Summary

Councilmember Joe McDermott joined his colleagues Tuesday in securing funding to promote anti-racist programs and build community, create much-needed housing, keep public transit moving and accessible to all, and plan for an uncertain future.

Story

The King County Council on Tuesday again demonstrated its ability to come together to invest in the region’s future with the passage of a landmark $12.59 billion budget for the next two years.

Councilmember Joe McDermott joined his colleagues in securing funding to promote anti-racist programs and build community, create much-needed housing, keep public transit moving and accessible to all, and plan for an uncertain future.

“Public investment will be key to helping our communities through these challenging times,” McDermott said. “And while the county’s revenue due to the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic has been hit hard, I’m very happy that we’re able to make key investments around District 8 to fight for a just, equitable and thriving King County in the years ahead.”

Key investments in District 8 include:

• $1 million capital investment in the White Center Community HUB Project. This community developed-led project will create a place of “Hope, Unity, and Belonging,” where working families can find essential services that nurture their stability and create greater opportunity.
• $1.5 million capital investment in the International Marketplace for the Wajadir project in Tukwila. This project developed by the Abu Bakr Islamic Center of Tuwkila, in partnership with Forterra, is an opportunity to push back against residential and commercial gentrification by promoting community ownership and a hub for the Somali community in King County.
• $2 million for the continued rehabilitation for Dockton Park on Vashon Island. A treasured community park will be safe and accessible when this important work can be completed in the coming years.
• $1.2 million for the West Seattle Mobility Transit Hub. This will allow the county to move forward with developing a multi-modal transit hub – for pedestrians, cyclists, buses, shuttles and vehicles to access the Water Taxi service operating at Seacrest Dock.
• $230,000 for the West Seattle and Vashon Senior Centers. These critical community centers will receive needed support to meet the needs of our senior neighbors and community members.

In addition to these District 8-specific projects, CM McDermott supported key countywide investments:

• Health through Housing: McDermott was the prime sponsor for the small sales tax increase that will allow the county to create permanent supportive housing for up to 2,000 people experiencing chronic homelessness and fund needed behavioral health services .
• Restorative Community Pathways: An innovative, community-based and developed approach that uniquely connects with both youth who would otherwise be pushed into the criminal legal system and harmed parties to address the damage done. This will provide more opportunities to prevent further engagement of youth, especially youth of color, in the criminal legal system and support community healing.

For a list of CM McDermott’s full budget priorities and highlights, please visit his council page.