Summary

King County leaders this afternoon thanked the voters of King County for approving King County Proposition 1, the Children and Family Justice Center levy, which in the latest tally had a 53.41 percent yes vote.

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King County leaders this afternoon thanked the voters of King County for approving King County Proposition 1, the Children and Family Justice Center levy, which in the latest tally had a 53.41 percent yes vote. 

“This is for the children and families of King County,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “In times of crisis they need and deserve safety, dignity, and an opportunity for redemption. This center will finally help make that possible. This vote creates a better future that provides hope to at-risk youth and families in crisis and fair, efficient, and equitable justice for all.

“I will be working closely with the County Council, the judges, youth and justice advocates, the 12^th Avenue neighborhood, and the broader community to design and build a Children and Family Justice Center that advances our highest values as a community,” added Constantine.

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson, prime sponsor of placing King County Proposition No. 1 on the ballot, said, “I am grateful to the people of King County for their commitment to justice and our region’s youth. Voters recognized the importance of providing critical infrastructure for our children and families facing crisis.  

“With the success of Proposition 1, we can move forward with a new Children and Family Services Center that serves families better, promotes public safety, and reflects our community’s commitment to a fair and accessible justice system for everyone,” added Ferguson.

“After many years of hard work and planning for what the future should be for children and families in crisis in King County, we will now have a building that will be responsive to the needs in our community to help people get their lives back together,” said King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert, Chair of the Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee.  “I’m particularly happy about the increased security and the opportunity for citizens and their attorneys to have private conversations as they work through these personal family traumas.  I thank our citizenry for making this available to meet today’s needs and those of our next generation.”   

King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg said, “The voters have shown vision and compassion to the thousands of families in crisis in King County each year, where a child has been charged with a crime, or run away from home, or where parents are in danger of losing their rights due to allegations of neglect. The new center will vastly improve our ability to help these families, protect children, and improve public safety.” 

King County Superior Court Presiding Judge Richard McDermott said, “It is enormously gratifying to see, in these recessionary times, that the citizens of King County have voted to approve Proposition 1. By approving this new property tax, they have confirmed the importance of assisting our children and families in need.  The King County Superior Court thanks you for your support and promises to work closely with the other branches of government to construct a Children and Family Justice Center where justice can truly flourish.”