On Monday, King County cautiously moved into Phase 2 of the state?s reopening plan.
While?I know that this comes as welcome news to many of us who are eager to support our favorite local restaurants and businesses,?we must all remain vigilant?-?the high level of cases and the emergence of the new variants are cause for concern for our region.?I?will continue to watch these numbers closely with?Public Health and King County.??
I have been working closely with our small businesses, and I know that predictability is important. Specifically I am concerned?about?the unpredictability of these new variants that could lead to the Puget Sound region going backwards in the upcoming weeks if?our?residents and businesses do not continue to take public health precautions seriously.??
These?new?variants?spread?faster, but the same things?that have helped to slow the spread of this?virus still work.?This means?we all?still need to continue wearing masks, practice social distancing, and follow all public health guidance?-?even as?the City continues our vaccination efforts.??
With its weekly 1,000?Moderna?dose allocation from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH),?our?Seattle Fire Department?Mobile Vaccination Teams have vaccinated some of the most vulnerable Seattle residents and workers. Despite the limited vaccines, our mobile teams can focus on addressing disparities in our community?and thus far, they have vaccinated more than 3,000 residents. Our teams are?ready and able to vaccinate more eligible workers and vulnerable older adults, supply permitting.???
We know that Seattle?s road to reopening and economic recovery starts with vaccinations, and Seattle has a plan to be able to vaccinate every resident while ensuring the vaccine is easy and equitable for our City?s workers and residents. ?
Me ? like most Seattle residents ? are frustrated by the limited supply of vaccinations?for now.??I encourage everyone to utilize the in-language website,?www.seattle.gov/vaccine, where Seattle residents can find information regarding the progress of the vaccination effort in Seattle and can sign up for weekly vaccination updates from the City.??
We will get through this challenging time together.?As always, please continue to write me at?[email protected], reach out via?Twitter?and?Facebook, and stay up-to-date on the work we?re doing for the people of Seattle on?my blog.????
Vaccines are in limited supply?and?how many doses Seattle gets and who gets them is determined by the state and federal government.?Washington State Department of Health?developed an?eligibility timeline?that aims to reduce hospitalizations and death and slow the spread of COVID-19. The state also created?FindYourPhaseWA.org?(available in English and Spanish) that will alert you when you're eligible to get vaccinated based on your age, health conditions, and where you work.??
You can also subscribe to our COVID-19 vaccination newsletter for weekly updates on eligibility criteria, vaccination progress in Seattle and King County, and new City of Seattle vaccination efforts.?
Sign up?here?to receive updates.??
Mayor Jenny? Durkan issued the following statement on the selection of Regina Cannon as the first CEO of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA). Today, Ms. Cannon was unanimously selected by the KCRHA Implementation Board and the Governing Committee.??
?Today we?ve reached a critical milestone in our efforts to address the humanitarian crisis facing our region. With the unanimous selection of Regina Cannon as the new King County Regional Homelessness Authority CEO we demonstrated the ability to come together to address one of our most challenging issues,? said Durkan.?
With Weekly 1,000 Dose Allocation, City of Seattle to Vaccinate Older Adults in Congregate Permanent Supportive Housing, Host Pop-Up Vaccination Clinic with Ethiopian Community in Seattle?
Mayor Jenny Durkan today announced the upcoming focus for the Seattle Fire Department Mobile Vaccination Teams. With its weekly 1,000?Moderna?doses from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), from this Tuesday through next Monday the City will vaccinate adults living in congregate permanent supportive housing, older adults living in affordable housing buildings, and will host pop-up vaccination clinic in partnership with the Ethiopian Community in Seattle. In total, the City has vaccinated 2,436 vulnerable Seattle residents and workers since launching its vaccination effort on January 14, 2021.?
Mayor?Jenny?Durkan has announced a proposal to invest $23.7 million in funding back into an array of transit service and mobility improvements consistent with the will of Seattle voters when they supported?Seattle Transportation Benefit District (STBD Proposition 1).?These funds represent the amount collected but held in reserve while the?Washington?Supreme Court considered the legality of the Tim?Eyman?s?Initiative 976 (I-976).???
The U.S. Department of Justice?s Civil Rights Division has dropped its inquiry into the City of Seattle?s racial equity training for City employees. The investigation was launched under U.S. Attorney General William Barr to investigate whether the City?s training violated the Civil Rights Act.??
Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes said, ?This was a politically motivated investigation both without merit and without heart. City employees were not and are not excluded from participating in voluntary training sessions because of their racial self-identification. My gratitude to Assistant City Attorney?Zahraa?Wilkinson who represented the Office for Civil Rights during this fruitless investigation. I?m thrilled to have it in the rearview mirror.??
Employees of large grocery businesses in Seattle will earn and additional $4 per hour?
The City of Seattle announces the new temporary, emergency?Grocery Employee Hazard Pay Ordinance (GEHP), which?will take effect Wednesday, February 3, 2021 upon signature by Mayor Jenny Durkan. Under the temporary law, grocery store businesses that employ more than 500 employees worldwide are required to pay hazard pay of $4 per hour to their employees during the COVID-19 emergency.???
SDOT crew members installing a 25 MPH sign
As we start the new year, we want to celebrate our key accomplishments from 2020 that elevate community safety and support Seattle?s long-term?Vision Zero?initiative to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets by 2030, and also acknowledge there?s more work to be done.?
A year ago, Mayor Durkan announced?significant actions?in support of Vision Zero, including citywide changes to speed limits and additional investments to improve streets that have a history of high injury or deadly crashes. Despite the challenging year brought about by COVID-19, we?ve been able to deliver on a number of these efforts.?
Trader Joe?s has responded to the Seattle City Council?s recently passed mandate for large grocery stores within the city to raise pay by $4 for their front-line employees.?
The grocer known for its quirky culture and unique offerings is raising pay for all its employees nationwide, albeit only temporarily.?
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