Dear Friends:

Today’s update includes information on our virtual community forum, King County Renters Commission board recruitment, King County WaterWorks grant program, a road closure, a new requirement for all air passengers entering the U.S., a new FAA unruly passenger policy, and more.


Washington Trivia

How did Skykomish get its name?

(Answer is at the bottom).




Virtual Good Eggs Community Forum

I was joined by Chief Economist and Executive Director Stephen Lerch from the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council on a virtual community forum yesterday, January 13th. We discussed how COVID-19 has impacted state revenue, our region’s continued recovery, and the economic outlook forecast for the years following this pandemic. While we still have further to go, the news regarding vaccines gives us hope that we will recover faster and stronger than expected. You may watch the recorded version of the forum on my Facebook page.





With South King County community leaders.


Federal Way Community Center Childcare Grant

Congratulations to the Federal Way Community Center for receiving a $20,000 grant from King County to help support its childcare program. I recently met with Recreation Manager Cody Geddes to discuss the importance of this program, which provides a fun and safe environment for children to play while their parents work out at the center.



With Recreation Manager Cody Geddes.


King County Renters Commission Board Recruitment

King County is recruiting renters to serve on the first-ever King County Renters Commission. This is a great opportunity to play an important role in developing housing policies and protections for renters of single-family homes, apartments and mobile home parks in unincorporated King County. Seven people will be selected and will meet monthly for one or two-year terms. Applicants must live in King County, must be renters and cannot be landlords. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2021. For more information, please contact Xochitl (pronounced So-chi) at 206-263-9875 or xochitl.maykovich@kingcounty.gov.


King County WaterWorks Grant Program now accepting proposals

King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s WaterWorks Grant Program is offering $2.2 million in grants to support local water quality projects and is now accepting letters of intent, the first step in the application process, through February 17, 2021. Non-profits, tribes, cities, schools, and special purpose districts are encouraged to apply. Possible projects include installing raingardens and other green stormwater infrastructure; river- or stream-bank restoration; community engagement and education on water quality issues; monitoring and research; and pollution prevention. For more information and to join their free informational sessions, visit the WaterWorks Grant website or contact Elizabeth Loudon at 206-477-4297 or email water.grants@kingcounty.gov.



At one of the 69 community projects funded by the WaterWorks grants in 2020.


Road Closure: State Route 99 for Federal Way Link Construction

Crews working on the Federal Way Link Extension will be closing State Route 99 between South 204th Street and South 208th Street in SeaTac to complete and open a new bypass route. All lanes of SR 99 will be closed beginning Friday, January 15th, at 8:00 PM and will remain closed through Sunday, January 17th at 8:00 PM.

Northbound drivers will be detoured around the closure by heading west on South 208th Street, north on 24th Avenue South, and east on South 200th Street back to SR 99. Southbound drivers will head west on South 200th Street, south on 26th Avenue South, and east on South 208th Street back to SR 99.


Negative COVID-19 Test Requirement to all air passengers entering US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expanding negative COVID-19 test requirement to all air passengers entering the United States. Air passengers are required to get a viral test (a test for current infection) within the 3 days before their flight to the U.S. departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) to the airline or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger. Read more here.


FAA adopts stricter unruly passenger policy

In a press release issued yesterday, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Steve Dickson announced a stricter legal enforcement policy against unruly airline passengers in the wake of disturbing increase in incidents where airline passengers have disrupted flights with violent or threatening behavior, stemming from the passengers’ refusals to wear masks and recent violence at the U.S. Capitol. The new policy provides no warnings, includes fines up to $35,000 and possible jail time, and has zero tolerance for unruly behavior. Read more here.


How many passengers have US airlines banned for not wearing masks?

More than 2,000 passengers have been placed on U.S. carriers’ internal no-fly list since carriers intensified enforcement of their mandatory mask requirements last year amid the pandemic. Aside from passengers who refused to wear face coverings during the flight and at designated airline-managed areas of the airport, this also includes passengers who disrupted flights in the wake of the recent violence at the U.S. Capitol. A recent post at The Points Guy’s website shows a breakdown of the number of passengers banned by the following airlines: Alaska Airlines (302), Allegiant (15), Delta Airlines (over 700), Frontier (over 500), Hawaiian Air (56), JetBlue (114), Spirit (432), and United Airlines (615).


Court ruling blocks Seattle's efforts to create supervised heroin injection sites

Last year, the city of Seattle approved more than $1.1 million to facilitate existing locations and create a supervised injection site for heroin users in the presence of a nurse. Seattle has been waiting to see how the court would rule in a Philadelphia case before moving forward, but the ruling in Philadelphia is a setback to Seattle’s efforts as the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that a consumption site in Philadelphia could not open as it would be in violation of federal drug laws. Calling the motives by the non-profit called Safehouse “admirable,” the Court said Congress has made it a crime to open a property to others to use drugs. Read more in this KOMO News article here.


King County Case Update

Yesterday, Seattle – King County Public Health reported 572 new cases, bringing the total in King County to 70,094. In addition, Public Health reported 3 new deaths, bringing the total in the county to 1,151.









Stay In. Stay Healthy. Stay Strong.

Pete von Reichbauer
King County Councilmember




Washington trivia answer:

Named after the Native Americans who inhabited the Skykomish River valley prior to European settlement, Skykomish came from the native words “Skaikh” meaning inland and “mish” meaning “people”. According to HistoryLink, there is little evidence of native habitation near the current townsite, but the Skykomish Tribe likely used the surrounding area for temporary campsites during hunting and berry-gathering seasons.



Compiled by Cyndee Navarro of my office.