White Center Now: The blog about White Center

We’ve been tracking the North Highline Subarea Plan; most recently, the NH Unincorporated Area Council discussed it at this month’s meeting (WCN coverage here), after King County Executive Dow Constantine sent it to the County Council as part of the proposed Comprehensive Plan update. Tomorrow morning, councilmembers’ review gears up with a committee briefing. Here’s the announcement:

On Tuesday, April 26, the Local Services and Land Use Committee will receive a briefing on the Executive’s proposed 2022 Comprehensive Plan update and the 2024 Comprehensive Plan scope of work. The committee meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m., and will be held remotely. For information on how to watch the meeting or provide public comment, please visit the website for the Local Services and Land Use Committee. Staff report information for the two items is available here.

2022 Comprehensive Plan Update

On March 31, 2022, the Executive transmitted the proposed 2022 update to the 2016 King County Comprehensive Plan as Proposed Ordinance 2022-0162. The 2022 update includes consideration of the Skyway-West Hill Subarea Plan and North Highline Subarea Plan. The legislation has been referred to the Local Services and Land Use Committee for review over the next several months for potential amendment and recommendation, with final adoption by the full Council anticipated in December 2022. More information about the Council’s review of the proposal can be found on the 2022 Comprehensive Plan website.

2024 Scope of Work

On March 24, 2022, the Executive transmitted to the Council the proposed scope of work for the 2024 Comprehensive Plan as Proposed Motion 2022-0156. The scope of work has been referred to the Local Services and Land Use Committee for review, with final adoption by the full Council in early June 2022. More information about the Council’s review of the proposal can be found on the 2024 Comprehensive Plan website.

Those are some of the riders who left the White Center Bike Playground on Sunday morning to head out on the fundraising Ride for Major Taylor. It was actually two rides – a 63-mile route, with riders heading out as early as 7 am, and a 26-mile route with departures starting at 8:30 am.

The ride raises money to help youth via the Major Taylor Project. The presenting organization, Cascade Bicycle Club, explains it:

Marshall “Major” Taylor was a Black athlete and cycling legend who was one of the greatest bicyclists of his era, setting numerous world records and winning a World Championship–all while battling racism throughout his career from the late 1800s to early 1900s. He was an international superstar whose amazing talents and drive were as well-known in his era as LeBron James or Serena Williams are today.

The Major Taylor Project is a year-round, youth leadership cycling program focused on introducing young adults from underserved communities to the recreation of cycling and creating an inclusive culture of bicycling that will continue to future generations. The Major Taylor Project currently serves schools in the Puget Sound region; Seattle, Tacoma, and Puyallup.

The Major Taylor Project welcomes donations year-round.

(Image from kingcounty.gov)

The conversion of Metro Route 120 into RapidRide H Line is being pushed back again. Metro has just announced that instead of launching this fall, the H Line won’t arrive until March 2023: “Unforeseen construction and materials delays from the regional concrete strike that began in early December 2021 have added several months to the original timeline of the RapidRide H Line project.” The announcement adds, “Under the revised implementation schedule, Metro plans to add more daily bus trips to coincide with the launch of the RapidRide service in March 2023, which will then improve frequent service to provide a bus trip in both directions every seven minutes during peak commute times.” Metro says that “approximately 40% of the overall construction work” has been completed so far. The Avalon/35th/Alaska repaving project that SDOT handled was in support of the expected launch. This is the fourth time the launch has been pushed back – the conversion of Route 120 was originally projected for 2019, then that was pushed to 2020, then to 2021, and then a year and a half ago, changed to 2022.

Just announced by Public Health Seattle-King County:

The Crawfish House restaurant at 9826 16th Ave SW was closed by a Public Health food inspector on April 15, 2022 at 5:30 pm due to failure to comply with the following outstanding violations:

Demonstration of knowledge in food safety
Lack of handwashing
Inadequate handwashing facilities
Environmental contamination of foods
Effective pest control
Lack of proper cold holding of foods
Contaminated food contact surfaces

The establishment will be reopened once the inspector confirms that these issues have been resolved.

The restaurant’s overall rating from past inspections is “OK.” You can check for other current closures here.

