Quote of the Day:
“There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and want and that they grow up in peace.” – Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in "Foreword" to The State of the World's Children 2000 (2000)
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).
What does the “medium” COVID-19 level mean for you? The latest data and steps to take with cases rising
 Based on Public Health’s latest data from Monday, April 25th, our rate of cases now puts King County into the Medium COVID-19 Community Level as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): over 200 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day period.
To limit spread of COVID-19, Public Health recommends using layered prevention measures. Read the full story here on the Public Health Insider blog. To view a video and transcript of Dr. Duchin’s May 25th press conference see this page. You may also be interested in this article from The Seattle Times: King County now has ‘medium’ community level of COVID, per CDC guidance.
Answers to questions on COVID tests
 We’ve been hearing questions about using the at-home tests, insurance coverage of COVID tests, and other testing questions. As a reminder, you can order at-home tests for free each month, but you need to go to this website each time to place an order.
And, a very important reminder: If you do a home test and you do test positive, please remember to call the state COVID-19 hotline, 1-800-525-0127 then press # (press 7 for Spanish), right away. The hotline is available Monday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Tuesday to Sunday (and observed holidays) 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Language assistance is available. It’s a real problem when people are not reporting positive test results as Public Health cannot adequately track community spread or inform people through WA Notify that they’d been near someone who has tested positive. I encourage you to sign up for this useful service.
Below are a few links that will answer your questions or direct you to the right resources.
- Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19 testing [and Insurance] – Office of the State Insurance Commissioner
- Coronavirus and health insurance – Office of the State Insurance Commissioner
- COVID-19 testing locations and guidance - King County Public Health webpage
- COVID-19 self-testing - King County Public Health webpage
Also, see the following articles from The Seattle Times:
- Required or requested: Four things to know about COVID-19 testing | Provided by Washington State Department of Health
- The expiration date on your COVID rapid tests may have been extended. Here’s how to look up the new one
Volunteer for Fred Hutch COVID study
The researchers at the Fred Hutch’s new COVID-19 Clinical Research Center are focused on the advancement of effective therapeutics and interventions for COVID-19 and hope to further the develop treatment and prevention that could be accessible for community members locally and globally, outside of a hospital setting.
The CCRC research teams have conducted a wide range COVID-related clinical studies, including treatment and prophylaxis use of monoclonal antibody infusions/injections and oral antiviral medications. They are searching for volunteers for other current and upcoming studies. If you’re interested, CCRC asks that you fill out this form.
Additional COVID-related links
- University of Washington develops COVID-19 vaccine, South Korea to order 10M doses – KOMO News
- Administration expands availability of COVID antiviral pill – AP News
- Experts fear U.S. may default to annual Covid boosters without sufficient data – Stat News
- ‘A slow-moving glacier’: NIH’s sluggish and often opaque efforts to study long Covid draw patient, expert ire– Stat News
- Fauci: US in ‘a different moment’ but pandemic not over – AP News
- Here's why Dr. Fauci says the U.S. is 'out of the pandemic phase' - NPR
- The National fight against COVID-19 isn't ready to go to the sewers – FiveThirtyEight.com
County Business and Other News and Events
This week at the Council
This week Councilmembers have been going through the Executive’s proposed COVID 9 budget.
In Tuesday’s meeting of the Local Services and Land Use Committee, councilmembers discussed and took action on several ordinances related to the 2024 update to the County’s Comprehensive Plan. The video from that meeting can be viewed here.
On Wednesday, the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee discussed COVID-19 appropriations and received a briefing on the Executive’s proposed COVID 9 budget as well as amendments to the 2021-2022 biennial budget. Members discussed and took action on ordinances related to a capital project and authorizing new leases to provide shelter and supportive services. The video from that meeting can be viewed here.
Next week at the Council
Note: The County Council is meeting remotely until June 7th at which point we will begin hybrid zoom/in-person meetings.
Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee (As Vice Chair, I’ll be presiding in place of Chair Zahilay): Tuesday, May 3rd at 9:30 a.m. Briefing from the County Auditor’s office on its audit of the handling of protection orders at County Superior Court. An update on the status of the Sheriff’s office body-worn camera pilot project. Discussion and possible action on a proposed motion requesting the King County Executive establish a marijuana retail security task force to address security concerns and help prevent criminal activity at marijuana retail locations and to provide a report. Action on appointments. The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment are available on this page.
Full Council: Tuesday, May 3 at 1 p.m. The agenda for next week’s Council meeting is still being finalized. The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment will be available shortly on this page.
Regional Water Quality Committee: Wednesday, May 4th at 3 p.m. Reports from the Metropolitan Water Pollution Abatement Advisory Committee and from the County’s Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD). Briefings on the Executive’s proposal for sewer rates and capacity charge and on WTD’s response to the Auditor’s findings on WTD’s clean water plan actions. The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment are available on this page.
A major King County restoration project along the Green River is improving salmon habitat, protecting homes, farms, and roads from flooding
 A successful floodplain restoration project along the Green River near Auburn is improving habitat for fish and wildlife while also protecting farms and homes from flooding and erosion. It now provides greater diversity of habitat for native salmon that provide sustenance for Puget Sound orcas. You can watch a video about this highly successful project on this page, and you may be interested in this article:
- King County tore out a levee near Auburn. Now the salmon are returning – The Seattle Times
County Hazardous Waste Management’s annual report is available
Every day, the Hazardous Waste Management Program works to protect the environment and King County ratepayers from exposure to hazardous materials. This is accomplished by offering convenient and safe disposal options, providing services that protect residents and workers from toxic exposures, and through policy initiatives. This year’s report highlights the accomplishments of this important program.
County’s Equitable Development Initiative covered in Crosscut
As our region continues to grow, the risk of displacement for long-standing communities is very real. Check out this interesting article from Crosscut (I’m quoted) that examines our new Equitable Development Initiative -- approved by the Council from legislation introduced by Councilmember Rod Dembowski and cosponsored by Councilmember Girmay Zahilay and me -- and how it lays the future for equitable growth across King County.
Those interested can get involved with this important new initiative. The application deadline is Monday, May 9 at 1 p.m. King County residents are invited to apply to join a planning workgroup to co-develop the equitable development framework and implementation plan for the newly adopted King County Equitable Development Initiative (KC EDI). Participants will receive compensation.
The planning workgroup will be made up of approximately 15 community members representing communities vulnerable to displacement such as Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), low-income communities, immigrants, refugees, people with disabilities, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) communities across King County. For more information and to apply see this page.
For more details on the background of the workgroup and more see this page. You may also be interested in this article from Cultivating Connections, the blog for the County’s Department of Community and Human Services: An Equitable Development Initiative is Coming to King County.
King County releases Reimagining Public Safety report and community-driven pilot program recommendations for urban Unincorporated King County
King County yesterday shared the community-driven recommendations from a report on reimagining public safety in urban Unincorporated King County with the results of the Reimagining Public Safety Survey. The survey, which was conducted with the public last fall and winter, asked residents of the county’s urban unincorporated areas to share their ideas and feedback on how county government can think differently about public safety.
The Reimagining Public Safety initiative stems from King County’s 2020 declaration that racism is a public health crisis. Executive Constantine is committed to investing in community wellness to combat the impacts of racism that have long been experienced by BIPOC communities.
Internship Opportunities
Annexation Fiscal Analysis - PSB Summer Internships (Graduate)
The King County Executive's Office of Performance, Strategy, and Budget (PSB) is hiring eight summer interns to work with several different teams within the office. For example, PSB is seeking candidates for the position of Annexation Fiscal Analysis Intern.
The selected candidate will assist King County in the development of tools to support and advance annexations of urban unincorporated islands into the cities that have claimed them as potential annexation areas (PAA), so that residents receive urban level services. Annexation is the transfer of neighborhood(s) from county governance into city governance. Other PSB internships can be found on the County’s career page. Each internship is posted individually.
