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.
You can also sign up for Covid alerts and find recent articles and information from Public Health here.
Another interesting Covid dashboard is the Economic, social and overall health dashboard.
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
County Business and Other News and Events
This Week at the King County Council
King County Council
On Tuesday, the King County Council passed an ordinance declaring an emergency and making a supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to Northwest Abortion Action Fund for abortion services. I was pleased to cosponsor the legislation with Councilmember Claudia Balducci as the lead sponsor. This ordinance coincided with Executive Constantine signing an executive order for an additional $500,000 to Public Health and for preventing any of the County’s executive branch resources from being used in out-of-state abortion-related prosecutions. You can read more by clicking here.
We must do everything we can to be a safe place for those seeking the care they need and should have the right to choose. There is no doubt that the recent Supreme Court ruling will lead to women and girls dying. This was not a pro-life decision. It was a decision that will have devastating ripple effects for women’s health for generations to come.
The rest of the agenda was consent and mostly pro forma. You can watch video of the proceedings by clicking here.
Committee of the Whole
Prior to the committee’s discussion on gun violence, we had a briefing from the County’s Budget Director Dwight Dively on the county’s economic recovery and status as we continue to grapple with the impacts of the pandemic. This was followed by deliberation on a motion sponsored by Councilmember Girmay Zahilay requesting that the executive develop an operational plan for sheltering the most-vulnerable King County residents in the event of extreme cold, heat or wildfire smoke. We deferred action on this motion and will likely take it back up at the next meeting of the Committee of the Whole on July 20. You can access the video of the meeting here.
Regional Water Quality Committee
On Wednesday, the committee heard two reports, the first from the Metropolitan Water Pollution Abatement Advisory Committee and the second from the Wastewater Treatment Division. Members then received two briefings, the first on the implementation of 2021-2022 Water Works projects and the last on resource recovery program involving biosolids. You can access the video of the meeting here.
Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee
On Thursday, the committee received a briefing from our new Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall on her vision for her role as Sheriff and how she plans to lead the department. Members then discussed and acted on both a motion accepting the 2020 annual mental illness and drug dependency evaluation summary report and another motion declaring fentanyl-related overdoses a public health crisis and requesting the executive to identify strategies and recommendations regarding the county's public health response. The conversation on fentanyl was especially personal for me as some of my family have been impacted by addiction and overdoses. Drug abuse impacts all demographics, and it is critical we treat drug use as a public health crisis so more people get the help, they need to exit addiction. You can access the video of the meeting here.
Additionally, Executive Constantine and King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall announced the first big steps the Sheriff will be taking as the agency rethinks how public safety is delivered across King County. These updates, released just two months since Cole-Tindall was named Sheriff, focus on four main areas of action, including revising the mission, vision, and values of the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), reorganizing the structure to improve service, creating a strategic framework, and establishing a standing community advisory board. You can read more here.
Next Week at the King County Council
King County Council
The King County Council will meet for a light agenda next week. The meeting kicks off with a recognition of American Muslim Holiday’s in King County. This will be followed with mostly items on the consent calendar and one ordinance dealing the land use in the Covington Water District – thrilling stuff.
You can find links to the meeting agenda, meeting materials, and instructions on providing public comment here.
Government Accountability and Oversight Committee: Tuesday July 12th at 9:30 a.m.
Members of the committee will receive an update on the operations of the Records and Licensing Services Division. This will be followed by a briefing from the Office of Risk Management Services.
You can find links to the meeting agenda, meeting materials, and instructions on providing public comment here.
Budget and Fiscal Management Committee: Wednesday July 13th at 9:30 a.m.
Members of the committee will discuss the 3rd omnibus supplemental budget to the 2021-2022 biennial budget. The committee plans to act on the legislation and pass all amendments in this meeting. You can find the agenda, meeting materials, and instructions on providing public comment here.
Regional Policy Committee: Wednesday, July 13th at 3:00 p.m.
Member of the committee will receive a general update on Supreme Court operations. This will be followed by a briefing on the state’s new 988 crisis hotline and the implementation of this new service. Lastly, members will discuss a motion accepting the sixth annual Best Start for Kids report.
The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment are available on this page.
Summer/Fall 2022 - King County Council District 4 Communications Intern
 My office is currently seeking an intern to work alongside my D4 staff and me. The candidate will assist in preparing this weekly e-newsletter as well as my social media posts. In addition, the intern will attend events and meetings in the community.
This intern will report directly to my Chief of Staff, Adam Cooper and work closely with our Communications Director, Clara Manahan.
Please submit a resume, cover letter and writing sample to Adam Cooper, Chief of Staff, at adam.cooper@kingcounty.gov by July 20, 2022.
If you have any questions about the position please contact Adam Cooper, Chief of Staff at 206.890.7407 or 206.477.1004.
Helpful County-related Articles
Other Items of Interest
SCOTUS ruling on the EPA and climate work on King County
The Supreme Court just tilted the balance in favor of money over our earth.
I stand with all Washington’s Democrat leaders quoted in this article from The Seattle Times outlining the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision regarding the EPA and the reaction of our state government. Now is the time to tighten standards and reduce greenhouse gas emissions even further, not to open a floodgate for more pollution. Fortunately, we live in a state and a county that are 110% committed to action and improvement in our community’s effort to slow climate change and other negative anthropogenic environmental impacts.
