Happy Pride Month, gun safety efforts, AANHPI Month recap, updates from the Council, and much more

June 2, 2022

Happy Pride Month!

Dear Friends and Neighbors,                                                                                                         

In the midst of all the chaos and tragedy of the past few weeks (see below for information on an upcoming meeting on gun safety efforts in King County), there have also been reasons for celebration and remembrance. May was Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. AANHPI individuals have been so influential in the King County community, and the rich diversity of cultures in the AANHPI community truly make King County a more vibrant place to live. King County put together a short video to highlight some of the stories, struggles, and successes of a few AANHPI leaders. I highly recommend checking it out here.

And as one month ends, another begins. June 1^st kicked off the first day of Pride Month! Every individual should be able to openly be exactly who they are, and Pride is an important reminder that those rights need to be fought for and protected. In June 1969, the Stonewall Uprising served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the U.S. and around the world. Now, each June, we take a month to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, and to re-affirm the idea that there is a place for everyone here in King County.

Some of my team is still out sick, so this enews edition is shorter than usual, as was last week’s. 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 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).

Helpful Public Health-related articles

• COVID testing sites to re-open in Auburn, Federal Way – Auburn Reporter
• COVID-19 Information and Resources – King County Public Health
• Find Free Masks (N95 Respirators) – CDC 
• King County transitions COVID-19 testing sites to community partners – Public Health Insider
• We’re stuck with COVID on ‘chronic’ basis, says Fauci – NY Daily News
• White House Pushes to Get Paxlovid Pills in More Covid Patients’ Hands – The New York Times
• People aren't reporting at-home COVID results; Puyallup will test wastewater instead – The Seattle Times
• ‘That’s just part of aging’: long Covid symptoms are often overlooked in seniors –KHN
• Why the Air at the Gym May be More Likely to Spread Covid — The New York Times

County Business and Other News and Events

Committee of the Whole

At Wednesday’s meeting of the Committee of the Whole, which I chair, we had a briefing on the County’s pandemic response and economic recovery featuring Budget Director Dwight Dively. This was followed by a briefing on the work of the King County Immigrant and Refugee Commission along with three new Commission member appointments. We concluded by deliberating on a new proposed ordinance that would shift county-level elections from odd to even-numbered years. The ordinance, sponsored by Council Chair Claudia Balducci and which I cosponsored, would place the measure on the ballot for voter approval. The discussion we had was productive and we will likely take action and vote on this proposal at the next meeting of the Committee of the Whole on June 15. Once it is uploaded, the video of the meeting will be available here.

Regional Water Quality Committee

On Wednesday, the Regional Water Quality Committee heard updates from the Metropolitan Water Pollution Abatement Advisory Committee and the Wastewater Treatment Division. There were also briefings on Infiltration and Inflow of Waters into the Regional Wastewater System and the status of the Puget Sound Nutrients General Permit. If you’d like to catch up on this meeting, that video will be available here.

Next Week at the King County Council

Law, Justice, Health and Human Services

Next Tuesday, June 7^th, the LJHHS Committee will have briefings on three important topics: the annual report and director’s presentation for the King County Office of Law Enforcement Oversight, language access and pay equity for court interpreters in King County, and an update from the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention on deaths in custody. For more information, the agenda, and instructions on how to call in, visit this page.

Budget and Fiscal Management Committee

On Wednesday, June 8^th, members will discuss and then take action on placing a proposition to restore King County's Conservation Futures property tax levy on the November 8 general election ballot. The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment are available on this page.

Regional Policy Committee

Also next Wednesday, members will first receive a briefing on the state of affairs at the County-owned Harborview Medical Center. They will then discuss and possibly take action on a motion to accept the 2020 annual mental illness and drug dependency (MIDD) evaluation summary report, as required by King County code. Finally, they will also receive a briefing on the renewal of the Conservation Futures tax levy. The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment are available on this page.

Full Council

At the time of writing, the agenda for our Tuesday, June 7^th Council meeting has not yet been published. The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment will be available shortly here. This will be our first hybrid meeting of the Council at which the public can attend the meeting in the Chamber at the County Courthouse (at 516 Third Avenue with the entrance on 4^th Avenue between James and Jefferson) or attend via ZOOM. All Council and committee meetings will be conducted in this hybrid for the foreseeable future.

The importance of addressing gun violence

In response to the horrific gun violence that continues to plague our country, I will be dedicating the majority of our July 6 meeting of the Committee of the Whole to discuss what we are currently doing and what more we can do as a regional government to reduce harm from guns in our communities, and the limitations we face as a result of state-wide preemption. I would have scheduled this meeting sooner but scheduling conflicts made it so that the soonest we could take up this critical issue is in July. In the meantime, check out these interesting articles on gun violence.

Fact-checking the connection between guns and mental illness – The Seattle Times

Hey, America: Following WA on gun laws could have prevented those mass shootings – The Seattle Times

Gun Violence is a public health issue – Public Health—Seattle & King County

Paid internship opportunity with the King County Prosecutor’s Office

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is seeking undergraduate interns to work in its office. Students must be enrolled in higher education or enrolled for the Fall 2022 session. Applicants must be available to intern for at least six months. Students may work up to 12 hours per week during the school year or 35 hours per week in the summer. Compensation is $17.72 per hour. For more information and to apply, please visit this page, or contact Karla Avila Vargas, Human Resources Associate at kvargas@kingcounty.gov.

King County Fire Chiefs/Medic One Foundation Adopt Life Saving App

King County Fire Chiefs Association and Medic One Foundation today announced the county-wide launch of PulsePoint, a free life-saving mobile app that notifies users when someone nearby is in cardiac arrest and needs immediate help. The announcement highlights National CPR & AED Awareness Week, June 1-7, 2022.

Free public concerts are back!

The Downtown Seattle Association is bringing back its free public concerns in the retail core, Pioneer Square, and at the Hard Rock Café’s rooftop bar. They will run throughout the summer and showcase performers and genres ranging from rock and hip hop to R & B and alt-country. I have always loved stopping by for local, live music. Check out the full schedule and more information here.

Additional helpful and informative links

• Executive Constantine moves Free Youth Transit Pass forward, aiming for implementation in time for school – Executive Press Office
• Metro and SDOT want to hear from you on Route 40 updates –King County Metro
• Newest member of orcas' southern resident J Pod is female – The Seattle Times

• Mayor Harrell launches plan to address, track homelessness in Seattle – The Seattle Times
• Seattle to increase parking enforcement aimed at RV dwellers – The Seattle Times
• Despite concerns, Homelessness Authority approves budget that funders “have to realistic ability to pay for” – Publicola
• The science of sleep: Pacific Northwest researchers explore secrets of a good night’s rest – OPB
• Downtown Seattle considers a future with lots of tourists and few office workers – The Seattle Times
• As the baby formula crisis worsens, it’s also magnifying disparities in the U.S. – NPR
• How to stay safe while on Puget Sound, WA lakes and rivers – The Seattle Times
• Agewise King County June Update

Keep in touch

Thank you again for taking the time to read my updates, which I’m 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.