8/10/21 (The Kent Reporter): Kent Station reaches highest retail occupancy since opening in 2005

The Kent Station shopping center recently reached its highest retail occupancy since it opened.

8/6/21 (KING 5): 5 cities, 5 days: Kent, 6th largest city in Washington

What started as a small farming town has now grown to a city filled with international businesses and warehouses. Mayor Ralph says the warehouses are all full with E-commerce booming during the pandemic.

5/11/21 (Puget Sound Business Journal): Space-themed park planned for Kent builds on regional industry ties

Kent Mayor Dana Ralph said she's delighted by the collaboration forged between the public and private sectors.

3/23/21 (The Kent Reporter): Mayor Ralph describes COVID-19 challenges during State of the City address

Ralph said the city took the pandemic seriously from the start. City leaders also used $2.1 million of federal CARES Act relief funds to provide $6,500 grants to just more than 300 businesses. “We gave more assistance than any other city in King County, outside of Seattle,” Ralph said.

3/17/21 (The Kent Reporter): City of Kent to get $28.4 million in federal COVID-19 relief

Mayor (Dana) Ralph will work with the City Council and the city’s Executive Leadership Team to create a process and plan to allocate Kent’s $28.41 million in one-time funds.

3/15/21 (The Kent Reporter): Kent Mayor Ralph to run for reelection; Bennett to challenge

Ralph said she has received several early endorsements including the support of the Kent Firefighters Local 1747. The majority of the seven-member Kent City Council has endorsed Ralph, including Council President Toni Troutner and members Bill Boyce, Marli Larimer, Zandria Michaud and Les Thomas.

2/1/21 (South King Media): High-volume COVID-19 vaccination site opens at accesso ShoWare Center

“I want to thank the County for taking Kent up on its offer to use accesso ShoWare Center to provide vaccines to our community,” Mayor Dana Ralph said. “The sooner we can get supply and administer the vaccine, the sooner we can put COVID-19 in our rear-view mirror and move toward recovery.”

1/21/21 (The Kent Reporter): Kent-based Puget Sound Fire launches mobile vaccination teams to adult family homes

“We have a duty to protect our seniors and most vulnerable populations, so I am proud to be getting these vaccinations to them as quickly as possible,” said Kent Mayor Dana Ralph who showed up at Fire Station 76, 20676 72nd Ave. S., to thank first responders and send off the first mobile vaccination strike team.

11/18/20 (South King Media): Mayor and Kent City Council cap delivery rates on food delivery apps

“We are in the middle of a pandemic and the Governor has set restrictions on which businesses can be open and what their capacity can be. The least we can do is ensure we make it easier for our small businesses to survive and lower the cost of delivering essential services, like food, for our residents,” said Kent Mayor Dana Ralph.

11/10/20 (South King Media): City of Kent seeking public feedback on its Housing Options Plan

Kent is part of a fast-growing region, with a booming population looking for housing options of all types. With a mandate from the state to plan for growth, “it’s critical for the City of Kent to envision a future that works for everyone—those who live here now, and those who want to live here in the future,” the city adds.

10/8/20 (South King Media): Kent Mayor Dana Ralph issues Mayoral Directive on race and equity

Kent Mayor Dana Ralph issued a Mayoral Directive to all Department Directors and City employees, taking action on advancing race and equity initiatives after the City Council tabled a resolution on race and equity at their most recent meeting.

9/8/20 (KNKX): In Kent, a garden empowers those most impacted by climate change

“I want to make sure that every resident in my community has a food supply that makes sense to them, that they're used to cooking, that helps them feel like this is home.” The mayor says this project has brought people of all ages and different cultures together. She hopes other communities all around the region will look to it as a model for climate action.  

8/31/20 (The Kent Reporter): Thousands get free food, face masks at city-run Kent event

“I’m so proud of our community for coming together during this challenging time to make these resources available to our residents and Kent families,” Mayor Dana Ralph said in a statement. “Thank you to the incredible volunteers, staff and partners that made Friday’s PPE and food box distribution event at ShoWare Center such a huge success.”

8/13/20 (Eater Seattle): Kent Restaurants Receive Tents and Heaters from City in Effort to Protect Outdoor Seating

As more cold, blustery weather begins to descend on the region, Kent is helping local restaurants protect their patios. Using $175,000 in funds from the federal CARES Act, city leaders have worked with local nonprofit Kent Downtown Partnership.