Thanks to the strong leadership of Executive Constantine and the efforts of the Council, King County is at the forefront of innovation and policy when it comes to the environment and sustainability. Many targets and commitments in these efforts were co-developed with partners of the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C). Together, local government put several plans and programs in place, and we are constantly updating and adapting these strategies as we confront climate change in real time.
The foundation of the work lies in King County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP), a five-year blueprint for integrating climate change into all areas of County operations and work with King County cities, partners, communities, and residents. The SCAP outlines King County’s priorities and commitments for climate action to residents and partners.
The SCAP has several sections. The Reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions section includes commitments and performance measures to reduce GHG emissions countywide, particularly from County government operations. Focus areas were determined based on major GHG emissions sources and opportunities for reductions and carbon sequestration.
As part of King County’s commitments to action on climate change and equity and social justice, the 2020 SCAP includes a new section, Sustainable & Resilient Frontline Communities (SRFC), focused on climate equity and community-driven policy.
The Climate Action Toolkit advances King County’s leadership in equitable climate solutions, charting policies and investments that cities can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, spur the growth of a clean energy economy, and protect the natural environment. The Toolkit reflects the shared Joint Commitments of the K4C and the countywide carbon emission goals of 50 percent reduction by 2030 and 80 percent reduction by 2050 against a 2007 baseline adopted in 2014 by all 39 cities in King County through the Growth Management Planning Council.
King County’s Green Building and Sustainable Development Ordinance expands green building policy for all county-owned, financed, or alternatively financed capital projects.
King County’s Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy + Resilience (C-PACER) Program is a financing tool for creating more efficient, resilient commercial and multi-family properties. In 2020, the Washington Legislature adopted the C-PACER program, authorizing a statewide program and allowing counties to implement their own county C-PACER programs. The C-PACER program is intended to improve access for commercial properties to financing for qualifying energy efficiency, renewable energy, and resiliency improvements.
Finally, the Conservation Futures Tax (CFT) Levy has been collected since 1982 and will be on the November 8th ballot for a rate increase. The CFT is a dedicated portion of the property tax that is authorized by state law to acquire property rights to conserve open space lands. If approved by voters, this permanent levy lid lift would result in $50.4 million in CFT revenue in 2023, more than double that expected without the levy lid lift. In total, the lifted levy rate would raise an estimated additional $269.8 million for conservation futures purposes between 2023 and 2031, for a total of $494.9 million over that period. For the owner of a median-AV home in King County, the levy would add roughly $28-$32 to each year's tax bill during that period.
If you are interested in periodic email updates on King County climate action, please subscribe to King County’s climate action email topic here.
Cedar River Sockeye salmon at the brink of extinction
One of our oldest and most prized salmon runs in King County is on life support. Sockeye salmon in our Cedar River are being scooped from the river into trucks and carried past the lakes and into the river’s headwaters in a desperate attempt to maintain this vital population long enough for conditions to change and again allow these fish to thrive. Read more in this article from the Seattle Times and this one from Northwest Sportsman.
If you wish to get involved at the County level, I recommend starting by becoming familiar with and participating in the meetings of the Cedar River Council and WRIA 8. That will introduce you to the latest issues as well as an excellent network of dedicated individuals.
Zoo’s public engagement process for new exhibit begins
The Woodland Park Zoo is kicking off its public engagement phase for the Forests for All exhibit design process with an online survey open now through July 31. I encourage you to take the survey and invite your family, friends or networks to share their voices too. By taking the survey, your voice can help influence how the Forests for All Project will look and feel, and how it can contribute to the community and conservation.
The Zoo is working with two respected, local partners, Hummingbird Cooperative and Headwater People, to open dialogue with communities all through July. In addition to the survey, they are conducting focus groups with diverse communities including dedicated sessions for youth, indigenous groups, and inclusion advisors. They’ll be exploring attitudes and reflections on the topics of conservation, climate, culture, and zoo experiences. With community insights, they will create an inclusive experience that truly motivates and empowers action and celebrates community changemakers.
The Zoo will publish a report of its community findings on the exhibit website when this stage of public engagement concludes in August.
KCRHA Seeks Input
The King County Regional Homelessness Authority is seeking input and feedback on a 5-Year implementation plan through multiple engagements with people experiencing homelessness, service providers, elected officials, city human services staff, and coalitions. To be made aware of these opportunities, please register your interest for component-specific communications through this form.
King County Auditor’s Office Survey
Do you have ideas for how King County can better serve you and your neighbors? Increase racial justice and equity? Save money?
The King County Auditor’s Office conducts oversight of county government through independent audits, capital projects oversight, and other studies. In even numbered years, the King County Auditor’s Office puts together a work program of audit topics for approval by the King County Council. Your ideas and suggestions can help our work program reflect community needs and interests. Click here to provide you thoughts and ideas.
Harvard Panel on Roe v. Wade
Next week on Thursday July 14th at 1:00 p.m. PT, Harvard’s School of Public Health will host a seminar titled “Roe: What’s next for abortion access, law, and politics”.
Belltown Art Walk Summer Bash
Heads up! If you are looking for fun this evening, head on down to Belltown. Enjoy live music, art, food, and drinks to celebrate summer at a block party in the parking lot adjacent to Base Camp Studios, 2407 1st Avenue. The block party is presented by the Belltown Art Walk, Base Camp Studios, Belltown Yacht Club and Screwdriver Bar. See flier below for more details.
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.
|
