-- Ettore Palazzo, CEO EvergreenHealth
One of EvergreenHealth’s core values is to provide high-quality health care while minimizing our environmental impact. The Greenhealth Partner for Change Award recognizes our ongoing dedication to improving our environmental performance and our efforts to integrate sustainability and resiliency into the operations and culture of our organization.
-- David Reed, EvergreenHealth Environmental Services Team
The current levy for EvergreenHealth’s public hospital district is $0.14 per $1,000 of estimated home value, based on 2023 data. This is the first time EvergreenHealth has requested a levy lid lift in its more than 50-year history.
When the levy was first passed in 1970, it was set at $0.75 per $1,000. Over time, as property values increased, the levy rate was reduced in accordance with district regulations. Proposition 1 proposes to increase the levy $0.36, bringing the total, if passed, to 50 cents per $1,000 assessed home value. [$500 tax on a $1,000,000 home.]
If passed, levy funding will help EvergreenHealth expand services and infrastructure, which means more access for more people. Those expanded services will also attract and retain providers and staff, increasing access and expanding key service lines to meet the community’s need, including:
EvergreenHealth will continue to use levy funding to help support free and low-cost community education classes, programs, and events on a wide variety of everyday and specialized health and wellness topics, developed by experts and available to everyone in our community.
-- Commissioner Virgil Snyder
Chair, EvergreenHealth Board of Commissioners
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| EvergreenHealth, Kirkland Your Community - Owned Hospital |
LEVY FUNDED PROGRAMS:
The Community Healthcare Access Team (CHAT) is probably EvergreenHealth's flagship levy-funded community service:
It all started with the first 3-minute testimony by Aeron H. He's a Redmond transgender and gave an horrific story of humiliation and death threats. He reported it to the police "with a picture, message, and name and the police did nothing, they did NOTHING!" Fearful, "I stayed locked in my apartment for two months. No wonder PRIDE doesn't trust the police."
At this point pro tem mayor, President Kritzer stated "in conclusion," signifying that Aeron's allowable 3-mintute speaking time was up. Councilmember Fields made a motion to suspend the rules and extend the time. It was seconded by CM Forsythe.
After 13 minutes of Council rules discussion and advice from the city attorney, they decided to suspend the 3-minute rule for this one meeting and allow 4-minute testimonies. Councilmember Stuart thanked Aeron for his patience. Aeron was annoyed, and then went on for over a minute about "targeted hate crimes" and his distrust for the police.
-- Bob Yoder, 8/13.25
Source: 6/3/25 Business meeting video of testimonies (Aeron's testimony starts at 8:00 min.)
(Historically, the comment period at Business meetings had been 4- minutes but the present council reduced it to 3-minutes; Councilmember David Carson had strong objections to this limitation.)
I wanted to know why the ground isn't yet broken for construction; late April was the target month. Sarah thinks August is the likely start time. The large AMLI apartment project is still under construction and is interfering. Sarah said the delay had nothing to do with finances, at this time.
Federal money accounts for 25 - 30% of their system-wide funding! The funding goes through the county first (a jursidiction in the hole.) Of course, Trump has cutting federal, homeless funding on his list (along with everything else.) Ms. Lee, the Plymouth CEO, is very concerned and is planning for the worse. Sarah was worried Medicaid is on the chopping block as well. CONNECTIONS Behavioral Health Crisis Center in Kirkland offers hope. Plymouth's dual diagnosis individuals can be treated for free. EvergreenHealth is also close by.
Los Angeles, New York and then Seattle have the highest homelessness in the Nation, according to a study in the Seattle Times. The cities that do the best for homeless focus on shelters. Shelters give immediate care. It can take almost a decade to construct and fully develop a permanent suportive building. In the meantime, individuals die in the streets unsheltered. It's happening in Seattle and with light rail, Kenmore, Redmond and Kirkland will follow.
Call our Senators Patty Murray and Maria Canwell to protest withdrawals of federal funds and Medicaid cuts.
-- Bob Yoder, opinion. 6/11/25
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| Luman Field, Seattle |
Sound Transit to run additional service for Club World Cup, in part, to stress-test light rail for FIFA 2026.
Sound Transit is preparing to welcome FIFA Club World Cup 2025 soccer attendees by running additional service on Link light rail as well as special Sounder game trains.
Passengers taking transit during the 10-day, six-game span can find all the information they need in one place by visiting https://www.soundtransit.org/worldcup.
Additional security personnel and Sound Transit staff will be available at stations to help passengers during FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Even with extra service, trains will be crowded during peak times. In order for passengers to have the best riding experience, Sound Transit has tips to help riders during FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and throughout the busy summer season. These include:
Following are details about service during FIFA Club World Cup 2025:
Link light rail service
There will be increased service on the 1 Line, post-game on Sunday, June 15 and all-day on June 23, with 8-minute headways, to both serve game attendees and our regular riders. As is typical for previous large events at the stadiums, additional trains will be on standby to manage demand and fill any service gaps throughout the tournament.
