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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
King County is now officially in Phase 2 of the Safe Start reopening plan. This means extra vigilance will be needed from each of us, to make sure we’re keeping the numbers of new positive cases and deaths on a downward trajectory. Click this link to find out what can open in each phase: https://coronavirus.wa.gov/what-you-need-know/safe-start/whats-open-each-phase
At the same time, state and local government budgets are being squeezed as never before. As Chair of the County Council Budget committee, I am acutely aware of this and working hard to preserve funding for our essential services.
Tomorrow there will be a remote meeting of the King County Council beginning at 1 p.m. We will take up a third supplemental COVID-19 budget allocating federal CARES Act funding to help people, organizations and businesses negatively impacted by the pandemic. This includes funding for food security, housing stability such as rental assistance, and homeless services, digital equity for students, and programs assisting domestic violence victims and survivors and those with behavioral health needs.
Also at tomorrow’s meeting, we will be working on an ordinance (co-sponsored by myself along with my colleagues Councilmembers Balducci and Zahilay) to extend the emergency declaration and continue protecting commercial and resident tenants from eviction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(An article in The New York Times today looks at the impact of crucial tenant protections coming to end across the country. Since the pandemic began, many states and municipalities have put moratoriums on evictions, many of which are now coming to an end.)
You can read the meeting agenda and find out how you can provide remote public commentary by clicking the following link:
https://kingcounty.gov/council/committees/full_council.aspx
You can stream the meeting live by clicking this 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). However, I have now transitioned to sending updates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays unless there are major developments. 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,
RACIAL JUSTICE UPDATES
Is white America waking up to racism?
The New York Times has two fascinating articles on racism today. The first – an opinion piece entitled The Gaps Between White and Black America, in Charts - details the impacts of racism by the numbers. Charts show the overall disparities between black and white Americans – by metro area – in areas such as unemployment, homeownership rate, life expectancy at birth and many others. The data tell an irrefutable story of the ongoing negative impacts of racism on the health, wellbeing and economic success of black Americans.
A second New York Times article asks the question, “White Americans Say They Are Waking Up to Racism. What Will It Add Up To?” According to the article, “Large numbers of white Americans have attended racial justice demonstrations, purchased books about racial inequality and registered for webinars on how to raise children who are anti-racist. Some have asked themselves pointed questions, like how much professional advantage they have garnered from being white, and whether they would willingly cede it if they could. Others are going to tattoo parlors to cover up images of Confederate flags, swastikas and Ku Klux Klan symbols on their bodies.”
A recent survey by the Pew Research Center shows majority support for the Black Lives Matter movement among all U.S. adults, across racial lines. However, perhaps not surprisingly, deep partisan divides remain. Read the article here: Amid Protests, Majorities Across Racial and Ethnic Groups Express Support for the Black Lives Matter Movement.
The Council’s Law and Justice Committee meets Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.: Do you want more transparency and accountability for officer-involved shootings?
Please join us!
Community members are demanding more police accountability – here is an opportunity to have your voice heard. The King County Council Law & Justice Committee will discuss the Office for Law Enforcement Oversight’s (OLEO’s) recommendations to improve the King County Sheriff’s Office’s policiesfor review of officer-involved shootings and other critical incidents this Wednesday, June 24 at 9:30 a.m.
The materials for Wednesday’s meeting are available on the committee web site at: https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/Council/agendas/LJ/20200624-LJ-packet.pdf
For over two years OLEO has provided important recommendations to the Sheriff’s Office to improve how critical incidents are administratively reviewed. The Council will be reviewing important recommendations to improve transparency and accountability in the King County Sheriff’s Office.
The Committee meeting will include opportunity for public comment which can highlight community expectations for the internal review of critical incidents, which determine what happens to the involved deputies and whether training and policy need to change.
Thanks for your engagement – this is a significant opportunity where public participation can influence change!
Next steps for racial justice
According to a column in yesterday’s South Seattle Emerald, Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County has launched a Black-led investment fund, with grants totaling approximately a quarter-million dollars to seven organizations. Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County also announced it was endorsing demands made by the King County Equity Now Coalition for re-purposing underused public lands.
