Quote of the Day:
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any.” – Author Alice Walker, as quoted in 2004.
COVID-19 Data Updates
For up-to-date information on cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the County, see the Daily COVID-19 outbreak summary dashboard. The links to the data by demographics and geography are on the same page.
View all County COVID-related Data Dashboards here, including vaccination rates and outcomes according to vaccination status
View the most recent statewide COVID-19 data from the state Department of Health (DOH).
COVID News
COVID-19 update: Considerations and recommendations as we move into spring
 Public Health takes a brief look at the current COVID-19 situation in King County and recommends strategies for anyone who wants to reduce their risk for COVID-19 and long COVID, especially people at higher risk for severe infection. Read the full story here on the Public Health Insider blog.
Our state DOH reminds residents about situations where masks are still required, as well as other times/locations to consider wearing one.
COVID in schools
 The DOH reports that our state’s Board of Health voted yesterday not to include COVID vaccines in the state’s immunization requirements for school entry at this time. Read the statement from the DOH here, and see the following news stories for additional information.
- Washington state health officials vote against requiring COVID vaccine for students – KING 5 News
- Covid-19 vaccine won’t be required for school kids in Washington state – KUOW
Many parents are rightfully confused when it comes to the changing guidance for school-age children. Masks are no longer universally required in schools, early learning, and child care centers. However, there are some situations where masks may be required, including potential clusters or outbreaks of COVID-19 in a classroom or group of students. And — districts may choose to keep their masking requirements intact if they prefer. Read the full story herefrom the state DOH.
You may also be interested in these articles:
- Pfizer to seek COVID booster for healthy 5- to 11-year-olds – The Seattle Times
- Here’s what else to know as pediatric boosters for young U.S. children start to be considered. – The New York Times
- Homeschooling surge continues despite schools reopening – AP News
- Even in a virtual classroom, preschoolers can gain reading skills – UW News
Additional COVID-related links
- Live: Coronavirus daily news updates, April 14: What to know today about COVID-19 in the Seattle area, Washington state and the world – The Seattle Times
- King County health officer provides context behind recent rise in COVID cases - MyNorthwest
- The Biden administration extends the national Covid public health emergency for another 90 days – The New York Times
- CDC extends travel mask requirement to May 3 as COVID rises – AP News
- Two new Omicron subvariants are spreading quickly in New York State – The New York Times
- The world surpasses half a billion known coronavirus cases, amid concerns about testing. – The New York Times
- Covid vaccines didn’t work for many cancer patients — but researchers are designing a new shot for them – Stat News
- Pandemic updates: Covid hospitalizations tick up in King County – KUOW
- COVID cases rising in western Washington – KIRO 7
- Experts express cautious optimism about the latest covid variant – The Washington Post
- COVID-19, overdoses pushed US to highest death total ever – AP News
County Business and Other News and Events
Next week at the Council
Note: Council meetings are still being held remotely.
Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee: Tuesday, April 19th at 9:30 a.m. Briefings on preparations for extreme heat events by the Office of Emergency Management and on bus accident prevention audit. Discussion and possible action on granting 36 retired County vanpool vans to nonprofit organizations and local governments and on an ordinance to approve the grant award allocation for the Parks Capital and Open Space Grant Program and Aquatic Facilities Grant Program. The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment are available on this page.
Full Council meeting: Tuesday, April 19th at 1 p.m. Briefing from Public Health on the County’s COVID response. Proclamation of April 22, 2022, as Earth Day in King County. Public hearing on ordinances related to the County’s districting plan and on district court electoral district boundaries for 2022. Discussion and possible action on an ordinance approving Fall 2022 public transportation service changes for King County. Discussion of motions from standing committees and regional committees and motions related to collective bargaining, for council action, including approval of appointments. Discussion and possible action on a motion requesting the executive develop a comprehensive response to the crisis in Ukraine. The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment are available on this page.
