White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Tonight’s the night! “Coco” is the movie for this year’s Cine en el Parque, 6:30 pm at Dick Thurnau Memorial Park (11050 10th SW):

There will be games, music, prizes, food trucks and much more. Come down early, stake your ground, and have some fun. This event is sponsored by King County and the White Center Community Development Association. See you at the movies!

This is the fourth year for Cine en el Parque.

(West Seattle Blog photo of 2011 DBB Downhill riders at that year’s Admiral District start)

The irreverent-to-say-the-least Dead Baby Bikes Downhill bike ride (or is it a race?) is starting from White Center this year – Drunky’s Two Shoes BBQ at 98th/16th, to be specific. So if you see an eclectic group of bicyclists gathering prior to the start time (6 pm) on Saturday, that’s what’s up. While it’s not on the official page, we’re told they’ll be heading for Georgetown. About the name … backstory here.

One week until Night Out – and you are invited to what might be the biggest one in the area, Family Night Out at Steve Cox Memorial Park! Here’s the announcement we received:

The Annual King County Parks Night Out Against Crime Family event is back on Tuesday, August 7th from 5-7 pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd). King County Parks has participated in the National Night Out event for over a decade and is thrilled to be hosting families in the park for the annual event. This year’s activities will feature Pineapple Fiesta-themed crafts and games in honor of the Coco movie night coming up at DTMP on August 4th. Confirmed guests of honor include Deputy Bill from the White Center Storefront, Teen Librarian Devon from the White Center Library, and King County Parks own Marta the River Otter Mascot.

Night Out at SCMP is once again sponsored by the teens and staff of the White Center Teen Program. The WCTP offers free recreational, educational and social enrichment programming to over 1200 culturally diverse participants ages 12-19 each year. The program operates five days a week, forty-eight weeks a year and provides structured recreational classes and programs, homework assistance, educational and computer resources, leadership training, volunteer opportunities, special events, field trips, and drop-in activities. Teens and staff will be providing island-themed crafts, games and hotdogs between 5-7pm on the evening of the 1st.

See you there!

By Tracy Record and Patrick Sand
White Center Now co-publishers

Six of the 11 candidates vying for the open 34th District State Senate seat shared a stage last night in a forum presented by the White Center Chamber of Commerce.

As moderator Aaron Garcia was careful to point out in the early going, it was not a debate – more an opportunity for community-building. Toward that end, no sparks flew; the participants differ more in style than in substance. Those participating were, from left on the stage as seen in our video above:

Sofia Aragon
Shannon Braddock
Joe Nguyen
Lois Schipper
Lem Charleston
Hillary Shaw

Schipper lives in White Center; Aragon lives in Burien; the other four live in West Seattle. All are on your ballot as Democrats except for Shaw, who filed with “no preference” regarding party. They are running to succeed Sen. Sharon Nelson, the Maury Island-residing Democrat who decided not to run for re-election.

The forum was held outdoors at TommySound studios in South Delridge. Note that in our summary below, what you’ll read is not the entire answer each candidate gave, but rather our highlights, noted as it went on, and we paraphrase rather than quote (unless you see something in quotation marks); to get the entire response, watch the video.

This is the only forum we’ve ever seen where candidates were given a test – in this case, to complete one side of a Rubik’s Cube-style puzzle – to determine who would go first. After about five minutes, nobody had done it yet, so Garcia went with whomever was closest – Schipper.

First, each candidate was challenged to include in their opening statement how they would support the Duwamish and Coast Salish people.

Schipper talked about her work as a nurse, her status as the only WC resident on the panel, and said she’s currently working on a program that includes support for Native families. She said her priorities include support for early childhood education.

Nguyen talked about his status as the child of immigrants and a former resident of what is now Seola Gardens. He said health care is one of his biggest concerns, especially with memories of a family crisis years ago. Regarding supporting Native people, he said housing affordability, health-care availability, and economic opportunity are vital.

Braddock – who ran for Seattle City Council three years ago and lost to Lisa Herbold by a handful of votes – talked about her status as a mother of three and longtime community advocate, including work with WC-headquartered WestSide Baby. She has worked in recent years for County Executive Dow Constantine and County Councilmember Joe McDermott. She mentioned support for “reasonable gun laws.” And she voiced concern about the hate-crime attack against Burien’s Mayor Jimmy Matta. She did not address the question about supporting Native people.

Aragon said she is a registered nurse, moved here from the Philippines and attended law school before working as a policy advocate in Olympia. She grew up in South Seattle. Health-care is a major concern for her too, as is inclusivity. She also did not address the Native-support question.

