Dear Neighbors:

I had the privilege of attending our first budget workshop in North Seattle with over 50 randomly selected residents of Districts 1 and 4. Using electronic “interactive polling” devices, attendees shared their opinions on King County budget priorities.

What did we learn? For one, when prioritized against other county services, funding for public health clinics consistently came out on top. Given my efforts to keep two local clinics open this past year, I find these results encouraging. You can view the compiled results of all the workshops at www.metrokc.gov/council.

As chair of the King County Council Operating Budget Committee, I am committed to hearing directly from King County residents on your budget priorities. The “interactive polling” results gathered at each budget workshop throughout King County will be part of a comprehensive public outreach report. The Council and the Executive will use the final report as a guide when creating the 2008 budget.

If you were unable to attend the public forums, please share your input concerning spending priorities by taking a survey on our web site (www.metrokc.gov/council)

Council Approves Logo Change

Members of the King County Council and other County officials gather to support the approval of the new King County logo.

In a historic 9-0 bipartisan vote, the Council unanimously adopted a new design for King County’s official logo: an image of the county’s namesake, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I was proud to co-sponsor the legislation that changed the logo.

Councilmember Larry Gossett introduced the legislation to replace the crown logo with a likeness of Dr. King in 1999 and spent seven years working for its adoption. To keep costs to a minimum, the new logo will be phased in over a five-year period. Letterhead and signs will be replaced only in the normal course of business.

The vote was the culmination of an effort that spanned three decades – beginning with King County’s re-dedication in honor of Dr. King in 1986 - and the persistence of countless individuals who dedicated themselves to the cause. I consider the new logo a living example of the “Beloved Community” for which Dr. King gave his life and an embodiment of the bedrock democratic principals in which King Country residents strongly believe.

Support for King County Parks

I recently attended a press conference with King County Executive Ron Sims and other regional leaders to support the renewal of the King County Parks levy that expires at the end of 2007.

The Park Futures Task Force, a citizen advisory committee charged with securing the future of King County’s parks system, recommended renewal of the levy and investment in important open space projects.

King County owns and manages more than 25,000 acres of parks and open space and 175 miles of trails – one of the largest systems in the country. To keep the King County parks system a safe and vibrant part of life in King County, there must be adequate funding.

The Council will now examine the proposal. I anticipate that this issue will come before the voters in the form of two levies on the August primary ballot. The first levy replaces the expiring 4.9 cent operating and maintenance levy with a five cents per thousand dollars of assessed value six year renewal levy. The second levy, also five cents, would enable protection and preservation of open space and includes matching grant money for open spaces and trails within King County cities as well as some funding support for educational programs at Woodland Park Zoo.

Watch for more information in next month’s e-news.

Working on a Plan for Public Health

Last year Councilmember Julia Patterson and I introduced legislation to form an expert panel to address how King County can best provide public health access to the uninsured and underinsured. The panel includes professionals with public health experience. They hail from institutions such as Harborview and UW, the Gates Foundation and the Washington State Board of Health. All have knowledge of community health care issues, much of it pertaining to low-income populations.

For example, Dr. Michael Lippman has worked as a family physician at the North Public Health Center since 1981, where he specializes in health care for the uninsured/underinsured. As you might recall, this clinic was one of two public health centers in our district that faced closure last year. Dr. Lippman served on the Communities for Public Health committee, which played an essential role in securing enough funding in the 2007 County Budget to keep the clinics open.

Dr. David Fleming, the recently appointed director of Public Health-Seattle & King County, facilitates the panel’s work.

Arts and Heritage in District 1 – Civic Light Opera

District 1 is home to many arts and heritage groups. This month I want to introduce you to the Civic Light Opera which presents its shows in Magnuson Park Building #47.

- Cabaret, running May 11-27, concludes the current season.

The 2007-08 season will begin in September and includes:

- Fiddler On The Roof
- Seussical The Musical
- The Fantastiks
- Annie Get Your Gun.

Mark your calendars for Civic Light Opera’s Used Art Sale June 15-17 at the theatre (Bldg #47, Magnuson Park). If you wish to donate, please contact Floyd McCracken at (206) 789-8326 for information or pick-up.

For more information about performances please visit Civic Light Opera’s website.

Staff Corner

I want to introduce you to a great resource—the District 1 Staff!

Sam Downing is responsible for regional transit and urban planning, historic preservation, elections, and good government projects. He handles outreach to the residents of Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Woodinville and unincorporated areas. In addition, he helps coordinate media and communications for the office.

Sam grew up in Seattle and attended middle and high school in District 1. Sam studied political theory and Spanish at Bowdoin College in Maine as a National Merit Scholar. He spent a year abroad studying urban planning in South America and in the European Union. After graduation Sam spent nine months in Uruguay on a Fulbright grant where he participated in the teacher-training program for the public high schools and studied the politics of urbanization.

Sam’s work experience includes previous King County service as a legislative aide and Budget Office intern, internships with the office of U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell and the Washington Attorney General’s Consumer Resource Center, and a Teaching Assistantship in Spanish at Bowdoin College.

Please feel free to call Sam at (206) 296-0341 or email samuel.downing@metrokc.gov with questions related to Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Woodinville and unincorporated areas, or just to say hello!

District 1 Dates:

Public Health Town Hall Thursday, May 3rd 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., (public reception at 6:30 p.m.), Meridian Park Elementary School, 17077 Meridian Ave. N, in Shoreline

New Date! Mental Health Town Hall Monday, June 25th 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (public reception at 6:00 p.m.), Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Ave. N.E., in Shoreline

If your neighborhood or community group is interested in using this section to advertise meetings and events please let us know.

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Phone: (206) 296-1001 | Fax: (206) 296-0198 | TTY/TDD: (206) 296-1024 | Toll Free: (800) 325-6165
Mailing Address: King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Room 1200, Seattle, WA 98104-3272