Addressing the Opioid Crisis
 Councilmember Mosqueda with KC Exec Dow Constanine and Councilmembers Reagan Dunn and Girmay Zahilay
I joined with KC executive Dow Constantine, Councilmember Girmay Zahilay and Councilmember Reagan Dunn to outline the comprehensive approach we are taking at the County level to address the rising amount of overdose deaths caused by the surging availability of cheap synthetic opioids like Fentanyl.
We are taking action instead of assigning blame and pointing to solutions instead of pointing fingers. Residents in the county struggling with addiction can expect to see expanded behavioral health treatment options, more ways to access medications for opioid use disorder and more overdose prevention activities. All of this in addition to the resources I'm working to bring online through the Crisis Care Centers measure which will help our first responders have a safe place to take people in crisis and invest in building the pipeline for our Behavioral Health Workforce.
To find out more about the strategies outlined yesterday go here:
2024_SUDActionsToPreventOverdoses_3-3-24.pdf (dropbox.com)
You can watch the full press conference here:
https://vimeo.com/919303149?share=copy
Local coverage of the announcement:
King County announces 5 new priorities in addressing fentanyl crisis | The Seattle Times
King County Executive Constantine reveals fentanyl crisis strategy - MyNorthwest.com
King County reveals plans to combat fentanyl overdoses | king5.com
The Announcement from the Executive:
NEWS: Executive Constantine announces efforts to stop the surge of fentanyl overdoses and expand behavioral health treatment in King County (govdelivery.com)
Ensuring Our Region is a Welcoming One
 Last week the County announced an RFP, NEWS: King County announces $1 million in additional support for asylees and refugees in Tukwila (govdelivery.com), for $1 million dollars to help the uniquely vulnerable populations living either unsheltered or in temporary accommodations while seeking asylum and protection. This funding is in addition to the $3 million provided last year for emergency housing and the $200,000 I helped allocate while at the City Council of Seattle.
I along with the Executive and fellow councilmembers continue to work to advocate funding at the local and federal levels to address this unprecedented influx of new community members. King County, Tukwila announce new investments to help asylum-seekers | The Seattle Times. I'm hopeful the State Legislature will provide addition funding to help secure longer-term solutions for this situation.
The RFP can be found here:
South King County $1M Asylum-Seeker Support RFP - King County, Washington
Public Health
 Across the country and our region, we are seeing a surge in cases of Syphilis. This situation is made worse by a national shortage of antibiotics.
Seattle/King County Public Health recommends the following groups of people be tested for syphilis:
- Sexually active individuals (Cis-women, and cis-men who have sex with women (including pregnant persons), and men who have sex with men).
- Users of injection drug use
- Methamphetamine or non-prescription opioid users
- Those who may deal with homelessness
- Individuals who participate in transactional sex
- People who have a history of incarceration
- Those who may have a history of syphilis in the last two years should be tested annually and whenever they present for care up to every three months.
Go here for more information on Syphilis and treatment options: syphilis-facts.ashx (kingcounty.gov)
D8 Days - Burien Edition
 We started #D8day in #Burien with a visit to Para Los Niños! PLN was started by parents who felt like children from the Latinx community were being overlooked in the Highline School District. Kiddos learn important skills as young as toddlers through high school. If you are interested in learning more or getting involved check out their website here: Para Los Niños – Fostering academic success for every Latino student through parent and community involvement. (plnwa.org) Gracias!
 With our next stop, I was thrilled to see Alimentando al Pueblo inaction! Roxana Pardo and visionary leader women who started this effort are doing incredible work helping to feed the community! It’s the only #Latinx #food system in the country and is helping to address food insecurity throughout the region. Check it out at alimentandoalpueblo.org
 Sometimes you just have to #treatyourself to treasures from small businesses like Treat Cookies
 and Three Trees Books
 We capped off #D8Days in #Burien by visiting Pastor Lina Thompson of Lake Burien Presbyterian Church to learn about all the programs and services for youth and adults. Such a great example of serving community while building community. I learned that they are even hosting amazing organizations like Choose 180 in their space!
 Pastor Thompson was kind enough to introduce me to Nneka Payne the new ED of Choose 180 providing me with the opportunity to learn more about their incredible work uplifting & empowering youth and community!
Seattle King County Clinic a Huge Success
  This year, more than 3,000 volunteers and 100 partner organizations provided care for 2,900 patients providing more than $2.6 million in comprehensive healthcare. In its nine years of operation, the Clinic has provided free healthcare to more than 30,000 patients who have fallen through the region’s healthcare gaps.
As in previous years, more than 95% of patients who sought care at the Clinic were housed and upward of one-third had insurance. All were unable to afford or access the care they were seeking elsewhere. Seattle/King County Clinic is a community project that brings together healthcare organizations, civic agencies, nonprofits, and private businesses to transform Seattle Center facilities into a healthcare operation.
A huge thank you goes out to everyone who worked so hard to make this important event so successful.
Celebrating the Arts
 I joined councilmembers Balducci and Barón at the Seattle Art Museum to attend the opening of the powerful new exhibit by Jaune Quick-To-See Smith: Memory Map. Jaune Quick-to-See Smith: Memory Map | Seattle Art Museum
New Americans
 On national citizenship day I helped out at citizenship clinic in Georgetown
HBD to an original Amigo
 I also got to join in the festivities for former King County Councilmember and Current Legend, Larry Gossett's birthday.