Shaw said she helped found West Seattle’s Fairmount Park Elementary PTA and has often been to Olympia to advocate for public schools. She is concerned about tax reform and school funding. She did address the question about Native support and said that, having worked in schools, honoring the cultures of families and receiving equity training were among her experiences.

Charleston opened by expressing his condolences for the family and friends of the Kent police officer who died this week. He made a point that he is “not a Democratic party insider” and he thinks things can be done better – he was the first to mention the problems of homelessness and drug abuse. He mentioned his background as a minister and said creativity needs to be applied to deal with problems. He did not answer the Native-related question.

First question by Garcia following the opening statements was about how the candidates would advocate for policies to support small businesses in White Center.

Nguyen said he has started businesses and cultural competence is vital to help people doing that.

Braddock opened her reply by saying she realized she hadn’t answered the Native-related question; she said environmental equity would be important. Regarding businesses, recognizing barriers, incentivizing “women and minority-owned businesses” would be important, she said.

Aragon said small-business owners share concerns with other residents – maintaining “a good quality of life,” including good schools, infrastructure, law enforcement. Building relationships will be important, she said.

Shaw said she is a small-business owner (albeit without a bricks-and-mortar storefront) and that tax fairness would be vital.

Charleston said he’s the son of a small-business owner and he thinks it’s important to educate business owners about everything “that’s available to them.”

Schipper suggested that patronizing the small businesses in the community are a vital first step, as would be having the four Chambers of Commerce in the 34th District team up to get things done.

Next question: Should the hotel-motel tax go to help with homelessness or Safeco Field?

Braddock said that the stadium is a public facility and does have legitimate maintenance needs but some money should be bonded for affordable housing.

Aragon talked about the housing crisis in general before saying it’s important to look at who’s benefiting from state fees and how that could be “more fair.”

Shaw said she’s not very familiar with the issue but “at the state level, there needs to be adequate funding for homelessness.”

Charleston said, “We teach our kids to get their work done before they go play,” so, applying that, “taking care of a stadium is trumped by taking care of homeless people…. Take care of the homeless people and then go play.”

Schipper noted that the Kingdome wasn’t paid off when it was demolished, and pointed out that three Board of Health members declared a “disaster” related to homelessness. Rather than bonds from tax dollars, money, she said, should be applied to emergency relief to keep people from becoming homeless.

Nguyen said he hasn’t heard any support for “upgrading the suites at Safeco Field” and that doing it is “tone deaf.” But “taking on debt for housing when we already have money” doesn’t make sense to him either.

Next question: Do you support a statewide $15/hour minimum wage?

Aragon said yes, and she doesn’t support staggering it.

Shaw said “a livable wage is super-duper important but it’s important and essential to have a conversation with business owners.”

Charleston said $15/hour isn’t even a livable wage – in this district, he said, a livable wage is about $29/hour, and businesses need breaks so they can pay their employees what it takes to live in Seattle.

Schipper said she supports $15/hour and agrees it’s not enough for livability.

Nguyen said he supports $15/hour and he would eliminate B&O tax for “small and medium sized businesses” so that they could support it. He said he would not take money from organizations that don’t support it.

Braddock said she supports it and also supports making the tax system less regressive, figuring out “how to tax wealth and not work.”

Next question: Annexation. Where do you stand regarding having White Center (and the rest of unincorporated North Highline) being annexed by Seattle or becoming a standalone city or becoming part of another community?

Shaw said it’s not up to her, she would want to help the community discuss it.

Charleston said he’s talked to people in White Center and it has pros and cons. But it’s unsustainable as it is.

Schipper said as she understands it, about half the people don’t want to be annexed at all, the other half support Seattle.

Nguyen said the community should vote “and decide where they want to go.” He talked about gentrification and said it’s making it hard for his relatives to stay.

Braddock said she would support a community vote on annexation; a state role is in providing a tax credit for annexation, and access to that needs to be maintained. She believes the community needs the type of resources that are available through Seattle.

Aragon said displacement needs to be addressed at the state level underlying the community discussion/decision.

Next question was about education funding and the declaration that the state has fulfilled the McCleary requirements – though not everyone agrees they’ve been fulfilled – so what’s your message to educators?

Charleston said people need to lean on legislators. It’s shocking what parents have to buy for their kids that the schools should supply, he said. He also brought up fair teacher pay. “You always get what you pay for.”

