 | Here is your Mayor's update, some COVID-19 information, some other useful information! Please forward as widely as you would like.
I want to hear from you, contact me anytime. If you're reading this because it was forwarded to you, or you saw it on Facebook and would like to receive it yourself, email here to subscribe | In the last three weeks, Snohomish County has seen an increase from about 42 COVID cases per 100,000 population to 72 cases per 100,000. There is also a new snapshot available here (remember those look two weeks back, so the numbers are slightly different).The majority of our new cases are the result of too many people in close settings, especially without face coverings. “Without a doubt, wearing face coverings, maintaining distance, and avoiding gatherings prevent spread, reduced hospitalizations, and save lives,” said Dr. Chris Spitters, Health Officer for the Health District. “These are all proven strategies that work, and it is incumbent on all of us to keep at it. Our school-age students, businesses and vulnerable adults are counting on us.” The recommended cutoff for restarting elementary school is 75 cases/100,000. If we want our kids to go back to school... anyways; broken record, and I know readers of this email get this stuff! So, keep modeling good behavior (and if you know you made a different choice lately, there is always the next event to avoid or to conduct via phone!). | Yesterday, I re-issued a proclamation honoring Indigenous People's Day. This day had previously been recognized as Columbus Day but has recently been reclaimed as Indigenous People’s Day to celebrate and acknowledge the fact that Native people are the first inhabitants of the Americas and that their ancestors have been here since time immemorial.
As noted in the proclamation, the City supports closing the equity gap for Indigenous Peoples through polices and practices that reflect the experiences of Indigenous Peoples, ensure greater access and opportunity, and honor our nation’s indigenous roots, history and contributions. | Vandalism Provides a New Opportunity We discovered today that the 1931 monument located at Rosehill Community Center which commemorated the signing of the Point Elliott Peace Treaty was defaced and the plaque was stolen (HistoryLink article about the monument). The Point Elliott Treaty has a complex history of broken promises along with providing rights that the Tribes have fought to retain and protect. "Tribal leaders, including those representing the Lummi, Muckleshoot, Nooksack, Sauk-Suiattle, Stillaguamish, Suquamish, Swinomish, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skykomish and Upper Skagit tribes, marked X’s beside their names on the treaty. In doing so, they ceded almost all of their land in exchange for the continued right to fish, hunt and gather as they always had, as well as health care and education for tribal members.Tribal members were relocated to reservations, and those from the Snohomish, Snoqualmie and Skykomish tribes, along with allied bands, became known as the Tulalip Tribes." (source: Northwest Treaty Tribes) The actual treaty is still displayed for a short time longer at the Hibulb Cultural Center. On the walls of the Hibulb Cultural Center, a quote looms over the Point Elliott Treaty’s display case: “Do not touch the magic stick to the white man’s paper! We do not know what the white man has written on that paper! Let him sign his own paper, not ours,” said Squssum, a Snoqualmie leader who witnessed the 1855 signing. The signing location itself has an important significance in our shared history with the northwest Tribes. I believe this act of vandalism can provide an opportunity to spur our community forward into a new conversation. I hope that we can find a different way to explain and acknowledge that history at this site in Mukilteo. I plan to work on this effort moving forward. Housing Action Plan The consultant developing the Housing Action Plan, a plan focused on city policies, is about to start meeting with a small workgroup, called the Stakeholder Advisory Group. Their first meeting is on October 15 at 4pm (more details here). It will be streamed here (no Facebook account needed), and you can find the zoom link on the agenda here. Bike and Pedestrian Count- Volunteers Needed The Washington State Bicycle and Pedestrian Count is back! It's happening this fall on October 20, 21 and 22 at a street or trail near you. To sign up today, head to: bikepedcount.wsdot.wa.gov
At the last count 425 caring neighbors volunteered across 431 sites in 46 cities throughout Washington state. This is your chance to be a part of a statewide data-collection effort that will inform decisions about funding for sidewalks, trails, and bike lanes in communities all across Washington state, including yours.
