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County Council Town Hall: Serving our veterans in challenging times
Summary
Meeting in Shoreline will focus on providing services to veterans
during a time of recession and budget cuts
Story
Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan not only face challenges accessing treatment for physical and emotional trauma, but the struggle of reintegrating during the worst recession of our times. With tightening state and local budgets, veterans are coming home to find that services are insufficient to meet the growing need.
On Wednesday, April 1, King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson has invited the County Council to Shoreline for a Town Hall meeting on how we can best serve the needs of our veterans. Several local veterans will share their stories, and representatives from federal, state, and local agencies will discuss the services they provide.
The Town Hall, a special meeting of the Council's Committee of the Whole, will be held at the Shoreline Center's Shoreline Room, 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline. The public is invited to meet with Councilmembers at an informal reception starting at 6:00 p.m. The Town Hall will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Council Vice Chair Bob Ferguson led the successful effort to put the Veteran's and Human Services Levy on the ballot in 2005, which voters overwhelmingly approved. The levy provides dedicated funding for local veterans programs.
"Making sure veterans have the support they deserve is good public policy and is important to me personally," said Councilmember Ferguson, Chair of the Committee of the Whole and host of this month's Town Hall. "My father served in the U.S. Navy and eight of my uncles served in World War II. I grew up listening to them share their stories, which influenced my belief that veterans deserve services at a level that matches their level of commitment to our country."
The Council Town Hall will provide an opportunity for local residents, veterans, government officials, and Councilmembers to discuss the challenges confronting our veterans. Briefings will include an overview on returning veterans and the issues they are facing, a panel discussion on how federal, state, and county governments can coordinate to improve services, and personal stories from local veterans. The scheduled speakers include:
- John Lee, Director of the Washington State Dept. of Veterans Affairs
- Fred Steele, Program Manager, King County Veterans Programs
- Janine Griggs, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs
- Garry Hodgson - Washington State Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Presenters will take questions from the audience and Councilmembers will take public testimony on any issue at the end of the program.
More about Town Halls
Town Halls are part of Councilmembers' initiative to "get out of the courthouse" and into the communities they serve. In 2009, the Council has held Town Halls in Carnation on the County's response to the winter weather emergencies and in Renton on protecting the services provided by Public Health.
Each Town Hall is a special meeting of the Council's Committee of the Whole, the only standing committee on which all nine members serve. It considers legislation and policy issues of interest to the entire Council.
Learn more about the Council's Town Hall Meetings at
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