Dear Neighbors:

Fall is off to a busy start filled with 2006 King County Budget deliberations and community meetings. Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of speaking to a current events class at University Prep School. I discussed local government and politics and was delighted to gain a younger generation’s perspective.

Bob speaks about local government to students at University Prep.

I’m sad to note that Rosa Parks passed away last month. By refusing to give up her bus seat, Ms. Parks became one of our country’s most inspiring leaders in the fight against racism. I co-signed a motion along with Councilmember Dwight Pelz to dedicate the front seats on Metro buses in her honor. A notice will be placed on all Metro buses of this dedication through the month of November.

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.

2006 Budget

The King County Council is currently in the midst of 2006 Budget deliberations. On Monday, October 17, 2005, the Executive released his 2006 Executive Proposed King County Budget to the Council. He announced that for the first time in four years, the proposed budget contains no deficit or structural gap and that no major cuts will be made to any program.

To put this in perspective, the County has had to cut over $100 million in the past few years. With the economy improving and the County making great strides to become more efficient each year, we finally have a budget we can be proud of. This is fantastic news for the many non-profit and human service organizations that depend on King County for financial support.

As a member of the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee, I am working hard to maintain current levels of funding for human services and I am ensure funding for North Seattle programs. Our goal is to finish the budget before Thanksgiving.

For more information on the 2006 King County Budget, please visit the budget website.

Northgate Transit Center Update

Bob commutes downtown on the #41 bus from the Northgate Park & Ride.

I have a keen interest in improving the vitality of the Northgate community and expanding our transportation options since I live just a few blocks from Northgate Mall and I’m a #41 bus rider from the Northgate Park & Ride. I am pleased King County is partnering with the city of Seattle to create a seamless and pedestrian-friendly transportation hub for Northgate.

In late October, the Council approved an interlocal agreement between the County and the city of Seattle to improve the flow of traffic and bus access to the Northgate Transit Center. This agreement marks the beginning of the Northgate Coordinated Transportation Improvement Plan which will improve Northgate’s pedestrian appeal as well as aid future transit development. The County’s projects include a street extension for 3rd Avenue Northeast and an improved pedestrian corridor across the existing Northgate Park & Ride to connect with future commercial construction on the existing south lot.

To learn more about the Northgate revitalization project, please visit the Northgate website or contact my office.

Election Audit to Review General Election

To ensure ballot security and other vital election functions are being addressed by King County Elections, the Council recently hired The Election Center, an independent agency, to oversee the November 8 General Election.

Earlier this year, Councilmember Julia Patterson and I called for an independent audit of the King County Election Division. The Election Center was hired to conduct the audit. The audit results were eye-opening. When Ernie Hawkins of The Elections Center presented the audit results to the Council in October, I was alarmed to hear that King County Elections has the worst ballot security that he has ever seen.

I look forward to reviewing the results of the November 8 General Election audit. I will be paying special attention to the issue of ballot security to see if this vital aspect of our Election Division has improved since the primary election.

Bob sponsored the legislation which called for an independent audit of King County Elections.

Preparing King County for Super Flu

The Council is considering a major County-wide effort to prepare for a major flu pandemic that could infect 1.2 million King County residents within the first six weeks of the pandemic. I support taking proactive measures to prepare our community for emergencies such as pandemic flu.

Of particular concern is the Asian bird flu that health experts expect could mutate into a strain that would be spread from human to human, infecting millions, especially in the Puget Sound region with our close connections to Asia.

The Super Flu proposal includes:

• Public education about flu prevention including outreach to vulnerable populations
• Purchasing the antiviral medicine Tamiflu for first responders such as police, fire, and emergency medical services workers
• Purchasing the antiviral medicine for vulnerable populations such as seniors and youth
• Expanding local emergency communication

The King County Council is expected to vote on this proposal in December. Please feel free to contact my office with your comments on a local response to the pandemic flu. My first town meeting of 2006 will focus on Emergency Preparedness and will include a discussion on Super Flu. I will let you know as soon as this meeting is scheduled.

Bus Tunnel Closure Update

In September, the downtown Seattle bus tunnel closed for two years to be upgraded for use by both buses and light rail. Buses that previously ran through the tunnel have been moved to surface streets. If you are a bus user, how has the tunnel closure impacted your commute? Please let me know your comments.

I continue to ride the #41 bus downtown from Northgate on my daily commute. The #41 which previously used the bus tunnel now travels along 3rd Avenue. Although a few minutes longer, my commute has not changed drastically.

For more information on the bus tunnel closure or to see if your bus route has changed, visit the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel website.

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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