Schipper said she’d been a longtime Highline Public Schools parent and teachers aren’t getting what they need, so the McCleary situation isn’t settled yet. Teaching is a tough job and needs a fair wage, she said.

Nguyen said his wife has been a special-education teacher and he also knows what parents are being asked to do. Educators should reflect the diversity of the community; a loan-forgiveness program would help many educators, and he too said teachers should be able to get to a livable wage sooner.

Braddock said she agrees that schools still aren’t fully funded and that teacher salaries and special education funding “need to be addressed.”

Aragon said that changing communities mean teachers need to adjust to those communities’ needs too. She would support talking to school districts to find out what barriers and challenges were getting in the way of implementation.

Shaw said this was her “laser-focus issue” and an issue she could “talk about for hours” and that basic education is “nowhere close to being funded. … Our public schools are the foundation of a healthy democracy and we are failing them.”

At that point, there was a break to hear from Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Steve Strand about last Friday’s deadly stabbing nearby, and other South Delridge crime issues. (That too is included in our video.)

After Lt. Strand spoke, Garcia asked about public safety.

Schipper that she believes guns are at the root of “some of the problems that are erupting.”

Nguyen noted that he and some others put together a forum after a deadly shooting in Burien. He talked about going on a ridealong and seeing that most calls had to do with mental health or homelessness, and that officers need different training to cope with that.

Braddock said that overall, “we need resources for training and tools” to effectively enforce laws.

Aragon said she helped found a racial-equity team among lobbyists when she was in Olympia and recognizes the “need for communities of color to be engaged in the legislative process.”

Shaw said she supports de-escalation

Charleston too but said that as a person of color, he has more concerns about being pulled over than “many of those in the audience.” He serves as a chaplain for public-safety and SPD has ‘reached out to the community’ to try to help “squash the misunderstanding between the blue and the black and brown folks.”

Next question: What specific gun-safety legislation will you author?

Nguyen: Age limit, ban assault rifles/high-capacity weapons, require insurance to buy guns/ammunition. He also said mental-health services are vital because many gun deaths are suicides.

Braddock said, all of those plus safe storage.

Aragon said Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense has endorsed her and that “anything we can do to narrow down the availability and the risk” would be important.

Shaw said she too is a “Candidate of Distinction” as labeled by Moms Demand Action and that she supports “common sense gun laws.”

Charleston mentioned that he served in the US Marine Corps and that he recognized how vital it was to understand a weapon. Society has a “large amount of ignorance” about the dangers of firearms, he said.

Schipper said safety, including gun storage, is what will make a difference. “I’m not (saying) people should have their guns taken away, but they need to be secured.”

Next question: How would you address mass incarceration and do you support the “No New Youth Jail” movement?

Braddock spoke about the importance of keeping youths from getting into the criminal-justice system in the first place. She said she supports the work of the activists ‘because they are making the facility better’ but she said the facility is being built because it’s required by the state, and she said it’s needed because youth who commit serious crimes shouldn’t end up in adult jail.

Aragon said her law school, Loyola, “was the birthplace of youth justice.” She said some places in Chicago are “lawless” and she doesn’t want to see that happen here. She didn’t address her stance on the “no new youth jail” movement.

Shaw said that resources for youth would be important in heading off problems “down the road.” Regarding “no new youth jail,” she wasn’t entirely certain about the movement’s goals.

Charleston said,”If you’ve got the money to build a multimillion-dollar correctional facility for children, you have the money to prevent them having to go to a facility” like that. He said it takes a supportive community “to take care of the kids.”

Schipper said more money for restorative justice is important but she also thinks it’s important to have a facility when youth have to be held, so that they don’t get sent to adult jail.

Nguyen was the only one to declare, “No youth jail. Right off the bat.” He spoke about trauma at young ages leading to trouble for youth and said the money for a jail should be “invested in actual people.”

Next topic: Housing and homelessness. What’s the state’s role and what does each candidate plan to accomplish?

Aragon said she’s on the low-income-housing board and mentioned a trust fund whose budget wasn’t passed in time last year so, she said, the state lost $200 million in funding. She said she supports permanent housing.

Shaw said she helped homeless people as part of a volunteer program in New York but has never seen anything as bad as it is in Seattle now. “We have so many resources, we need to find a solution.”

Charleston said, “If you really want to end homelessness, you need to stop making it a business … it’s big business right now. All the volunteer agencies set up around homelessness cost a lot of money.” Same way that President Eisenhower warned war would become big business, he elaborated. So it needs to be managed, he said.