1:06 PM: Thanks for the tips. A power outage is affecting much of downtown White Center right now – the Seattle City Light map, shown above, says 268 customers are out. No official word on the cause, but we note a crash was reported around 16th/102nd at the same time this started, so we’re off to check.

1:38 PM: Apparently that was unrelated (and cleared before we arrived). The SCL map now attribute the outage to “balloon.” Meantime, businesses on 16th appear to have power.

Two crime reports:

ARMED ROBBERY: This was broadcast as an alert to Seattle Police as well as KCSO – a report that someone was held up at gunpoint by the White Center US Bank ATM on Friday night. Just one robber reported. No other details.

CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFTS: The photo and report are from Ron near 20th SW and SW 102nd:

I received a call from a neighbor that their catalytic converter was stolen at 2:05 AM Wednesday. I checked my cameras, and I got some pictures of the thief’s vehicle, a white SUV type, picture (above). While watching the video, I also saw them steal another neighbor’s catalytic converter. The sheriff’s office has been notified.

(Photo courtesy DubSea Fish Sticks)

Got room under your roof for a summer visitor? The DubSea Fish Sticks are looking for a few more host families for the collegiate players who will spend a big part of their summer here:

The DubSea Fish Sticks summer collegiate baseball team is looking for host families for out-of-town players this summer.

The team recruits players from colleges across the country to come and play for the months of June and July. The 2022 summer roster is composed of players from 26 different colleges. The players report in late May and play with the team to hone their skills and hope to one day play professionally.

Similarly to junior-hockey teams like the Seattle Thunderbirds out of Kent, the Fish Sticks rely on the support of local families to host players for the summer months, also known as billets in the hockey community.

General Manager Justin Moser said, “Host families are the backbone to successful summer collegiate teams. Being able to recruit players from a broader range of area improves our ability to be as competitive as possible. It also allows us to expand our reach into other communities and give college student athletes an experience of living in our community.”

The Fish Sticks aren’t just a baseball team, though. They require players to volunteer within the community weekly, performing community-service hours at the food bank, with local non-profit organizations, help run youth baseball camps, and do community cleanups regularly.

“We’ve seen host families in the past start out as a safe place to stay, and then the relationship grows and many players become an extension of the family. Most of our former players and their families still have relationships with their former host families,” explained Moser.

If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a host family, please visit gofishsticks.com/hostfamilies. The team is still in need of hosts for 8 players this summer.

You can find more information about the Fish Sticks at GoFishSticks.com, where you can join their priority ticket list. Season tickets and flex packs go on sale in mid-April and single-game tickets go on sale in May.

You’ll see hundreds of bicyclists riding in White Center on April 24th, as the Cascade Bicycle Club‘s Ride for Major Taylor starts and finishes at WC Bicycle Playground (11050 10th SW). The ride raises money to support free after-school educational programming. Riders can choose a 26- or 63-mile course. Find out more – and register, if you want to ride – here.

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

The plan intended to shape North Highline’s future is advancing through the branches of King County government, and it held centerstage at this month’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting.

NORTH HIGHLINE SUBAREA PLAN: The meeting began with an encore appearance by Jacqueline Reid, who is now the plan’s point person. King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s recommended version of the plan has gone to the King County Council.

The document was sent to the council at the end of March. It’s all part of an update to the county comprehensive plan, so it’s accompanying documents covering other areas of the county, and some code amendments. When you get to the list of documents (follow the links here), just look for the North Highline Community Service Area Subarea Plan link. It’s now in the County Council review phase, so that’s where to direct questions and concerns. Reid summarized all the comments they’d received and how they’d tried to reach people.

You can see the comments, she said, by going here: https://www.publicinput.com/northhighline Here’s a few toplines of what Reid said they heard:

Then she hit some toplines of the proposed plan itself, starting with zoning classifications:

That’s an “overview map,” she stressed. Color coding indicates where a change is proposed. Map Amendment 4 is what would make the zoning changes.

She said one block of parcels proposed for upzoning was removed because it wasn’t close to frequent transit after all, while they added some near White Center Library. Feedback, meantime, is keeping the south block on this view as industrial

A “pedestrian overlay” will ban marijuana production/processing among other rules:

In downtown White Center, zoning will be for up to 55′ height. They also will limit businesses to 5,000 square feet.

