Quote of the Day
"We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort."
– Jesse Owens (1913-1980)
 Law, Justice, Health, and Human Services Committee
The Law, Justice, Health, and Human Services Committee met on Tuesday, and received a briefing on deaths in the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention facilities and what is being done to keep any from happening again. The Committee also took action on an ordinance authorizing the execution of an interlocal agreement for public defense services between King County and the City of Seattle, as well as on a motion confirming an executive appointment to the King County public defense advisory board. For more information on this meeting and to view a recording, click here.
Full Council
 The King County Council met on Tuesday and presented a recognition of King County Ombuds Director Amy Calderwood upon her retirement, as well as a proclamation of February 2023 as Black History Month in King County. The Council also took action on several of the Executive’s appointments, as well as on a motion requesting the Executive complete a code study related to expanded multifamily housing types in low- and medium-density urban residential zones. For more information on this meeting and to view a recording, click here.
Budget and Fiscal Management Committee
The Budget and Fiscal Management Committee met remotely on Wednesday and received a briefing on adjusting the adoption of biennial budgets to odd numbered years from Dwight Dively, Director of Office Performance, Strategy, and Budget. The Committee also took action on an ordinance authorizing the Executive to amend an agreement with the Washington state Department of Ecology for loan financing for a wastewater capital project. For more information on this meeting and to view a recording, click here.
Regional Policy Committee
The Regional Policy Committee met on Wednesday and received a briefing on the 2021 Mental Illness and Drug Dependency Report. The committee also took action on a resolution concerning the Committee’s (MIDD) work program for 2023. For more information on this meeting and to view a recording, click here.
 Government Accountability and Oversight Committee
 The Government Accountability and Oversight Committee will meet on Tuesday, February 14th at 9:30 a.m. The Committee will discuss two of the Executive’s appointments to the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network, as well as take possible action on an ordinance adopting the revision of voting precincts of King County for the year 2023. The Committee will also receive a briefing on the King County Citizens Elections Oversight Committee Annual Report as well as on an ordinance relating to regional animal care and control services. Click here for more information on this meeting, its agenda, and how to join it.
Full Council
The King County Council will meet on Tuesday, February 14th at 1:00 p.m. During this meeting, the Council will discuss and take possible action on a motion to appoint committees to write the voters' pamphlet statements for the April 25th special election on approval of a property tax levy to fund crisis care centers, as well as on a motion for an appointment to the position of Interim Ombuds. The Council will also take action on several of the Executive’s appointments. Click here for more information on this meeting, its agenda, and how to join it.
Flood Control District Committee
The Flood Control District Committee will meet on Tuesday, February 14th after the conclusion of the Council meeting. When available, the meeting agenda and materials can be found here.
Committee of the Whole
The Committee of the Whole, which I chair, will meet on Wednesday, February 15th at 9:30 a.m. During the meeting, the Committee will discuss and take possible action on confirming appointments to the department of information technology and to the Metro transit department. We will also receive an Executive COVID-19 Recovery briefing. Click here for more information on this meeting, its agenda, and how to join it.
Regional Transit Committee
The Regional Transit Committee will meet on Wednesday, February 15th at 3:00 p.m., where the Committee will receive briefings on the Metro Connects funding gap and on Metro’s research program. The Committee will also discuss and take possible action on a resolution adopting the 2023 work plan for the King County Regional Transit Committee. Click here for more information on this meeting, its agenda, and how to join it.
Board of Health
The Board of Health will meet on Thursday, February 16th at 1:00 p.m. During this meeting, the Committee will receive a briefing on infant mortality prevention, which will be followed by a state legislative update briefing. The Committee will also discuss and take possible action on a resolution to adopt the Board of Health’s 2023 work plan. Click here for more information on this meeting, its agenda, and how to join it.
 King County and City of Seattle Announce Updates to Employee Vaccine Mandate
On Monday, King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced that King County and the City of Seattle will no longer require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition for employment. This determination was made after careful study of vaccination booster uptake and low levels of community spread in our region. However, staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines remains a critical aspect of preventing illness. Click here to learn more.
Free telehealth appointments expand access to oral antivirals
The Washington State Department of Health has relaunched its free telehealth program to increase access to potentially life-saving medication to treat COVID-19. The program expands the federal government’s Test to Treat initiative and gives people at risk of severe disease another way to quickly access treatment. Telehealth allows patients to connect with a clinician without having to go to a health care facility in person, therefore reducing barriers to access and allowing patients to stay at home for assessment and treatment. Click here to learn more.
Updates from the COVID-19 Economic, Social & Overall Health Impacts Dashboard
Public Health — Seattle & King County is continuing to monitor changes in key economic, social, and other health indicators resulting from strategies to slow the spread of COVID-19. The Economic, Social & Overall Health Impacts Dashboard has been updated to reflect the most recent data. Click here to view the dashboard, which is updated weekly.
Washington State Department of Health launches Influenza Vaccination Dashboard
Washington State Department of Health’s new Influenza Vaccination Dashboard makes it easier to track flu vaccination rates across the state. The dashboard displays the number of flu vaccines administered in Washington facilities, as well as the percentage of Washingtonians who have received at least one flu vaccine. The dashboard will be updated weekly, and users can make vaccination rate comparisons between the current and previous flu seasons. Click here to access the dashboard.
COVID resources
What a relief it is that we’re not seeing alarming surges this winter! But, nonetheless, people are still getting ill with COVID strains so please continue to exercise caution throughout each day to keep yourself, your family, and your community safe. For up-to-date information on cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the County, see the Daily COVID-19 outbreak summary dashboard.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Public Health – Seattle & King County has provided a fact sheet for parents to assess their child’s symptoms, learn risk factors and treatments, and instructions on how to reduce its spread. For the latest RSV research and surveillance, click here.
Helpful Public Health-related articles
WA COVID-19 services to continue after federal emergencies end – The Seattle Times
This winter's U.S. COVID surge is fading fast, likely thanks to a 'wall' of immunity – NPR
Who Should Get a Covid Booster Now? New Data Offers Some Clarity. – The New York Times
Ensuring COVID-19 Vaccine Safety in the US – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
COVID test kits, treatments and vaccines won't be free to many consumers much longer – NPR
'Community navigators' bridge the healthcare gap for BIPOC groups – Crosscut
Three years of COVID: All that’s changed, and all that hasn’t – UW Daily
 Pet of the Week
Dexter is the Regional Animal Services of King County’s Pet of the Week! This good boy is a 12-week-old pit bull mix. He’s looking for a patient family who will love him while he learns and grows! Click here to meet him, and to see tons of other animals looking for their forever homes!
Economic Alliance Program
Today, Executive Constantine announced the launch of the Economic Alliance Program, which aims to help unincorporated King County businesses thrive. This program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Local Services and local organizations to help businesses and individuals grow in the aftermath of the pandemic’s economic shutdown. Funding for this program was included in my striking amendment to the COVID-19 supplemental budget.
The Economic Alliance Program will focus on three main areas:
- Low-barrier, highly supported workforce development and entrepreneurial training, living-wage career education, subsidized internships, and job placement.
- Providing technical assistance for small businesses.
- Offering small businesses networking opportunities, mentoring resources, and skills-based learning.
Click here to learn more about the program launch.
Executive Constantine launches Re+
Last week, Executive Constantine announced the launch of Re+, a new initiative aiming to reinvent the region’s waste system to cut carbon emissions. Re+ will focus on recovering nearly 70% of materials that are currently being sent to the landfill by:
- Expanding curbside food and yard waste collection and working with businesses to prevent materials from going to the landfill
- Forming partnerships and supporting state legislation that gets companies to take more responsibility for the design, reuse and recycling of their products and packaging
- Supporting local businesses so they can keep their food waste out of the landfill
Click here to learn more.
2024 King County Comprehensive Plan Early Concepts
 King County is sharing the early concepts of proposals for the 2024 Comprehensive Plan, a 20-year plan that guides people who live, work, and play in unincorporated communities. This overview document provides a high-level summary of the specific actions King County is considering to address social equity, affordable housing, and climate change in our region. King County wants your feedback to guide the refinement of these proposals – complete this short feedback form, send an email, or attend a virtual townhall meeting. Click herefor more information.
Metro service reminders
King County Metro is a great way to get to events and activities where there is often traffic congestion and limited parking. Be sure to remember:
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Seattle Center Monorail will operate on its normal schedule this weekend. The Monorail will depart approximately every 10 minutes.
- Water Taxi continues its seven-day-a-week service throughout the winter. The seven-day-a-week service will run from approximately 6 a.m. weekdays (8:30 a.m. weekends) to 7 p.m.
