COVID-19 UPDATES
As of today, Public Health -- Seattle & King County (Public Health) is reporting these numbers:
- 144 new positive cases of COVID-19 (includes 146 confirmed cases and -2 probable cases - - data adjustment. Total number of cases to date is 114,097).
- 1 new COVID-19-related death (1,681 to date)
- 9 new hospitalizations (6,590 to date)
Vaccination rates in King County: As of today, 80.7% of King County residents 16 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 74.9% have received both doses.
Among all eligible residents (those 12 years and older), as of today, 79.7% of King County residents 12 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 73.8% have received both doses.
To view updated County vaccination data, see this page: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/data/vaccination.aspx
To view a breakdown of COVID-19 cases by race and ethnicity (updated on Mondays), click this link. Click here to view the “Key Indicators” data dashboard.
Statewide, according to the state Department of Health (DOH), as of today:
-The number of confirmed positive cases is 420,921; the number of probable cases is 38,385, for a total of 459,306 cases.
- The total number of deaths statewide is 6,036
- The total number of hospitalizations is 26,032
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Quote of the Day: “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” – Marie Curie
King County featured in article on vaccination success
Public Health - - Seattle & King County’s vaccination strategy is featured prominently in this article from Business Insider: How four of the US's most vaccinated counties got shots to more than 70% of their residents.
Get vaccinated this weekend at the King County Fair
If you’re going to the #KingCountyFair this weekend, stop by Public Health’s booth in Les Schwab Hall from July 15 - July 18, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. to get vaccinated. Vaccines are available to anyone 12 years old and up. No appointment is needed. Stop by the booth for stickers, buttons, and a free tote bag when you get vaccinated, while supplies last.
If you won’t be at the fair this weekend, here are details on getting vaccinated in King County and in Seattle.
Amplifying Black voices from Tuskegee in fight against COVID-19
 As COVID-19 puts a spotlight on public health, future generations from Tuskegee are working to increase visibility of Black voices in public health, and build trust and transparency so people can make informed decisions for their health.
As background, in the U.S. Public Health Service Syphilis Study at Tuskegee (1932-1972), more than 600 Black men were told they were being treated for “bad blood” but were not actually given medical care. Penicillin was widely available as an effective treatment by the 1940s, but the men were still denied treatment. Read more and view the video here.
State Insurance Commissioner extends order on coronavirus testing and billing
Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has extended two emergency orders. His order requiring health insurers to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for the coronavirus (COVID-19) and his order protecting consumers from receiving surprise bills for lab fees related to medically necessary diagnostic testing for COVID-19 are both extended until Aug. 8, 2021.
Audit results on County’s pandemic response
On Tuesday, members of the Council’s Government Accountability and Oversight (GAO) Committee received a briefing from the County Auditor on the County’s performance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can read the auditor’s report and view the presentation to the GAO committee on this page.
Gov. Inslee declares drought emergency, discusses climate crisis
Governor Jay Inslee held a press conference yesterday to discuss the climate crisis and its impact on Washington state and its residents, including recent record heat and the current wildfire season. The governor was joined by Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, Washington State Department of Ecology Director Laura Watson, and other state officials, including Washington State Climatologist Nick Bond.
You can view the full press conference here on TVW and may also be interested in this story from The Seattle Times: Gov. Inslee declares drought emergency as wildfire conditions worsen in Washington. Also, see the following articles:
- Extreme heat takes out portion of Northwest cherry crop - The Seattle Times
- California blaze erupts near site of deadliest US wildfire – AP News
No climate, no deal
I’m proud to join with 75 other local elected officials from around the state in calling on our U.S. Senators Murray and Cantwell to insist on strong climate provisions in any federal infrastructure deal.
Council approves requirement for electric vehicle charging in new development
 Photo by Sophie Jonas on Unsplash
The King County Council on Tuesday approved legislation adding requirements for much of new development in unincorporated King County to include charging stations and dedicated parking for electric vehicles. I sponsored the legislation along with Councilmembers Reagan Dunn and Rod Dembowski. The legislation pushes toward one of the key goals of the Council’s Strategic Climate Action Plan.
