Dear Friend:

As we make our way through these hot summer days, it has certainly felt a lot different without the usual festivals, backyard bbq’s, fairs, and ball games. July 20 marked six months since the very first COVID positive case was diagnosed in the United States, right here in Snohomish County. It’s been an incredibly challenging six months for so many people, and as we see the case counts and deaths continue to rise, we know that there is a ways to go. The Snohomish Health District continues to work tirelessly to track data and work closely with the State Department of Health to provide guidance and recommendations to our local leaders. The recommendations for how to stop the spread of COVID continue to remain clear: Practice social distancing, wear a mask, and exercise good hand hygiene. The sooner we can beat this virus, the sooner we can go back to seeing our family or friends without concern.  

In this newsletter I will be sharing a reminder and some information about the 2020 Census, important information about the August 4 Primary Election, equity and social justice reform updates, updates about COVID and the COVID response, resources for people who are struggling to make ends meet because of the economic downturn, and opportunities for you to get more involved in the community. 

As always, our office is here as a resource to you. This past month I was able to help answer constituent questions and solve concerns about matters ranging from unemployment claims, to fireworks bans, to race and equity issues. Paula and I are committed to being responsive and helpful. If you have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at Megan.Dunn@snoco.org. You can also call my office at 425-388-3494. 

Be Well, 

Megan 

To participate in today's primary election, ballots must be postmarked by today, or dropped off at a ballot drop box by 8pm. For voters who are unable to cast a private, independent ballot by mail, the County has Accessible Voting Units (AVUs) which are touch screen voting devices that feature large font, audio, and tactile options to assist voters in casting their ballot. To accommodate citizens who need to register and/or vote in-person for the Primary, the front door of Admin West and the lower side door of the Drewel Building (by the Public Meeting Rooms) will be open.   

Signage will indicate the services available for elections and voter registration, and anyone entering the building must wear a face mask (unless they are exempted) and practice social distancing. A security guard will be posted by each open entrance to ensure only elections customers enter the buildings.   

After the Primary Election on August 4, Admin West and the Drewel Building will be closed again to the public until further notice. If you have any questions, please contact the Elections and Voter Registration Division at 425-388-3444 or Elections@snoco.org. 

Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy, and when people experience barriers to voting, the integrity of our governmental system is compromised. Washington State removed many of the barriers by implementing a mail-in paper ballot. Because of mail-in ballots, there is less voter intimidation and suppression, and a reduction in equity concerns regarding polling stations. There are still improvements that can be made. I will be working closely with our Elections and Voter Registration Office to ensure that every eligible voter in our county has equitable access to exercise their constitutional right to vote.  

As I’m sure you have heard, the 2020 Census is up and running this year. It’s important to get an accurate census count because the numbers reported help determine federal funding allocations for our area that are based on population. They also help to determine the number of delegates that our state receives in federal elections. If you haven’t yet had a chance, please complete the census online at https://my2020census.gov. This website will be up and available until October 31.  

If you haven’t turned in your census yet, the Census Bureau is starting to deploy workers who will go door-to-door, which started Thursday, July 30, and will continue until October 31. Census takers will be wearing masks and practicing social distancing rules. They will also have the census logo visible and an ID badge. With any large undertaking like this, there are bad actors who like to scam the system. Please be aware! A census taker will never ask for your social security number, money, or anything on behalf of a political party. Here is a YouTube video in English and Spanish with more information about how to spot a scammer and keep yourself safe. You can also click on the infographic below for more information about spotting a scammer and how to report it.  

Over the past couple of months, Snohomish County and most places across the nation continue to experience upticks in COVID numbers. In March and April, people were diligent to “flatten the curve”, which we did, but as people relax on social distancing the numbers have sharply risen to levels that we haven’t seen since the initial outbreak. Governor Inslee recently released modified guidelines on Friday, and some of them are listed below:  

• The COVID-19 Translations page on the Governor’s website has recently been updated with a good number of guidance documents translated into multiple languages. This page will continue to be updated on a regular basis throughout the pandemic. 
• Today Governor Inslee announced the extension of 25 proclamations related to the state’s COVID-19 response. These cover a wide variety of topics, including unemployment benefits, the Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act, and Ratepayer Assistance and Preservation of Essential Services. You can find the full list of extensions here. 
• Today the Governor released additional guidance related to overnight group summer camps, and released clarification updates to the July 24 guidance for restaurants, taverns, breweries, wineries and distilleries as part of Washington's Safe Start phased reopening plan. You can find additional information on both updates here. 
• As Governor Inslee referenced during yesterday’s press conference, yesterday he issued a new proclamation related to the state's contact tracing efforts and personal information protection. The proclamation exempts personally identifiable information collected by COVID-19 case investigators from public disclosure. You can find additional information here. 
• On Wednesday the Governor announced the extension of a proclamation relating to protections for high-risk employees and workers' rights. This proclamation was first issued in April, and with this extension it will remain in effect through the duration of the state of emergency, or until otherwise rescinded or amended. You can find additional information here. 
• Governor Inslee announced the extension of the state’s eviction moratorium (20-19.3) through October 15.

The Snohomish Health District has been working tirelessly to help beat this virus. They have stood up mobile drive-thru testing sites across the county to help provide easy access to COVID testing. If you are experiencing COVID symptoms like fever, chills, cough, difficulty breathing, runny nose, etc, OR if you are asymptomatic and have had close contact to a confirmed case, live in a congregate setting, or work in a high risk field, you can visit this website to register for an appointment and to locate a testing site.  

