King County councilmember proposes memorial for lives lost to COVID

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn is proposing the creation of a public art memorial to honor those who have lost their lives to COVID-19.

1940s Victory Square in Seattle and plans for a COVID-19 monument

Dunn introduced new legislation Wednesday that would direct the county to explore making a memorial for King County residents who lost their lives during the pandemic.

“Nearly 2,000 of our residents have lost their lives to COVID-19 to-date, bringing great tragedy to communities across King County,” Dunn said in a news release. “This memorial would preserve for posterity a consequential chapter in King County’s history while honoring every person who has passed away to COVID-19 and those who mourn them.”

The legislation would task the King County Executive to work with the county’s 4Culture agency to develop a report that includes potential locations for the memorial, as well as projected costs and sources of funding. They would also be asked to find opportunities to engage residents, especially those who lost a family member to COVID, in shaping the memorial.

After being introduced, the legislation will be referred to committee for action. If passed, the report from the county executive would be due to the King County Council by July 1, 2022.

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As of Oct. 20, Public Health — Seattle & King County reports that there have been 160,400 cases, and 1,963 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

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