September 2011

Dear Neighbor,

Although summer had a late arrival, the warm September days have not slowed our work at the Council! In this e-newsletter I’ve highlighted some of our recent accomplishments and some great events happening in South King County.

Sincerely,

Julia Patterson, King County Councilmember - District 5

Find me on:

Council Approves Funding to Address Gang Violence

Attend a FREE Healthy Eating Class in SeaTac

Burien Transit Center Park-and-Ride Opens to the Public

King County Councilmember
Julia Patterson
www.kingcounty.gov/patterson
julia.patterson@kingcounty.gov

Council Approves Funding to Address Gang Violence

Gang violence in South King County has steadily increased in the past few years. As a result, the Council and the King County Executive, Prosecuting Attorney and Sherriff took action to address the violence. Watch the press conference.

On September 6, 2011, the Council unanimously adopted an ordinance to implement a coordinated response of gang suppression, intervention and prevention.  Funded with $1.4 million from the Council’s Criminal Justice Reserve, seven programs addressing gang issues will be implemented as early as October 2011 and last through the end of 2012.  The programs provide a balance between gang suppression and investing in at-risk youth and include:

• Expanding the Prosecutor's anti-gang unit

• Providing equipment for the Sheriff's gang unit

• Restoring the "storefront" deputy in White Center

• Continuing funding for the Sheriff's Latino education outreach program

• Adding two nurses to the Nurse Family Partnership Program

• Restoring case managers for the Back to School and Employment Training Program

• Continuing funding for the Avanza Job Training & Education project

I am very proud of the County for addressing this issue in such a rapid manner.  Gang violence is a problem we cannot arrest our way out of. We must dedicate resources to intervention and prevention, providing children and teens with a new start to help keep our communities safe. 

Attend a FREE Healthy Eating Class in SeaTac

Are you interested in learning more about how to feed your family healthy food?  Vegetarians of Washington is offering a FREE Healthy Eating Class at the Angle Lake Family Resource Center in SeaTac on Saturday, September 24 from 10:00am - 2:00pm. At this event you will learn what foods to buy to keep your family healthy, watch a cooking demonstration, and taste delicious vegetarian foods. The event also includes free childcare and free lunch for all attendees. If you're interested in attending, please RSVP to Janet at the Angle Lake Family Resource Center, (206) 816-3242 or jalcantara@lcsnw.org. Vegetarians of Washington is an independent 501(c)3 non profit organization. For more information visit their website.

Burien Transit Center Park-and-Ride Opens to the Public

On August 30, I joined King County Metro and Sound Transit officials to dedicate the new Burien Transit Center Garage, located at 14900 4th Ave SW. Construction for this $20.8 million project started in October 2010 and wrapped up two months earlier than expected. It features more than 500 parking stalls (an increase of 110 stalls over the former park-and-ride), 10 electric vehicle charging stations, bike racks and short term drop off spots.

As an early supporter of the package that funded the construction of this garage, I was very excited to take part in the celebration of its completion.  South King County residents need better transportation connections, and the park-and-ride complex is a key piece of the overall transit center project. The garage is phase two of a plan that includes the new transit center that opened in 2009 and a future mixed-use housing project to the south of the parking garage. For more information about the Burien Transit Center Garage, please visit the King County Department of Transportation website.