These community-based testing sites are operated by the Snohomish Health District, with volunteer support from the Medical Reserve Corps. I recently volunteered with the Medical Reserve Corps to help with the COVID response. The application to become a volunteer was easy to fill out, and no prior medical experience was required for me to become part of the team. My most recent assignment was at the Health District where I screened visitors and made sure people wore masks and had appointments, this allowed our Health District staff to continue to do their important jobs! With the uptick in cases, the Medical Reserve Corps could use more team members in their volunteer pool. To read more about the process or to start the application process, please visit this webpage.  

I recently attended the 4th Annual Step-Up: Moving Racial Equity Forward Conference, which was put on by Leadership Snohomish County. I have attended the conference in the past, but this year it was held virtually and the organizers did a great job shifting online. The conference covered a number of different topics about social justice and equity, including taking deep dives on the history of systemic racism and how to identify microaggressions and white supremacy cultural norms.  

Beginning with the abhorrent reliance on slavery and taking land from indigenous tribal members, oppression of black, indigenous, and other communities of color is ingrained in the way our society and government operate. One line that was particularly powerful from the Step-Up Conference was from an attendee who said, “Race impacts life choices, which impacts life chances.” I remain committed to systematically dismantling systemic racism and striving towards an equitable and socially just Snohomish County. My office is working diligently to identify policies and procedures that disproportionately impact communities of color and addressing these inequities with meaningful change. 

I invite you to participate in this conversation with me. If you have any thoughts or suggestions regarding this matter, please email me at Megan.Dunn@snoco.org.  

I’ve been continuing to hear from constituents who have experienced delays in receiving their unemployment benefits. Many are having a difficult time making ends meet and putting food on the table. The Snohomish County SNAP-Nutrition Education Center has compiled Food Assistance Resources throughout the county. If you’re in need of food assistance, here is a link to their website which includes links to resources and an interactive map.  

If you're in need of additional services, visit https://wa211.org/ or call 211 to find information about food access and other community resources including: rent assistance, utility discounts, health care, shelter, and more. 

Many of our local farmers have also been having a tough time making ends meet as restaurants, schools, and other large entities that make meals for large crowds are not placing food orders anymore. A lot of farmers have been struggling to stay afloat while their crops don’t have a buyer. This has been particularly difficult to hear about the enormous food waste considering how many families are hungry as a result of job loss and the financial stress of COVID.  

Farmer Frog is a program through United Way of Snohomish County which has been working to connect these food crops with people in need. Each week they work with local farmers to pick up excess food and bring it to local food banks and other food providers for families who are hungry. Here is a great article from The Herald with more information. 

Thank you to Zsofia Pasztor and the amazing volunteers at Farmer Frog. I toured the farm in Paradise Valley a few years ago, you would not believe what she’s managed to grow and create at the farm. They have an aquaponic system with fish and strawberries that has taught several hundred students the nutrient cycle and low impact farming. Congratulations on the national coverage and their hard work with EastWest Food Rescue to salvage food and provide it to local food-insecure families.  

The Agriculture industry in Snohomish County is critical to our region. In preparing for the potential possibility of a food shortage, it’s important that we stay focused on bolstering our farmers to make sure that they have the resources they need to stay afloat during this tumultuous time. The US Department of Agriculture recently announced changes to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to help Snohomish County growers. Specifically, funding is now available to apple, potato, and a number of other specialty crop growers to access direct financial assistance. For more information about this funding opportunity and to see the expanded list of specialty crops which now qualify, visit this page. Producers can also go to this online portal to access the funding application.  

Recently, the Port of Everett provided an update regarding the progress of the clean-up at the former Kimberly-Clark Mill Site. The clean-up work includes removal of contaminated soil and plugging up inactive pipes. The Snohomish Health District is taking the regulatory lead on ensuring that parameters are being followed.  

The worksite clean-up is up and running again with protections in place for workers. For a more information about the site clean-up, here is a flyer that David Simpson, Commissioner of the Port of Everett, passed along with more details.  

As a staunch environmentalist with a passion for protecting our environment from toxins and pollutants, I’m glad to see that this project continues to move forward and that environmental best practices are being incorporated into the clean-up process. I also serve on the Board for the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency who is also providing recommendations and following this closely. I look forward to the continued work of the Port to restore this critical area of Everett’s waterfront.  

As more and more folks are working/schooling/socializing virtually from home, some folks in our county and state don’t have internet access due to their rural location, or their internet connection is too slow to participate in these meetings. The State Broadband Office is asking for folks to help them identify service gaps so they can address the broadband infrastructure needs in our state.  

To help in this effort, Washington residents can complete the access and speed survey found at www.broadband.wa.gov. Those with no internet access at their homes are encouraged to visit a local library or drive-in hotspot in their community, or use their mobile device to take the survey and check the “no available service” button to record their physical address. Results from this survey will help inform policy makers as the State looks to reach its goal of having universal broadband access in Washington by 2024.  

Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. It’s important to me to keep you updated on my work at the County and updates from my district. If you are in need of any assistance or if there is any county information that I can help to provide, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at Megan.Dunn@snoco.org, or with my aide at Paula.Rhyne@snoco.org. You can call our office as well at 425-388-3494 to leave a message and we’ll return your call.  

Stay Well, 

Megan