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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This has already been a busy week for the County Council. As I discuss below, we passed two proposals yesterday regarding the future of the Sheriff’s Office, both of which will be on the November ballot for voters to decide, along with a few others.
Yesterday’s meeting was long and at times fairly contentious, and we were unable to cover everything on the agenda. So, there will be a special Council meeting (virtual, of course) this Friday, July 24th at 9 a.m. so we can take up proposals on the County’s Comprehensive Plan, the declaration of racism as a public health crisis and other items that could not be addressed yesterday.
The agenda for the Friday morning meeting is available here. The meeting will also be streamed online. Click here to watch online live streaming video of the meeting. You can also listen to the meeting by telephone:
Phone: 253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 938 8937 4491
Password: 735912
To sign up to provide oral testimony by phone, click here.
For more information on accessing meeting material, providing testimony, or viewing the meeting, see this page.
The rest of this e-newsletter includes updates on the COVID-19 crisis and other issues. And you can click here to visit the archive page where you can find all of my previous enews updates.
As always, I would like to hear from you. You can call me at 206-477-1004 or you can reach me by email at jeanne.kohl-welles@kingcounty.gov.
All the best and I hope you are staying safe.
COVID-19 UPDATES
Since yesterday’s update, Public Health – Seattle & King County is reporting 173 new positive cases of COVID-19 (13,659 total) and 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (635 total) as of this afternoon. The number of new hospitalizations is 8 (1,826 to date). Of the 9,815 cases in which race and ethnicity information is available, 3,941 of those are white and 5,874 are Black, Indigenous and People of Color.
Yesterday, Public Health reported 147 new positive cases of COVID-19 (13,486 total) and 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (635 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 12 (1,818 total).
Statewide as of Monday, July 20th, the total number of positive cases was 48,575. Total number of deaths statewide was 1,465, and total hospitalizations were 5,161.
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 where you can click on your zip code for the number of “positive” cases and fatalities where you reside.
And, see newly added data dashboards track COVID- 19 on homelessness data, updated weekly on Thursdays, and syndromic surveillance data, detailing emergency department visits and hospitalizations, updated weekly on Wednesdays.
Real-time COVID-19 data broken down by country and state: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries
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
   
COVID UPDATES
Public Health – Seattle & King County supports decisions by schools to begin school year with online learning
According to a news story this afternoon in The Seattle Times, the Seattle School District has reversed its earlier decision and is now recommending that Seattle schools hold only on-line classes this fall. The article states, “The decision, relayed in an email from a top district official that was obtained by The Seattle Times, cited current transmission rates in King County as a factor in the decision.”
Public Health, in announcing its support for the decision, said:
“Public Health – Seattle & King County supports school districts across King County that have made the tough decision to begin the school year with online learning.
The current level of COVID-19 transmission in King County is of serious concern. The increase in COVID-19 cases is continuing with an average of 157 cases per day over the last week, up from 36 cases per day reported in early June. This is the highest volume of cases reported since early April.
Schools must consider a number of factors, including the level of community COVID-19 transmission, when deciding whether to have in-person learning. Given the current levels of transmission in the community, Public Health recognizes it would be very challenging for schools to re-open. A recent modeling report using King County data highlights that how well COVID-19 is controlled in the community directly impacts whether schools can re-open with less risk of disease transmission for students and staff.
Public Health also recognizes that schools, with engagement from families, educators, staff, and childcare organizations, need to make decisions now to be ready to offer the most effective learning and support to students, families, and staff in the fall. The changing trajectory of COVID-19 rates in the community will likely require schools to continue to assess their re-opening plans over the next several months. Public Health stands ready to help support schools in this ongoing discussion, in partnership with the State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the State Department of Health (DOH).”
See the statement issued today from the state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Pause reopening?
According to this article in Crosscut, a recent Crosscut/Elway poll found that a majority of Washington voters believe the state is reopening too quickly and many support a pause in reopening, or even reimposing earlier restrictions. However, the responses varied widely depending on party preference.
King County entered Phase 2 of Washington's Safe Start plan on June 19. There is an upward trend in cases this month, with daily new cases averaging about 130 in King County. For Phase 2, the goal is for daily new cases to be less than 39.
On July 17th, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released the latest statewide situation report. Key findings show that our state is in the early stages of an exponential statewide outbreak with the level of daily new cases higher than the state’s previous peak in March. Recent growth in cases among 20-29 year-olds is spreading into all age groups and hospitalization rates are rising.
Last week, due to the continued rise of cases statewide, Gov. Inslee paused the ability of counties to progress to the next reopening phase under the state’s Safe Start plan. The pause will continue until at least July 28.
According to this July 16th Seattle Times article,“…Inslee warned of more drastic actions if the state can’t tamp down outbreaks of the new coronavirus, which are simmering across Washington. The state could soon reimpose restrictions on bars, restaurants and recreational activities, Inslee said. Officials could ultimately take even more drastic measures.”
