Dear Friends:

Today’s update includes important information regarding fraudulent unemployment claims and Sound Transit’s work in Federal Way, as well as a case update.

Beware of Fraudulent Unemployment Claims

Washington halted unemployment payments for two days after finding $1.6 million in fraudulent claims during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Seattle Times. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself. You can go to https://secure.esd.wa.gov/home/ to log in or create an account and verify your identity to ensure that your social security number isn’t associated with an email that isn’t yours. If it is, you will need to report the fraud.

Sound Transit Tree Replanted Program

Construction on the Federal Way Link Extension involves some tree removal, however, this reduction is only temporary. Sound Transit will plant thousands more trees than they remove for the project, in some cases replanting new trees even before construction begins. Contractors will remove vegetation along the future light rail route, primarily along the west side of I-5, to ensure trees won’t fall across the tracks or cause facility damage or injury once Link operations begin. They will also remove invasive species in select locations. Any trees cut for the Federal Way Link Extension will become timber and mulch; they won’t end up in landfills.



Mt. St. Helens Anniversary

Don’t ask me why, but someone thought that the youngest state senator and oldest state senator (Sen. Rasmussen) should go to Mt. St. Helens on an Army helicopter 5 days after it erupted on May 18th 1980! 24 hours after we toured the mountain and Spirit Lake, it erupted again, yikes!



King County Case Update

This afternoon, Seattle- King County Public Health reported 49 new cases, bringing the total in King County to 7,529. In addition, Public Health reported 1 additional death, bringing the total in the County to 523.

Stay In. Stay Healthy. Stay Strong.

Pete von Reichbauer
King County Councilmember