Regional Transit Committee: Wednesday, April 20th at 3 p.m. Briefings from Metro staff on Metro’s fare collection system, progress on the RapidRide K and R lines, and electrification of Metro’s fleet. The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment are available on this page.
Board of Health: Thursday, April 21st at 1 p.m. Discussion and possible action on a rule and regulation relating to retail food establishments and repealing meat cutter provisions, and on a rule and regulation relating to the membership of the King County board of health. An update from Public Health on Board of Health restructure recruitment planning. The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment are available on this page.
Three finalists for King County Sheriff: Public forums next week
Are you interested in getting to know the finalists vying to be our next King County Sheriff? There will be two upcoming public forums for you to get to know them on Monday, April 18th at 6 p.m. and Thursday, April 21st at 9 a.m. For details on the three candidates and information on how to join next week’s public forums see this page. You may also be interested in the following articles:
- Candidates for King County sheriff stress community engagement as they vie for top job – The Seattle Times
- King County Sheriff Dating Game: Today So Far – KUOW
King County launches new safety plan for downtown campus
City Hall Park neighborhood outreach
King County has launched a new plan to create a safer environment around County facilities in downtown Seattle. The Civic Campus Safety Plan brings more resources to the County’s downtown Seattle footprint, bordered by Third Avenue, Yesler Terrace, James Street, and Sixth Avenue that includes expanded security and custodial services, additional Sheriff’s Deputy patrols and exterior perimeter patrols of the downtown campus. Trash and general clean-up will occur each morning, with pressure washing three times per week. You can read more details here.
In addition, a newly formed City Hall Park Neighborhood Outreach Team has been created to support unsheltered people around City Hall Park with access to shelter and housing, as well as helping people in crisis. See the article below for additional information.
- King County launches new safety plan for its downtown Seattle campus – KIRO 7 News
Film industry set to thrive in King County
With the State’s allocation of $15 million to the film incentives program and the County’s creation of the Harbor Island Film Studios, the future of film in our region is bright. Check out this interesting article about the film incentives, productions that are already underway, and more.
Complete guide to County recycling and transfer facilities
 For complete information on using the County’s recycling and transfer facilities, see this comprehensive handout from the County’s Solid Waste division. For detailed information on recycling and disposing of solid waste in King County see this page.
Eco-friendly tips and tricks for spring cleaning
King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks wants to help you wipe away the winter dust in a way that’s good for the planet and for you and your family with these eco-friendly spring-cleaning tips and tricks. This thorough article, along with how-to videos, includes tips for using safer (and less expensive!) products, cleaning drains and refrigerators, storing food, clutter-free garages and more.
Best Starts for Kids (BSK) “Positive Family Connections” RFP: Info session April 20th
 BSK is seeking to partner with King County organizations to help strengthen and build positive relationships between young people ages 5 to 24 and their parents/caregivers. This request for proposals (RFP) will support programs that provide culturally relevant supports to strengthen connections among family members, intergenerational and cultural heritage bonds, restorative practices, and the personal development of young people and their caregivers.
An information Session is scheduled for April 20th, from 5 – 7 p.m. (See Section VI.C. of the RFP document for further details.) The proposals are due May 24 by 2 p.m. Click here to view the full funding opportunity details and apply.
Prosecuting Attorney’s office seeks law-school student for summer internship
The Washington Supreme Court’s recent opinion in State v. Blake held that RCW 69.50.4013 and its predecessor statutes (collectively “RCW 69.50.4013” or “simple drug possession”) are unconstitutional. This has resulted in an unprecedented number of post-conviction motions for relief.
The Criminal Division of the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is diligently working to remove these convictions from the records of those impacted and is looking for a highly motivated law student to help attorneys review these cases for vacation and dismissal. This is a 13-week program (flexible) for students during the summer between their second and third year of law school. For full details, see the announcement here.
