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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you had a restful weekend and were able to find ways to stay active and enjoy the little things in life. I was glad to get in a couple of walks; just getting outside and breathing in fresh air can go a long way and is a welcome change of scenery when self-isolating. With walking in mind, I am pleased that more than 100 state parks will reopen tomorrow. But keep in mind, whether you take a walk around where you live or if you go to a state park, please wear some sort of facial covering and keep a safe distance from others.
Tomorrow, the Council’s Committee of the Whole will be convening remotely beginning at 1 p.m. At the meeting, we will deliberate on a $57 million emergency COVID-19 supplemental budget that I have sponsored (as being the Council’s Budget Chair) to 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 our arts, culture, heritage and science organizations and institutions in order to have our infrastructure in place to bring tourists and visitors to the County. Here is a press announcement relating to the proposal. This includes cultural organizations which were highlighted in a Seattle Times article today that indicated that besides all the individuals laid off, these organizations are set to lose $135 million because of COVID-19.
I will be offering a striking amendment aimed at enhancing the proposal that was transmitted to the Council from Executive Constantine. You can access the meeting materials, striking amendment and agenda by clicking the following link: https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/Council/agendas/COW/20200505-COW-packet.pdf
You can stream the meeting live beginning at 1 p.m. by clicking the following link: https://livestream.com/accounts/15175343/events/4485487
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 helpful information related to the COVID-19 crisis. You can read previous updates I sent out on 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 here to visit the archive page.
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 110 new positive cases of COVID-19 in King County (6,574 total) and 3 new COVID-19-related deaths (461 total). So, while these numbers do reflect a decline in the past few days, once again we are not out of the woods or consistently declining from the plateau we’ve been on.
As of May 2, there were 15,185 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide and 834 related deaths. (Note: We do not receive the statewide data daily in time to include in our daily enews.)
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
Stimulus checks
Have you received your stimulus yet? According to the IRS, so far 122 million direct payments have been sent out. However, not all payments have been made and, if you do not have direct deposit, the IRS is mailing 5 million paper check per week. If you haven’t received your check yet, click the following link to see when you can expect to see it: https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/irs-mails-1200-coronavirus-stimulus-checks-work-out-your-payment-schedule/
Also, be sure to check out the article if you qualify for VA or SSI benefits because you may need to take additional actions to ensure you get your stimulus money.
Super snack time at the Zoo
As an ex officio member representing the King County Council on the Woodland Park Zoo Board, I want to bring to your attention a cute and fun event the zoo is hosting virtually every Tuesday at 2 p.m. – Super Snack Time! This weekly video includes an animal ambassador from the zoo feeding one of the zoo’s animals a snack and sharing some interesting information during the feeding. This should be a real delight for kids, so grab a snack and enjoy some time with one of the zoo’s stunning and unique critters. It’s a nice way to pass the time while isolating at home. I’m really looking forward to things returning to normal so I can once again stroll the zoo’s beautiful grounds. You can watch snack time on the zoo’s Facebook page by clicking the following link (past feedings are also archived here): https://www.facebook.com/watch/WoodlandParkZooSeattle/706969896795828/?fbclid=IwAR3K1KAm7iUOmyQheO_jA-VB-QENk_QbrTKK0ZtoL11l6eMWFtpyPDGA2aA
Asian Giant Hornet follow up
In yesterday’s update, I mentioned how a species of hornet, the Asian Giant Hornet, is becoming highly threatening to our beehives throughout the state and possibly to our entire country. As a follow-up, here is a fascinating article about how Japanese Honeybees have learned to adapt to this frightening foe and essentially “cook” them. You can read the article by clicking the following link: https://www.foxnews.com/science/japanese-honeybees-learned-how-to-cook-murder-hornet-report
Additional helpful and informative links
Today's moment of levity and hope
A few weeks ago, Drs. Elvis L. Francois and William Robinson, chief residents in the orthopedic department of the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, shared a stirring rendition of “Imagine” by John Lennon. They hoped that this music would soothe the soul as individuals across the country settle into another week of quarantine. I was moved, and I hope it offers you a moment of peace during this time of uncertainty.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/doctors-story-viral-rendition-john-lennons-imagine-music/story?id=69776258
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my update. You can expect these 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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