Student Internships and Veteran Fellowships – Metro Mobility Division
Metro’s Mobility Division will be filling five paid internship or fellowship positions available to undergraduate and graduate students during the 2022-23 school year (beginning in Summer 2022) or veterans. Each student intern or veteran fellowship assignment will involve a set of customized learning objectives and deliverables that provide hands-on experience assisting with and accomplishing specific work tasks or projects within each work group. This posting is open continuously or until filled. First consideration will be given to applicants who apply on or before May 8th.
Federal Transit Administration recognizes 10 transit agencies for reducing their environmental footprint, tackling climate change: Metro and Sound Transit both honored
The U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today recognized the exemplary efforts of 10 transit agencies to combat climate change through its Sustainable Transit for a Healthy Planet initiative, including the first transit agency to meet its goal for a 100% electric fleet. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, in the coming years even more transit agencies will be able to buy American-made zero-emission buses, which will both cut emissions and save money for agencies over the life of the fleet. Metro and Sound Transit were recognized as follows:
- Most Equitable: King County Metro in Seattle, Wash. developed a plan focused on addressing climate change impacts and transportation access in underserved communities.
- Most Transformative: Sound Transit in Seattle, Wash., developed a plan demonstrating sustainability throughout the agency, including fleets, facilities and operations.
ORCA virtual open house on May 4th
 ORCA cards and services for Metro ridership are being upgraded. Soon you’ll be able to add fare value in real-time, manage your account from anywhere with the new myORCA App or website, and find more retail locations closer to you. As the system is upgraded, look for new ORCA card readers and vending machines across the region.
You are invited to a virtual open house on the new and improved ORCA system next Wednesday, May 4th from noon – 12:45 p.m. and from 7 – 7:45 p.m. More details on new system are available here.
Funding Opportunities
Due May 9th: Best Starts for Kids - Stopping the School-to-Prison Pipeline Community Supports 2022 RFP
This Request for Proposals (RFP) is to promote sustainable economic strengthening through workforce and career development experiences, opportunities, education, guidance, relationships, and other efforts related to economic strengthening including apprenticeship-type programs and positive identity development. The deadline is May 9th. See this page for more information.
Request for Proposals (RFP): The Best Starts for Kids Liberation and Healing from Systemic Racism
 This RFP is seeking applicants who want to join the collective Liberated Village in developing a community-centered experiential learning education that will educate and liberate Black and brown scholars in King County. Statistics show disparities in educational attainment as early as the age of five for Black and brown children when a gap as high as 29% in kindergarten readiness exist between Black and brown students and their white counterparts.
The proposal is due no later than June 1st, by 2 pm. Visit www.kingcounty.gov/rfp/LHSR to access the full RFP document for details.
Applications Open for Youth Sports & Recreation COVID relief funding
 King County Parks (KCP) has partnered with the King County Play Equity Coalition to design, develop, and implement this Youth Sports & Outdoor Recreation Relief Fund program to distribute federal Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery (CLFR) funding to nonprofit organizations providing programs and facilities that support youth access to physical activity. King County Parks will administer a one-time investment of $4 million to organizations most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic who serve youth furthest from play equity. CLFR funding increases requirements for eligibility, compliance, and reporting compared to KCP’s regular Youth Sports Grants program. Before applying, read the guidelines to learn about eligibility, priorities, timeline, process, documentation, and reporting requirements of this federal funding. Applications are due on May 20th at 5 p.m.
Due May 3: Apply for Rural Youth Suicide Prevention and Peer Services RFA
The King County Department of Community and Human Services’ (DCHS) Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) has released a Request for Application (RFA) for the 2022-2023 Expanded Behavioral Health Services in Rural King County. Up to $600,000 is available through ARPA funding to respond to community-identified needs for youth suicide prevention training and peer behavioral health services in rural unincorporated King County. The ability to expend the awarded amount beyond 2023 is subject to approval by King County Council and is not guaranteed.
The application is due May 3rd, by 2:30 p.m. PT. View the full RFA and apply at: https://kingcounty.zoomgrants.com/gprop.asp?donorid=2209&limited=3986.