If we are to avoid returning to a more restrictive phase, it’s up to each one of us to increase our level of compliance with mask-wearing, physical distancing and hand-washing. It is also important to limit trips outside the home whenever possible.
Information and resources about King County’s Safe Start status can be found here.
Distributing masks to King County non-profits
The good news is, masks are becoming popular! According to this article in Politico, a bipartisan majority of Americans support statewide mask mandates. And I’m seeing a growing number of ads for styling masks on Facebook.
And King County officials, including my staff and I, have been busy distributing basic cloth masks to a variety of non-profit organizations and senior centers serving my district so they can be distributed to people in need, especially those from vulnerable populations. In total, we are distributing nearly 25,000 masks throughout District Four. These masks are essential to help prevent and contain the spread of the coronavirus. And they will help people who may not have access to masks adhere to King County’s mandatory face covering directive when in public spaces.
Among the places we’ve distributed masks have been the Pike Place Market Food Bank, Ballard Food Bank, Greenwood Senior Center, Queen Anne Food Bank, YouthCare, Familyworks – Wallingford and Greenwood, Bitter Lake Food Bank, United Indians of All Tribes, Puget Sound Labor Agency Food Bank and the Seattle Human Services Coalition. If you need a mask personally and are unable to get one yourself, please let my office know and we’ll get you a couple.
For more on this distribution effort in King County, see this webpage.
See the photos below:
 With Ellen and Steve at the Queen Anne Food Bank at Sacred Heart Catholic Church
 Delivering masks to the Greenwood Senior Center
 At Daybreak Star with Director Mike Tulee
Staff member Clara Manahan delivers masks to the Puget Sound Labor Agency Food Bank
 Taylour Greer of the Bitter Lake Food Pantry with one of the new masks
To hug or not to hug? And, if so, how?
Physical distancing has been a huge challenge for most of us. That’s because it’s human nature to hug and touch our friends and loved ones, and a lack of human contact does measurable damage to our mental health.
Some people have constructed “hug walls” using plastic and shower curtains, as shown in this video from Agence France Presse and this article from ABC news/KIXI radio.
However, as this MSN story explains, there are questions about how effective these barriers actually are in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
The New York Times asked scientists who study airborne viruses to explain the safest way to hug. Here are the Dos and Don’ts of hugging, based on the advice of experts.
Another helpful article from UW Medicine suggests “low-risk ways” to express affection.
RACIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE UPDATES
Council sends Sheriff’s Office proposals to November ballot
Yesterday, the Council approved two measures that will increase oversight over the King County Sheriff’s Office. Both proposal will go to the voters in November. The first proposal would make the position of Sheriff appointed rather than elected (not before our current Sheriff completes her four-year term). The second gives the Council the ability to reduce or change the scope of duties of the Sheriff’s Office. See more in this Seattle Times story: King County Council moves to strip power from Sheriff's Office; proposals to head to voters in November.
County Executive announces plan to phase out youth detention
In a late-breaking announcement yesterday, Executive Constantine announced plans to phase out the County’s Children and Family Justice Center (CFJC) by 2025.
In this article in yesterday’s Seattle Times, Constantine said, “Phasing out centralized youth detention is no longer a goal in the far distance.” He plans to convert the detention center to other uses.
This is a new development. I’m continuing to monitor this, and will get back to you with more information.
Council ratifies contract for Metro transit workers
The Council yesterday voted to ratify the contract between the County and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU – Local 587) workers, despite calls from some to reopen the negotiations, given the current recession. I agree with the decision to ratify the contract. It was negotiated and agreed-upon in good faith prior to the pandemic and economic downturn. It could be disruptive to future contract negotiations – and certainly to Metro employees – to do an about-face on an approved employment contract.
Not to mention the fact that our transit operators have been working tirelessly – and risking their health - during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep our region moving. They are essential workers and I believe approving their contract was the right thing to do. The vote in the Council in favor of ratification was 8 – 1.
Council expresses support for the City of Seattle’s proposed Transportation Benefit District
Several of us on the County Council sent a letter to City of Seattle officials expressing support for Seattle’s proposed Transportation Benefit District funding measure for November 2020. We also expressed our intention to continue to work toward a countywide transit funding measure at an appropriate time.
Additional helpful and informative links
Today’s moment of inspiration
Planting trees during a pandemic
According to an article in the Good News Network, two million residents in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh planted truckloads of trees while masked and practicing physical distancing.
“Although the virus has spread fast throughout the country, its threat was not enough to dissuade the government of the most-populous Indian state from conducting a mass tree-planting campaign along the banks of the river Ganges as part of its pledge to shade a third of the nation under tree cover by 2030,” according to the article.
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my updates, which I’m sending out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - - and sometimes more frequently. 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 safe.
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