New report on toxins in King County wastewater
 New report on toxins in King County wastewater and the impact to orcas and chinook salmon was presented last week at the Regional Water Quality Committee. We will also be scheduling a briefing in an upcoming meeting of the Committee of the Whole. I am pleased that this report is finally out after many delays from COVID-19, as I had secured funding for this project as a proviso on our 2019-202 biennial budget. Click hereto review the report. Also, notably, The Seattle Times published a story today from The New York Timesconcerning the study of nearly four decades worth of data of orca mothers of reproductive age and their families and found ultimately that mothers with a living son were about half as likely to reproduce each year when compared to mothers with a daughter or with no offspring. This is because mother orcas hunt for fish and feed it to their sons, even throughout adulthood. Click here to read the article.
February 2023 Special Election
 Election day is almost here! The election day deadline for the February Special Election is Tuesday, February 14th at 8:00 p.m. You can return your ballot by mail, visit a vote center, or drop your ballot into a ballot box near you. Click here for a list of 24-hour drop boxes for a quick and easy ballot drop experience, or find more information on ballot measures, data and statistics, and ballot return details here.
Reminder: Voting for King Conservation District Board of Supervisors is open
 King Conservation District, which is not a park of King County government, is holding an election for Seat #3 on its Board of Supervisors. Voting is open now and will end February 14th, at 8:00 p.m. KCD will primarily rely on electronic ballots, and voters may return ballots electronically through the online ballot access system. However, physical ballots will still be accepted and must be postmarked by February 14th and sent to King County Elections at 919 SW Grady Way, Suite 200, Renton, WA 98057. Click here for more information and to enter the voter portal.
 How to help after the deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria
On Monday, a deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Southeast Turkey and northern Syria. Nearly 21,000 people have died, and many more are injured or still trapped beneath the rubble. With such a tragedy so far away from Washington, you may be wondering what you can do to help. Several organizations have opportunities for volunteering and donating, which can be found here. Medicines, relief supplies, heaters, tents, blankets, food, clean water, and much more are needed.
The benefits and hazards of social media for teens
 After Seattle and Kent school districts have filed lawsuits against social media companies for negatively impacting teen’s mental health, many parents and professionals have begun to worry about the implications of time spent on these platforms beyond likes, comments, and shares. UW professor Lucía Magis-Weinberg answered some questions about the causes, effects, and overall implications of social media exposure to teens. Click here to read more.
Possible Bell Street changes
 Although several changes have been executed along Seattle’s downtown waterfront development, Bell Street is still yet to be designed. The City of Seattle is kicking off the design process with an online open house that will be available until midnight on Sunday, February 12th. Click here to learn more and to access a survey to share your feedback and priorities.
Outdoor Street Cafes are here to stay in Seattle
Inspired by the Safe Start Program’s success, the City of Seattle is now moving toward more permanent changes for allowing outdoor dining structures along curb and sidewalk space. Click here to learn more, or read full coverage from this article in The Seattle Times.
West Seattle and Ballard Link extensions further studies survey
 If you have not yet had a chance to take the further studies survey to provide feedback on the Chinatown-International District, Downtown, and Interbay/Ballard further study results, and learn more about the West Seattle, Duwamish, and SODO further studies, there is still time! The survey will remain open until Friday, February 17th. Click here to take the survey.
 Call to Conscious Museum
 Visit the "Call to Conscious Museum" at the Columbia City Theater! Take a guided tour through exhibits highlighting Black achievers and achievements in PNW history and learn more about Black leaders and innovators today. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. throughout February. Click here to learn more.
New exhibit celebrating Black architects
Seattle’s Museum of History & Industry has just opened a new exhibit, “From the Ground Up: Black Architects and Designers.” This exhibit showcases Black architects from the 1800s to today have broken barriers set in place and maintained by systemic imbalances and institutionalized racism. This exhibit is open now and will close on April 30th. Click here for more information.
Black History Month Research and Writing Workshop for High School and College Students
 On Wednesday, February 15th at 3:00 p.m., join the Northwest African American Museum either in-person or virtually at the University of Washington Special Collections Room for a Black History Month research and writing workshop for high school students. Click here for more information. Another workshop will be available for college students on February 22nd. Find information on this workshop here.
History Café: Paying Tribute to Seattle’s Black Landmarks and their Namesakes
On Wednesday, February 15th from 3:00 – 8:00 p.m., join historian Mary Henry for a discussion of her new book, Tributes: Black People Whose Names Grace Seattle Sites, and learn about the lives of the many Black figures whose names are found on street signs, parks, concert halls and more. Click here for more information.
