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Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WA lawmakers honor late state senator: ‘Bill Ramos made Washington better'
Washington lawmakers on Sunday honored the late state Sen. Bill Ramos, an Issaquah Democrat who died suddenly April 19 while running on a trail near his home. Democrats and Republicans alike remembered Ramos for his professional contributions to the state — but also for who he was as a person. Senators adopted a resolution commemorating Ramos on Sine Die, the last day of the 2025 session. Ramos' kindness, integrity and warmth made an indelible mark on his colleagues. So did his problem-solving nature and willingness to stand up for women and what's right, his peers said. Ramos was 69. He's survived by his wife, King County Council member Sarah Perry; two adult children, Maya and Max; and dog, Sadie. Ramos had served the 5th Legislative District since 2019, first as a state House representative and later in the upper chamber. State Sen. Javier Valdez, a Seattle Democrat, remembered meeting then-candidate Ramos in 2018. 'When you first meet Bill Ramos, you hear his laughter — but that smile — I mean, just so contagious about how happy he was, wherever he went,' Valdez said. 'Nothing ever could get him down. And there he was, just being Bill Ramos.' Valdez also noted that Ramos was a proud founding member of the state's Latino Democratic Caucus. Sen. Rebecca Saldaña donned a suit and tie on Sunday. She said even though the tie was a bit crooked, she didn't want to redo it because Ramos had tied it for her, a gesture that meant a lot. Saldaña, a Seattle Democrat, said that apart from Ramos' fierce loyalty and kindness, he'd become enraged by the injustices experienced by others. His lasting presence reminds lawmakers to be courageous and get their 'steps in,' she added, eliciting laughter. 'I have been honoring him by doubling down on bringing my tennis shoes here more often, and making sure that I am walking and enjoying this most beautiful place that we have called home … in Washington state, among these trees and the waters and our salmon,' she said. 'And I don't take it for granted.' Senate Vice President Pro Tempore John Lovick said he'd read a quote on a walk that morning: 'Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.' 'Senator Ramos had to be one of the kindest people I've ever met,' the Mill Creek Democrat continued. Ramos, who previously worked in the U.S. Department of Transportation, served as vice chair of the state Senate Transportation Committee. Sen. Marko Liias of Edmonds, the committee's chair, called Ramos a 'bridge builder.' He also underscored Ramos' deep love for his wife. During Liias' speech, he referenced a group of House members seated in the Senate gallery. Throughout his 18 years in the Washington state Legislature, Liias said, he'd never seen House representatives in the gallery on Sine Die. Ramos brought lawmakers together, even after his passing, Liias said. 'Bill Ramos represented the very best of us,' the Democrat continued. 'Bill Ramos made us all better, and Bill Ramos made Washington better.'
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Leaders urge WA legislators to restore homeless encampment program funding
The Brief The Right of Way Encampment Resolution Program, addressing homelessness in Washington, faces funding cuts due to a $12 billion state deficit. ROW has helped 1,700 people find housing since 2022, but its progress is threatened without renewed $40 million funding by 2025. Advocates urge legislators to prioritize ROW funding, highlighting its effectiveness and cost-saving benefits. SEATTLE - Funding is now at risk for a groundbreaking, successful program that addresses Washington's homelessness crisis. The Right of Way Encampment Resolution Program is funded by state dollars to pay for outreach and holistic services, including permanent housing. However, with state legislators struggling to resolve a $12 billion deficit, money for Right of Way (ROW) is on the chopping block. ROW was launched in 2022. Since then, more than 50 encampments located on a state right of way were successfully resolved through the statewide program. One site included the Myers Way encampment in Seattle, which made news headlines in 2023. It was one of 23 sites in King County that were cleaned up through ROW and got people the support they needed for a fresh start to life. Darian Sharif is one person who received that fresh start through the support of ROW. Sharif said he had been experiencing homelessness for more than a year until he began building life-changing relationships with ROW advocates. What they're saying "I'm a living example that this program does wonders. And every opportunity that was presented was done with relationships," said Sharif. ROW has helped about 1,700 people in Washington get inside, which amounts to almost 80% of those initially