Schipper said “look(ing) at the drivers on homelessness” is key – such as income inequity, mental and physical health services. She said regional solutions are needed.

Nguyen said he serves on the Wellspring Family Services board, dealing with family homelessness, and that you can’t treat homelessness “like a monolith.” Women often become homeless while fleeing a domestic-violence situation, for example, he said. Seniors, renters, distinct groups need distinct help in staying in their homes.

Braddock talked about building the Housing Trust Fund back up to fund affordable housing. She also supports using surplus properties to build/provide housing. “Treatment on demand” also is needed and can make a difference, she said.

Closing statements:

Shaw said she welcomes having conversations about “how we can improve.”

Charleston took up the Native question that had been asked earlier and said that the Duwamish Tribe needs to be federally recognized. The city named after Chief Seattle “has a whole lot of problems.” But he said it’s good that none of the candidates has been elected before, so they’d be coming in with fresh eyes.

Schipper noted that the Legislature “is a citizen legislature” and pointed out that she’s done work “on the ground” in communities for 20 years – “in the community, with the community.”

Nguyen said, “This community raised me,” helped his family in its time of need, “gave me a voice.” He also noted that the 34th has never been served by a legislator of color, and he thinks what’s wrong is that the people have never been reflected by their representatives.

Braddock said the citizen legislature needs a perspective like hers, “a single mom of school-age kids who works outside the home” She mentioned child-care, education, income inequity, and her experience working with King County government.

Aragon recalled a line from “Hamilton” – “winning a war is easy, governing is harder.” She said she’s seen a lot in her years of advocacy, and she considered the tough work when she was asked to consider running. “A lot of good things can be done.” She, like Nguyen, said she’s proud that she would represent the “diverse community.”

And after more than an hour and a half of Q&A, the forum ended. Again – voting goes until 8 pm August 7th. Ballot postage is now prepaid so if you choose to use the US Postal Service to send yours, no need to use a stamp. Or you can put it in the dropbox at the White Center Library.

Happening at the Bethaday Community Learning Space in White Center on Friday (July 27th): Strolling Thunder, Washington State! Here’s the announcement:

The Children’s Alliance is bringing babies, parents, communities, and advocates together to call attention to what babies—and families—in Washington need to thrive. Giving all babies a strong start in life yields significant returns in the long run through more years of education, more employment, and better health as an adult. We’re hosting a Playdate with community and policymakers in White Center at the Bethaday Community Learning Space to raise awareness amongst advocates and state policymakers to Think Babies—for stronger families, vibrant communities, and a prosperous country and future.

Friday, July 27, 2018

TAF Bethaday Community Learning Space
605 SW 108th Street

10:00 am to 12:00 pm

10:00 a.m. – Hello friends and snack time
10:15 a.m. – Introduction to Zero to Three work with The Children’s Alliance and the National Think Babies™ campaign.
10:45 a.m. – Stroll around Lakewood Park with advocates and policymakers
11:00 a.m. – Playdates begin! Babies and guardians will have the opportunity to play and think like babies with policymakers and fellow advocates.
12:00 p.m. – We say goodbye for now and see you soon for the 2019 legislative session advocacy opportunities.

Please be prepared to take a short stroll with our babies and toddlers around Lakewood Park where we will lift our voices encouraging all to Think Babies!

You can RSVP by going here.

One last mention in case you haven’t voted yet in the 11-candidate 34th District State Senate race – six candidates have RSVP’d for tonight’s White Center Chamber of Commerce-presented forum just across the line in South Delridge, 6-8 pm at TommySound, 9409 Delridge Way SW: Sofia Aragon, Shannon Braddock, Lem Charleston, Joe Nguyen, Lois Schipper, Hillary Shaw. All welcome.

(Jubilee Days spectators, photographed by Gill Loring)

And now, our big collection of photos from today’s White Center Jubilee Days Parade! First, from parade coordinator Terri Robison, the winners from today’s parade, followed by a few other entries that caught our eye:

Grand Marshal’s Award – Wheels of Boom

(All photos from here on down are by WCN’s Patrick Sand)

Mayor’s Award – Rat City Roadents motorcycle club

Judges’ Award – Grupo Folklorico

Favorite Marching Band – Seattle All City Jr Marching Band

Favorite Floatish – McLendon Hardware

Best Drumline

First: Ladies of Elegance Drumline
​​Second: Washington Diamonds Drumline

Favorite Drill Team ​

First: Washington Diamonds
​​​Second: Ladies of Elegance

​​​Third: Princesses of Elegance

Best In Show ​Motorcycle – Jolly Roger motorcycle club

​​Car – 1929 Model A Sedan (Ted Kuhn)

Best Classic Car – 1979 VW Bug (Kurt Rauschenberg)

Best Antique Car – 1930 Model A Ford Coupe (John Michaud)

Now, a few others we wanted to show you – starting with the dancing horses and their riders!

