Councilmembers Statement on Access for All

April 12, 2017

Summary

“By conducting a hearing on the measure in the Budget Committee this morning, the Council was able to have an open and honest discussion about priorities, opportunities, challenges and concerns.”

Story

The Metropolitan King County Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee today heard public comment on the proposed Access for All arts ballot measure, which was initially pulled from the Committee’s agenda.

Council Chair Joe McDermott and Councilmembers Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Claudia Balducci released this statement after the meeting:

“Access for All is the best opportunity in a generation to expand equitable and inclusive access to life-changing arts, science and cultural heritage experiences for people regardless of where they live, where their children go to school, their income, age, or if they come from a traditionally underserved community.

“By conducting a hearing on the measure in the Budget Committee this morning, the Council was able to have an open and honest discussion about priorities, opportunities, challenges and concerns. Although we did not take action today, we look forward to working with our colleagues to improve the proposal and find a path forward to placing the Access for All proposal on the August ballot.

“Regional leaders have worked for a decade to bring this proposal to the voters. It deserves a vote of the King County Council.”