Storm Response Town Hall

Winter Storm Preparedness and "Lessons Learned" Town Hall Meeting last week, attended by over 200 residents.

The King County Council’s Storm Response Town Hall held on February 5th was an overwhelming success. Over 200 residents of King County attended to express their concerns, receive answers to their questions, and hear from those responsible for managing the County’s response to our recent winter storms.

While in many ways King County personnel responded admirably, the storm revealed a number of prominent weaknesses in the system. I appreciate all the attendees who provided suggestions for improvement, and who shared their stories about what we did right, and what we could improve in the future.

If you were unable to attend the meeting, I’d still like to hear from you. Please call, write, or email me with your concerns and questions.

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Rails With Trails Plan

On February 7th, I traveled to Olympia to testify before the Senate Transportation Committee and urged their support for the preservation of the BNSF rail corridor that runs from Renton to Snohomish. Recently I chaired a committee of city, business, environmental and civic leaders that studied the possible uses for this corridor that runs along Lake Washington. BNSF Railway Co., the current owner of the rail line, has signaled their intent to sell the corridor and King County is currently considering purchasing it in order to preserve it for the public’s use.

I briefed Senate Transportation Committee members on the recommendations of the advisory committee, which call for preserving the corridor for trail and public transit uses. The ability to acquire this corridor is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we don’t want to lose it. If implemented, the committee’s recommendations would connect many eastside and South King County communities to our existing world class trails like the I-90 trail, the East Lake Sammamish Trail, the Burke Gilman and others and preserve the opportunity for constructing high capacity transit to ease the congestion on I-405.

To learn more, click here: Rails and Trails Possible for Region.

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Public Health

I listened to testimony by King County Executive Sims (left), Washington State Secretary of Health Mary Selecky (second from right), and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels (right) in favor of Dr. David Fleming’s (second from left) appointment as Director of Seattle-King County Public Health.

These are exciting times for our region’s Public Health department. The Board of Health met last week with the King County Council’s Law, Justice and Human Services Committee, as well as the Seattle City Council’s Housing, Human Services and Health Committee, in order to conduct the confirmation hearing of the new Public Health Director, Dr. David Fleming.

Dr. Fleming is not only a medical doctor, but has extensive experience in public health. He was the Oregon State Epidemiologist, tracking disease trends statewide. He worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and served as Acting Director prior to taking a job with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as the Global Health Strategies director, tackling issues like infant mortality and child immunizations. His experience is matched by his kind and compassionate nature and his desire to make real changes that improve the health of the residents here in King County. King County is privileged to have him.

For more information, read about his confirmation by the council.

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Public Health News From Olympia

Last week, I was in Olympia with Dr. Fleming, testifying in favor of a bill that would increase the state’s investment in public health services. Both the House and Senate committees had very positive responses and we hope that they will support our request for additional funding.

In the meantime, our public health department, faced with budget shortfalls and increasing needs in our community, is struggling to maintain vital services like keeping our water and restaurants clean, providing immunizations, and educating the public on communicable diseases. As Chair of the Board of Health, I led a strategic planning process for Seattle-King County Public Health to address these funding challenges, The first phase of the process will be considered and acted upon next week by the King County Council.

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Time to Get a Flu Shot

Flu vaccine is available now at Public Health Centers by appointment. The cost is $15.

• Influenza ("Flu") fact sheet
• Flu season homepage
• Health Care Provider advisories

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Next Town Hall Meeting - You're Invited!

This coming November, voters in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties will consider a very important transportation measure that will make improvements to our congested roads and expand our region’s transit system. If adopted, it will represent the single largest investment ever made to improve our transportation system. It is important for me to hear directly from you before this plan is finalized. Please join me at the King County Council Transportation Town Hall to share your opinions on this exciting measure.

March 12th
6:00 pm - reception
6:30 pm - program
Spirit of Washington Events Center
233 Burnett Ave S in downtown Renton
Coming Soon! More information on the Town Hall Meeting

Families and businesses all over the Puget Sound have felt the impact of the traffic congestion that grows worse every day. Voters this fall will have the opportunity to consider a carefully designed plan that will ease some congestion during commutes and open the doors for businesses to bring more jobs to the Puget Sound.