4/22/20 (South King Media): Ralph, Mayors from 8 other cities send letter to Inslee about re-opening construction

“In a time where the federal government has bailed out airlines, cruise lines have requested support, large business, some small business, states, counties and large cities – they’ve left cities our size on our own,” Ralph said in a statement. “It means there’s no magic money coming to cover the millions of dollars of revenue lost – we must phase in our local economy to generate revenue our residents will lose programs and critical services they rely on.”

3/23/20 (The Kent Reporter): Kent mayor lifts enforcement of plastic bag ban during COVID-19 outbreak

“In an abundance of caution for resident and worker safety, we will suspend the enforcement of the plastic bag ban during the declaration of emergency for COVID-19,” Ralph said. “This will enable residents to pause the use of reusable bags. It will also allow retailers to use whatever bags they can obtain to bag the supplies and groceries our residents need in a timely manner.”

3/20/20 (The Seattle Times): Kent officials protest King County’s decision to buy motel for coronavirus quarantine site

Kent Mayor Dana Ralph protested a King County plan to buy a motel along a key downtown corridor to be used as an emergency public health quarantine facility for coronavirus patients, contending city officials weren’t informed or consulted about the decision that could put their community at risk.

3/6/20 (South King Media) In front of ‘Blue Moon’ lunar rover, Mayor Dana Ralph gives ‘State of the City’ address

“Serving as your Mayor is my dream job and I want to thank you all for providing me with the opportunity to do so. The faith and trust you put in me to be your voice at City Hall and to represent you across the region means the world to me.”

1/21/20 (KING 5): Meet the Mayor of Kent: Part mama bear, part metal-head, and all moxie

"Being a mom of two teenagers at the time, running my own business and being on city council means my schedule was really crazy," Mayor Ralph says.

1/15/20 (South King Media): Mayor Dana Ralph elected President of Sound Cities Association

As President, Mayor Ralph will now represent 38 cities and nearly 1 million residents as local cities “work together to find solutions to our challenges.” Most recently, Ralph served as Vice President during calendar year 2019.

1/8/20 (Space.com): Blue Origin Opens New Headquarters As It Aims For The Moon, Astronaut Flights

Blue Origin opens its new research and development building and headquarters in Kent, Washington on Jan. 6, 2020.

10/1/19 (King 5): Kent police launch body camera program

"It's transparency. I heard from the residents that they wanted to see them so they can see what the police department is doing and it also works in the other direction," said Kent Mayor Dana Ralph. "It provides a level of protection and transparency on the officer's side as well…I just believe this is a good thing for our community and our department, it's a win-win on both sides."

3/18/19 (The Kent Reporter): Mayor vows change, wants to share a vision for Kent

Bold in her message and undaunted in her plans, Ralph is leading change and new initiatives to make city government more transparent, accessible and accountable, Ralph urges everyone to join the movement, participate in the city’s progress and share in her vision for its future.

12/21/18 (The Kent Reporter): Kent City Council awards $500,000 in grants to promote business, tourism

“This list of awards is a wonderful example of very strategic decision making on the part of the committee and the city,” Mayor Dana Ralph said at the Dec. 11 council meeting. “It speaks to all of the work we are doing to realigning the Kent Industrial Valley, promoting Kent as a place of innovation where businesses change the world – all of those things that we have been working on this year are represented on this list.”

11/27/18 (King 5): Get to know Kent's Mayor Dana Ralph

Mayor Dana Ralph tells us why there is more to Kent and we also learn some fun facts about her.

10/18/18 (Q13 FOX): From 'glue pot to hot spot': The Renaissance of the City of Kent

Back in the 1920s, the city of Kent was known as the Lettuce Capital of the World. It was largely a farming and industrial community, that made good use of its proximity to the rail line, transporting goods through the Kent Rail Station. Nearly a century later, those railroad tracks are playing a huge role in transforming the city into a new era.

3/27/18 (South King Media): Mayor Dana Ralph issues letter to Kent residents

“Public safety is the number one priority for the City of Kent. If Proposition A passes, we will not be laying off police officers. If Proposition A doesn’t pass, we will not be laying off police officers. That is a promise.”