Dow ConstantineVerified account

We are in a unique moment, a moment of enormous challenge, but also of opportunity. There is unquestionably an awakening taking place today, to the reality that has existed for many Black and Brown communities, really forever.

This is a moment sparked by the violent deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and so many others who have died at the hands of the state.

This moment forces us to acknowledge the brutal reality of racism and bias that is embedded throughout our societal institutions, including but not exclusively, within our criminal legal system.

In June, I joined @KCPubHealth to declare that racism is a public health crisis, and we committed all of King County government to implement a racially equitable response to this crisis, centered on community, on those who are the most directly affected.

So I'm focusing my budget around those three principles: - Divest - Invest, and - Reimagine. That means stopping current practices that cause harm, and diverting the savings to serve a greater good.

First, I'm proposing reallocating $4.6 million in marijuana tax revenues from the King County Sheriff’s Office and transferring those funds to community-based programs.

I'm also proposing including $2.8 million to help people vacate previous marijuana convictions, that make it harder to get employment and housing.

We have also reduced the daily adult population in the jail to 1,300, and as I said in my State of the County Address a couple of months ago, we need to not just continue, but reinforce the effort to reduce the population.

With fewer people in jail, we will be able to close one of the 12 floors in the downtown jail, saving $1.9 million in a single year, and we will invest that in programs outside the criminal legal system.

My proposed budget will also invest public resources to where we can make the most difference, and co-create with the community and up lift community-led solutions.

Partnering with @KCProsecutor and @KCPublicDefense, I'm proposing $6.2 million for a program called Restorative Community Pathways. Instead of filing juvenile charges @kcprosecutor will refer up to 800 young people a year to receive comprehensive, community-based services.

When I say ‘reimagining,’ I'm talking about examining all county practices, and how they may disproportionately and unfairly impact Black, indigenous, and people of color.

Working with community leaders, we took a hard look at fare enforcement on @kcmetrobus transit, and we're going to rethink and realign the $4.7 million private security contract.

With COVID, we're suspending fares through the end of the year, but it's clear this is an opportunity to create something new, that would stop the racially- disproportionate impact of conventional fare enforcement.

We can provide new opportunities to help riders get the right fare or ORCA card to match their income, as well as access housing, behavioral health, or other needed services.

These proposals and so much more in the proposed budget are part of King County's work towards a more just, and more equitable future for everyone in our community.

This anti-racist work is woven into major investments outside the criminal legal system, with housing and other programs, and how we engage the community – especially Black and Brown organizations – to set goals, create necessary programs, and hold ourselves accountable.

You can read more about today's news here, and stay tuned for more next week when I submit the budget to the @KCCouncil. https://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/constantine/news/release/2020/September/16-budget-antiracism.aspx …