HomeMy WebLinkAbout55_Mayors Newsletter_101217OCTOBER 12, 2017
This Week
from the Mayor
Denis Law, Mayor
VOL. II, NO. 33
The always spectacular fireworks display over Lake Washington caps the annual Fabulous 4th of July
celebration at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park. The event is just one of dozens put on by the city’s
Community Services Department. Photo by Denis Law
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and visitors to
City Hall will notice two changes: outside the trees are covered
with purple lights 24/7 and inside the lobby contains silhouettes
and stories of seven Renton residents who died as the result of
domestic violence.
Every nine seconds a woman in this country is beaten by her
husband or boyfriend. Across the state 44 people died from
domestic violence in 2016; domestic violence shelters received
over 94,000 calls and provided over 220,000 shelter bed nights to
victims and their families. These numbers are alarming.
In Renton our police department and human services staff are
working to improve our response to and treatment of domestic
violence cases through a heightened awareness of the cultural
differences in our community. We have a Domestic Violence Victim Advocate to provide assistance to
victims of domestic violence who live within the city limits. If you or someone you know are the victims
of domestic violence please call our advocate at (425) 430-6654. If you are in imminent danger, please
call 9-1-1. Domestic violence has no place our community.
Remembering victims of domestic violence
Renton ... a great place to play
In Renton we are blessed with the ability to partake
in a variety of outdoor activities throughout the
year. From visits to our picturesque, versatile, and
well-maintained parks, to a variety of community
events, I feel our city is second-to-none when it
comes to providing recreational opportunities for
our residents.
That we’re able to offer such a variety of activities
is the result of location, but also speaks to the
talent and hard work of our Community Services
Department along with support from other
deaprtments.
So far this year large crowds have enjoyed dozens
of community events, ranging from the fabulous
4th of July, Renton River Days, Renton Farmers
Market, and the Renton Multicultural Festival, to community clean-ups, Memorial Day ceremony,
National Night Out, and Pooch Plunge. The planning and execution of these events can be challenging,
but they always go off without a hitch.
In 2017 Community Services introduced us to new events, including Cruz the Loop and Bark in the
Park. “Cruz” was designed to bring back the nostalgia of cruising the famous Renton Loop in the 60s
combined with a car show and live music from that era. “Bark” was held last weekend and was both fun
and educational, providing free coupons for chipping your dog as well as spay and neuter information.
If you weren’t able to attend an event, maybe you spent time at one of our 31 parks, played the
Maplewood Golf Course, walked/jogged the Cedar River Trail, or spent the day at the Henry Moses
Aquatics Center. All are meticulously maintained and staffed by Community Services.
If you think their work is done because the weather is changing, rest assured the group is currently
hard at work on several upcoming holiday-themed events including Clams Lights (December 1) and
the always invigorating Polar Bear Plunge (January 1), as well as offering a full slate of youth and adult
recreational leagues and activities at the Renton Community Center and the Renton Senior Activity
Center. Take a minute to partake in one of the fun activities or events Community Services offers. I’m
confident you’ll enjoy yourself.
The inaugural Bark in the Park was both fun
and educational. Attendees took part in a
costume contest and received a coupon for a free
identification chip.
I will join with King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn in removing a
ceremonial rail spike this Tuesday, October 17, at 10 a.m. just north of Gene
Coulon Memorial Beach Park. The ceremony signals the start of construction
of a four-mile section of the Eastside Rail Corridor (ERC) stretching from
Coulon Park to Newcastle Beach Park in Bellevue. This new segment will also
connect to the existing Lake Washington Loop Trail. When completed, the
ERC will stretch almost 17 miles connecting Renton with Bellevue, Kirkland,
Woodinville, and Redmond.
Converting rail to trail