As we continue to face the growing impact of climate change on our day-to-day lives, it's vital that we think creatively and proactively about how to make eco-friendly choices accessible, such as electric vehicles. Also, see the following articles for more information:
- King County government: Council approves requirement for electric vehicle charging in new development - Patch
- King County Council approves requirement for electric vehicle charging in new developments – Q13 Fox News
Increase in Medicaid enrollment in King County
The latest data on the County’s economic, social and overall health impacts dashboard show that there has been a 12.9% increase in Medicaid enrollment since March 2020 in King County, mainly due to increased enrollment among the working-age adult population.
County Courts and COVID 8
The Council will take up the eighth emergency (the third this year) COVID budget at the meeting of the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee (BFM), which I chair, next Tuesday on July 20th at 9:30 am, with final action planned for the July 27th Council meeting at 1:30 p.m. My striking amendment will be briefed and discussed which will include adding funds to assist the County courts in dealing with a large backlog of cases that have built up during the pandemic. See this article in The Seattle Times for more information: King County's courts are 'barely keeping up' with a massive backlog of cases due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
View interviews with Law Enforcement Oversight Director finalists
Did you miss the community meetings with the two finalists for the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO) director position? No need to worry—you can view the recordings and submit feedback at this page. Both finalists, Tamer Abouzeid and Eddie Aubrey, introduced themselves, answered some standard questions, and took audience questions as well. You may also be interested in this article from The Seattle Times: With big changes ahead for King County Sheriff’s Office, residents hear from finalists to lead civilian oversight.
Tomorrow - Statewide update: Bridge proclamation, rental assistance, and more
Tomorrow, Friday, July 16, from noon to 1:30 p.m., the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance will provide an update on Zoom on new funding, programs, and policies to prevent homelessness and advance housing stability.
Panelists will include staff from the state Attorney General’s Office for an overview of the statewide “housing stability bridge proclamation” issued by Governor Inslee, and a representative from the National Low Income Housing Coalition. There will be time for questions. Register here.
And, as I’ve mentioned in past e-newsletters, The County Council at the end of June passed transformative tenant protection legislation, requiring “Just Cause” for evictions in unincorporated King County. Councilmembers received a touching thank-you note from housing advocates, tenants and others following passage of the legislation. I also appreciate the blog posted by the Rental Housing Association thanking us for working with them related to their concerns.
King County launches first in the nation pilot program to house homeless Veterans
 On Tuesday, King County launched The Collaborative Case Management (CCM) Pilot Program, the first of its kind in the nation, which blends federal Veteran housing vouchers with King County Veterans Program supportive services to make stable housing possible for more than 140 local Veterans. See this page for full details of this exciting new program.
Redmond hotel is latest King County Health Through Housing purchase
King County has purchased the former Silver Cloud Inn in Redmond to provide housing to people experiencing chronic homelessness. This is the fourth purchase in County Executive Constantine’s Health through Housing initiative to provide supportive housing for people experiencing chronic or long-term homelessness.
King County has purchased three other hotels in the Health through Housing initiative, the former Holiday Inn Express & Suites North Seattle with 99 units, the former Extended Stay America hotel in Renton with 110 units and the Inn at Queen Anne with 80 units. With acquisitions to date, Health through Housing will provide approximately 433 units for King County’s chronically homeless residents.
Next Tuesday: Virtual community meeting hosted by the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI)
 Photo by LIHI
Community members are invited to join LIHI for a virtual meeting to learn about the new Friendship Heights Tiny House Village program set to open later this summer. The new village will be operated by LIHI and located at 12245 Aurora Ave North, adding up to 40 new units of shelter capacity. The program will provide 24/7 staffing, on-site case managers, access to behavioral health supports, security, a community kitchen, on-site hygiene, laundry, and a Community Advisory Committee.
