Communities in need support equity, social justice

WE, the mayors of three South King County cities, wanted to respond to the new initiative announced by King County Executive Ron Sims last week.

On behalf of our cities, we applaud the new Equity and Social Justice Initiative. As the leaders of Auburn, Algona and Pacific, we know firsthand the reality of this present disparity and agree with Sims that the initiative is necessary. Our communities reflect the most need in King County. We recognize that extensive work still needs to be done, and much of that work requires that our cities work together. Our own jurisdictions can be looking for the institutional and systematic changes that are needed to seriously address the issues in a holistic manner. This cooperation was already begun when we engaged our human-services agencies and United Way last year and are now doing in-depth work.

South King County has the largest population of any section of the county — 34.8 percent, or 603,900 — and also has the most racially diverse population in the county, at 36.2 percent minority residents, or 167,100.

We have seen actual poverty numbers, state assistance and school-lunch aid in our areas reach higher levels.

The number of single-parent homes is highest in our communities as well. For decades, we have seen the highest unemployment, the lowest average income and all of the other indicators of communities in need.

We live with the results at our doors, our schools, our churches. It is not a statistic to us, but the face of a child crying out in need.

We support the initiative. We have supported all efforts that might bring relief to our people. We are also concerned about the development of and our inclusion in the solution, and wish to offer our services in creating a determined effort that will work to eradicate these growing concerns.

It is important that our cities be given a voice to participate in addressing the problems that face our emergency responders, our city departments, and our area nonprofit agencies every single day.

Our collective resolve will demonstrate our desire, in the words of the initiative, to be "a key ingredient to promoting equity and social justice (by working to) engage communities and support them in developing their voice and influencing their future."

For decades, people have cried out in need and seen desperately needed funds go elsewhere in the county. This is not a case for sub-area equity, but those funds, staffing and training should go where the needs are greatest.

We look forward to King County's forthcoming and immediate response to our involvement. For so long, the need has been there. For so many, there is the desire to make things better for the generations to come.

We agree that the time to act for communities in need is now. Together, we can accomplish great things.

David Hill is Algona's mayor; Rich Hildreth is Pacific's mayor; Pete Lewis is Auburn's mayor.