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Everyday is public health awareness day!
Last month, Seattle & King County was notified of a case of Candida auris (C. auris) in a patient who was admitted at Kindred Hospital Seattle. C. auris is a fungus that can cause serious infections and can be resistant to treatment medications. Since January, four additional cases of C. auris has been reported. This is the first known outbreak of C. auris in Washington state. Public Health continues to work together with Kindred to help limit spread. Information and updates on the C. auris can be found here: PUBLIC HEALTH INSIDER – Official insights from Public Health - Seattle & King County staff
It is also an honor to be elected by the Board of Health to serve as the Chair of the Board! Last week I met with Public Health Director Khan and members of the public health team to learn more about opportunities to partner and improve on their efforts to serve the county’s health needs. The next meeting of the Board of Health is Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 1pm.
If you would like to know more about what Public Health is up to, you can sign up for their newsletter here: www.kingcounty.gov/oss/alerts
King County Council passes Human Trafficking Resolution:
 On January 23, 2024, I joined with Councilmember Dunn to proclaim January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in King County. Days later, a business owner on Vashon was convicted in a human trafficking case: https://www.vashonbeachcomber.com/news/brother-landscape-vashon-owner-convicted-of-trafficking-money-laundering/.
Thanks to CM Dunn for reaching out to me to co-sponsor this important proclamation. I highly advise everyone to learn about the warning signs for human trafficking and what you can do as a bystander to help people in this incredibly vulnerable situation. API Chaya, a Seattle-based survivor-led organization focused on serving survivors of sexual violence, human trafficking, and domestic violence from AAPI communities, offers a great community-based support training series called Natural Helpers.
Youth Gun Violence - another tragic and preventable death
 The death of Mobarak Adam at SW Teen Life Center is another example of a tragic and preventable death due to the presence of guns in our community. I've taken some solace in seeing his sister Leyla organize around demanding justice for her brother. Laya called for another protest this past Friday and my office joined with other local leaders to share our message of standing with them. https://westseattleblog.com/2024/02/video-teen-shooting-victims-family-and-schoolmates-protest-again-next-stop-city-hall/ In this first term, we must further our work together to prevent any more senseless gun violence deaths and get guns out of the hands of children in our community.
 Supporting our LGBTQ businesses
When news broke that several LGBTQ+ bars, including those on Capitol Hill in District 8, had been raided by the Liquor Control Board (LCB) and the Joint Enforcement Taskforce (JET) - it evoked painful memories of a past when the LGBTQ+ community was routinely targeted for harassment and discrimination. We reached out to the owners of these small businesses in our district to offer our support, including team members from the Greater Seattle-area Business Association (GSBA), and to condemn the actions that evoked fear. I am thankful that this week the LCB is reconsidering this policy that led to the JET using aggressive tactics and taking photos that led to feelings of intimidation and being targeted.
Highline Heritage Museum – a District 8 Treasure!
The Highline Heritage Museum is a true treasure of in our district. Last Wednesday, I joined with leaders from Burien, SeaTac, Normandy Park, Highline Public Schools and the Port of Seattle of the signing of the Highline Heritage Partnership MOU. This is a great example of regional cooperation to lift up our region’s history, commerce and the educational needs of our children. Read more here and make sure to visit the museum soon: Partnership signing marks milestone for Highline Heritage Museum - The B-Town (Burien) Blog (b-townblog.com)
Seattle King County Clinic!
YES, it’s that time of year again and we need you. The annual Seattle King County Clinic is happening February 15-18th at Seattle Center. If you are struggling with access to healthcare including dental and vision you can get the care you need for free! If you’d like to attend this year, click here: Patient Information. Or volunteer if you have time to give back – all kinds of roles are needed, click here to: Volunteer!
Black History Month
Across King County we are celebrating Black History Month. The theme for this year is African Americans and the arts. Our region has a rich legacy of Black creatives including Jimi Hendrix and Quincy Jones. Black artists such as Joey Robinson continue to build on that legacy with his series lifting up Black maids who like man domestic workers toiled without the recognition they deserved. Black Noire is a local non-profit lifting up the work of artists like Joey, ARTE NOIR | Black Arts and Culture | Seattle. If you are in my Councilmate Girmay Zahilay’s District, I encourage you to stop by and see what they have going on. More information here: Seattle non-profit uplifts Black artists, creatives | king5.com.
Lunar New year is Here!
February also brings the celebration of the Lunar New Year. This past weekend many celebrations were held including at the Wing Luke Museum Wing Luke Museum. On February 24th, the CID will host another Lunar New Year Celebration from 11am-4pm. More information can be found here: (20+) Lunar New Year Celebration - Year of the Dragon | Facebook. I hope this year of the Dragon brings good fortune to all residents of D8.
Congratulations Aneelah! This is not goodbye
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The fierce, compassionate, effective, collaborative Executive Director of the Muslim Association of Puget Sound (MAPS-AMEN), Aneelah Afzali, celebrated her legacy at MAPS as she plans to step down after more than seven years of service. Her tenue began with the terrible of anti-Muslim, anti-Islamophobic bigotry fueled by Trump’s Muslim ban, and since then Aneelah has been building coalition and community power to stand up for human rights and the intersectionality of all our struggles through MAPS. It was my honor to work with her to stand up and fight against antisemitism and Islamophobic hate, as we called for an immediate and long-term ceasefire in occupied Palestine and Israel, the release of all hostages, and restoration of humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people. Aneela led the borad and diverse coalition of over 100 organizations and interfaith groups that constructed the Washington Solidarity Statement and it is a testament to her ability to find common ground, forge partnerships and seek solutions. Congresswoman Jayapal honored Aneelah with a statement in the official Congressional Record this month. Thank you for all you have built and all you will continue to do, Aneela and MAPS.
 Thank you for signing up for the #TeresaTuesday Newsletter. We will send you regular updates every other week. If you’d like to reach out or have an issue we can help with, please reach out anytime.
Thank you for allowing us to represent you on the King County Council!
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