They’re implementing Inclusionary Housing, with a preference for people “with ties” to the area. Reid went through some policies spelled out by the Subarea Plan:

In Q&A, Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Kennamer wondered about the plan for increasing infrastructure and supports – public safety, schools, etc. – if all the potential density comes to fruition. Yes, they have to consider the plan’s “implications,” replied Reid. Then King County Councilmember Joe McDermott noted that just because something is rezoned doesn’t mean anyone is required to redevelopment.

NHUAC’s Liz Giba wondered about the “opportunity zone” designation and how that factors into rezoning. King Countys Hugo Garcia said it won’t overlap with the business district – it’s a federal designation and it hasn’t drawn much interest so far.

Giba also noted the poverty levels in the Highline Public Schools elementaries in the area; Reid said the county was committed to developing partnerships with agencies and departments. “We need to focus on opportunity for everyone,” Giba declared.

She then wondered what ever happened to White Center’s microhousing pilot project. McDermott said it was about streamlining the permit process, so they approved the idea of two projects. Two sites have been selected, one on Vashon and one in WC, he said, and the council has adopted legislation specifying those two projects, but he had no further details. (We’ll follow up.)

NHUAC’s Barbara Dobkin noted that developers have “exploited” areas where lots were platted at 2,500 sf and said that she’d been told over the years that the “loopholes” would be addressed, but they never have. She wondered what loopholes would turn up in this rezoning. King County’s Jim Chan said the market is pricing itself to the point that density is naturally being maxed out. Developers will find a way “to squeeze every inch” of potential density out of property ‘because it pencils out for them,” he observed. The lack of infrastructure supporting that dense development was Dobkin’s major concern. A discussion of the Community Needs list ensued.

to a question about building safety, Chan said they’re hiring – more building inspectors, for example. They’re having a tough time finding people, but they do have openings to fill.

Dobkin brought it back around to: “You keep saying we’re an urban area, but we don’t have the amenities of an urban area” – no sidewalks, not even mandatory trash pickup.” McDermott said, “You’re right,” but noted that the “funding model” of living in an unincorporated area doesn’t support all the amenities and services. “The county’s funding doesn’t exist in the same way that a city has funding opportunities” – fewer ways to raise funds, for example. And that’s why it would benefit North Highline to annex to a neighboring city, he contended, “Yes, we’ve heard all that,” she said. “Annexation is not happening, and we don’t see that in our future.” McDermott suggested they lobby cities if they feel it would be “advantageous.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The Local Services and Land Use Committee will be having briefings and discussions later this month – some action may happen June 21st, and then the SEPA (environmental review process) will launch, continuing into fall.

NEW SHERIFF: McDermott was asked about the announcement of three finalists for King County Sheriff. It’s the King County Executive’s decision to choose the sheriff and send the nomination to the council, McDermott confirmed. He pointed out that the announcement mentioned two public forums – April 18th and 21st.

IN-PERSON MEETINGS? The North Highline Fire District HQ is undergoing some renovations and the meeting room is being used as temporary living quarters through fall, so there’s no venue until then.

DEPUTY KENNAMER: He mentioned traffic troubles (including the 8th/Roxbury crash earlier in the day). Crime stats – a significant increase in commercial burglaries (200 percent); residential burglaries (67%) – 9 and 10 in the past month, respectively. Car thefts more than doubled – six of the seven larcenies were catalytic-converter thefts. He mentioned the pot-shop robberies early last month, “probably the same people who are robbing all the pot shops.” There was a shooting on 14th on March 20th, and the carjacking from the Vintage complex in which teenagers were involved/arrested. Several gunfire incidents with no injuries, too.

NEXT MEETING: NHUAC meets at 7 pm first Thursdays, so the next meeting will be May 5th.

Electric-vehicle owners are invited to participate in an EV fair at Greenbridge on April 23rd. If you don’t have one (yet), you’re invited to come see and learn about EVs. Here’s the announcement:

Seattle Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers and enthusiasts will come together to share their cars and lived experiences with the public. Come meet unbiased EV drivers, check out the different EV models, and take a test drive. The event will take place at the Greenbridge Community Center/Library, SW Boys & Girls Club parking lot. The event will highlight the clean air benefits and cost-savings of electric cars on Saturday, April 23, 2022 to celebrate Drive Electric Earth Day. Seattle’s event is one of dozens of events across the country where communities will gather to celebrate Earth Day and the role that reducing transportation emissions plays in combating climate change, along with the personal and consumer benefits of EVs!