Volunteers choose either a morning (7 to 9 a.m.) or evening (4 to 6 p.m.) shift and choose from the designated locations to document the pedestrians and bicyclists who pass by. After signing up, every volunteer receives detailed instructions. Sign up to volunteer today!: bikepedcount.wsdot.wa.gov Mukilteo Monthly You might be on their mailing list, but if not, check out this month's Mukilteo Monthly. They highlight the Citizen of the Year, Dode Carlson, a story I shared last month about one of our firefighters, and a fun back to school story about Mukilteo's history. Great Washington ShakeOut still happening Oct. 15 The Great Washington ShakeOut will still be happening at 10:15 a.m. on Oct. 15, although it’s likely going to look a little different. Due to COVID-19, work environments continue to adapt and change. Some schools and colleges are still operating completely online. It seems like every day, we are confronting new challenges. All while earthquakes are still happening.
One thing's for sure: We all still need to practice drop, cover and hold on because an earthquake can strike without warning.
Use #ShakeOut on social media to share your experience practicing drop, cover and hold on. In September, the state also launched a new Prepare in a Year guide, which you can use to take one step a month for the next year to get prepared. Did you run out of toilet paper in March? Our guide has tips to help to re-prepare so you make sure you’re two weeks ready for any emergency.
While some ShakeOut drills and other activities may happen as always, there are some new considerations:
• Where will you all be for your drill? Together, or some at work, school or home? Consider video-conferencing!
• How will you incorporate COVID-19 health and safety guidelines into your activity?
• Is it better to have everyone participate all at once, or perhaps in staggered (or even repeated) dates and times?
Registration isn’t required, but helps the state keep a count on who is participating. Please register at shakeout.org/washington/ | Childcare Options Snohomish County is offsetting a portion of the child care costs for families at the YMCA – Snohomish County and Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The county’s COVID child care partners promise that no child will be turned away for inability to pay. Learn more here. Small business resiliency grants now available The state Department of Commerce is now accepting applications for Community Small Business Resiliency grants. Successful grant applicants are eligible for up to $10,000. Apply now through October 28 at noon.
Applications can be found here.
Businesses must meet these criteria:
• In operation since at least March 1, 2019
• Have more than 20 payroll (full-time or part-time) employees as of March 1, 2020. | Schools urged to pause on plans for more in-person instruction Superintendents at school districts in Snohomish County are being urged to pause on any plans to expand in-person learning opportunities.
Dr. Chris Spitters, Health Officer at the Snohomish Health District, on Monday emailed guidance to school leaders asking them to not move ahead now on any plans to bring in additional students. He also stressed that, at this time, there is no need to go backward at schools that have started to bring in students in kindergarten to third grade, or those with special needs.
Shawn Frederick, Administrative Officer for the Health District, told a virtual press conference Tuesday that the rising COVID cases appear to be the result of too many people choosing to gather in close settings, particularly without wearing face coverings.
“Our staff are inundated with reports of 50 to 70 new cases each day, and given this new case rate and how close it is to the 75 per 100,000 threshold for high risk in the Department of Health decision tree for schools, Dr. Spitters did have guidance that was shared with the schools yesterday,” he said.
Schools “don’t need to move backwards if they’ve started to bring special needs students and students in grades K-3 back, but they shouldn’t bring any additional students in at this time,” Frederick added. “We’ll monitor daily case counts this week and see what next Monday’s new case rate is and then talk with the schools again during our bi-weekly call next Tuesday on Oct. 20.” Phone reassurance program available for dementia caregivers during COVID The COVID Listen Line is a phone reassurance program in Snohomish County for family caregivers supporting a loved one with dementia. Many are facing increased stress and isolation due to the pandemic. Call to:
• Have a casual and friendly conversation with someone who understands what you’re going through.
• Talk about how things are going for you during the pandemic and connect to resources as needed.
