Dear Friends and Neighbors,
August is upon us, and I have been attending local events like Pride, visiting neighbors at community events, and seeing many familiar faces at local businesses. In this August e-news update, I’ll share some of my visits in the community, future events I’ll be hosting, and discuss our communities need for human services.
In The Community
Earlier this month, I and some of my colleagues enjoyed a great match at Lumen Field and learned about the upcoming Soccer World Cup. On March 29th, 2023, the Innovation, Community & Economic Development, and Veterans Committee members discussed the 2026 World Cup and all of the economic, and cultural opportunities that will come to our beautiful state. I look forward to exploring ways to ethically establish the infrastructure it takes to support this big event, and later support our growing city.
On July 19th, the 46th delegation had a great time hanging out and talking with constituents at the Maple Leaf Summer Social! We talked about housing, behavioral health, developmental disabilities, gun responsibility, and many more topics. Big thank you to the Maple Leaf Community Council for putting it on and inviting us, as well as the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods for sponsoring it.
Join Me for Coffee
Before autumn arrives and I begin drafting legislation for the 2024 legislative session, I’d like to hear from more members of our community about the issues that matter most to you!
A Closer Look: Human Services
Human services are more than just policy. They embody our values and the kind of society we want to build. I believe in and have been advocating for affordable childcare, protecting those in crisis, and meeting the foundational needs of families with lower incomes such as affordable housing and healthcare services. These types of investments are critical to creating a brighter future for all of us.
Last week, I had to pleasure of meeting with Seattle Parks and Recreation to discuss the Lake City Community Housing Center. We had a great discussion highlighting the already significant gap in services in Lake City being amplified by the community center fire. Many of the services, including a senior’s hunger program, are now displaced and the community is without a gathering place. While officials aren’t certain what caused the fire, some suspect that the fire may have been started by an unhoused person who was trying to keep warm. This tragedy further highlights the need for housing and human services, and where we should go from here.
During the 2023 legislative session, we invested over $397 million in human services and poverty reduction through food assistance programs, cash assistance programs, and refugee support. Looking ahead, I am proud to share that next session, I will be requesting several million in funding from the legislature to build a first of its kind community center with housing at the site of our former Lake City Community Center. This first-of-a-kind facility will be a community center offering human services, recreational opportunities, and workforce housing that serves those with up to 80% of AMI.
Stay In Touch
I’ve said it before and will say it again: our district is fortunate to have engaged citizens who actively participate in the public process! For a more in depth review of the work we’ve accomplished this session, you can view my end-of-session mailer here and all the legislation I’ve supported in 2023. I encourage you to also follow me on Facebook. Please continue to stay in touch. Thank you for all you do!
In Service,
Rep. Darya Farivar