HomeMy WebLinkAbout44_Mayors Newsletter_070617JULY 6, 2017
This Week
from the Mayor
Denis Law, Mayor
VOL. II, NO. 21
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Comments, questions or suggestions, or just want to share all the great things that are happening in
the city, please email me. Thanks for reading.
Police Chief Kevin Milosevich receives a $13,000 donation used to buy athletic equipment, which was
presented to second graders in the Renton School District.
Police build community goodwill
Visibility and community engagement are large parts of a police officer’s job.
At the annual BBQ with the Badges, Renton police officers interacted with 250 youngsters,
demonstrating the tools of their trade, taking pictures and answering their questions. Around 15-20 of
our officers, as well as Chief Kevin Milosevich and Deputy Chief Ed VanValey, were in attendance.
On Sunday we will celebrate the 27th year of the Return to Renton Car Show, which shows off the best
of American ingenuity and technology. During its run, the show has donated over $230,000, which is
used to fund youth programs in the city. It’s one of my favorite events of the year and well worth your
time.
Recently our officers used a portion of the proceeds they receive from last year’s show to purchase and
donate athletic equipment to second graders in Renton School District.
In Renton, we are proud to be an
inclusive community that works
together to solve problems and
promote mutual respect and
appreciation for all people in our
community. We are committed
to be a welcoming place to live,
work, learn, and play; one that
highly values diversity and is
respectful, fair, and inclusive.
I have regular meetings
with members of the Latino
Community that I co-chair with
Deacon Ted Rodriguez of St.
Anthony Parish in Renton. The
meetings are designed to find ways for our residents to learn more about the city and for us to build a
strong partnership with the community.
As part of this effort, St. Anthony Parish will host an Immigration Forum this Sunday, July 9, from
2 to 4 p.m. There will be immigration lawyers on-site to help with the process and help attendees find
answers to their questions. We’re expecting over 150 community members.
The Mayor’s Latino Community Group
Immigration Forum is Sunday
Renton’s annual 4th of July celebration was a
huge success! Thousands of people converged
on Gene Coulon Park, many arriving early in the
morning in order to stake out a special spot to
enjoy the day and watch the fireworks show later
in the evening.
It was great to see the number of families in the
park enjoying the holiday on a beautiful, sunny
day. Kids of all ages were playing games and
swimming while their parents found a spot in the
shade to relax. There was entertainment on stage
and lots of activities for the kids to enjoy. Long
before the noon hour, wonderful smells from
dozens of barbecues began to fill the air.
A spectacular sunset set the stage for the
fireworks display as dozens of boats from around
the lake cruised in to watch the show from the
water.
Not everything was perfect. When you have
thousands of people who have the same idea
of spending a nice afternoon in the park,
it’s impossible to avoid traffic and parking
challenges. Police and park staff did a great
job of managing the crowds and, following the
spectacular fireworks display, were able to direct
people out of the park fairly quickly.
What amazes me every year is how fast our parks staff has everything cleaned up and ready to serve
the daily users of Gene Coulon Park.
Unfortunately, we continue to have some people who ignore the fact that discharging fireworks within
the city limits is illegal. It’s particularly aggravating for residents who endure individuals igniting
dangerous fireworks obtained from Indian reservations.
Since voters approved the fireworks ban in 2005, incidents of fires and injuries in Renton has decreased
considerably. According to Renton Regional Fire Authority Fire Chief Rick Marshall, fire fighters
battled four house fires in Fairwood and Briarwood over the 4th. According to King County Sheriff’s
Fire Investigation Unit, the house fires in Fairwood were started by fireworks and two houses were
destroyed.
On West Hill, illegal fireworks were discharged for several days. At least one vehicle was destroyed by
fireworks. Both areas are in unincorporated King County where fireworks are not banned.
Renton Police and Renton Regional Fire Authority will be reviewing enforcement results and will
present a report to the City Council in a couple weeks.
Photo by Denis Law
Fabulous 4th brings out Renton’s spirit
Photo by Denis Law