This is set for 10 am-2 pm April 23rd at 9720 8th SW. If you are interested in bringing your EV to participate, you can go here to register.

King County just announced a list of more than $100,000 in grants for groups and projects in unincorporated areas via the Alan M. Painter Grant Program. The program is explained as follows:

Community groups in unincorporated King County competed for the grants, which range between $500 and $5,000 each. Applicants had to match at least one quarter of the total cost of their projects, and the projects had to be accessible to all unincorporated residents, regardless of race, income, or language.

Community Engagement Grants support projects that advance the King County Strategic Plan and achieve at least one of the following goals:

-Promote the engagement of unincorporated area residents in community or civic activities
-Educate local residents about issues that affect them
-Implement a community enhancement project
-Identify and gather community needs and priorities
-Meet King County’s equity and social justice goals of increasing fairness and opportunity for all people, particularly people of color and those with low incomes and/or limited English proficiency

Here’s the full list. The local recipients include the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council (which meets tonight), receiving $2,270; Southwest Little League is getting $4,000; and the Seola Riparian Repair project will receive $3,500.

Three people – including the current interim King County Sheriff – are in the running for the permanent job. Here’s the announcement:

Following three rounds of interviews with the hiring committee, three candidates have been selected to move into the final phase of the recruitment process for a new King County Sheriff. A total of 12 candidates submitted applications to the nationwide search conducted by POLHIRE, which began in November 2021. Seven candidates were moved to a first round of interviews.

The three finalists selected are:

Patti Cole-Tindall, Interim Sheriff, King County Sheriff’s Office
Charles Kimble, Chief of Police, Killeen, Texas Police Department
Reginald Moorman, Major, Atlanta, Georgia Police Department

In the final phase of the selection process, the candidates will both meet with members of the Public Safety Advisory Committee, King County employees, labor representatives, and contract city representatives and engage with the community in a separate series of public forums prior to a final interview with Executive Constantine. These community forums are a chance for the public to provide input, ask questions, and get to know the candidates better . Forums will take place virtually with the first on April 18 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and the second on April 21 from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Candidate bios and more information on how to participate in the forums can be found here.

“Using priorities and criteria set by the Public Safety Advisory Committee, I am pleased we have identified three highly qualified finalists to be the next King County Sheriff,” said Executive Constantine. “Before I appoint the next Sheriff, I am eager to hear from the public and our KCSO employees as they meet the candidates and hear their vision for delivering high quality, professional, and equitable public safety.”

The King County Sheriff’s Office is transitioning to an appointed, rather than elected, Sheriff, following the passage of a Charter Amendment in November 2020. As part of that process, the Public Safety Advisory Committee developed recommendations for the characteristics of the next Sheriff, focusing on a strong background in law enforcement, community leadership, and community partnerships; a reputation for integrity, honesty, and transparency; the ability to inspire and motivate change; and a commitment to equity, racial and social justice, and LGBTQ+ issues. These recommendations were reviewed by Executive Constantine and the King County Council and considered during the interview process.

As part of the job requirements, the successful candidate will need to be certified by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission within one year of appointment.

Executive Constantine will make a final sheriff selection and transmit the nomination in early May to the King County Council. The council will then begin their confirmation process, with the new Sheriff expected to be on board this summer.

Want to work in baseball? Here’s your chance!

The DubSea Fish Sticks summer collegiate baseball team is holding a job fair Sunday, April 10, 2022 at Mel Olson Stadium inside King County’s Steve Cox Memorial Park. The job fair will run from 1 pm-3 pm.

The team is currently looking to hire 20-30 part-time employees for the months of June and July. High school and college students are welcome to apply with select positions being available to those 15 years of age and older. There are select positions such as servers and security that do require the applicant to be 21 years of age or older.

The job fair will allow those interested in working for the Fish Sticks to find out more information about each position and apply on site. For those that are interested but cannot attend the job fair they can apply online at GoFishSticks.com/jobs. Positions that are currently available include concessions, ticketing, game day operations, servers and security.