Viruses don’t discriminate, but we do
In Washington state, 37% of the people diagnosed with COVID-19 are white. But 68% of our population is white. If the virus causing COVID-19 affected people equally regardless of race, we would think that 68% of the people diagnosed with COVID-19 would be white. So why does COVID-19 seem to be disproportionately avoiding white people? In a word, privilege, including the fact that People of Color are less likely to be able to work remotely. Read the full blog post from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) here.
Gov. Inslee announces task force members to address issues of policing and racial justice
Gov. Jay Inslee announced today members of a task force to provide recommendations for legislation on independent investigations involving police use of force.
The governor’s task force is a part of a coordinated effort with legislators to provide a comprehensive set of reforms. Task force members will provide insight and feedback, review I-940 structure and investigative protocol and other independent investigation models, and provide input that will help inform legislation for the upcoming legislative session.
Read the full announcement here, including the list of task force members. .
King County Council to take up making Juneteenth an official holiday
At the meeting tomorrow of the full Council, we will be working on an ordinance proposed by my Council colleague Rod Dembowski and myself. The ordinance will establish June 19 of each year – Juneteenth - as a paid holiday for King County employees eligible for leave benefits.
Find full information on joining the meeting here.
COVID-19 UPDATES
Public Health is reporting 39 new positive cases of COVID-19 in King County today (9,273 total) and 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (584 total). These numbers are encouraging following the relatively large increases that were reported late last week.
As reported in The Seattle Times this afternoon, the state today confirmed 190 new COVID-19 infections in Washington on Monday, as well as six additional deaths.
The update brings the state’s totals to 28,870 cases and 1,276 deaths, meaning about 4.4% of people diagnosed in Washington have died, according to the state Department of Health’s (DOH) data dashboard. The data reported here are as of 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
So far, 477,204 tests for the novel coronavirus have been conducted in the state, per DOH. Of those, 6% have come back positive. The rate of positive tests in Washington has hovered around 6% in recent days, even as the total number of infections has been climbing.
As of June 20, there were 28,680 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide and 1,270 related deaths. And 4,049 people have been hospitalized statewide with COVID-19.
Detailed information about demographics of those who died from COVID-19, as well as on rates of hospitalization, is 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
Lastly, here is an updated list of places open for COVID-19 testing: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/news/2020/May/~/media/depts/health/communicable-diseases/documents/C19/community-health-center-testing-locations.ashx
(These graphs are based solely on the daily announced totals from Public Health, and do not reflect that daily announced cases are typically diagnosed on several previous days. Corrections or adjustments by Public Health that change daily totals are not reflected.).
   
King County begins Phase 2 today
Following approval by state Secretary of Health John Wiesman, King County has officially entered Phase 2 of the state’s Safe Start recovery plan to allow limited business re-opening.
“Moving to Phase 2 is another step toward economic recovery for our region, but it must go hand-in-hand with even more careful adherence to precautions from our public health experts,” said Executive Constantine. “Wearing face coverings, washing hands, and avoiding crowds and unnecessary contact can help make ours a one-way trip back to prosperity, and prevent the need to go back to stay-at-home orders.”
Governor Inslee has warned he will not hesitate to freeze, or even move counties backward if needed.
While there are no additional categories of businesses included in moving from modified Phase 1 to Phase 2, the operating capacity has doubled for those able to reopen. For example, restaurants can now operate with 50% of indoor capacity, and retail with 30% capacity. Businesses with questions on how to safely reopen under the state’s guidance are encouraged to call Public Health's Business Compliance Line at 206-296-1608.
“We evaluated a number of factors to apply to move to phase two of reopening. Our healthcare system, perhaps the single most important factor, is currently well-prepared to care for COVID-19 cases as well as the other health needs of our community,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County.
Public Health officials recommend that people keep 6 feet apart from one another whenever possible. Outdoors exposures are less risky than indoors, and improving indoor ventilation is recommended. In addition, people need to wear face coverings in public, wash hands frequently, and get tested at the first sign of symptoms.
