COVID-19 Data Updates
The current King County COVID level is classified as Medium. 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).
Unfortunately, there appears to be a surge in cases.
 Photo: James Gathany and Judy Smith, USCDCP
Children Ages six months to four years old may soon be eligible for COVID vaccines
Today it was announced that the FDA authorized 1st COVID-19 shots for infants, preschoolers. Discussions about longer series are still taking place and decisions are expected to come out this weekend. The Washington State Department of Health will begin supplying health care providers with vaccines for children ages 6 months to 4 years. While many parents are understandably eager for these vaccines, the Department of Health is urging patience as they are rolled out.
More information is available on the DOH blog, Public Health Connection.
Helpful Public Health-related Articles
County Business and Other News and Events
This Week at the King County Council
Government Accountability and Oversight Committee
In Tuesday’s meeting of the Government Accountability and Oversight Committee, there were two very informative briefings were provided by the King County Auditor’s Office. The audits were both focused on the King County Sheriff’s Office and contained important information about the KCSO use of force and the practices around traffic stops. I highly recommend perusing these reports, which are available below, and watching the meeting here:
Sheriff’s Office Data Shows Racial Disparities, Potential to Expand Alternative Policing
Traffic Enforcement: Strategies Needed to Achieve Safety Goals
There was also some notable media coverage on the briefings, so a select few media articles which are linked below.
King County Council
On Tuesday at the King County Council meeting, each Councilmember awarded to an individual or group a Martin Luther King Medal of Distinguished Service, an award that recognizes individuals whose work has answered the question asked by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “What are you doing for others?” There were also several appointments and reappointments approved and public comment and discussion on the very controversial proposed winery, brewery and distillery zoning ordinance, but the bulk of the time was spent celebrating our awardees! View the full meeting here.
It was my honor to have presented this award to Mike Tulee, an individual who has committed himself to serving others and been on the front lines of the struggles for equity and social justice throughout his career, especially for indigenous peoples. Dr. Mike Tulee is a model for us all as we strive to embody Dr. King’s lessons and vision, dedicating his lifelong work to educating, serving and uplifting his community. As the Executive Director of the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, Mike has worked tirelessly and effectively in ensuring its mission is strengthened and endures, including reconnecting indigenous people to their heritage and strengthening their sense of belonging and significance as Native people. He has certainly made our County a greater place and therefore also this world a finer place to live. To read more about Mike and his many acts of service, click here.
Committee of the Whole
We kicked things of at the Committee of the Whole (which I chair) on Wednesday with a briefing from Harborview CEO Sommer Kleweno-Walley and the Board of Trustees President Steffanie Fain and the Capital Bond Director Leslie Harper-Miles on the Harborview Annual Report and Capital Bond Program. We then approved proposed ordinance 2022-0180 by a 7-2 vote that would shift county-level elections from odd to even-numbered years. If approved by full council, the measure will be placed on the November ballot for voter approval. Read more about this here in the The South Seattle Emerald.
We concluded the meeting with a discussion and action on the re-appointment of Anita Khandelwal as the county’s Director of our Department of Public Defense. Her reappointment confirmation will be taken up for final action by the Council at our June 28th meeting. You can view a recording of this week’s meeting here.
Board of Health
At the Board of Health on Thursday members received a briefing by Public Health staff on preventing childhood lead poisoning, and a briefing by the County Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin on health impacts of “long COVID.” It was particularly informative, and when available, the video for the meeting will be accessible here. We also discussed the efforts to open up additional seats on the Board of Health. Information on how to apply is available here.
Regional Transit Committee
On Wednesday, members discussed and acted on a new ordinance implementing the Zero Youth Fare proposal. The ordinance was approved unanimously and was amended to begin the program on September 1 so it is in place for the start of the school year. The ordinance will now move to the TrEE Committee and if approved there will then move to full council by the end of July. King County Metro will receive more than $31 million in grant funding if the program is approved before October. You can view the meeting here.
Next Week at the King County Council
Transportation, Environment and the Economy Committee
The TrEE Committee (as it is known here at the Council) will meet on Tuesday morning and has a jam-packed agenda. Following the committee taking up some consent items, members will be briefed on a new cricket grounds project at Marymoor Park (not the insect but the sport). So, if you love googlies and wickets be sure to tune in! The highlights of the rest of the agenda include possible action on a new personal locator beacon program, Metro Connects implementation report, and an ordinance related to the public benefit rating system for open space and agriculture. The full agenda, meeting materials, and information on how to tune in is available here.
