News from and about King County… from health updates to community news affecting our daily lives.

Dear Friends:

Today’s update includes news about the “Good Eggs” Breakfast with the King County Flood Control District Director, the extension of the comment period for the Lower Green River Corridor Flood Hazard Management Plan Draft PEIS, the Pacific War Memorials, the opening of the new King County Customer Service Center, King County Metro’s international bus service survey, sports, crime and health updates, and more.


Washington Trivia

This American instrumental rock band formed in Tacoma, Washington, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll and Grammy Halls of Fame. Who is it?
(Answer is at the bottom).




“Good Eggs” Breakfast with King County Flood Control District Director Michelle Clark

Since 1990, King County Floodplains have been declared a federal flood disaster area thirteen times. Michelle Clark, Executive Director of the King County Flood Control District, joined our “Good Eggs” breakfast meeting to talk about the services the Flood District provides to ALL of King County. For example, as the Green River Valley is the breadbasket of our region, Seattle would run out of food in days if it flooded. Thank you, Michelle, for your PREVENTATIVE work in our region.



With Maple Valley Mayor Sean Kelly, Pacific Mayor Leanne Guier, Enumclaw Mayor Jan Molinaro, King County Flood Control District Director Michelle Clark, Algona Mayor Troy Linnell, Des Moines Mayor Matt Mahoney, Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, and Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus


Extended Comment Period for the Lower Green River Corridor Flood Hazard Management Plan Draft PEIS

The King County Flood Control District comment period for the proposed Lower Green River Corridor Flood Hazard Management Plan Draft PEIS has been extended to June 19th. Learn more at LowerGreenSEPA.org.

For other ways to send your thoughts, you may call 206-263-0602, email lowergreensepa@kingcounty.gov, or mail your comments to the following address:

King County Flood Control District
Attn: Michelle Clark, SEPA Responsible Official
516 Third Avenue, Room 1200 Seattle, WA 98104




New Customer Service Center opens this week with easier in-person access for King County residents

Today, King County opened its new Customer Service Center to the public. The center, located on the second floor of King Street Center in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood, is designed to be a "one-stop shop" for many of the most-requested services offered by King County, including:

• Property tax payments
• Taxpayer assistance and exemptions
• Vital Records (birth and death certificates)
• Vehicle and vessel licensing
• Marriage licensing
• Document recording
• Taxi, TNC, and for-hire driver permits
• Pet licensing
• Public records requests
• Claims

Regular business hours for the Customer Service Center will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, though individual agencies may occasionally have adjusted hours. Visit kingcounty.gov/CSC for additional information.


Metro invites riders to participate in international bus service survey

Sixteen transit agencies from around the world, including King County Metro, are conducting a customer survey. These agencies will compare the results of the surveys to learn from each other and work toward giving you even better transit service. The survey is open until Sunday, April 30th.




City of Pacific Interurban Trail War Memorials

This coming Memorial Day, May 29th, the City of Pacific will host a groundbreaking event for the Interurban Trail War Memorials. Three sites are being developed to commemorate heroes of World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and the Afghanistan, Gulf, and Iraq Wars. The three sites begin at the Interurban Trailhead Parking in Pacific. If you are interested in supporting the construction of the War Memorial, you can purchase pavers for $100 each by contacting iutwarmemorials@gmail.com with the subject line “Paver Purchase”.




Non-Profit Corner

Auburn Food Bank: Empty Bowls 2023
April 28th, 11:00 am | Grace Community Church in Auburn
https://www.theauburnfoodbank.org/

Auburn Valley Humane Society: Whiskers and Paws Gala
May 20th, 5:00 pm | Hotel Murano in Tacoma
https://www.auburnvalleyhs.org/

Multi-Service Center Food Bank: Spring into Action Dinner & Auction
May 20th, 5:30 pm | The Hyatt Regency Lake Washington
https://mschelps.org/getinvolved/donations/

South King County Scholar Athlete Fund: 2023 SKC Scholar-Athlete Breakfast
June 3rd, 8:00 am | Emerald Downs Racetrack in Auburn
https://www.skcscholar.org/




Are your passwords safe?

How to check if your password has been compromised: Thanks to the Have I Been Pwned website created by cybersecurity expert Troy Hunt, you can now check whether your username, email address or password has ever appeared in a public data breach. By doing so, you can identify whether your personal information is at risk and take necessary actions, such as changing your password, to secure your account. Read more in the Fox News article here.


Crime and Law Enforcement Updates

This update is intended to inform you about what is happening in our communities and where. My hope is that this information will not only make us better informed, but also provide us with solutions for how we can address the issues facing our community as we move forward. Click the following links to see crime information in Auburn, Federal Way, and all of King County.



For a detailed 2022 end-of-year law enforcement officers fatalities report, click here. For a complete list of benefits for public safety officers and survivors as shared by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), click here.


Health Updates

Fentanyl kills at least 2 people a day in King County

Only a decade ago, fentanyl caused a mere handful of fatal overdoses in King County each year. But the little blue pills smuggled north from Mexico are now everywhere, driving the worst wave of overdose deaths the county — and country — has ever seen. Of the more than 1,000 fatal drug overdoses countywide last year, 70% involved fentanyl. Worse yet, the drug’s death toll is showing no sign of leveling off, with over 275 people succumbing to fentanyl overdoses since the start of the year. Read more in The Seattle Times article here.



The graph reflects the latest data available on King County’s Overdose Dashboard.


King County COVID-19 Case Update

Yesterday, Seattle – King County Public Health reported 104 daily average positive cases, bringing the total in King County to 556,976. In addition, Public Health reported 1 daily average deaths, bringing the total in the county to 3,613.



Vaccine Locator: To find COVID-19 vaccine appointments, visit Vaccine Locator.

For King County residents: Register here to schedule your appointment at one of the high-volume vaccination sites in King County.

For in-home vaccination: Call King County COVID-19 Call Center at 206-477-3977.

To register by phone: Call King County COVID-19 Call Center at 206-477-3977 or Washington COVID-19 Assistance Hotline at 1-800-525-0127, then press #.

For veterans: Call 206-716-5716 or visit www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine.

For more information, visit getting vaccinated or getting tested in King County.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 9-8-8 to connect to the new Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, text TALK to 741-741 or visit https://988lifeline.org/.

Find your King County Council district here.


With best wishes,

Pete von Reichbauer
King County Councilmember




Washington trivia answer:

The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band formed in Tacoma in 1958. The band helped popularize the electric guitar across the world in the 1960s. The lineup consisted of Don Wilson (rhythm guitar), Bob Bogle (initially lead guitar, later bass), Nokie Edwards (initially bass, later lead guitar), and Mel Taylor (drums).

“Walk, Don’t Run” was their first wide-release single that was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its lasting impact. It brought international fame to the group, often cited as one of the top songs ever recorded for guitar. Many of their songs charted in the US, with 14 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 at that time. Even the theme music of the television show Hawaii Five-O continues to be popular.

The Ventures are the best-selling instrumental band of all time with 100 million records sold. In 2008, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Don Wilson, the last original member, passed away in January 2022, but the group’s legacy is being kept alive by its current members.



Photo source: Billboard, page 11, April 29, 1967

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