King County's "Safety Levy" is up for a vote on April 28th

 

Rally in Support of Prop. 1 with King County Executive and Regional Public Safety Leaders Encourages Voters to Approve Necessary Safety Levy

Campaign Co-chairs, King County Sheriff John Urquhart and Kathleen O’Toole, tell voters to Approve Prop. 1 for public safety on their Special Election ballots.

 

SEATTLE – Led by Approve Prop. 1 Campaign Co-chairs, King County Sheriff John Urquhart and Kathleen O’Toole, and King County Executive Dow Constantine, a large group of regional public safety leaders gathered in front of the Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Pioneer Square to voice their collective support for Prop. 1 – the Public Safety Emergency Radio Network Replacement Project.

 

Voters throughout King County will soon be receiving their ballots in the mail for the Special Election being held on April 28^th. King County Executive Dow Constantine remarked at the beginning of the rally, “As we speak, ballots are being mailed to give King County voters the opportunity to fix our outdated emergency response radio system.  A vote to approve Prop. 1 will ensure that police, firefighters and other first responders can communicate and take action to protect lives and property."

 

Prop. 1 would allow King County to update our dangerously outdated emergency communications system for police, fire, Medic One and other emergency first responders. The rally today was a clear example of strong, unified support among the county’s many different emergency response agencies.

 

Speaking to the importance of an improved radio network for emergency first responders, Co-chair Kathleen O’Toole said, “When our officers can’t ask for the help they need on their outdated radios, we endanger the public and we endanger our first responders themselves.”

 

The current system was built in 1992 for a smaller population living in different locations. Co-chair Sheriff John Urquhart remarked, “The hazards of an outdated system – dropped calls and gaps in coverage – will continue to get worse if we don’t fix our aging radio network. Voters must approve Prop. 1 for public safety.”

 

Attendees and other speakers at the rally displayed a deep show of support from many of the campaign’s long list of fire, law enforcement, Medic One and elected officials from throughout King County, including: Seattle Police Officers’ Guild President Ron Smith, Local Firefighters from throughout King County and Dispatch Union Members.

 

For more information about Prop. 1 and a complete list of endorsements, please visit our website: www.YesonPublicSafety.org.