Dear Neighbors:

It’s been a busy summer! During the past month, I’ve focused on two important issues—human services funding and election reform. In addition to my proposal to create transitional housing for the homeless, I’ve introduced the “Veterans and Families Levy” to combat veteran homelessness and provide support for veterans and their families, met with the newly formed Healthy Families and Communities Task Force to discuss a dedicated human services funding source, and secured funding for homeless youth programs. In addition, I successfully proposed we perform a county-wide search for a potential consolidated elections facility, instead of only examining one option for a $23 million building. Details are below.

It is an honor to serve you on the King County Council. Please contact me with any questions or comments. To unsubscribe, please see directions at the end of this newsletter.

County-Wide Search for New Elections Facility

Our election facilities are currently housed in two separate buildings. The Council’s Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee and the King County Independent Task Force on Elections have both recommended consolidation of our election facilities. Options include consolidating election operations into the new County office building which will be built by 2007 or purchasing or leasing a new building to house the elections center.

Bob sponsored an amendment to perform a county-wide search for a consolidated elections building.

In response, the Executive transmitted a proposal to purchase a $23 million building in South Seattle, asking the Council to approve a $350,000 deposit for the site. In July, I sponsored an amendment that instead would perform a county-wide search for a new building, denying the deposit for the sole building at this time. My amendment for the county-wide search was supported by the Council by a 12-1 vote.

It is premature to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to examine only one building that will cost $23 million. King County residents deserve a more thoughtful approach to how we want to consolidate our elections division. A county-wide property search is the first step to get the information we need to help us decide what makes the most sense for the elections division and for taxpayers.

In the News:
Council rejects election-center proposal
The Seattle Times – July 26, 2005

Healthy Families and Communities Task Force Underway

I am pleased that I was asked to be a member of the newly formed Healthy Families and Communities Task Force. This task force will focus on the critical next steps in creating funding stability for regional human services. I am one of two representatives from the King County Council, along with fellow Democrat Councilmember Larry Gossett.

Our task is to implement the recommendations outlined in the 2004 Task Force on Regional Human Services. We will also analyze a dedicated revenue source to fund human services in the future. We recently held our first meeting and I will keep you updated as our Task Force work progresses.

As a former Director of an inner city emergency services offices, I have firsthand knowledge of just how under funded our human service providers are. I am committed to finding a permanent funding source to support human services in King County.

“Veterans and Families Levy” Proposal Sent to Council

I recently introduced the bipartisan “Veterans and Families Levy” to the Council along with fellow Democratic Councilmember Julia Patterson, as well as Republican Councilmembers Kathy Lambert and David Irons. The “Veterans and Families Levy” would place a ballot measure before the voters this November to provide housing, employment, counseling, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other treatment assistance for veterans and their families in King County, including military personnel involved with the National Guard and Reserves.

As many of you may have read in recent coverage by The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, our veterans and their families are in great need of our support. More than 180,000 veterans live in King County, and we are seeing large numbers of reservists and active duty personnel returning home. Unfortunately, we lack the infrastructure to meet their varying health and human service needs. Senator Patty Murray is leading this issue at the federal level. We need to do more at the local level to support our veterans and their families.

This was recommended by the Regional Policy Committee, a regional governing body that I chair. The levy proposes to raise King County property taxes by 4.1 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Levy revenue for 2006 is estimated at $10.7 million. The average homeowner in King County of a $250,000 home would pay $10.25 per year under the proposed levy.

Any social service agency that works with veterans, including National Guard and Reserves, and their families are eligible to receive funding from the proposed levy. The proposal must first be approved by the Council before it can be placed on the November 8 general election ballot. I will encourage my colleagues to support the “Veterans and Families Levy.”

In the News:
Returning veterans say benefits aren’t keeping up with needs
The Seattle Times – August 4, 2005

Veterans tell Murray system straining to meet their needs
The Seattle P-I – August 4, 2005

VA straining to treat post-traumatic stress
The Seattle Times – July 26, 2005

Support for Homeless Youth

I am committed to finding ways to end homelessness in King County. I recently proposed using a surplus Council fund to support the creation of transitional housing for the homeless. While awaiting Council action on that proposal, I have continued to find ways to support our most vulnerable.

Bob and his staff volunteered at the University District Food Bank to cook and serve dinner to homeless youth.

I am pleased to announce that I have secured funding for two homeless youth organizations in North Seattle from the second quarter omnibus of the 2005 King County Budget. The funding will benefit projects for the University District Youth Center and the Sanctuary Art Center.

The University District Youth Center, located at 4516 – 15th Avenue Northeast in the University District, provides support to homeless, at-risk, runaway, and street involved youth between the ages of 13 and 22. The Center includes a drop-in facility that provides showers, food, clothing, laundry, and bus tickets to homeless youth. In addition, the center provides GED classes, on-site work training, employment support, and case management to assist with finding shelter, mental health counseling, and on-site drug and alcohol services. County funding will support the pre-employment program, hiring homeless youth to provide valuable employment skills.

Sanctuary Art Center is a small non-profit art studio that serves homeless youth ages 13 to 25. The Center provides a safe and creative outlet for homeless youth with art projects, classes, community-wide projects, and interaction with caring adults. The Center is currently raising funds to replace the mural at 15th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 45th Street. Providing our homeless youth with a creative outlet and a safe place is one way we can connect to help get our youth off the streets.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact the University District Youth Center at (206) 526-2992 and the Sanctuary Art Center at (206) 849-3956.

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Phone: (206) 296-1002 | 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