For more detailed guidance on requirements for different businesses under Phase 2, see the state’s guidance for employers and businesses here.
Department of Health releases new COVID-19 data tied to occupation and industry
Healthcare workers and people who provide healthcare support have the highest number of COVID-19 cases, according to a new report by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention (SHARP) program. The report details total COVID-19 cases, by occupation and industry, through May 27. The manufacturing industry has the second highest number of cases. It’s important to note that while the risk for contracting COVID-19 may be higher for people depending on their industry or occupation, this report reflects where people work, not where or how they were infected. The report will be regularly updated online.
Port of Seattle prepares for gradual reopening of Sea-Tac: Check out FlyHealthy@SEA
According to the Port’s site, Sea-Tac is still operating with just 16 percent of normal passenger volume. The Port states, “We are looking forward to the gradual easing of travel restrictions as our region and country stop the spread of COVID-19. We are using this time to prepare for the next phase of re-opening our economy and getting ready for higher volumes of activity at the airport.”
Check out the FlyHealthy@SEA page for weekly updates on airport traffic, COVID-19 at Sea-Tac airport and more information on flying safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Port Commission is holding a virtual meeting tomorrow. Executive Director Steve Metruck will outline new police department policies prohibiting the use of chokeholds, increasing transparency, and updating requirements for hiring and training. You can find details here.
Commission President Peter Steinbrueck will announce details for a June 30, 2020 Special Meeting from 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. to review a proposed Commission motion calling for a comprehensive assessment of police policies and practices. Members of the public can provide public comment at the Special Meeting. Materials for the Special Meeting will be available at the Commission meetings page on Thursday, June 25. Please watch tomorrow’s meeting at noon to hear more about the Port’s work on this issue or I can send you a post-meeting summary.
Update on Metro service
With stabilized workforce levels and the state’s “Safe Start” plan moving forward, King County Metro restored service today on dozens of bus routes, increase water taxi service, and partially restore Via to Transit on Monday, June 22. Click here for details.
The move fully restores 23 bus routes that were canceled in March and April and adds trips to other routes. A few recently canceled peak commuter routes will be restored, while other routes will remain suspended due to financial constraints and lower anticipated ridership.
The result is Metro will operate more than 11,000 weekday bus trips, or 85% of its pre-COVID service level. Saturday service will be 8,200 trips (99%) and Sunday service will be 7,000 trips (99%). Starting Monday, Metro’s will increase the number of transit operators providing service from 64% to about 80% of pre-COVID levels.
Metro drivers and follow passengers appreciate everyone continuing to follow the requirement to wear a mask on public transportation to limit the spread of COVID-19!
Additional helpful and informative links
- Amid threats and political pushback, public health officials are leaving their posts – The Washington Post
- Antibody levels in recovered COVID-19 patients decline quickly: research - Reuters
- Number of confirmed coronavirus cases climbs to 28,680 – The Seattle Times
- FDA advises consumers not to use hand sanitizer products manufactured by Eskbiochem – FDA.gov
- In the nation’s biggest states, a spike in coronavirus comes with the economic reopening - The Washington Post
- Things to consider when visiting elderly relatives amid coronavirus crisis - NPR
- Washington state reports 455 new cases of coronavirus, bringing state total to 28,680 – KOMO news
- In countries keeping the coronavirus at bay, experts watch U.S. case numbers with alarm - The Washington Post
- Seattle police will return to East Precinct, where CHOP has reigned, Durkan says – The Seattle Times
Today's moment of levity
“The Unbearable Beauty of Foster Failures”
Since the start of the pandemic and the ‘stay at home’ orders, many of us have welcomed new furry family members into our homes. Many people are fostering pets, others are adopting new pets, and still others begin as foster pet-parents, but “fail” miserably! This article in greatergood.org describes a couple of recent “foster failures.”
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my update. You can expect these to continue being sent out now three times a week – Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays – but sometimes more than once in a given day. And, if the need arises, I will send them out on a Tuesday or Thursday as well. 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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