Affordable housing is desparately needed. Rebuilding and enlarging the firehouse to 6-stories may be the best solutionl. The two lower floors could be used for teen programs; the top four floors for work-force housing.
A resident gave testimony at the last council meeting, recommending re-opening the outside areas of the OFH center this summer until council takes action. The chairs, tables and 2 basketball courts could be put to good use for performing arts and social space.
_ Bob Yoder, 6/8/2025, opinion
Feel free to post (and read) a comment...
Downtown Station Light Rail Bicycle Mural Art
"During the days riders pedal along trails, meander through lanes, and commute on the streets of Redmond. At night the bicycle constellation shines down on them."
-- Sound Transit art mural installation, 166th Avenue NE / photos Yoder, 5/31/25
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| EvergreenHealth Public Hospital District No. 2 in Kirkland - Our Community-Owned Hospital - |
I have been following EvergreenHealth for years on behavioral health issues -- speaking at many of the Commissioner/CEO meetings urging outpatient treatment services. Years ago, my wife walked the NAMI parade with three Redmond councilmembers to advertise Evergreen's community support for an out-patient mental health clinic.
EvergreenHealth treats at least one behavioral health patient per day in their Emergency Department. They remodeled the department with 2 rooms equiped with sound supressing materials dedicated to behavioral health patients.
You may not have heard about CONNECTIONS in Kirkland. They're a crisis center for behavioral health treatment. They have 32 beds, 18 observation chairs, psychiatrists, and case managers. EvergreenHealth is partnering with CONNECTIONS to treat patients in crisis and those seeking out-patient care.
Finally, EvergreenHealth is proposing a Levy Lid Lift in the August 5th, 2025 election. Some proceeds will fund outpatient telehealth and in-person mental health treatment in their twelve integrated primary care practices. They hired a Behavioral Health Director to run the program. ("Treatment" is: medicine-management, with some therapy.)
Unlike Overlake Medical Center, EvergreenHealth is a Community-Owned Hospital, backed by our community. I hope this update will help you in your levy vote! |
| "Arnold / Redmond Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee" Look around the Downtown Light Rail Station and you'll see plexi-glass panal tributes like this one of Arnold Tomac. There's a whole lot more to Arnie than his leading the "PED/BIKE Advisory Committee." He was an early President of Redmond City Council, a Co-Founder of Redmond Town Center, to name a few. A kind and giving man ... -- Yoder, 5/16/25 |
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Photo on Redmond City TV (RCTV - Comcast 21) Is the Mayor barricading Council from the public? Council members' email addresses aren't hyperlinked, as well. 😖 UPDATE: Additional text was added on June 3 describing Redmond's form of government as being Strong Mayor with 7 elected councilmembers. (Note the 7 pillars.) |
WA State Legislature passes $78 B budget; rent cap; gun permits
Ferguson levy $9B new taxes to fund state budget
Seattle Times, 5/21/2025
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| Governor Bob Ferguson photo Seattle Times |
OLYMPIA — Governor Bob Ferguson offered the following statement on the conclusion of the 2025 legislative session:
“I want to thank our legislators, staff and my team, for all their hard work this session as we faced a $16 billion budget shortfall. I look forward to carefully reviewing the budgets line by line over the next few weeks. When that review is complete, I will share my thoughts with the public in greater detail.
“Beginning with my inaugural address, I’ve emphasized that we must use realistic revenue projections, preserve our Rainy Day Fund reserves, find billions of dollars in savings and efficiencies, include a $100 million grant program for more law enforcement officers, increase investment in affordable housing, and increase the percentage of our budget devoted to K-12 education. The budgets adopted by the Legislature accomplish those goals.
“Throughout this budget process, I have also insisted that the Legislature take a balanced approach to solving the $16 billion shortfall. That is why I rejected an initial proposal to raise $21 billion in taxes. I then rejected a subsequent $12 billion tax proposal as unsustainable. I appreciate that the Legislature heard my concerns and dramatically reduced the revenue assumed in the final budget. That said, I intend to carefully review all revenue increases.
Preparing for the Trump Administration by protecting reserves
“I appreciate that the budget, at my insistence, protects our Rainy Day Fund. Federal funding makes up 28 percent of our state budget. The Trump Administration is weaponizing funding to punish those it disagrees with to force them into compromising their values.
“Throughout the session, I emphasized the need to budget in a way that prepares for this. This session, we made real progress to ensure we are in a strong position to protect our progressive values against this assault.
“We will continue to work to ensure that we are protecting the most vulnerable in our state as the Trump Administration will doubtless continue its cuts and harmful economic policies. Maintaining our Rainy Day Fund reserves will help us weather this storm. I am not going to allow the state that I love to be at the financial mercy of Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
Billions of dollars in savings, and changing the way we budget
“The Legislature adopted most of the $4 billion in savings my team identified 43 days into my administration.
“I insisted on a spending plan based on the actual projections provided by our Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, rather than spending based on the 4.5% revenue growth allowed in state law. The Legislature adopted this approach.
Upholding our paramount duty by increasing investment in K-12 education
“When I campaigned for governor, I promised to increase the percent of our general fund devoted to our K-12 system. This operating budget meets that goal. Additionally, it improves special education funding and helps school districts meet their most critical needs.
