White Center Now: The blog about White Center

The biggest local races on next month’s ballot will be the highlight of Thursday’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting. Here’s the announcement:

North Highline Unincorporated Area Council Meeting
October 6, 7 pm – Via Zoom

NHUAC is pleased to be hosting a forum for the candidates for the 34th Legislative District, Leah Griffin and Emily Alvarado. This is a great opportunity to hear from the candidates and ask questions on issues that impact our lives in North Highline/White Center.

Additionally, we will be joined by Deputy Bill Kennamer who will provide information on crime trends and Vickie Fisher, who will provide information on the Highline School District Levy.

Join Zoom Meeting
us02web.zoom.us/j/89441720967?pwd=Z2NWdTJ2dzZMd2E5TnBSbVFQOFRvdz09

Meeting ID: 894 4172 0967
Passcode: NHUAC2022 (Case Sensitive)

Or by Phone: 253 215 8782
Meeting ID: 894 4172 0967
Passcode: 758440156

Community Health Plan of Washington is presenting Medicare information sessions just over the line in South Delridge and sent this announcement:

This year’s Medicare Annual Enrollment period runs October 15 to December 7. During this time those who qualify for this federal health insurance program – Washingtonians who are 65 years old or older, under 65 years old and living with a disability, or living with End-Stage Renal Disease – have the opportunity to sign up or change plans. However, Medicare can be difficult to navigate. This free event will connect community members with Medicare experts who can help answer questions about:

-The different parts of Medicare
-How eligibility, premiums, deductibles and copays work
-Prescription drug coverage
-How to get additional benefits like dental or vision

All at the Salvation Army Center, 9050 16th SW:

Vietnamese Language
October 21 at 2-3 pm

Russian Language
October 21 at 2-3 pm

English Language
November 11 at 9:30-10:30 am

Spanish Language
November 11 at 9:30-10:30 am

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Back on Sunday, we covered the party thrown by the White Center Food Bank to say farewell to their soon-to-be-ex-location (8th SW/SW 108th). Sometime early next year, they’ll have to vacate as that property is being redeveloped into affordable housing and a “community hub.” We’ve reported previously on the WCFB’s search for a new site, and the search is finally over – today the WCFB officially announced the new location as they continue rolling out the capital campaign to get it ready:

After years of searching for their new home, White Center Food Bank (WCFB) purchased a building in the heart of downtown White Center (10016-10024 16th Ave SW). This location will provide ample space for WCFB to grow and is centrally located along several major bus lines. However, substantial renovations and other upgrades are necessary to make the food bank’s new home welcoming and hospitable to everyone.

To raise the 6 million dollars necessary for this project, on September 25 WCFB launched their capital campaign with a group of customers, donors, staff, and board celebrating together. “This is a community effort and we know that by bringing our neighbors together, we can find a way to keep our community fed,” says WCFB Development and Communications Director, Jefferson Rose.

White Center Food Bank is looking beyond the old models of service and working to develop new ways to nourish the community with equity, accessibility, and dignity as their guiding principles. The new White Center Food Bank will be more than just a place where people can get food. It will be a welcoming community hub located directly in the heart of the changing and growing downtown White Center.

This new facility will bring together an incredible array of community programming, hosted both by the food bank and partner organizations. WCFB wants people from all walks of life to enter through our doors together, so that everyone feels comfortable receiving food whenever they need it.

“We’re excited for this next chapter to better serve the community and revitalize this part of the neighborhood. We hope that our supporters will continue to show up alongside us to ensure our community thrives,” says Carmen Smith, Executive Director.

To learn more, check out an informational video, renderings, and more here.

King County Executive Dow Constantine has proposed a nearly $16 billion budget for 2023-2024. The announcement focused on areas including these:

Investing in our environment

-Converting Metro’s bus fleet to zero-emissions: $180 million to purchase battery-electric buses and $43 million in zero-emissions infrastructure to ensure that Metro’s 1,400 coach bus fleet is zero emissions by 2035.

-Restoring fish habitat: $28.5 million in capital investments to remove blockages to fish passage habitat. King County will restore access to 50 percent of fish passage habitat by 2032.

-Expanding access to heat pumps and solar panels: $1 million to expand the Energize pilot program, which installs high-efficiency heat pumps in homes occupied by residents with low and moderate incomes in White Center and Skyway, to include solar panels. The County will also invest $1.9 million to provide private lenders with more flexibility to offer better financing options to higher-risk homeowners for home upgrades that also improve the environment.

Affordable Housing & Homelessness

-Building affordable housing near transit: $45 million in bonds backed by lodging tax revenues will be issued in 2023 to fund affordable housing near transit stations.

-Supporting housing operations: Up to $30 million to fund operations, maintenance, and services for existing and new supportive housing sites.

-Make homelessness rare, one-time, and brief by supporting the King County Regional Homelessness Authority: $96 million to continue funding a coordinated crisis response to homelessness led by the King County Regional Homelessness Authority.

Justice & Safety

-Preventing Gun Violence: $9 million to support 52 Regional Peacekeepers Collective, trusted messengers delivering a community-led approach to gun violence prevention including critical incident response, hospital-based referrals, and hot spot remediation activities.

-Ensuring safety for transit riders and staff: $21 million to support 140 Metro transit security officers providing support and visibility on Metro buses, transit centers, and stops. An additional $5.1 million will support Metro SaFE Reform Initiatives, including a new partnership with the Department of Community and Human Services and community-based organizations to connect people in crisis on and near Metro transit with resources and services.

-Implementing body-worn cameras: $5 million to provide all Sheriff patrol deputies with body-worn cameras. Deployment of cameras and associated training will begin immediately and phased in over the next three years.

