Calling all Burien locals: the floor is now open for civic-minded residents to throw their hats into the ring to join committees both for and against the upcoming public safety funding measure. Interested parties have until Wednesday, July 9, to apply, with the City Council set to appoint up to three members per committee on July 14. According to a recent announcement on the city's website, these committees will play a pivotal role in shaping the conversation around the levy by crafting statements and rebuttals that will be featured in King County Elections local voters’ pamphlet come election season.
The measure, known as Ordinance 874, was introduced to support public safety operations in Burien. Eyeing an August 12 deadline, committee members will be responsible for the drafting of their respective position statements— statements that reflect the voices of their community and its stance on funding initiatives that target homelessness, public drug use, as well as mental health crises. The ordinance itself was placed on the consent agenda at Burien City Council's June 30 meeting, and if passed, it vows to preserve and expand the police co-response model, maintain and ramp up police staffing levels and foster safer streets and sidewalks with improved infrastructure and lighting. These priorities, having been distilled from over two years of comprehensive community engagement and research, stand as the city's top public safety concerns, as per the city's announcement.
Those who find themselves leaning either in favor or against the proposed public safety levy now have a platform to express their views formally. Committee members are promised a chance to engage with neighbors and coax out insights from the public, a cornerstone in the creation of their official statements. Each team will also write a rebuttal to the opposing committee's statement by August 14, ensuring a balanced representation of opinions come voting time.
For more information on the proposed public safety levy, and for Burien residents interested in participating in the ongoing dialogue surrounding it, the first step is to visit the city’s official levy webpage.