Due May 3: Expanded Behavioral Health Services in Rural King County
The King County Department of Community and Human Services’ (DCHS) Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) has released a Request for Application (RFA) for the 2022-2023 Expanded Behavioral Health Services in Rural King County. Up to $1,300,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are available to expand access and utilization of behavioral health services in rural unincorporated areas of King County. The application is due May 3rd, by 2:30 p.m. PT. View the full RFA here: https://kingcounty.zoomgrants.com/gprop.asp?donorid=2209&limited=3987.
King County funds two tiny house villages in Tukwila
The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) sent out an appreciate note to King County’s Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) in a recent newsletter. LIHI thanked DCHS for awarding a $2.3 million contract to fund two Tiny House Villages in Tukwila: a village at Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ and a village at Riverton Park United Methodist Church.
According to the newsletter, “The villages will include 30 and 20 tiny houses respectively for a total of 50 tiny houses serving up to 80 individuals, couples, families, and people with pets currently living outside in Tukwila to help them obtain housing, employment, health care, and other services. This is following the overwhelming vote (6-1) by Tukwila City Council on March 28 to approve the siting of both villages in Tukwila.”
LIHI hosts virtual meeting on 12245 Aurora Affordable Housing
The Low Income Housing Institute would like your input into plans for 12245 Aurora Affordable Housing, that will offer 214 to 264 units in two 7-story buildings on the site that was formerly the Black Angus Motel. The LIHI design aims to meet the housing needs of a variety household sizes through a range of unit types including Studios, 1BRs, 2BRs and 3BR units. Some units will be for seniors.
LIHI is holding a community meeting on zoom, on May 11 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. For more information and for zoom details, see this page.
Tilth Alliance’s Edible Plant Sale
Next weekend, Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. you can take part in Tilth’s annual edible plant sale. Tilth claims its Edible Plant Sale features the largest selection of organically, sustainably and locally grown vegetable plant starts in the Puget Sound region. Plants offered at the Edible Plant Sale are the best varieties to grow successfully in our Pacific Northwest climate. The location is Meridian Playground, 4800 Meridian Ave N. in Seattle.
Queen Anne Farmers Market poster preview this Saturday
Join folks from the QAFM at a season preview pop-up at Queen Anne Frame shop from 1-4 p.m. this Saturday. You’ll get a preview of the new 2022 QA Farmers Market poster.
Did you know?
… that, according to HistoryLink, on today’s date in 1986, the King County Council approved an $8.4-million-per-year Surface Water Management program? “The program fund[ed] construction and maintenance of drainage and flood-control systems designed to limit the flooding and erosion caused by increasing development in the county's unincorporated areas.”
Today’s moment of inspiration
 Family of ducks after being rescued by Bellevue Police at the Downtown Park in Bellevue, Sunday, April 24, 2022. (Courtesy Bellevue Police) / The Seattle Times
A quick-thinking police officer in Bellevue saved nine baby ducks last Sunday. The Bellevue Police tweeted out the following on Sunday: “Ofc Lambert sprung into action today saving ducklings who’d fallen in a storm drain near Downtown Park. Momma duck was frantically quacking for help. Lambert saved 9 ducklings in all!”
According to The Seattle Times, this is a common occurrence in springtime. View the remarkable video of the rescue here.
Additional helpful and informative links
- Local leaders, activists react to what they need in new King County Sheriff – South Seattle Emerald
- Seattle police ignored orders to mask up, exposing ‘serious cultural issue,’ report says – The Seattle Times
- Auburn officer was speeding, drunk when he fatally struck pedestrian on Seattle street, prosecutors say – The Seattle Times
- About 6M Californians ordered to cut water use amid drought – AP News
- Giving Guide: Spring 2022 – The Seattle Times
- Comcast installs free wifi for Native American community in Seattle – Comcast press release
- Crime is up in Seattle. So why are city residents less fearful? – The Seattle Times
- Transit users 18 and younger ride free under new WA program – Crosscut
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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