December 2015

Dear Neighbors:

I am pleased to share that last week the County Council unanimously approved over $28 million in funding for maintenance, repairs, and preservation from the Building for Culture Program. Building for Culture is a partnership between King County and 4Culture, King County's cultural services agency, using bonds backed by the hotel-motel tax to build, maintain, expand, preserve, and improve new and existing cultural facilities.

After the Council approved the creation of the Building for Culture Program, 4Culture put out a request for proposals to nonprofit arts, heritage and cultural organizations and eligible public agencies, as well as owners of national-, state-, or local-designated or eligible landmark properties. 4Culture then convened independent peer panels composed of arts, heritage, and preservation professionals, and other community representatives to review applications and make recommendations that ultimately came to the Council.

District 8 projects that received funding include The Admiral Theater Renovation, Restoring the Alki Homestead, Elevating Youngstown, Washington Hall Renovations, Mukai House Restorations, Vashon Center for the Arts, Foundation Replacement and Seismic Mitigation for the Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Association, Voice of Vashon Community Access Storefront Studio, Bing Kung Seismic Upgrades, expanding functionality at Chong Wa Hall, Rex Apartments Comprehensive Exterior Rehabilitation and the Wing Luke Museum storage system. These are just some of the vital projects that make capital investments that will enrich arts and culture countywide.

And, as I've shared before, preventing homelessness and providing support to our homeless community is a personal priority for me. The City and County declared homelessness a 'state of emergency' in order to more urgently make funds available to provide shelter and resources. In response, I sponsored an ordinance to increase the number of beds available at the emergency winter shelter, which currently provides a safe and warm place for fifty people to sleep during these cold months. This legislation is currently under Council consideration, and I am dedicated to seeing that these additional beds are made available quickly. I will continue my work to support our neighbors who are, or are at risk of, experiencing homelessness.

As always, don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Best,

-Joe