Mayor Dana Ralph offers condolences for Les Thomas, highlights space-industry claims and summer events

Mayor Dana Ralph opened the city's weekly update by offering condolences to Pauline Thomas and the Thomas family after the death of longtime Kent City Council member Les Thomas, whom she said served 20 years on the council and owned Blessings Jewelry Store.

Ralph said she recently moderated a State of Technology luncheon in Seattle featuring Chris Weber, described in her remarks as an Amazon vice president, and Rajie Bada, whom she described as the inventor of the "Amazon Leo" satellite project. She said the satellite aims to provide internet service to areas that currently lack access and called the project's progress "really interesting." Ralph also attributed a panel observation to the local economy, saying, "Kent Valley currently employs more people in aerospace and space in the entire state of Colorado." That employment comparison was presented as a claim by the mayor; the statement was not independently verified in the update.

The mayor said she also attended the Puget Sound Regional Council's general assembly, where she said the general body passed the region's updated transportation plan alongside participation from the mayor of Port Orchard. Ralph said the plan addresses maintaining roads and what the region will need to support transportation in coming years.

Ralph used part of the update to spotlight neighborhood engagement and public events. She thanked the North Park neighborhood for hosting a "drinks in the driveway" gathering and welcomed the Hillrest Neighborhood as the 60th member of the City of Kent Neighborhood Council, encouraging neighbors to register at kentwa.gov to access neighborhood grants.

She promoted several upcoming events: an International Festival on Saturday at the showware center (venue name in the transcript appears as "Aesso Showware Center"), Kent Kitty Hall at City Hall on June 4 from 1 to 3 p.m. in partnership with the regional animal shelter (referred to as "RAS" in the remarks), and Paw Fest the following Saturday with more than 70 vendors, food trucks and adoptable pets from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ralph also announced Cornucopia Days registration is open for the July 11 5K at Three Friends Fishing Hole and that T-shirt orders are due by June 12. She said the farmers market, supported by Living Well Kent, starts June 14 and will run through October on Second Street between Smith and Gal by the library and Town Square Plaza.

Ralph closed the update by thanking viewers and saying the city will continue to post updates and information on events and programs.