2021 – News about Councilmember Girmay Zahilay

December 7, 2021
Groundbreaking Metro Transit Updates Passed by King County Council
“A safe and reliable Metro system is the cornerstone to building a county where every person can access their needs and opportunities,” said King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay. “In reorienting the guiding documents for our transit system to prioritize equitable and consistent service, King County has laid out an inclusive vision for mobility. Now, it’s time to execute.”

November 2, 2021
Zahilay awards Martin Luther King Medal of Distinguished Service to Cherryl Jackson-Williams
“A steadfast advocate and committed community builder, Cherryl Jackson-Williams’ vision and dedication to service sets her apart as a leader in King County. In our shared mission to create a South End where all can thrive, live peacefully, and uplift one-another in health, she is irreplaceable as a contributor in creating the institutions and resources needed to make this vision a reality.”

March 24, 2021
Council Approves $2 Million Violence Prevention Program
“COVID-19 has devastated our economy, eliminated thousands of jobs, laid people off, created hardship, led people to become unhoused, trapped people with their abusers. And all of these things mean we have to give people what they need to survive and also support community-based safety initiatives.”

March 16, 2021
Transformative tenant protections proposed for King County
"... We have to come together and give tenants the housing security needed to survive this crisis. Evictions, especially those inflicted without specific cause or reasonable notice, will exacerbate our homelessness crisis, crime, and public health issues. The legislation introduced today by Councilmember Kohl-Welles and I will be a difference maker for those already struggling.”

February 9, 2021
Councilmembers condemn preferential vaccine offerings by some area hospitals, request state prohibit such practices in legislation
“Our job as government is to protect and provide for the most vulnerable people we serve. It is shameful to provide VIP access to life-saving treatment when the people dying are not the wealthiest and most connected. Especially when COVID-19 is disproportionately killing Black and Brown people, elders, low-income people, and people with disabilities and underlying conditions..."