outreached. In King County, 91% of people removed from encampments went into permanent housing and temporary lodging through the program. Now, all that progress could come to a halt due to the state's $12 billion budget deficit. City and county officials said if state legislators can't find it in the budget to continue funding ROW, much of their efforts could end. "I don't want to stand up here and downplay the incredibly difficult decisions that our state lawmakers are being forced to make. King County itself is facing historic budget shortfalls, something that our budget directors said is the worst budget in King County history," said Girmay Zahilay, chair of King County Council. "But when we're talking about one of the most effective solutions to one of the most complex, biggest, most intractable problems our state faces with respect to homelessness, we have to find a way together to prioritize what works." "To take that away would be a shame because I wouldn't be here without this opportunity," said Sharif. "There's no other answer to this problem other than supporting this." City and county officials, alongside community advocates, called on state legislators to consider their request to restore ROW's $40 million in biennial funding in fiscal year 2025. "The current budget proposals only maintain housing for people previously helped through this program. But let's be clear, they do not fund new outreach, shelter, or housing placements. And without restored funding, ROW program's front door will close," said Alexis Mercedes Rinck, of Seattle City Council. "We cannot go back to a patchwork approach that simply ships people from one roadside to another, especially in times like this when the stakes are so high." County leaders funding the program is an investment that saves the state money. "It is cheaper to house people through the Right of Way encampment removal program, than it is to house people in jail, have a revolving door at the hospitals, and then try to catch people later when we're moving them by sweeps from place to place," said Teresa Mosqueda of King County Council. The councilmember also said it helps Washington defend itself from cuts at the federal level. Big picture view "Disseminating the Housing and Urban Development program, cuts to section 8 vouchers, things that will actually help people stay housed is what is being cut at the federal level. So, at the local level, we need to double down on our investment of $40 million investment into Right of Way encampment removal. It's smart, but it also needs to be coupled with additional revenue into safety net programs, upstream investments to prevent people from falling into homelessness, and to serve more people who are living outside," Mosqueda. Ericka Frodsham is a housing specialist with CoLEAD, a community organization that supports ROW outreach. Frodsham is an advocate with her boots to the ground helping people who once stood in her position. "I was once unhoused. I was unhoused in Seattle before all of these great programs that are being funded were around. And I remember being shuffled around and being told, 'You can't be here,' but where do I go?" said Frodsham. Those same questions Frodsham had back during her time experiencing homelessness are similar questions people beyond King County will have if money to pay for ROW is cut. Without those state dollars, Frodsham said she worries about what could happen next. "I see us going back to a system where people are just shuffled along from place to place to place. If people don't have a way to get in, they don't have a way to get out of this," said Frodsham. What's next This call to action comes as state lawmakers are in their last days of legislative session, tentatively voting on a budget by April 27. Community advocates and local leaders said if their request for $40 million biennial funding is not renewed, ROW won't be able to respond to new encampments on a state right of way, starting in summer 2025. "We just need to legislation to hear it and believe it and feel it," said Frodsham. "If there's no way in, there's not a way out. It's just the same revolving door that we've seen not work. Right of Way works. We need the funding." The Source Information in this story comes from original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle reporter Franque Thompson. Boeing 737 reportedly rejected overseas, FOX 13 finds matching jet in Seattle China retaliates against Trump's tariffs Docs: Man accused of killing WA grandmother 'meticulously planned' murder Gov. Bob Ferguson signs bill restricting armed forces from entering WA Fast Ferry cuts loom as Washington faces budget crisis Boy shot, killed in Tacoma, WA on Easter Sunday night Seattle high school student shot, killed in Yakima on Easter Sunday To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sound Transit has found its preferred next CEO. Will he survive a board vote Thursday?
