 July 2022: Keeping Our Communities Safe!
Dear Friend,
Summer is such a wonderful time to be together in the Pacific Northwest as it is filled with many community events and celebrations, gorgeous, sunny weather, and lots of activities to do with family and friends! We want to make sure that we are all enjoying these great opportunities as much as possible, and that we stay safe while we do so we can have as much fun as possible! Check out these resources below to do just that!
Making Sure our Friends, Family & Community Members are Protected Against the Heat!
The next few days will be some of the hottest days of the year. If you are at higher risk in the heat due to health or medical issues, please take extra precautions to stay cool. Either way, it’s going to be a scorcher so here are some cooling centers in District 3 for the general public, with links for locations and hours:
You can also visit a King County Library System (KCLS) location which will be open and used for cooling shelters. For a full list of cooling centers around King County, click this link. For more tips on staying safe during extreme heat, visit www.kingcounty.gov/beattheheat.
Keeping Friends, Family & Community Members Safe Against the New COVID-19 Variant
The new COVID variant, BA.5, is spreading quickly with over 40% of active COVID cases now coming from the BA.5 variant in King County. To keep yourself and others healthy, it makes sense to test before or after gatherings, sports events, summer vacations and trips.
Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer, Public Health – Seattle & King County, shared that “the BA.5 variant is better at dodging our immunity from both vaccination and from past infection. However, while it’s easy for people to catch COVID again, our vaccines are still providing great protection against hospitalization and death. Boosters still provide the very best protection, especially for older adults.” See more information on COVID-19 and Long COVID here. For guidance on how to keep kids safe from COVID this summer, check out this article.
Keeping Friends, Family & Community Members Safe from Monkeypox
Monkeypox cases are rising and our community is rightfully concerned. With limited vaccine supply, Public Health is working to reach people at highest risk, but we will need a significant increase in vaccine supply from CDC to do so.
Please check the King County Monkeypox web page for the latest information and resources as this response effort continues.
Ensuring Friends, Family & Community Members are Prepared for Outdoor Emergencies
In this warm weather as more people are on the water, spending time in parks and on trails, and going on one of the many beautiful hikes in our region, it is important for us to be prepared for any outcome. Please ensure that you are taking all the necessary precautions to keep you, your loved ones, and others around you safe. Also if you are looking to go on a hike and need a pass, remember that you can always check out a free Discover Pass from the King County Library System!
We recently had the opportunity to meet with David Dunphy, Seattle Mountain Rescue Outreach Chair, and visit their new facility in North Bend. This amazing organization goes on 100 rescue missions in our mountains every year and has been helping community members and visitors alike since 1948! So, while we want to be as prepared as possible, it’s good to know that in the case of any emergency, we are in great hands with the combined training and dedication of King County Office of Emergency Management, King County Search and Rescue, and Seattle Mountain Rescue (SMR)!
Keeping Friends, Family & Community Members Safe from Gun Violence
Over the past few weeks, the King County Council has had the opportunity to hear from many leaders in gun safety and gun violence prevention throughout King County and Washington State. We’ve heard devastating testimonials from survivors and community members deeply and directly impacted by gun violence who shared their personal experience. Gun violence is now a national epidemic and in Washington State it is responsible for the ending of more than 800 lives in 2021, with 70% of these being suicide.
King County is facing this issue head-on on many levels and passed motion 2022-0221 requesting the King County Executive assess the feasibility of establishing a year-round voluntary safe firearm and ammunition buy-back program within the King County sheriff's office.
For more information please visit our website to see a list of resources that are available to keep you and those you care about safe.
Make Your Voice Heard by August 2nd - VOTE!
In these final four days before the August 2nd election, over 30% of the total ballots for the entire election will be turned in – is yours one of them? Drop off your ballot as soon as possible at your local City Hall, library or other drop box locations! To find a drop box near you, visit kce.wiki/dropbox. Or return your postage-free ballot in your mailbox as soon as possible – last year over 10,000 ballots were in just a little too late to be counted, so don’t wait! Remember that ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Election Day, August 2.
