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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you are all doing well. Earlier today, Executive Dow Constantine transmitted an emergency spending package today to the King County Council (I have signed on as a sponsor along with Councilmember Rod Dembowski) that would continue the County’s critical COVID-19 response efforts, including leasing isolation sites and providing alternatives to shelters. The appropriation request also supports small businesses and advances future lodging revenues for tourism and arts and culture organizations.
This proposal is exactly what’s needed to get visitors back to our region, restore lost jobs, and reinvigorate our economy. It will help our small businesses and our tourism and hospitality industries -- our hotels, restaurants, retail, attractions, and convention and event centers – recover and get people to come here again when safe. It also will help our stellar arts and culture organizations, such as our performing venues, galleries, museums, science and heritage organizations, reopen when safe, and bring back our artists and musicians, stage hands, zoo, aquarium and science center workers, and the thousands of others who contribute to our region’s being a top place for drawing visitors as well as for bringing joy into our lives. Additionally, it will pave the way to bring in the revenue needed to secure more affordable housing and homelessness services, and help vulnerable youth get into safe spaces. I appreciate Executive Constantine’s vision and his sending us this essential and well-thought out proposal.
Click the following link to learn more about what this proposal aims to achieve: https://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/constantine/news/release/2020/April/23-COVID-funding.aspx It will be referred to the Council’s Committee of the Whole at our next Council meeting which will be held next week on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
The rest of this e-newsletter is meant to provide you with an update on some of the other issues on which I’ve been working as well as on helpful information related to the COVID-19 crisis. You can now read previous updates I have set out. I have put together an archive page so you can find any information you may have missed. I have been sending updates every day since March 1 (sometimes more than one in a day). Click the following link to visit the archive page: https://www.kingcounty.gov/council/kohl-welles/News/eNewsletters/covid-enews.aspx
As always, I would like to hear from you. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions or comments. You can call me at 206-477-1004 or you can reach me by email at jeanne.kohl-welles@kingcounty.gov.
All the best,
Latest numbers from Public Health
Since yesterday’s update, Public Health is reporting 120 new positive cases of COVID-19 in King County (5,569 total) and 5 new COVID-19 related deaths (384 total).
Detailed information about demographics of those who died from COVID-19 are available on Public Health’s data dashboard. And, interestingly, you can click on your zip code to learn of the number of “positive” cases and fatalities where you reside.
Also, and again, here is an excellent website that offers real-time COVID-19 data in clear formats, broken down by country and state: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries
Additionally, Public Health – Seattle & King County is reminding the community that pills purchased off the street or online without a prescription likely contains illicit fentanyl—the drug that can lead to overdose and death. In just the past two weeks, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified 14 people whose lives were lost to drug overdose involving fentanyl.
There were more overdoses involving fentanyl in King County between January and March this year than the same time period last year. There were 38 fentanyl related overdoses this year over this three-month period compared to 24 in the same time period last year. Click the following link to learn more: https://publichealthinsider.com/2020/04/23/public-health-calls-for-community-safety-as-fentanyl-involved-deaths-rise/
Program for trans and nonbinary people of color impacted by COVID-19
Trans United, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with visionary transgender leaders and organizations to build the collective capacity of the trans community and to improve the lives of transgender people, is piloting a direct emergency payment program for trans and non-binary people of color impacted by COVID-19 and the related economic effects. They are offering $125 direct payments to the first 80 applicants who fit these qualifications and complete an application. Apply here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TUrelief2?fbclid=IwAR0UiGhRfRml1RztseCu6BUyaqnRF-iiEoZcOPRs_RLAsKj-utQFjRHCLr8
Metro implements passenger limits
As I mentioned briefly in yesterday’s update, to support the health of passengers, drivers, and community members, King County Metro has instituted new passenger limits to promote social distancing. Metro is also developing additional mobility options for customers taking essential trips.
To better help each person maintain six feet of separation from others as guided by Public Health – Seattle & King County, the optimal number of passengers is 12 on a 40-foot bus and 18 on a 60-foot bus.
Click the following link to learn more: https://kingcountymetro.blog/2020/04/22/metro-creates-passenger-limits-to-support-social-distancing/
New guide highlights financial resources for individuals, families and small businesses
I am pleased to share a brand-new resource guide that King County has compiled to help all of us get through this crisis. This comprehensive guide includes:
- How to apply for unemployment
- Housing resources
- Information on utilities and internet
- Cash assistance
- Food assistance
- Childcare resources
- Resources for undocumented communities
- Small business loans and disaster assistance
- In-language resources
You can click this link to download the guide in English. Downloads are also available in ten other languages:
Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Oromo, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya, Vietnamese
Additional helpful and informative links
Today's moment of levity - Beast Mode edition
Like many of you, I miss the good old days when Marshawn Lynch started earthquakes and brought so much joy to Seahawks fans. But, it’s great to see he is still doing good work – this time in his hometown of Oakland. I just wish he were still here with us in Seattle! Watch this great clip of Beast Mode himself handing out masks to people at a park to help promote safety during the pandemic: https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1253368937527549955
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my update. You can expect ones to continue being sent out on a daily basis, sometimes more than one. Feel free to forward them to others who can subscribe by clicking here.
Finally, to prevent these updates from going straight to spam or junk folders, I encourage you to mark this email address as a “safe sender” by adding the email address to your contacts or address book. And be sure to check your spam folder if you think you may have missed an update.
And please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns and, most importantly, be well.
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