• Discuss coping strategies and ways to focus on your health and mental health during this difficult time.
COVID Listen Line (206) 529-3890
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. State urges homeowners to check mortgage if not making payments during COVID-19 Make sure you know whether you are in forbearance status or if your lender/servicer considers you to be in default and intends to begin the foreclosure process when the foreclosure moratorium ends. If you need help understanding the language used in your mortgage documents, the Washington Homeownership Resource Center offers resources to help you do that here
If you have a forbearance, it’s going to expire at some point and the missed payments will have to be made up. When it ends depends on a number of factors, including: who owns your loan (the Federal Housing Finance Administration [Fannie, Freddie], HUD, or a private investor), what your current and expected income situation is, and the specific terms of your loan.
There are many homeowners in forbearance and loan servicers for all loan types are working to address inquiries from borrowers. Take some time now to carefully review your mortgage statements and any communications you have received from your servicer. Go to their web page to see if they provide information about repayment options following forbearance.
Talk to a housing counselor by calling the Washington Homeownership Hotline at 1-877-894-HOME (4663) for specific assistance with your mortgage and your circumstances. Talk to DFI’s Mortgage Assistance Team at 1-877-RING-DFI (746-4334) to get assistance with how best to contact your mortgage servicer, and to learn more about your options. New Counties Move to Phase 2 Gov. Inslee announced today that five more counties are moving to Phase 2 of the Safe Start reopening plan and the establishment of the Washington Recovery Group. The counties moving to Phase 2 are Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, and Yakima.
Housed under the Office of Financial Management, the Washington Recovery Group is charged with making sure the state is planning the long term recovery from COVID-19 the right way. The group will focus on coordinating resources, improving efficiency and updating how state agencies can best serve the people of Washington. I'll be checking it out and will keep you informed! | This month, the Snohomish Conservation District is celebrating Orcatober and has several events all month long to celebrate. Before COVID, Snohomish Conservation District would host in-person events to help restore habitats for Chinook salmon to help foster their numbers, and also to help our orca populations since salmon is their primary food source. This year, the Conservation District has provided self-guided tours and suggestions for restoration projects that people can do on their own. Check out this web page for more information and to see if there is a restoration project near you. | Did you know that the ancient Greeks voted with pebbles? One of the earliest depictions of the act of voting appears on a fifth century Greek wine cup. Voters (adult male citizens) deposited a pebble into the urn of their choice. According to the Getty Museum, “In ancient Greece a pebble was called a psephos, which gives us the dubious term psephology, the scientific study of elections. Another modern word, ballot, preserves this ancient history of bean-counting: it comes from medieval French ballotte, a small ball.” If you're an HGTV watcher, you can register by email for the Master Builder's Association Remodeled Homes Tour. As they pitch it, this tour—featuring 18 amazing homes spanning King and Snohomish counties—is not just another Zoom meeting. Take in the finest craftsmanship and the latest remodeling trends throughout the day on October 24 as you explore stunning homes without leaving your own. Each virtual home tour is fully interactive, featuring floor plans, highlights, and direct video chat with the builder. It's all free, and you can register at this link. | Lighthouse Park, Edgewater Beach and 92nd Street Park reopened on May 5. Bathrooms are open only at Lighthouse Park 7am-7pm. Playgrounds are now open, with warnings about cleaning schedules and advise to use at your own risk posted. Trails and sidewalks continue to be open for your physical activity! Please respect physical distance of six feet, and put your face covering on as you pass others. All City Facilities closure: City operations will continue via primarily phone, email and online. The public is encouraged to call (425) 263-8000 for assistance with City services or visit our website at www.mukilteowa.gov. Government services are not slated to reopen until Phase 3 of the new reopening plan, which is mid-June at the earliest. For more information on city facilities, see this link. | Current case count is 152 confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases identified in Mukilteo (4 new cases), and 126 individuals who are recovered. County and city case counts are available at this link, updated each weekday at 2pm. | | |
