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Dear Neighbor,
2007
was a terrific year for the people of King County and 2008
promises to be even better. As we look ahead to the New Year, we can look forward to additional bus service on our streets, new parks and trails across the county, increased protection from flooding along our major rivers and improvement and reform to some of King County’s most critical responsibilities, like animal care and control and criminal justice. I look forward to continuing our work together to keep King County a wonderful place to live, work, and play. I
hope you have a safe and peaceful start to the New Year.  Julia
Patterson King County Elections Reformed
We have changed the way the election administration is managed. King County Elections will now operate as a separate division with the sole responsibility of conducting fair and accurate elections. King County also called on the State Legislature to authorize additional post-election audits of election equipment in order to ensure the election tabulation equipment is performing as promised and the results are accurate. Voters
deserve the highest level of accuracy and transparency
in elections. Our improved management and audits are
positive steps in the right direction.  The
ProblemsIn 2007, a commission released a disheartening account of the conditions in King County animal shelters. •
Contagious disease preventing animals from being adopted. The cost of this neglect comes at the expense of helpless animals that many of us consider valued members of our families.
Through the following actions, we can finally provide the most basic levels of humane care for the animals which depend on us. As a result of the problems, I introduced legislation to radically reform our county animal shelters. The County Council recently passed this new legislation to begin taking steps to: •
Provide more humane care and welfare of animals in the shelters. 2007: A Good Year for Local Kids
In
2007, kids benefited from new investments in South •
Tukwila Children’s Foundation - Education
and family support •
Scholarships for low-income kids to participate in after-school • Excel grants provided through the Highline Schools Foundation to allow teachers to propose and receive funding for innovative ideas to enhance their student’s classroom experience. • Support for the Renton Rotary’s RotaCare Clinic which provides free medical service for families and children. • Support towards the construction of the HOPE Center for at-risk youth in Kent. • Support of the Kent Safe Havens domestic violence program which provides a safe child visitation service for domestic violence victims and their kids.
Light Rail Arrives in South King County 2007 brought South King County commuters one step closer to riding Sound Transit’s fast, frequent and reliable light rail system with the completion of major construction work on the light rail line between South King County and Seattle. By the end of 2009, you will be able to catch a train every few minutes from a station on International Blvd at SeaTac Airport or at a major park and ride at South 154th Street in Tukwila (just north of the airport). You’ll be able to get to work, be at a Mariners’ game, or visit friends and family in a matter of minutes - no matter what the traffic is like on I-5. New Trail Connections for Hiking & Biking
(1)
Cedar River Trail to Green River Trail (Two Rivers Trail) Together, these potential additions will connect local cities, create a complete South King County loop, and bridge a key gap with the rest of the county trail system. |
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Fair
and accurate elections are the foundation of our democratic
process. That’s why the King County Council took
action this year to improve accountability in King County
Elections.
The
Solutions
The
2007 King County budget is balanced. We maintained fiscal
responsibility and respected the 1% property tax limit.
The
passage in 2007 of two parks levies by King County voters
has presented an exciting opportunity to expand and improve
the trail system in South King County. The scenic and recreational
benefits of parks and trails are vital to our quality of
life. A comprehensive trail system also can make cycling
an attractive alternative for local commuters. The result
will be new South King County trail connections that maximize
the existing trails so you get the most benefit from your
county trail system: