to do the vital work of District 8.

“I can’t serve the district all by myself – I’m incredibly excited for my new staff joining me at the County,” Mosqueda said. “I’ve got a great team here who are all veterans to working in the political realm, but each bringing a different wealth of knowledge and experience that will benefit everyone in District 8 and across King County.”

Mosqueda brought over Erin House to serve as her Chief of Staff. House, who served as Mosqueda’s Chief of Staff at the Seattle City Council, will manage the office and policy work as well as focus on housing and homelessness, transportation, energy and land use and the environment. House previously served as a Strategic Initiatives Advisor at the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, where she worked on major citywide and long-range initiatives, including Link light rail expansion and community planning projects. She also served as Coalition and Outreach Manager for Seattle for Everyone, where she worked with a broad coalition to advance the first-ever comprehensive package of affordable housing policies in Seattle, and worked with Futurewise, a statewide growth management and civic planning organization, on projects promoting equitable and environmentally sound housing, transportation, land use, and environmental policies./

Chris Lampkin will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff, staffing community relations and communications, as well as working on policy related to labor and business, human services, Crisis Care Levy implementation, Harborview Medical Center, and community relations. Lampkin most recently served as the Political Director for SEIU Healthcare 1199NW where he worked to empower over 33,000 Registered Nurses, Healthcare and Behavioral Health workers of the union to grow their voice and lift standards for the communities.

Mosqueda brought a familiar face back to Council with Kamilah Brown as Director of Office Operations and Special Projects. Brown previously worked in the office of King County Councilmember Larry Gossett before going on to serve as Policy Director to [now former]Seattle City Councilmember Andrew J. Lewis over the last four years. Brown will focus on public health, constituent services, scheduling and special projects.

Rounding out her staff is Melanie Kray, Public Policy Director for District 8. Kray comes over from Mosqueda’s team at the Seattle City Council. She will focus on public safety, homelessness, utilities, immigration and arts and culture. Kray has her law degree from the University of Washington and served as the Rule 9 legal intern for UW Law’s Race and Justice Clinic, helping to manage cases in various stages of post-conviction proceedings.

Click here to watch a short video, and learn more about Mosqueda’s team here, including full bios and other staff information.

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