By Kimnang Manickam-Seng

Like many, my family fled chaos, leaving war-torn Cambodia for White Center in the 80s. My parents, along with other Khmer refugees, sought stability and peace. The Boys and Girls Club provided free meals, the food bank fed families, and schools adapted to the changing population. Gradually, merchants and restaurants emerged from families who had once been just trying to survive. Before us, White Center was built by hardworking, blue-collar people who wanted better for their kids and neighbors and these value resonated with us also.

In the early 2000s, King County, through the HOPE VI program, began demolishing Park Lake Homes, a subsidized housing community, promising to bring residents back after redevelopment. This site housed thousands of resilient people who relied on community support. However, many were displaced again, unable to voice their concerns as the government failed to listen. With million-dollar homes now on the site, the hope of returning seems impossible. Though families are dispersed, merchants survive thanks to those who still hung on. Hearing the elders' disappointment, I wish I had been aware enough to advocate for them, as resources and planning often miss the families who need them most in unincorporated King County.

In 2019, King County created the Department of Local Services to better serve areas like White Center. This new department was intended to coordinate and deliver critical services, promising to engage and centralize the voices of the people who tend to get muted during governmental processes. However, this promise seems hollow in light of recent events. In 2022, the County received a grant from WS-DOT to make 16th Ave SW safer.

Community engagement was crucial for the allocation of the $1.9 million funds. After three months of discussions with stakeholders, business merchants, and long-time residents, the County decided the best way to enhance safety was to remove parking spots and build a bike lane.

The problem was that most people didn’t know about this outcome. Those who were disappointed discovered that their neighbors were also unaware. Information was shared through mailers or sessions that initially offered two options through an online survey: 1) build more parking and a bike lane or 2) build more parking. When the final design was revealed, the plan had shifted to eliminate the majority of parking spaces for a bike lane stretching from Starbucks to Taco Bell. This decision became known only to those who actively sought out information.

When the community pushed back, the County tried to compromise by adding back parking spaces, ultimately finding a way to add just three more. What started as a safety improvement project became a controversial use of funds to build bike lanes.

Cyclists in the community have long requested east-west bike lanes, reflecting the area's geographic layout. Adding a bike lane on 16th Ave SW, the most important corridor, only encourages through traffic rather than making it a destination.The biggest concern is that these bike lanes could displace small ethnic business owners. Many people here rely on parking spots, as that is the primary mode of transportation for the majority of the community. Removing parking makes these shops harder to access. With rising rents and the roads department prioritizing cyclists, it seems only a matter of time before 16th Ave SW no longer suits these businesses. The street also houses the White Center Food Bank, where families rely on parking to load and unload goods. Concentrating parking only in front of the food bank could lead to constant competition for spaces, leaving few option to access essential services.

This project raises important questions about whose needs are being prioritized and whether community engagement is genuinely influencing outcomes in White Center.

The voices of those most affected must be heard and respected. It's time for King County to truly listen and act in the best interest of all its residents, not just a select few.

Kimnang Manickam-Seng is a White Center resident