The meeting will take place next Tuesday, July 20, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will include time for questions and answers. The meeting is hosted in partnership with the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department. Please use the link and passcode below to join the meeting on July 20 starting at 6 p.m.: https://lihi-org.zoom.us/j/91926734698?pwd=aS9Xb2hKOVN3N3J5aEhudk95ZHY4UT09
The passcode is: 656632. If you have questions about the meeting or need technical assistance – please contact josh.castle@lihi.org
Medical Society offering free CME and CNE on preventing lead poisoning
 The King County Medical Society is offering free continuing education programs for doctors and nurses on preventing lead poisoning in children. For full information on the sessions (the first is this Saturday, July 17th from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) see this page. This is a joint effort with the UW Medical Center and Public Health – Seattle & King County.
Assessor presentation on senior property tax exemptions
Also at Tuesday’s meeting of the Council’s Government Accountability and Oversight (GAO) Committee, the County Assessor’s office briefed Councilmembers on the office’s progress in processing the backlog of applications for senior property tax exemptions. You can download the PowerPoint presentation here.
Help create a safer Metro
 Make your voice heard! KC Metro is looking for feedback on what makes you feel safe when using transit. Click here to share your input, the survey is available in multiple languages. Responses are due by 11:59 p.m. on July 25th. More details are available on this page.
Also, please note: On Friday, July 16, Metro’s reduced fare application webpage will be temporarily offline while upgrades are completed. When the page it is back up, it will feature new Spanish and Vietnamese translation options to help better serve customers and our community.
Election Update
 Ballots were mailed out to King County’s nearly 1,410,000 registered voters. Voters should expect to see them in mailboxes as early as today but no later than Monday, July 19 – if you haven’t received your ballot by the 19th, get in touch with King County Elections at elections@kingcounty.gov, by calling 206-296-VOTE (8683) or at the website: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/elections.aspx.
The County Elections Department is projecting around 40% turnout, which may be a bit optimistic. In 2019 the County saw 35% turnout in the Primary and in 2017 turnout was 34%. However, the County had record-breaking turnout in 2020, so hopefully that pandemic trend will continue, as well! For full information on elections and voting, see this page.
A visit to the Green Lake Boat House
 Two weeks ago, I was pleased to stop by the Green Lake small craft center to drop off this $50,000 check to the Green Lake Rowing Advisory Council to go toward its goal of building a new Community Boat House! This funding from the Youth and Amateur Sports Grant will help ensure that youth from around the county are able to access Seattle’s “Bluespace," learn boating skills and have fun doing it. While there, I enjoyed seeing kids having a great time on kayaks as part of newly-reopened youth classes that families can sign up for through Seattle Parks and Recreation. Above, I'm pictured with Mike Stanley, of the Green Lake Rowing Council.
County Executive Constantine statement on Washington Supreme Court inquest decision
The County Executive this afternoon released a statement in response to the state Supreme Court’s announcement today of its decision in a case challenging the way that King County conducts inquests. An inquest is an administrative, fact-finding inquiry into the causes and circumstances of a death at the hands of law enforcement officers.
Executive Constantine’s statement reads, in part: “Today’s ruling affirms the core tenets of our inquest process: fairness, accountability, and transparency. With this clarity from the Supreme Court, we can move forward to provide the people of King County with the overdue reforms to the inquest process we sought three years ago.” You may be also interested in this article in today’s Seattle Times: Washington Supreme Court reinstates King County inquest system that expands inquiry into police-caused deaths.
World Affairs Council seeking two more host families for unique virtual exchange with Caribbean Youth Ambassadors
 The World Affairs Council is seeking two more volunteer host families with middle school or high school aged children to pair with two or three Caribbean youth (15-18 years old) for a five-part virtual cultural exchange program. Each session will take place from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. PT on Fridays between July 30 - August 27, 2021. For full details and to apply see this page.