The DubSea Fish Sticks’ season begins on Saturday, June 4th, running through July 31st. They will host 27 different home shows (games) this summer at Mel Olson Stadium also known as The Fryer by fans. The team hosts upwards of 40 college players from around the country for the summer where they will play 48 games throughout the Pacific Northwest.

For more information on the DubSea Fish Sticks, you can visit www.GoFishSticks.com.

Another dive into the North Highline Subarea Plan is at the heart of this Thursday’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting agenda. Here’s the announcement:

The Opportunity to Be Informed, Be Involved and Be Heard!

Where? North Highline Unincorporated Area Council Meeting

When? Thursday, April 7, 2022, at 7 pm

Join Zoom Meeting:

us02web.zoom.us/j/85898466765?pwd=ays3cm4xQ2xJYTdZa0JjNEdJNUVGZz09

Meeting ID: 858 9846 6765

Passcode: NHUAC2022 (Case Sensitive)

Unable to join via Zoom? Please call: 253-215-8782

Meeting ID: 858 9846 6765

Passcode: 887033793

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Neighbor is not a geographic term. It is a moral concept.” – Rabbi Joachim Prinz

“Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human-beings.” -Nelson Mandela

Have you any idea how many kids it takes to turn off one light in the kitchen? Three. It takes one to say, “What light?” and two more to say, “I didn’t turn it on.” – Erma Bombeck

Some thoughts to ponder before NHUAC’s April 7th meeting where we’ll learn more about the county’s vision for our community, a/ka the North Highline Subarea Plan. We’ll be joined once again by Jacqueline Reid, of King County’s Department of Local Services (DLS). She will share the recommendations of Executive Dow Constantine. His proposal went to the King County Council last week for discussion. deliberation, finalization, and ultimately a vote. Councilman Joe McDermott, Fire Chief Mike Marrs and Deputy Bill Kennamer will also join the discussion.

According to a 2011 Opportunity Mapping Analysis, White Center is a “low opportunity neighborhood” with “some of the worst health outcomes in King County… ranking number one for diabetes-related deaths, infant mortality, and heart disease….” The report also cites “academic achievement and poverty challenges.” “School poverty has serious implications not just for students, but for districts, communities and the region.”

How will the Subarea Plan improve life in our neighborhood? In November of 2020, NHUAC was joined by David Goodman who shared some data the county had compiled from and about our community. David is gone, but his presentation is worth reviewing. whitecenternow.com/2020/11/10/newest-plan-for-subarea-plan-north-highline-unincorporated-area-councils-novem

Knowledge is power.

Learn, share, and help make North Highline a healthier community.

April 7, 2022 at 7 pm – Invite Your Neighbors!

Thanks to Gill Loring for sharing photos from a recent volunteer event at North Shorewood Park. Crescent from King County Parks reported, “Together we planted 33 shrubs (evergreen huckleberry, black cap raspberry and serviceberry) and 1 Western Hemlock. It really was lovely to be at North Shorewood, get my hands in the dirt, and enjoy a beautiful park with you all. The plants you put in the ground will support future healthy habitat for bees, birds, wildlife, and people by providing things like food, shade and filtration of stormwater.”

Watch this page for future chances to help out!

It’s baseball season! Southwest Little League gets going on Saturday – here’s the announcement:

Southwest Little League 2022 season opener Jamboree Day
Steve Cox Memorial Stadium
April 2nd, 2022 @ 12 pm

*Will hold a 50/50 raffle contest
*Have baked goods for free with encouraged donations accepted for the league
*Juniors team (Dodgers) will play in their 1st game at 2 pm

All are welcome for as much or as little baseball as you want to watch! The stadium is at 1321 SW 102nd.

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

Unlike county-convened Town Halls of the past, the one held this year focused more on planning initiatives than specific county services

The town hall was held online this past Tuesday night. Department of Local Services director John Taylor facilitated. He recommended checking out the Community Work Plans:

COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER: This area’s King County Councilmember Joe McDermott said he’s recovering from COVID. He noted that his district stretches from Capitol Hill to Burien to Vashon/Maury Islands. He acknowledged the fires that have ravaged White Center’s business district in the past year and recapped King County attempts to help with recovery and security. He also noted the NH Subarea Plan, participatory budgeting, and the new fireworks ban, taking effect this year. He also said the county’s worked hard to distribute state and federal funding that’s come in for pandemic relief – requiring eight “supplemental budgets” to work it all out. This money’s gone to everything from vaccines to rent relief to increasing shelter capacity to addressing food insecurity by supporting food banks.

PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING: Next guest was a member of the Community Investment Budget Committee working on this, Kimnang Seng. He explained the committee includes members from the county’s five “local service areas,” including North Highline. Since June, the committee has met once or twice a week. “It’s been a challenging experience, but it’s been a great one,” Seng said, adding that the CIBC has kept equity in the forefront. White Center submitted the most ideas for spending a share of the county-allotted money, more than 300; in May, he said, the community will get a ballot to vote on some of them. “Now we are in the proposal-development phase.” Here are the sort of things they’re looking at:

Skyway and White Center have some extra money to spend in this process, from the marijuana tax, because the areas have borne the majority of cannabis businesses:

For more information on Participatory Budgeting, go here.

COMMUNITY NEEDS LIST: We’ve reported on this before. The needs can be “anything that’s within the power of the county to deliver,” said Taylor. They’ve been working on it with the White Center Community Development Association, whose executive director Sili Savusa spoke. Here’s the overview of the process:

She also broke out the characteristics and demographics of participants. (Also, 40 percent were homeowners, 44 percent renters.)

It’s a 39-point list, Savusa said. They organized it into seven areas, ranked on a 1-5 scale of least to most important. Here are the highest-ranked points in housing:

Highest-ranked points in community:

In employment:

For businesses:

In safety:

For parks:

And for transit/streets:

Savusa pointed out that the top 20 priorities had a lot of overlap. They’ve also drafted a “vision statement’ for North Highline:

POLLING: The meeting then moved into some informal online polling regarding some of the same emphasis areas. It was a rather small sample, and they had some technical difficulties along the way, so we’re not chronicling. Overall, the answers from the meeting attendees seemed to run along similar lines to previously conducted survey results the county presented along the way. Topics of note along the way included “building more sidewalks.”

Q&A: Liz Giba was first to ask one. She explained that she had asked the county with help in protesting a recent application for another marijuana-growing/processing business on 16th SW and was rejected. She went ahead and found a way to protest the application, which she says has since been denied, but wondered why the county couldn’t help. McDermott thought that type of business wouldn’t necessarily require the type of buffer that another type of cannabis business might have. King County’s Jacqueline Lewis, who’s working on the Subarea Plan, noted that the plan that’ll be presented to the County Council later this month would specifically disallow that type of business “in a large part of White Center.” Another attendee asked about a “disconnect” in the Subarea Plan and zoning maps. Taylor said the Subarea Plan reflects what was heard from community members, not something the county is trying to push. He said the proposed plan is the result of two years of work with the community. McDermott said zoning maps are not an obligation to build. No, but it means that level of building could be done, the attendee reiterated. The next attendee to comment observed that the zoning maps were difficult to read. She also said none of her neighbors were aware about the changes in the works. McDermott promised “a lot more conversation” as the proposed plans and changes worked their way through the official public-hearing process.

The next participant to comment said he felt many of the questions were “out of touch” with community concerns, such as needs at schools, and a growing “class divide.” He proposed questions such as ‘how can we reprioritize our spending?’ for addressing needs such as mental health. McDermott talked about the Regional Homelessness Authority and its work.

Giba returned to the zoning maps’ density proposals, reiterating that some drastic changes are possible. The county reps said zoning changes don’t guarantee that redevelopment will occur, but rather open the door for it. But the bottom line is that “this is where growth is supposed to go,” in the urban areas, per state policy, Taylor pointed out. An attendee countered that White Center isn’t necessarily as “urban” as you’d think, and a lack of infrastructure is a challenge – she listed problems such as a lack of adequate street lighting, an absence of sidewalks. She says she’s often heard that concerns “will be addressed in the future” but remains concerned that there isn’t even enough baseline information/awareness about what’s proposed. “Our voices aren’t being heard.” McDermott responded, “I hear your voice,” and stressed again that this isn’t “smokin’ through council,” that a final vote is maybe six months or more away. The attendee said she has an architecture background and has been researching the walkshed in her neighborhood, and in terms of it being characterized as a “transit corridor,” that ‘doesn’t meet the sniff test” – she has to walk a mile for a bus.

