Dear friends and neighbors,

In my final e-newsletter for this year, I would like to highlight some of the investments that the state will be making in neighborhood projects around our district. Many are the result of persistent and effective advocacy by individuals and nonprofits who are working hard to solve problems and help our communities thrive.

Local community investments

The legislature approved funding for several projects in our district in this year’s operating and capital budgets. As we see these take shape over the next year, we believe that they will be community assets that will create benefits for neighbors for many years to come.

  • $4 million for YouthCare’s Workforce Development Center, which will offer more housing and educational resources for young people experiencing homelessness
  • $530,000 to continue work toward a first-of-its-kind GenPride LGBTQ+ Senior Community Center in Capitol Hill. I was proud to help break ground on the on the project last fall (photo above). Pride Place will serve as affordable housing development dedicated to serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer seniors.
  • $800,000 for improvements to the Northwest Native Canoe Center
  • $298,000 for air quality upgrades to the Neptune and Paramount Theatres to support the performing arts as we learn to live safely with COVID
  • $4 million to reduce the amount of polluted stormwater discharged in Lake Washington Ship Canal, Salmon Bay and Lake Union
  • $10 million to continue work toward the new UW Behavioral Health Teaching Facility
  • $7.5 million for UW clean energy testbeds, an innovative programs that is testing the capabilities of new zero-emission technologies
  • $100,000 for historylink.org to document the history of Waterfront Park and Seattle’s central waterfront
  • $300,000 for a community inventory of the Washington Park Arboretum, to help align the park with the diverse needs and priorities of the community
  • $100,000 for the Burke Museum for educational programs, including remote offerings, accessible to more students across the state

The 43rd Legislative District is home to the most engaged and politically active people in the entire state.  Your voice and advocacy have helped secure policy and budget victories in Olympia year after year. It’s a true honor to represent this community, and I hope that you share my excitement to watch these projects take shape in the coming months and years.

Thanks for taking the time to read my newsletter. If you missed my updates on health care, transportation, public safety, education, climate action, or housing, they are available on my website.

This will be my final newsletter of the year, due to election-year restrictions. My legislative work over the interim will include service on the Legislative Ethics Board, the Uniform Law Commission, the Statute Law Committee, the Office of Public Defense Oversight Committee, the Senate Facilities & Operations Committee, and the Joint Committee on Employment Relations. You can always reach me at Jamie.Pedersen@leg.wa.gov with comments or questions.

Best wishes,

Jamie