Where we are in racial reckoning: Implications for public policy
UW’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance is inviting the public to participate in this spring’s “Dean’s Forum,” which will focus on how race influences the shaping and implementation of public policy. The discussion will take place on April 22nd, from noon – 1:30 p.m., but registration closes on April 20th.
Dr. Jennifer Chudy will present her research about white “racial sympathy” and two Washington state policy leaders, Sarita Siqueiros Thornburg and Dr. Stephen Blanford, will reflect upon how changing attention to racial justice is influencing conditions in Washington at the state and local levels. See this page for details and to register for the event.
The transition to “net zero” -- making good on COP 26 commitments
Foreign Policy magazine is hosting a discussion with world leaders as they prepare for COP 27, the next global meeting on attempts to minimize the planet’s warming and adapt to changes that are already occurring. Participants will include New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Costa Rica’s President Carlos Alvarado Quesada to provide insights on what both countries are doing to address climate change. The conversation will take place April 27th and 28th, from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. PT (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET). For details and to register see this page.
Ballard book launch
 According to The Seattle Times, “As the late longtime Ballard resident Maxine Shallow Tuck genially noted in an oral-history interview, “Bus drivers used to say, ‘You got your passports ready? We’re going into Ballard.’ … Because it was a foreign country. It was Scandinavian.”
The all-volunteer Ballard Historical Society is about to release a history of Ballard entitled, “Preserving Ballard.” You’ll have three opportunities to attend a launch of the new book:
- April 19 at 5 p.m. at Secret Garden Books, 2214 NW Market St.
- April 22 at 7 p.m. at Sunset Hill Community Association, 3003 N.W. 66th St.
- April 24 at 4 p.m. at National Nordic Museum, 2655 N.W. Market St.
See this page for more information, and you may be interested in the article below.
- A trio from a century ago bids a warm welcome to ‘Preserving Ballard’ – The Seattle Times
Did you know?
… that, according to HistoryLink, “The sinking of the Titanic on the night of April 14-15, 1912, sent ripples as far away as Puget Sound. Six Washingtonians went down with the "unsinkable" ocean liner, including filmmaker William Harbeck, who had filmed such historic events as the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition and Washington's first airplane flight. Harbeck's body was recovered, but his motion pictures have disappeared.”
Today’s moment of inspiration
Click to edit this placeholder text.
 APS student volunteers with John Hopper on a visit to Japan.
For decades, high school students in Granada, Colorado have preserved and worked at the site of a WW II Japanese-American internment camp. The site, called Amache, was declared a National Historic Site last month by President Biden.
The site has been maintained, and programmatic activities have been organized by students for the past 30 years, led by teacher (and now Granada High School Principal) John Hopper. According to the Good News Network, in 1993 Hopper “…was teaching some “really bright students” who turned a one-time class project speaking with a survivor of the camp, whom Hopper’s family knew, into an-always operational preservation society, and focused on giving class presentations, operating a museum, and maintaining the site…”
The students and Hopper formed the Amache Preservation Society to preserve the site. According to the APS, “With the help of many other organizations, the APS has renovated the cemetery, established an Amache Museum and research center, restored key Amache landmarks, including the water tower, a guard tower, and barrack. APS students travel throughout Colorado and into Kansas and Oklahoma to speak about the World War II internment camps and specifically Amache.”
For the past decade, some of these students have traveled to Japan to live with host families, where they give presentations to local Japanese High School students.
For full details on the work of the students in maintaining the site and programs at Amache, see the APS link above and also see this article from The Christian Science Monitor: Preserved by students, WWII internment camp becomes national park.
Additional helpful and informative links
- Editorial: Inquests into lethal police actions are rightfully back in King County – The Seattle Times
- Washington ends practice of parents paying for their child’s incarceration – The South Seattle Emerald
- Formerly homeless workers will lead King County's homelessness response – Crosscut
- When it comes to homelessness, we speak with compassion but act without empathy – The Seattle Times
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my updates, which I am now sending out once a week. 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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