Stayed on Freedom book launch event
Author, historian, and University of Washington-Bothell professor Dan Berger provides life stories of Black Power activists who dedicated their lives to freedom and justice in his newly released book, Stayed on Freedom. On Monday, February 27th, visit the Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO at 6:00 p.m. for a book launch event featuring reflections on civil rights, the labor movement, and the intergenerational Black freedom struggle. Click here for more information.
Kickboxing and mobility virtual class with Indigo Movement
 Get your body moving with Indigo Movement! To celebrate Black History Month, Indigo Movement founder Tiana Duncan will host a free, online kickboxing and mobility class. Attendees will combine jabs, uppercuts, and sidekicks, followed by a series of movements – all set to energetic, high-tempo music. Register for this event now for a chance to win prizes from Black-owned businesses Black Pinay, Helen Rose Skincare Co., Indigo Movement and more. Click here for more information on the event and a link to register.
Valentine’s day Makers Market Pop-Up
 On Sunday, February 12th from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., support small businesses at this local market for great last-minute Valentine’s Day finds. Catch local vendors, food, music, and more at the Fremont Sunday Market. Click here for more information.
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month Event
It is a devastating statistic that 1 in 3 teens will experience dating abuse before the age of 18. This year, in recognition of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, New Beginnings wants to help you “Be About It” and help young people in your community. On Monday, February 13th at 6:30 p.m., New Beginnings will host an online workshop for parents to help promote safety and healthy relationships in teen dating. Click here to learn more and to register for this online event.
Troll Vintage Market
 Seattle’s newest monthly flea and vintage market, Troll Vintage Market, will return underneath the Fremont Bridge on Saturday, February 18th from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. The market will host over 75 booths, food trucks, DJ’s, and more! Click here for more information.
So You Want To Work in Labor Panel
 What does it mean to work in the labor movement? Are you interested in learning more about working for a union, labor center, or an organization supporting workers? The Bridges Center will be hosting the So You Want To Work in Labor Panel on Monday, February 13th at 3:30 p.m. This panel will be a conversation with eight labor leaders working in a variety of positions to showcase the many ways of working in labor, and the diversity of skills and capacities it takes to build a robust labor movement. Register for this virtual event here.
Seattle Center Campus/Waterfront Park Job Fair
Visit the Seattle Center’s Armory Building at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 16th to connect with community members and careers. The Seattle Center’s job fair is open to all job seekers and the general public, featuring positions for security officers, carpenters, managers, maintenance workers, and more. Learn more about this event here.
 Healthy Communities and Parks Fund
 The Healthy Communities & Parks Fund, part of the Targeted Equity Grant Program, supports projects that increase access to recreation and use of parks, open spaces, and recreational facilities in underserved areas and communities. This grant program intends to reduce health disparities in various underserved communities and invest in their capacities to meet the unique needs of their residents. The priority deadline for this application is February 28th. Click here for more information and click here for a link to the application.
U District Vitality Grants
These grants will provide funding for ground-floor businesses and nonprofit organizations in the U District to invest in cleaning and/or fixed asset improvements such as remodeling, renovating, upgrading and purchasing specialized equipment. Click here for more information, eligibility requirements, and a link to the application.
Connecting Food System Stakeholders in King County
Public Health — Seattle & King County is seeking to bring together newly forming groups, networks, or coalitions not already connected to traditionally funded food bank and meal coalitions to identify ways to improve communication and collaboration across emergency food and meal distributing organizations working to meet cultural and nutrition needs of communities in King County. Submit your organization’s application no later than March 10th at 6:00 p.m. Click here for more information, eligibility requirements, and a link to the application.
King County Child Care Financial Assistance Program
 Last year, King County allocated $7 million of its federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding to support King County families with the cost of their child care. Eligible families may receive financial assistance to pay for their child care at eligible providers. Click here for more information, eligibility requirements, and a link to the application.
 A Seattle puppy will compete in Puppy Bowl 2023
 The 19th Puppy Bowl will, as always, promote adoptable pets and shelters from across the country. Cooper, a boxer mix from Seattle Humane in Bellevue, will be representing Seattle in this year’s Puppy Bowl! Cooper recently made the journey to film the Puppy Bowl XIX, which will be streaming February 12th at 10:00 a.m., on Animal Planet, TBS, HBO Max and discovery+. Click here to read more in an article from The Seattle Times. Seattle Humane will host a free watch party to see Cooper and the other puppies play and compete from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on February 12th, at 13212 S.E. Eastgate Way, Bellevue. Register to attend at support.seattlehumane.org.
Helpful and informative links
King County seeks state, federal coordination following narcotics seizures worth $17.5M in 2022 – The Center Square
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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