Also in this edition: Pier



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It has been nearly six months since the first COVID-19 case was discovered in our region. Since March, our City has been at the forefront of a pandemic that has drastically changed not only our lives but the world as we know it. Our City and our region took quick action to slow the spread of the virus in our communities, but this pandemic remains a very real danger to residents all across our region. As a result, we are also facing economic devastation and job losses leading to record unemployment, an unprecedented City government shortfall of $337 million in 2020, and continued community needs like food and rent assistance.

In King County, we have seen 17,300 cases and 686 deaths including approximately 4,500 cases in Seattle and 163 deaths. While the City of Seattle is continuing to have more testing and less cases than other major cities like San Francisco and Washington D.C., we know this virus continues to disproportionately impact communities of color both through the health consequences and devastating economic impacts. In the initial days of the pandemic, in order to ensure that everyone could stay in their homes, I issued an emergency order imposing a moratorium on residential, nonprofit, and small business evictions in the City of Seattle. We also created rental assistance and grocery voucher programs. Its clearer than ever that we this crisis is not over, and that our communities still need our support.

That is why I announced that we will be extending the City of Seattles eviction moratorium through the end of this year. While the moratorium is in place in Seattle, property owners may not issue notices of termination or otherwise initiate an eviction action with the courts unless there is an imminent threat to the health and safety of the community. The order also prohibits late fees, and when paired with Governor Inslees April 16 proclamation, increases to rent and security deposits are prohibited. Tenants who receive any eviction notice during the moratorium should contact the Renting in Seattle hotline at 2066845700 or go online to submit a complaint.

My office has also been focused on many other COVID-19 issues including testing capacity last week, Seattle Fire Chief Scoggins and I announced the launch of a third Citywide testing site a walk-up location at Rainier Beach High School in South Seattle. Rainier Beach has one of the highest density BIPOC communities in Seattle. Our city test sites have surpassed 115,000 tests.

I know these are incredibly challenging times for individuals, families, and small businesses in Seattle. As we move forward, I will continue to do everything possible to get the region the resources we need to get through this pandemic and to rebuild. Most importantly, my office and I will continue to prioritize the most vulnerable among us.

Though its hard to believe, we are still towards the beginning on a long marathon, and we will get through it together. And, remember, stay home, and if you need to get out, practice social distancingour nurses, doctors, and the most vulnerable are counting on you.

Stay kind and stay healthy.

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Mayor Durkan Approves Plan for Emergency Dismantling of Pier 58, City Urges Public to Respect Barriers and Avoid Waterfront Park

Today, the City is announcing the decision to rapidly move forward with the emergency dismantling of Pier 58 as quickly as possible, following an engineering assessment showing significant shifting between the pier and the upland. After closing the pier for public safety last week, Seattle Parks and Recreation contracted with private engineering firm Seattle Structural to complete an inspection and engineering assessment. Engineers have recommend the removal of the pier within the next 90 days.

Pier 58, also known as Waterfront Park, is between the piers which hold Seattle Aquarium and Miners Landing and the Great Wheel. Removal of the pier will include planning and collaboration with these partners to protect adjoining piers and minimize impacts to these attractions and businesses.

In response to Seattle Structurals recommendation, the Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects is entering into an emergency consultant contract to design the removal of the pier and is working with Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to expedite permits. SDOT will work with all partners to expedite this process as rapidly as possible to ensure public safety, and the safety of those businesses on neighboring piers.

Pier 58 is an aging piece of infrastructure long slated for a significant overhaul. The Pier 58 replacement was already planned and funded, with removal of the existing pier and construction of a new public park pier planned for 2022. Over the past week, natural forces have accelerated the timeline for replacement. In addition to the already planned Pier 58 replacement, the Office of The Waterfront has already nearly completed work on another new public park at Pier 62 which will open later this year.

Piers and other marine structures naturally deteriorate over time, said Jess Aguirre, Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent, Weve been monitoring this structure for many years in anticipation that it would eventually need to be replaced.

Design of the Pier 58 replacement [ [link removed] ] is currently underway with the 60% milestone submittal expected this fall. Construction of a new public park pier is planned for 2022. The new pier will improve public access, create an inviting space for families, provide open views to Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains, and include a childrens playground. It will also improve the salmon habitat and migration corridor.