Reminder: Upcoming Disability Rights Washington town hall and a survey
Just a reminder that the Disability Advisory Council Town Hall is next Monday, July 19 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and will focus on non-mental health related disability issues. You can register for next Monday’s Town Hall here.
In addition, Disability Rights Washington is seeking to hear from a diverse range of perspectives to help with setting the organization’s priorities for 2022 and beyond. DRW is asking participants to fill out an online survey here. Your input has the best chance of being included in next year’s priorities if you complete this survey by June 20th, next Tuesday.
August 7: Ballard P-Patch celebration
The Ballard P-Patch is excited to once again host its annual celebration of local art and community gardening with the 19th annual Art in the Garden festival, Saturday, August 7th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the garden: 8527 25th Ave. NW. Admission is free.
This year, nearly all the traditional activities will return. Booths featuring the work of local artists, live music, a treasure hunt for kids, and some refreshments will be on hand. Full details, including the current roster of artists, can be found here.
DID YOU KNOW?
... that the last half of July has historically been a big week for sports here in King County? According to HistoryLink, “On July 17, 1979, Seattle hosted the 50th Major League All-Star game... And on July 20, 1990, King County welcomed Ted Turner's Goodwill Games. This week also marks the anniversary of the opening of Safeco Field on July 15, 1999, and Seahawks Stadium on July 20, 2002.”
Additional helpful and informative links
- Live: Coronavirus daily news updates, July 15: What to know today about COVID-19 in the Seattle area, Washington state and the world – The Seattle Times
- Washington state reaches COVID vaccine goal: 70% of residents 16 and up have at least one shot – The Seattle Times
- Surgeon general urges U.S. fight against COVID misinformation – AP News
- Opinion: Washington had its chance to stomp the coronavirus. We blew it. – The Seattle Times
- Health officials push COVID vaccinations amid signs of rising case counts – KOMO News
- Vaccine deliveries rising as delta virus variant slams Asia – AP News
- Delta variant widens gulf between ‘two Americas’: Vaccinated and unvaccinated – The New York Times
- Will COVID-19 vaccines work if I have a weak immune system? – AP News
- How we'll know when the COVID-19 crisis is over – NPR
- Parents are returning to work, but Seattle’s child care industry continues to struggle with COVID-19 impact - The Seattle Times
- King County's ranked choice voting plan tabled until next year - Patch
- King County Council delays ranked-choice voting proposal to next year – Seattle P-I / MSN
- Ranked-choice voting could be on King County’s 2022’s ballot – Real Change News
- After NYC, where will ranked-choice voting go next? – The Fulcrum
- To predict who’s most likely to become homeless, look to South King County, researchers say – The Seattle Times
- Drug overdose deaths hit highest number ever recorded, CDC data show - CNN
- Golden Gardens and Alki Beach closing early for rest of the summer to deter violence – Q13 Fox News
- King County needs a Sheriff who embraces oversight - Crosscut
- Upbeat image of massive Best Starts for Kids levy doesn’t tell King County voters full story – The Seattle Times
- Opinion: Billionaires claiming climate leadership should not promote space tourism - Forbes
Today’s moment of inspiration
 Photo: SWNS/ The Good News Network
Today’s moment is about a truly inspiring young man. Eighteen-year-old Sebbie Hall, who has learning difficulties and a rare chromosome anomaly, has carried out a random act of kindness every single day since the start of the pandemic, and has raised nearly $40,000 as a result. According to the story in the Good News Network, that money has paid for 300 families to get adapted IT devices, funded a disability rugby team, paid for three IT suites for youngsters to use to find work, bought communication kits for kids at four specialist schools, and has set up a disability arts hub.
His random acts of kindness, which generated the funds, included handing out PPE, collecting unwanted Halloween pumpkins and turning them into soup and pies for needy people, giving warm coats to the homeless, and many more creative and selfless acts. Read the full story here.
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my updates, which I am now sending out on Mondays and Thursdays. Feel free to forward them to others who can subscribe by clicking here. And you can click here to visit the archive page where you can find all of my previous enews updates.
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