Serve on the Regional Homelessness Authority Board
 The King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) is currently seeking passionate and dedicated individuals to join their Implementation Board and Governing Committee.
Apply here: https://kcrha.org/news-call-for-applications-board-vacancies-at-kcrha/
Maury Island Open Space Site - Public Comment Period
 Ecology invites you to review an amendment to the legal agreement with King County that addresses contamination at the Maury Island Open Space cleanup site. The site is now referred to as the “Maury Island Natural Area” by King County. As of December 2023, King County has already completed the first two cleanup phases of the Cleanup Action Plan.
The procedural amendments to the legal agreement include:
- The final 2019 Cleanup Action Plan and an updated schedule of deliverables to complete the remaining phases.
- An Environmental Covenant to restrict land uses on the site such as maintaining the capped roads and trails and not disturbing contaminated soil without Ecology permission.
- Updated legal language to comply with updated applicable laws.
Review starts: February 26, 2024
Review ends: March 26, 2024
To comment: Maury Island Open Space: Legal Agreement Amendment (commentinput.com)
More info can be found here: Maury Island Open Space - (1532) (wa.gov)
Support Senior Centers RFP
 The SE 1 Support Senior Centers RFP focuses on providing foundational support to a network of Senior Centers across the county so that they are well positioned to be inclusive, vibrant gathering spaces for Seniors and their caregivers. For more information about this RFP, please visit http://www.zoomgrants.com/zgf/vshslse1.
Proposals Due: March 13, 2024 by 2:00 PM
Annie Phiilips
 I want to start this section off by recognizing the life and contributions of Annie Phillips who passed away last month. Annie was the mother of one of my good friends growing up in middle school and high school, Allison Philips. I have great memories of Annie starting with sleepovers at her house, driving to science summer camp, and to getting her advice and direction on environmental justice policies as recently as last year. A fierce advocate in the 33rd and 34th Legislative Districts, she will be greatly missed but her legacy will persist!
The B-Town Blog's Obituary of Annie is here: OBITUARY: Anne Langham Whitfield Phillips passed away on Feb. 15 - The B-Town (Burien) Blog (b-townblog.com)
Mobarak Adam
 It has also been a little over a month since Mobarak Adam was killed at the SW Athletic Center. My office joined in standing with the community to call for an end to this senseless gun violence.
Justine Cline
 I'm also saddened to end this Teresa Tuesday on another somber note, but a stalwart community leader, Justine Cline of Full Tilt Ice Cream has passed away after suffering a heart attack several weeks ago. Justine was always quick to help support local non-profits with a donation of incredible ice cream, and he will be sorely missed. Here is the statement from the family:
"It is with absolutely broken hearts that we share that our beloved friend Justin has moved on to the great ice cream shop in the sky.
Justin died around 6:00 am on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024 at Valley Medical Center. At every step along the way, Valley staff did an incredible job monitoring and managing his ever-changing condition, and taking every possible step to give him excellent care.
Ann, Moss and Ruby, their family and friends, and the entire staff and community of Full Tilt are grieving this loss. Justin will be missed by so many, because he touched so very many people in his life. The number of stories of connections and care that we have heard this past month has been incredible. We have loved hearing all the large and small ways that Justin’s open, giving nature has positively impacted the community as a whole and hundreds of individual lives.
Right now Ann and the kids are understandably distraught and overwhelmed with this tragedy. We understand that everyone wants to connect with Ann, share their memories and stories of Justin, and offer love and comfort. However, the community Justin built around himself is so large and deeply connected that we imagine the outpouring of love could become overwhelming for Ann.
We have created a list of ways that the community can support Ann, Moss and Ruby in this time.
* Continue giving to the GoFundMe to support Justin’s family during this time. Ann’s financial needs will only increase as she navigates this shift to single-parenting and keeping Full Tilt afloat.
* Send your memories, stories, artworks, and photos of or inspired by Justin to justininmemoriam at gmail.com. We will be compiling the stories, photos, memories, artworks into a book for Ann and the kids. If possible, title your email “contribution” to help us manage the inbox.
* Email justininmemoriam at gmail.com to offer any practical support you would like – either with your ideas for support you’d like to offer or an open offer for whatever Ann may need. Ann’s friends will be monitoring this inbox and will connect with Ann to see what kinds of supports are needed as time goes on. If possible, please title your email “support” to help us manage the inbox.
* Continue to visit Full Tilt when you can. Every scoop you enjoy, every round of pinball, and every beer you share with a friend helps keep Justin’s family and employees going.
* Hug your people and tell them you love them.
* Consider ways you can support your community. Justin’s store, his heart, and his time were open for those who needed him. Our communities are better when we are community builders.
* Get CPR certified. Ann was able to save Justin’s life the night of his heart attack because she knew how to perform CPR. A couple of hours of your time could save a life. cpr.heart.org/en or redcross.org
We will share more information as services are planned and needs are realized.
Thank you all for your love and support, for all you’ve done this past month and all you will continue to do to help hold Justin’s family, friends, Full Tilt family and community close. We all wish Justin were here to hug each and every one of you."
 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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