Budget and Fiscal Management Committee
On Wednesday, members will first be briefed on and then discuss the 3rd omnibus supplemental budget to the 2021-2022 biennial budget, with no action planned yet. Next, members will discuss and possibly take action on three ordinances. The first relates to an easement for public school purposes located within Council District 8. The last two ordinances are related. One authorizes the execution of a new lease to support the operation of the Prosecuting Attorney’s office and the other makes a net supplemental appropriation of $681,900 to the building repair and replacement fund to cover a small portion of the build-out costs for the space (the landlord is covering over $4M of the costs.) The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment are available on this page.
Full Council
On Tuesday, the King County Council will hear from Public Health Director Dennis Worsham with an update on the COVID-19 response. There will be proclamations recognizing Juneteenth in King County and the Seattle Thunderbolts cricket team. The Conservation Futures Tax levy will be considered, as will the ordinance related to winery, brewery and distillery uses. The agenda is accessible here.
 Here I’m pictured with Rebecca Brinsbury, Development Manager for Page Ahead Children’s Literacy Program, and Jillian Kartchner, the librarian at Broadview-Thomson, while we looked over books for Page Ahead’s book fair.
Page Ahead Book Fair at Broadview Thomson
Last week, I visited Broadview-Thomson K-8 school library and had the opportunity to take part in Page Ahead’s summer book fair. Page Ahead Children’s Literacy Program is a non-profit organization that provides books and develops reading activities to support children most at risk of falling behind in their reading skills. It works to erase the early learning gap for under-resourced children by providing 12 books for students in K-2 grades before it becomes an “achievement” gap. Students in grades 3 - 5 at some schools are able to receive six books of their choice with school support. These summer book fairs make sure that students have reading material to keep them company over the summer. As a former fourth-grade teacher, I could not have been more delighted to join them for such an enjoyable and worthwhile event!
 It was delightful to get to speak to some of the fifth grade students while they picked out their books.
Seattle will host 2026 men’s World Cup
Seattle will be one of 11 US cities (and 16 total across the US, Canada and Mexico) to host matches for the 2026 men’s World Cup. As a career-long supporter of professional and amateur sports due to the positive impacts they have on our youth and our communities, I am exceptionally excited by the news Seattle will be a host city for the 2026 men’s FIFA World Cup (and I hope the future also brings the women’s World Cup to Seattle). King County’s residents enjoy soccer as much or more than anyone. Our fans top the MLS in attendance year after year, and our per capita participation in youth soccer is always at or near the top for all states. It’s a perfect match. Read more about the announcement here.
 Photo: Ronald Woan on Flickr
Sue Bird announces retirement and the 50th anniversary of Title IX
Yesterday, Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird announced that this would be her last season in the WNBA. We will miss you, Sue! It’s been really exciting cheering for Sue and the Storm, especially for their first season at our fantastic new Climate Pledge Arena (in my Council District 4). On a related note, the 50th anniversary of Title IX is next week, which laid the groundwork for women’s professional sports in a very important way. Keep an eye out next week for some of my and former Governor Chris Gregoire’s reflections on Title IX in The Seattle Times Opinion page. To learn more about Sue Bird’s legacy in Seattle, there is good coverage here and here.
Gun violence in the United States
You may have read Danny Westneat’s column, “The awkwardness of a liberal city awash with guns,” in The Seattle Times last week. As we’ve covered before, gun violence is a plague in our nation, and it will require all hands on deck to address it. That’s why I’m dedicating both meetings of the Committee of the Whole in July to discussing this issue in depth, including what gun violence looks like in King County and what we can do about it. Stay tuned for the specifics for our July 6th and 20th meetings.
Happy Father’s Day!
Sunday, June 19th is also Father’s Day this year, so make sure to also take some time to celebrate or remember the fathers and father figures in your life. The Woodland Park Zoo is celebrating by sharing this fun video of Kwame, a silverback gorilla, and his little ones Kitoko and Zuna.
Blood Drive at National Nordic Museum
Bloodworks Northwest will be hosting a pop-up at the Nordic Museum in Ballard on June 27th and 28th. Sign up and help save lives by clicking this link. As an additional thank you for the contribution, donors will be gifted two complimentary tickets to the museum with proof of donor participation.
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my updates. 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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