Pier 58 is next to the Elliot Bay Seawall, which is a separate structure that is in good shape and has not shifted. Metal plates span the joint between the seawall and the pier and are designed to accommodate movement between the two structures. Over the past several years, SDOT has invested in repairs to the seawall, while ensuring public safety through regular monitoring and maintenance.

The City anticipates having more information about removal timeline later this month and will hold a media availability at that time.

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City of Seattle Testing Sites Administer over 115,000 Tests to Track the Spread of COVID-19 in our City

Our City of Seattle COVID-19 testing sites tested more than 115,000 people. This is an incredible milestone in our efforts to increase testing in our region, and our three sites are more than 15% of the entire states testing capacity.

Under the leadership of Chief Scoggins, the City of Seattle has pioneered innovative testing programs that have been replicated across the state and country. In the initial days of the crisis, we created a site to test first responders exposed to COVID-19 and deployed our firefighters to test seniors and workers at Long Term Care Facilities, where the virus had spread rapidly due to the lack of testing.

Testing at these City of Seattle sites is free, so if are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to a family member or individual with COVID-19, please visit [link removed] [ [link removed] ]

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Mayor Durkan Proposes Fare Share Wage Ordinance to Ensure Uber and Lyft Drivers are Paid Fairly

Mayor Durkan announced today that she will transmit legislation to City Council later this month to propose a new minimum compensation standard for Uber and Lyft drivers to ensure all drivers are paid at least the Seattle minimum wage plus reasonable expenses. Preliminary analysis suggests the new wage standard would improve pay for 84 percent of drivers.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, drivers designated as essential, frontline workers have been disproportionately impacted by a lack of standard worker protections and a safety net, including unemployment and sick leave. The ordinance announced today is intended to compensate drivers at a rate that would allow for the purchase of health insurance, among other expenses.

A study by James Parrott of The New School and Michael Reich of the University of California, Berkeley [ [link removed] ] found that drivers in Seattle are making $9.73 an hour after expenses, well below the Seattle minimum wage. Using the study, Seattle will mandate that TNCs pay drivers at least $0.56 per minute plus compensation for reasonable expenses and will ensure drivers are paid for all of their time, including the time spent circling and waiting for a ride.

Read more [ [link removed] ]
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Mayor Durkan Announces Bold Action to Invest in 600 Apartments for Homeless Individuals in Response to COVID-19 Public Health Crisis

To bring more people inside during a public health crisis, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced that the City of Seattle Office of Housing is taking bold action to invest in 600 new units of permanent supportive housing in six buildings. This initiative capitalizes on Seattles expertise in funding evidence-based housing for people experiencing homelessness and will bring an unprecedented level of housing online by the end of 2021. These new homes will be in addition to the 3,700 permanent supportive housing units currently in service and over 350 units under construction that have been awarded funding.

The Office of Housing is committing approximately $60 million from the Seattle Housing Levy to be leveraged with state and federal resources to build and operate the housing. Applicants for the funds were required to deliver strict cost and time savings, achieved through partnerships with experienced builders, alternative construction methods, among other strategies. The application and funding timeline was condensed to ensure the new units will come on-line as quickly as possible only 60 days have gone by since the application was issued in June. Five organizations with long-standing expertise in addressing homelessness will provide wrap-around support services to keep people stably housed.

Read more [ [link removed] ]
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Stay Cool this Weekend with Tips from Seattle/King County Public Health

Beautiful, warmer weather is in the forecast, but we all know this summer looks and feels different. With safety measures in place for COVID, we wont be able to head to the air-conditioned comfort of movie theaters, malls, or even libraries. Pools, splash parks, and many beaches are closed. In previous summers, some cities have opened air-conditioned community spaces for the public to cool off. They wont be able to open them this summer because with COVID circulating, its too risky to have groups of people close together in an enclosed space. Leave it to COVID to put a dark cloud on a sunny day!

So this summer, well need to take other measures to cool off and be extra attentive to signs of overheating.

Read the full list of tips on Public Health Insider. [ [link removed] ]

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