Summer 2007

I hope you are having a safe and enjoyable summer. I would like to update you on issues my office is working on, as well as news I hope you find helpful.

Larry Gossett
King County Council Chair

Transit Now implementation update

In November 2006, the voters of King County approved Transit Now, a four-point initiative to increase Metro Transit service by 15 to 20% over the next 10 years. Metro Transit has been hard at work implementing all four points of Transit Now. These include RapidRide, more service for high-ridership routes, service partnerships, and additional improvements. Read more

Healthier changes coming to restaurants

On July 19th, the King County Board of Health passed legislation requiring menu labeling in King County chain restaurants and eliminating artificial trans fat in all King County restaurants. In voting for the passage of these laws, I believe that the Board of Health has made a major contribution in fighting the epidemic of obesity and heart disease in our society. In King County, 719,000 overweight and 40,000 adults with heart disease will benefit from these health improvement initiatives.

Menu labeling will be required by all restaurants with at least ten or more similar locations nationwide and for menu items that are on the menu for at least 30 days per year. The time frame for the elimination of trans fats at restaurants has been targeted for end of 2008 and consideration for viable alternatives is being factored into this timeline. Read more

Call to action regarding Black-on-Black violence

On June 19th, I joined with leaders of a dozen community groups to host a Town Hall meeting at the Paul Robeson Theater at Rainier Beach High School. The subject of the meeting was Black-on-Black violence. While I am concerned with violence among all people, the instances of violence committed by, and against Black people, have reached epidemic proportions in our region, and across the country. As a result of this forum we organized the Black-on-Black Crime Community Coalition (BB3Cs) which meets Wednesdays at the Central Area Motivation Program (CAMP) at 5:30 p.m. If you would like more information, call my Legislative Aide Larry Evans at (206) 296-0396. Read more

Filipino veterans quest for justice

After 61 years, thousands of World War II Filipino veterans may receive the benefits they were promised when they fought in the Philippines along side U.S. soldiers. On July 17th, HR 760, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007, passed out of the U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs. The Chair of the Committee and sponsor of the bill, Congressperson Bob Filner (D-CA), expects to bring the bill on the House floor before the August recess which starts on August 3. The full Senate is also likely to vote on the Senate version which is sponsored by Hawaii Senator Daniel K. Akaka before the August recess. Should both bills pass out of the House and Senate, a reconciled version of the bill will go to the 110th Congress for a full vote. Read more

Meeting with EFFRA members in Enumclaw

This spring, two of my staff members and I went to Enumclaw to meet with Pat Traub, Crystal Creson, and joan burlingame (chosen spelling) of the Enumclaw Forested Foothills Recreational Area (EFFRA). As Chair of the County Council, one of my top priorities is to enact legislation that benefits all residents of King County, regardless of district, urban, rural, or political affiliation. I was grateful for the chance to visit with Pat, Crystal, and joan and to discuss some of the issues facing our rural residents. Read more

King County primary election ballot measures for August 21st

Keep in mind that the primary election is taking place earlier this year than in years past, on August 21, 2007. The King County ballot measures for the primary are:

King County Proposition No. 1: Regional and Rural Parks Levy

King County Proposition No. 2: Open Space, Regional Trails and Woodland Park Zoo Levy

King County Fire Protection District No. 20 (Skyway and Lakeridge residents): Property Tax Levy for Fire and Emergency Services

Exercise your rights. Get out and vote!

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If you have any questions or comments, please email me at
larry.gossett@kingcounty.gov.