There are some important US and Statewide Senator and Representative races on our ballots this year, along with six critical ballot measures to decide on!
News on Behavioral Health!
For the past few months, we have been convening meetings with State Legislators, Tribal Leaders, King County Behavioral Health Specialists, King County Sheriff’s Office, Fire Chiefs and Police Chiefs from across our District. Through our conversations – including one just this week – we have learned about gaps, overlaps and some exciting partnerships together to collectively improve our behavioral health resources and options. This includes all issues of brain chemistry including, but not limited to, Alzheimer's, autism, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, schizophrenia, psychosis disorder, and drug and alcohol use disorder. Our loved ones are suffering from a variety of brain chemistry issues, and we can and will do better to support them.
We also recently saw the launch of 988, a free, confidential, 24/7, open line that you can call or text to connect with trained crisis counselors if you, or someone you care about, are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. Don’t be shy in reaching out – we all do better, when we all do better!
Important Council Updates!
The Council has also been staying busy in our Full Council Meetings and Committees. Some of the initiatives that we have been working on are below:
If you are interested in tuning in to join us for a meeting to make a comment or just listen in, click on any of the links below:
Full Council Meeting; Budget and Fiscal Management; Committee of the Whole; Government Accountability and Oversight; Employment and Administration; Labor Policy; Law, Justice, Health, and Human Services; Local Services and Land Use; Transportation, Economy, and Environment
Issaquah City Spotlight!
Check out where the spotlight is shining on a Issaquah business, non-profit, and civic engagement opportunity this month! Take a look at what they bring to each of us when you get a chance – and remember to Go Local!
Small Business Spotlight: 55 Sunset
55 Sunset is the newest spot to grab a coffee, drink, or snack in Issaquah! This unique space offers a place for people to come and hang out, get work done, or just enjoy some wine and coffee! You can even rent a meeting space to work with colleagues while enjoying some espresso. Give them a visit at 55 W Sunset Way, Issaquah, WA 98027, or call them at 425-600-4080.
Eastside Baby Corner helps children have what they need to grow, play, learn and thrive. They do this by providing essential care, safety, and health goods for children who are experiencing homelessness, poverty, or family disruption. More than 70 school districts, health & human service organizations, early learning centers, and food banks are in the Baby Corner network. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, email them at ebc@babycorner.org or give them a call at 425-865-0234.
 |
The City of Issaquah has been a leader in conservation of natural resources, and with amazing forests, mountains, and water surrounding the city, it’s no surprise! Under the wonderful leadership of Mayor Mary Lou Pauly and the Issaquah City Councilmembers, the city has been growing rapidly to keep up with the pace of residents wanting to move into the beautiful Issaquah community! The city is hosting a wonderful Farmer’s Market on Saturdays (through Sept. 24) from 9 AM – 2 PM at the Pickering Barn. To learn more about the market, you can visit their website, call 425-837-3311, or email issaquahfarmersmarket@issaquahwa.gov.
Out in the Community!
(Left) CM Perry at the North Bend Block Party visiting the Si. View Metro Parks booth; (Right) CM Perry joining members of the Snoqualmie Watershed Forum looking at projects that were funded and are currently undergoing construction to create salmon habitats along the Snohomish basin.
(Left) Inaugurating a new cricket pitch at Tollgate Farm Park in North Bend with fellow King County Councilmembers Claudia Balducci and Pete von Reichbauer, Bellevue City Councilmembers Jeremy Barksdale and Janice Zahn, and Bellevue School Board member Jane Aras; (Right) The Kiwanis Club of Issaquah hard at work supporting the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank and Concerts on the Green!
Stay Connected!
Please forward this email and invite others to sign up to receive email updates. Also, make sure that you follow our Facebook account and Twitter page to stay up-to-date on everything we are working on together!
Finally... a reminder that I’d love to grab a cup of coffee and talk. Just reach out to our team member Robby at Robby.paige@kingcounty.gov or at 206-477-1003 and Robby will set us up!
 Sarah Perry
King County Council
District 3
|
