The Office of the King County Executive this week sent to the City of Burien a 30-day notice of intent to withdraw its offer of granting $1 million to KCRHA to support the city’s homelessness efforts, along with ownership of 35 pallet shelters.
The letter (full text below) indicates that the city has until Nov. 27, 2023 to identify a “suitable” location for a homeless encampment.
The source of the county’s $1 million offer is the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which has strict guidelines for when funds are to be committed and spent.
As we previously reported, the county’s offer was first made on June 7, 2023, but the Burien City Council could never agree or move forward on accepting it.
“We appreciate the City’s work to find a suitable location,” the county said in the letter. “However, given that the source of funding is American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that will expire and that it has been well over four months since the offer was provided in writing, I am writing to inform you that if the City of Burien has not identified a suitable location by November 27, 2023, we will choose to allocate this money to support homelessness response through a different process and withdraw the current offer. The new process will still allow Burien to potentially receive the funding, but is not a guarantee of funding, and we will share more details in the coming weeks.”
City Manager Adolfo Bailon also noted that while the letter was dated Oct. 27, 2023, he didn’t read it until Friday, Nov. 3. He said he plans to share and discuss this information at Monday night’s (Nov. 6) Burien City Council meeting.
Here’s text of the county’s full letter, followed by Bailon’s Nov. 3, 2023 email response to councilmembers:
October 27, 2023
Mayor Aragon and City Manager Bailon
Burien City Council
400 SW 152nd St., Suite 300
Burien, WA 98166Dear Honorable Mayor Sofia Aragon and City Manager Adolfo Bailon:
I write to provide an update to our offer of partnership related to shelter and pallets. As you know, we have been in conversation with the City for several months and confirmed our offer in writing on June 7, 2023. The offer would allocate $1 million to the KCRHA to support Burien residents who are experiencing homelessness within the City of Burien as well as transfer of ownership of up to 35 Pallet Shelters once a location for a sanctioned encampment is identified within the City.
We appreciate the City’s work to find a suitable location. However, given that the source of funding is American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that will expire and that it has been well over four months since the offer was provided in writing, I am writing to inform you that if the City of Burien has not identified a suitable location by November 27, 2023, we will choose to allocate this money to support homelessness response through a different process and withdraw the current offer. The new process will still allow Burien to potentially receive the funding, but is not a guarantee of funding, and we will share more details in the coming weeks.
To the degree that any city land provided for a sanctioned encampment site is currently being used for parking, King County can accommodate up 100 parking spaces at our Metro Transit Park and Ride or garage and that offer will remain on the table.
Please let me know if you have any questions.Sincerely,
Shannon Braddock
Deputy King County Executive
From: Adolfo Bailon AdolfoB@burienwa.gov
Date: November 3, 2023 at 1:04:58 PM PDT
To: DL – Council Members DL-Councilmembers@burienwa.gov
Cc: Emily Inlow-Hood emilyi@burienwa.gov, Garmon Newsom II GarmonN@burienwa.gov
Subject: Letter from King County to BurienHello Council,
The Office of the King County Executive has sent to Burien a 30-day notice of intent to withdraw its offer ($1 million to KCRHA to support Burien, and ownership of 35 pallet shelters). The letter indicates that the City of Burien has until November 27 to identify a “suitable” location.
The source of the $1 million offered by King County to Burien is the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The federal government has strict guidelines for when ARPA funds are to be committed and spent.
A brief excerpt from letter is below. The full letter is attached, for your review.
“…I am writing to inform you that if the City of Burien has not identified a suitable location by November 27, 2023, we will choose to allocate this money to support homelessness response through a different process and withdraw the current offer.”
I will plan to share news of this letter during the Manager’s Report on Monday, November 6.
Note: The letter was shared with me last week through email. I am sorry to share with you that the email from Shannon Braddock went unopened and become lost until today due to the more than 150 email messages that I have received since Sunday regarding the proposed encampment at Oasis Church. I have since reviewed all unopened email messages.
AB
Adolfo Bailon
City Manager
Do not overlook the council members responsible for jeopardizing these funds and contributing to the current predicament. Kevin Shilling, Jimmy Mata, Sophia Aragon, and Stephenie Mora are accountable for this chaotic situation. Their refusal to make use of the available funds has not only exacerbated the homeless crisis but has actively obstructed any progress, denying access to public facilities and criminalizing the homeless. Keep this in mind when you exercise your right to vote.
Let it go. Show some conviction for once.
It’s a greedy world.
No excuse. We got to be doers of the Word.
Proverbs 14:31 – He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor
You should help the homeless. No excuse. We all need to do our part and do more. I believe in 2nd chances, showing mercy, and not treating the homeless like a 2nd class citizen aka your doormat that you really don’t care about. The homeless community needs help and does need land, where we all need to do our part, including you. You need to show your good works and not abuse of authority where it matters! I know I certainly am always looking to help + volunteer. Show me where I can sign up at! I have already been calling around, out looking, by my phone waiting. I pray that God softens your heart and comes judgment day when your good works matter shows mercy on you as you have shown to others. Don’t just talk the talk but walk the walk. You got to be a Christian who acts right. Right now you say you do and not really show it using authority to carelessly destroy homes that belong to genuine loving homeless people who have forgiven you for your tresspasses as the city uses authority figures again to throw away their homes to their faces saying they are tresspassing without offering a solution even at least to give them a home…showing no mercy at in deed the fact the park and rides. Well come judgment day, how do you think your Heavenly Father is going to treat you with forgiveness? Who do you think you are, someone to abuse authority showing no meekness living worldly doing it all for publicity, not genuine..You just do not care about the homeless and poor because you are “too busy” being overly entitled to greed and selfishness. What are you doing not finding it + everything in your power to help these people have and keep a home? …You are supposed to be protecting us because God gave you the ability to help people that you got to use. This is not the first time I have seen city authority respond this way in this area and who you are around who you end up as. That is unacceptable and reflects a lot on one’s soul. It’s your character.You have to plant the right seeds, not ones with tares, like you are doing. This is not justice, this is living worldly, following mans traditions in place of God’s law.The homeless people have a home, and I see that you just do not care and have no excuse. You are easily willing to throw out their prayer books in the home on public land (park and ride) that they have and then not rehouse. I don’t get it. So I know you don’t care. You really are doing it all for publicity.
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again, I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:23-26 KJV
I hope you do the right thing and change your ways.There is no excuse.
Proverbs 14:31 – He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor
Well on judgement day, you are going to have God to answer to. 🙏