Another participant suggested visualizations to help the community understand what’s being proposed. Then Barbara Dobkin chimed in about transportation safety, and dramatic density changes: “What this (could do) is wiping out a community.” She also said that she “do(esn’t) have much faith” in the county after some problems over the years, going back to 2012 when community advocates were told there would be no marijuana stores in North Highline – and suddenly there were half a dozen. Fast forward to current challenges she said the county was addressing – and suddenly they’re going to upzone. She listed a lot of recent building and said, “Trust me, it WILL happen.” She also echoed the previous speaker in saying nobody in her neighborhood is aware of the process. McDermott said he would do his best to be an advocate; Taylor said his department has tried its best to be responsive. He said his department is “agnostic” about what’s in the plan and just wants it to be “the best plan for the community.”

What happens next with the Community Needs List? It’ll be provided to county departments for them to consider and consult in the budgeting process, Taylor said.

Thyda Ros of the Khmer Community said she wants to be sure they’re included in discussions and consideration for budgeting; they are still without a commuunity center, for example, and are dealing with displacement.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH KC LOCAL SERVICES: Town Halls may be only once a year, but they offer online Local Lunch Q&A opportunities at noon Fridays – find out more here.

King County has formally announced its new shower trailer (county-provided photo above), which already is making weekly stops at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center (9 am-1 pm Fridays). Here’s the announcement:

Executive Dow Constantine announced the launch of a new program bringing a mobile shower to people experiencing homelessness in Kent, Renton, and Seattle. The mobile shower by Clean the World, a global leader in water, sanitation, hygiene, and sustainability, brings health and hygiene to those currently unsheltered in our region.

King County launched the mobile shower at several locations across the region to support basic hygiene needs for people experiencing homelessness. The mobile shower, purchased with American Rescue Plan funds, is part of key strategic initiatives laid out last year to support people experiencing homelessness. This program brings clean water, soap, and washing facilities that reduces the risk of infection and illness like COVID-19. Currently, the mobile shower visits sites in North Seattle, downtown Seattle, South Seattle, and South King County. The program is slated to expand locations throughout the year.

“The ability to bathe is basic to human dignity, and something most of us are fortunate to be able to take for granted. The launch of this mobile shower with our partners at Clean the World gives people the chance to feel refreshed, gain confidence, and live healthy lives,” said Executive Constantine. “The additional funds from Congress for this project are greatly appreciated as we look to identify strategies big and small to support those experiencing homelessness across our region.”

The shower trailer is completely self-contained and can provide up to 250 showers a week. It includes four private stalls with sink, toilet, shower, and dressing area, including one ADA compliant stall equipped with a baby changing station. The unit is sanitized after each use. Hygiene kits, including soap, shampoo, toothbrush, and toothpaste will be provided along with towels.

Individuals will eventually be able to access wrap-around services at partner host sites that may consist of mental health or substance abuse assessments, food assistance, help getting identification, clean clothes, healthcare, veterinary care for animals, job placement training, and housing assistance. At some locations, Clean the World plans to partner in the future with the County’s Mobile Medical Van.

“Expanding the Fresh Start WASH & Wellness Program into King County means connecting the vulnerable population in this area to critical hygiene and wellness services that will offer a comprehensive approach to both physical and mental health. King County wants to support people experiencing homelessness with the resources needed to transition out of their situation and make them healthier and more confident in the process,” says Shawn Seipler, Founder & CEO, Clean the World. “A warm shower, hygiene supplies, and access to vital resources offered through our many service partners is a big step in that direction.”

King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is partnering with cities in South King County to deploy the mobile shower unit, in addition to operating Seattle locations. Hours of operation will vary at each location.

What started with a carjacking reported in the 100 block of SW 112th (map) ended with a crash at 118th/Glendale (map). The King County Sheriff’s Office says this all started just before 1 pm. The crash happened “down an embankment” and seriously injured one person in the vehicle, described by regional media as a teenage girl. KCSO says the carjacking suspects ‘were apprehended.”

Two weeks after we first noted that King County’s presenting its annual Town Hall for unincorporated North Highline online again this year, tonight’s the night, coming up at 6 pm. This page has all the info you need for watching and/or listening.