Priority legislation crossed the finish line
“Several of the bipartisan proposals I highlighted in my inaugural address made it to the finish line this session. Rep. Tom Dent’s bill to get Washington farmers the fuel exemptions they were promised under the Climate Commitment Act, Rep. Lisa Callan’s proposal to improve youth mental health, and Rep. Sharlett Mena’s legislation to keep other states’ National Guard units from entering our state without our permission, will all become law.
“I’m especially proud of the bipartisan work that went into House Bill 2015, which will provide $100 million in grants to local law enforcement agencies. In my inaugural address, I made it clear that I would not sign a budget that did not include this funding. We rank 50th — last — per capita, in number of law enforcement officers. Getting $100 million grants in the hands of local law enforcement agencies to help them hire well-trained officers was a key piece of my campaign for governor. The final bill represents an important step forward in our work to improve public safety for all Washingtonians.
“Thank you to Rep. Debra Entenman for sponsoring this proposal, and to Sen. Jeff Holy for sponsoring the original version. A special thank you to Sen. Manka Dhingra and Rep. Kristine Reeves for their leadership and advocacy as the bill moved forward.
Bipartisan capital budget invests in housing
“In my inaugural address, I also emphasized the need to improve housing supply and affordability. Our bipartisan capital budget makes the largest investment in state history in the Housing Trust Fund, which provides the money needed to build homes for those most in need. We made new laws to speed up the permitting process for housing, removed barriers to rehabilitating existing structures, helped manufactured housing residents become homeowners, and opened up opportunities for Public Housing Authorities to partner with private entities to create more affordable housing.
Bipartisan transportation budget
“I appreciate the Legislature’s work on a bipartisan transportation budget. This budget shows restraint by temporarily delaying some projects, while making responsible investments in overdue maintenance and preservation, supporting transit and mobility, and critical projects like the I-5 Bridge Replacement in Vancouver and the Spokane North-South Freeway.
“I’m pleased the Legislature maintained $1.3 billion in funding for construction of new ferry vessels and continued to invest in our ferry workforce to ensure our vessels are on the water and on time.
“The transportation budget also invests $1 billion in replacing our state’s culverts. There is still more to do. This demonstrates our ongoing commitment to this important work.
“This has been a hard session for many reasons, especially with the loss of Sen. Bill Ramos, Sen. Chris Gildon’s wife Autumn, and former longtime Speaker Frank Chopp. I am grateful for the hard work and sacrifice of all who contributed to the timely completion of this legislative session.”
4/27/2025
I really liked Deputy Park Director Dave Tuchek's presentation last night: His naturalized meadow growing efforts will develop this Priority habitat! His short explanation and education of pollinators was really interesting and brought things into a worldly perspective. Amazing in-house construction and design of the Anderson Community Gardens! And, Redmond wild flower seed packets to boot. ☝
Please join Redmond's teen community at City Hall this Tuesday, 4/29, 7PM to speak to the council and mayor about saving the Old Fire House (OFH) Teen Center. This historic building is now shuttered and Mayor Birney and her staff say they haven't decided what to do with it. Park Director Loreen Hamilton talks it up as a hazardous waste site.
Teens are now forced into using the distant multi-use Marymoor Community Center. While OFH is vacant, the city could be renovating and upgrading it for future use, not scrapping it for another cookie-cutter apartment building.
I certainly agree with the teens (and a few councilmembers!) the OFH is symbolic and worthy of landmark status. Please bring your families and friends to City Hall Tuesday, 4/29 to show your support. Plan to arrive early to sign-in if you plan to speak (up to three minutes.)
-- B. Yoder, 4/25/2025
Earth Day has been celebrated April 22 every year since 1970
"This year's Earth Day theme at EvergreenHealth is Our Power, Our Planet. We're encouraged to take action, protect and preserve our planet. Here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, our own efforts – in concert with others around the world – will help protect our shared island home.
One of the purposes of Earth Day is to celebrate our natural environment, so let me share some of my personal story.
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| Cottages in Kirkland / photo Master Builders After removal, replacement trees must be planted on and *off-site. |
OPINION: The city has not updated their tree regulations in over 26 years. They are procrastinating to accomodate much-needed housing. The removed trees are replaced with saplings but at numbers that can't reach Redmond's 40% canopy goal. Off-site planting sites for replacement trees should be identified by Parks, Planning and Public Works to broaden canopy cover. The replacement trees are supplied by the developer and installations financed with one-time money and CIP funds.
*Suggested off-site planting sites: Parks, trails, Keller Farm (forested) wetland tree mitigation bank, streets, sidewalks and by-ways, urban growth easements, Light rail stations, M&O Center and other large city projects, the Heron Rookery and western open space, schools, "plant a tree" neighbohood programs, Hartman forested wetlands, Green Redmond, RTC open space, mouth of Bear Creek, and more.
According to the Master Builders Association "A good tree code responsibly maintains or grows the level of tree coverage in a city while also allowing much-needed housing for current residents. newcomers and future generations."