-Expanding treatment programs for people in or being released from King County jails: $6.3 million to maintain and expand jail-based opioid treatment programs and services for people being released from the jail with substance use disorder or other behavioral health conditions.

Anti-Racism & Pro-Equity

-Funding participatory budgeting: $10 million for a second round of participatory budgeting for residents of urban unincorporated King County. The first round of participatory budgeting concluded successfully in August 2022, with residents selecting 45 capital projects to fund in their communities.

-Supporting community-led diversion programs: $11.9 million to continue the Restorative Community Pathways program and the Community
Diversion Program to provide community-based accountability and services for youth and adults outside the court system.

-Vacating drug convictions: $2 million to community groups to build awareness about options to vacate drug convictions and provide services that address the needs of individuals affected by the collateral consequences of contacts with the criminal system and drug convictions, such as persistent barriers to housing and employment.

Behavioral Health

-As a part of this budget package, Executive Constantine is transmitting a proposal for a new levy to fund behavioral health and pending passage by the King County Council will be presented to voters for their approval this spring. Over the next nine years, King County will invest, build, and transform the way people in our community care for one another.

The Crisis Care Centers levy would make a generational investment of nearly $1.25 billion to:
-Create a network of 5 crisis centers

-Stop the loss and expand by nearly half the number of residential treatment beds

-Deploy more services even before the new centers open, and

-Recruit and retain an outstanding and representative workforce to serve the people of King County.

The King County Council now starts its work on reviewing and amending the budget – watch for public hearings in the weeks ahead.

The garden at the White Center Food Bank‘s longtime location (8th/108th) got a shout-out today as the WCFB threw a party to say goodbye to the site – even though they don’t expect to have to leave until early next year (they wanted to have the outdoor celebration before fall weather arrived, we’re told). The party also amplified the WCFB capital campaign to raise money for their new headquarters:

Those renderings were on display to show what the WCFB hopes to do in its new downtown White Center location. So far it’s raised a third of its $6 million goal. Getting the rest of the way there will be a community effort – and community was at the heart of today’s celebration:

Young artists laid the groundwork for a new mural. And performances underscored the many facets of White Center:

Dancers from the Khmer Amarak Dance Troupe were to perform a Blessing Dance. Meantime, guests at the celebration enjoyed food from banh mi to tacos:

After all, WCFB’s Jefferson Rose said cheerily from the stage, “we’re about food.” And they’re hoping the new headquarters will keep the community fed for decades to come.

As part of the latest round of community outreach, Highline Public Schools reps will be at Dubsea Coffee in Greenbridge on Saturday to talk about the upcoming bond vote and the Evergreen High School plan that’s part of what the bond measure would pay for, if passed in November. Just drop in with your questions and/or comments between noon and 2 pm Saturday (September 24th) at 9910 8th SW.

Announced today by King County Road Services:

Sept. 21- Oct. 3: Expect delays on Myers Way S from S 99th St. to S 108th St.

Crews will temporarily close single lanes on Myers Way S between S. 99th St. and S. 108th St. for paving. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; Sept. 21 through Oct. 3. Flaggers will guide traffic through the work area. All intersecting streets and driveways to remain open at all times.

Dates are subject to change and work may be postponed due to weather.

Thanks to David for the tip. One year after the Locker Room fire closed adjoining businesses too, one has announced it won’t be reopening: Bizzarro Italian Café‘s White Center restaurant. Bizzarro had been open only nine months before the fire hit. Their announcement this weekend says there were “MANY deciding factors” that led them to drop plans to reopen here, without elaborating on any of them.

This garden has teeth! The New Start High School Shark Garden hosted a community open house last Saturday; thanks to Gill Loring for the photos.

It was more than a chance to see the community garden and those who tend it – it was also a resource fair, with local nonprofits on hand.

The garden was founded in 2015; you can read its story here. (Scroll down that page to see how the garden has donated literally tons of food to the White Center Food Bank!)

Just announced:

King County Fire Marshal Chris Ricketts has issued a Stage 2 burn ban for unincorporated King County, prohibiting all outdoor recreational fires. Outdoor cooking and heating appliances are restricted to approved manufactured gas and charcoal units only.

The Stage 2 burn ban goes into effect immediately for unincorporated King County, which was already in a Stage 1 burn ban. King County’s ban is in coordination with the King County Fire Chiefs Association and Fire Marshals, which extends the ban into cities.

The updated ban takes effect as the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the region. This means critical fire weather conditions are present and any fires that develop will likely spread quickly.

During a Stage 2 burn ban, burning residential debris is prohibited, as is any other outdoor fire such as a backyard fire pit or campfire (using firewood or charcoal). Under the ban, any person with a recreational fire who fails to take immediate action to extinguish or discontinue it when ordered or notified to do so can be charged with a misdemeanor.

Manufactured portable outdoor devices are allowed, including barbeques and patio warmers that are used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Ricketts asks residents to please use caution when using any open flame.

Extended periods of unusually high temperatures have increased the fuel load, or vegetation, in our communities. The large fire in Oregon and other fires in Washington have stretched wildfire fighting resources throughout the region.

Ricketts says if residents must smoke, they should exercise extreme caution with their ashes or when they’re extinguishing cigarettes. King County asks residents to be diligent and respectful of their neighbors, and to remember that this is a demanding time for first responders.

“The summer months may be behind us, but that doesn’t mean high temperatures and dry conditions are,” Ricketts said. “Residents of the unincorporated areas—and all of the Puget Sound region, for that matter—should be careful with anything that could cause a fire.”