And “The Mayor”:

We have other photos, and video, on the WCN Twitter feed.

11:04 AM: According to the announcer, the parade has just begun! It’s headed north on 16th SW from 112th to 100th, which is of course closed for the occasion.

FIRST UPDATE: The Solo Cups were among the first entries. Among the biggest entries,the Jolly Rogers motorcycle club:

11:54 AM: The last of the entries has just passed our spot midroute, at SW 107th – North Highline Fire Engine 18

Still a bit of time to go to the conclusion. We’ll add lots more photos and video later!

White Center Jubilee Days wraps up today with two big events: The parade (11 am, on 16th SW, from SW 112th north to SW 100th) and carnival (White Center Heights Elementary, 11 am-11 pm). We stopped by the street fair and car show Saturday afternoon:

OK, that wasn’t part of the car show – it was seen along 16th SW. One block west, these gleaming vehicles (and many others!) WERE part of the show, presented by Eazy Duz It Car Club:

On SW 98th, a hydroplane!

And at the street fair – community organizations along with vendors, including the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, sharing their booth with the Disabled American Veterans:

It was a beautiful afternoon to wander the street fair:

Here, by the way, is who made your community festival happen!

Call her Mayor Ginger. The “unofficial mayor of White Center” election was just part of the Friday night Jubilee Days festivities. The youth we photographed along with the new “mayor” had helped clean up the street before 16th SW was closed for the Jubilee Days block party:

Meantime, the Jubilee Days carnival at White Center Heights Elementary was into its third night:

Big stuff for Saturday: Street fair on 16th SW starting at 11 am, car show on SW 100th 11 am-5 pm, main-stage music starting at 12:30 pm. The carnival is scheduled 11 am-11 pm, with a shuttle bus!

Jubilee Days continues with a block party in the street on 16th SW, 7-11 pm tonight – that includes the unofficial mayoral election (three candidates last time we checked the ballot). The carnival continues until 11 pm too!

Our photo is from Tuesday, as setup continued at White Center Heights Elementary (10015 6th SW) for this year’s Jubilee Days carnival. It opens today (Wednesday) at 3 pm – here’s all the info you need.

The Equity in Education Coalition‘s next Lunch and Learn at the Bethaday Community Learning Space in White Center is at noon tomorrow, and you’re invited. This will be the group’s third event there.

Yes, we’re in the heart of summer, but the new school year isn’t THAT far away. So Highline Public Schools wants to be sure you know some start times are changing:

Based on input from families, students and staff, high schools students in Highline Public Schools will be getting 30 extra minutes of sleep starting in fall 2018 when high schools move to a later start time. This change will have a domino effect, causing small adjustments in start and dismissal times districtwide.

Most high schools will start 30 minutes later at 8:00 a.m. School will end at 2:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. On early release Friday, school will be dismissed at 1:00 p.m.

Most middle schools will start five minutes earlier at 8:05 a.m. School will end at 2:35 p.m., Monday through Thursday. On early release Friday, school will be dismissed at 1:05 p.m.

Elementary schools will start five minutes later at 8:45 a.m. or 9:15 a.m., depending on service area. School will end at 3:15 or 3:45 p.m., Monday through Thursday. On early release Friday, school will dismiss at 1:45 or 2:15 p.m.

The following schools will not have a change in start and dismissal times: CHOICE Academy, Puget Sound Skills Center, New Start High School, Raisbeck Aviation High School and Waskowitz Educational Leadership Service.

Start and dismissal times are changing at both Big Picture Middle School and Big Picture High School. Big Picture Middle School will start at 9:00 a.m. and dismiss at 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. On early release Friday, school will be dismissed at 2:00 p.m. Big Picture High School will start at 8:55 a.m. and dismiss at 3:30 p.m., Monday and Wednesday and dismiss at 3:00 Tuesday and Thursday. On early release Friday, school will be dismissed at 2:30 p.m.

A detailed list of start and dismissal time changes is below.

Bus times are also changing. New bus stops and pick up times can be found using Highline’s bus and address lookup system, called Edulog. (http://portal.hsd401.org/eduweb/webquery).