King County Executive Dow Constantine has been nominated to become the next CEO of Sound Transit and could be approved Thursday to lead the regional public transit agency of which he currently sits on the board. Sound Transit announced Monday that the Democrat is the preferred candidate among three finalists under consideration following a search that began with 60 applicants. In a joint statement, the agency board's leadership trio, including Vice Chairman Ryan Mello — the Pierce County executive — said it was 'pleased' to put Constantine forward for a vote. The other board leaders are Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, who chairs the board, and King County Council member Claudia Balducci, who's also a vice chair. 'We are confident he has the knowledge, experience, and commitment to achieve Sound Transit's goals and complete the ST3 package,' the group said of Constantine and in reference to a third phase of capital investments approved by voters. Sound Transit's 18-member board, absent Constantine, will vote on Constantine's nomination during its regular public meeting Thursday. His appointment will require a supermajority vote, meaning that he will need support from 12 of the 17 remaining board members. The estimated $4 billion-plus Tacoma Dome Link Extension will be a key project in Pierce County to be advanced under the next CEO. The confidential search to lead the agency, which maintains a $4 billion-plus budget and constructs and operates transit service throughout Pierce, King and Snohomish counties, was marked in part by criticisms of Constantine's candidacy and concerns over transparency. In February, the Transit Riders Union wrote to the agency's board that Constantine was directly or indirectly responsible for appointing 10 board members and would be tasked as CEO with evaluating a King County government complex project put forward under his leadership as county executive. The letter was reported by The Urbanist. Conflict-of-interest concerns were shared by the grassroots transit-advocacy group, Seattle Subway, which urged the agency to release the full list of finalists and invite public dialogue before any final decision. Sound Transit has said it would not have received as many qualified applicants if they weren't assured confidentiality and that Constantine recused himself from all matters related to the search. The CEO job's publicly advertised salary range is $450,000 to $650,000 per year, although the Seattle Times reported it could be as high as $675,000, which would exceed the $500,000 annual rate of retiring interim CEO Goran Sparrman. Constantine's salary as King County executive in 2022 stood at slightly less than $260,000, according to the Association of Washington Cities. 'Being CEO of Sound Transit is a tough job with many constituencies to serve, and Dow has proven over his career in public service that he can deliver large capital projects, successfully oversee a major transit agency, and foster partnerships across our region that are essential to make Sound Transit function at the highest possible level,' the board's leadership said Monday. The trio called it 'a crucial time for the agency,' citing the need to address operational and maintenance challenges, increased accountability measures and rising financial pressure from inflation and economic uncertainties. 'The search for a new CEO was competitive,' board leadership said. 'The Board started with 60 applicants from around the world and narrowed the field from 15 to 5 to 3 and finally to 1. It was a thorough process with significant public input, vigorous discussions, and multiple panels that included transit riders, disability advocates, other regional transit agencies, and labor and economic development organizations. 'We are grateful to the many board members, agency staff, and community partners who provided valuable insights and have put their time and skills toward making sure we had an extensive and thoughtful CEO search process. We look forward to the Board's decision on Thursday.' The Sound Transit board meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. inside the Ruth Fisher Board Room in Union Station at 401 S. Jackson Street in Seattle. The public may attend virtually. Information on how to participate can be found at and by clicking 'Board meetings.'
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Ghost Buses' haunting King County Metro riders, Council vows to fix it
This story was originally published on In hopes of improving the reliability of King County's public transportation system, the King County Council has approved legislation aimed at addressing 'ghost buses,' or unplanned trip cancellations. This move is designed to boost transparency and ensure that commuters receive timely information when buses fail to arrive as scheduled. Councilmember Claudia Balducci, who sponsored the legislation, highlighted the frustration caused by these cancellations. 'Nothing is more frustrating than standing at a bus stop, waiting for a bus that is never going to come — maybe in the rain, in the dark, maybe now you're late to work, missed a doctor's appointment, or lost time that you could have been doing something important,' Balducci noted in a press release. The motion requires Metro to provide better reporting on these cancellations and to explore ways to inform riders in real-time, either directly or through third-party apps. Additionally, Metro will need to incorporate metrics on unplanned trip cancellations into both the 2025 System Evaluation Report and the next update of Metro Transit's Service Guidelines. This effort aligns with broader initiatives by King County to improve its transit services. Recently, the county formed a task force to address violence on public transportation. By focusing on transparency and data-driven improvements, King County aims to enhance the overall transit experience for its residents, aligning with broader goals of environmental sustainability and community service.