Middle and high school students will begin riding the bus together starting in fall 2018. High school students will be dropped off first, followed by middle school students. Student safety is a top priority for Highline. Middle school students will be directed to sit in the front of the bus, and high school students will sit in the back of the bus. Bus drivers have received training to support positive behavior on buses.

New Start & Dismissal Times

(first set of times for each school) Regular Day
(second set of times for each school) Early Release

Evergreen
8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
30 minutes later

Cascade
8:05 a.m. – 2:35 p.m.
8:05 a.m. – 1:05 p.m.
5 minutes earlier

Mount View
9:15 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
9:15 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
5 minutes later

White Center Heights
9:15 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
9:15 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
5 minutes later

Deputies are at 5th SW and SW 112th investigating a collision that is reported to have left a child injured. The 10-year-old’s injuries are reported to be minor.

Thanks again to Gill Loring for another look at the Steve Cox Memorial Park work zone – closer, this time:

Project details are here (PDF).

From the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council:

Please note that the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council will not be holding meetings in July and August. Regular monthly meetings will resume on Thursday, Sept 6 @ 7 pm. Hope to see then.

In the meantime, stop by the NHUAC booth at Jubilee Days, Saturday, July 21st.

North Highline Unincorporated Area Council
Meetings: First Thursday of the month, 7 pm
Where: North Highline Fire Station
1243 SW 112th Street

Thanks to Gill for the photo! Work continues at Steve Cox Memorial Park, a $3 million upgrade described by King County Parks as follows:

The project will construct a multi-use synthetic turf athletic field with LED lights and a ten-foot-wide paved walking path around the field perimeter. The field in-fill will be a rubber turf material coated with a colorant and encapsulated with a polyurethane coating. This material was selected to help reduce on-field temperatures and the overall environmental impact of the in-fill.

As mentioned previously, this project is why the Jubilee Days carnival has a new location this year (White Center Heights Elementary) and the fireworks show is on hiatus.

That’s a photo from last year’s WestSide Baby Stuff the Bus Diaper Drive Bash at WS Baby’s White Center hub. The party’s happening again this year and you’re invited! Noon-3 pm Sunday, July 22nd, at 10002 14th SW. Bring diapers and/or cash donations! Here’s the current list of most-needed items:

-Diapers sizes 4,5,6
-Pull-ups sizes 3T-4T and 4T-5T
-Wipes, baby shampoo, baby wash, powder, lotion, diaper cream

P.S. It’s OK to bring packages of diapers that have been opened.

Thursday, fireworks stands open in unincorporated King County, though it’s only legal to use them on the 4th of July. There will be extra patrols to ensure safety, two county councilmembers have announced:

King County’s unincorporated communities will get assistance in keeping the Fourth of July holiday safe, with a $25,000 boost in sheriff funding for increased patrols. Metropolitan King County Council Chair Joe McDermott and Councilmember Reagan Dunn announced the funds for the King County Sheriff’s Office were prioritized in the King County Budget.

“I’ve worked to secure these extra funds for increased patrols to help ensure neighborhoods in unincorporated King County can safely celebrate the Fourth of July holiday this year,” said Dunn.

“We want everyone to have a fun, and most importantly safe, celebration for Independence Day,” said McDermott.

$25,000 was prioritized to cover 300 hours of extra emphasis which will be split between the three sheriff precincts; Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest King County. The intent of this action is to ensure deputies can better respond to 911 calls made in response to illegal fireworks.

“These funds will help our office better address and respond to 911 calls that happen around the Fourth of July,” said Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht. “I appreciate the support of Councilmembers McDermott and Dunn in helping us get the financial resources needed to better serve unincorporated communities.”

In unincorporated King County fireworks may only be discharged on July 4 from 9 a.m. to midnight. Residents are encouraged to act responsibly when using fireworks. Examples of legal fireworks include cone fountains, smoke devices, mines/shells/cakes, wheels, parachutes, roman candles, ground spinners, cylindrical fountains, sparklers, and poppers.

There are a number of free firework shows located around King County. The cities of Bellevue, Auburn, Carnation, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Kenmore, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Mountlake Terrace, Renton, Sammamish, Seattle, and Tukwila are all hosting public fireworks displays on July 4th. See each city’s website or social media for more information.

For more information about how to use fireworks safely and legally go to: kingcounty.gov/depts/permitting-environmental-review/fire-marshal/fireworks.aspx.

P.S. Reminder that, as previously announced, no Jubilee Days fireworks show this year (because of Steve Cox Memorial Park construction), so if you want to see a professional display, the 4th is your best opportunity.