Also in this edition: First Major Fall Storm System



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As we continue to be one of the most vaccinated cities in American with the lowest cases, hospitalizations and deaths, we are seeing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge across our region and country driven primarily by unvaccinated individuals in the region and state.  

It’s clear that we must act now – and act boldly – to change the trajectory of the virus and keep our communities safe. That’s why King County is issuing a Local Health Order to implement a vaccination verification policy across our region to keep our residents and businesses open and safe.  

Beginning October 25, 2021, across King County, customers will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or negative test within 72 hours, to enter:  


* *Outdoor events* with 500 people or more (such as professional and collegiate sports and entertainment events)  
* *Indoor recreational events or establishments* regardless of size (such as professional and collegiate sports, performing arts and live music venues, movie theaters, museums, gyms, and conventions)  
* *Restaurants and bars. *This does not apply to outdoor dining, take-out customers, and places that aren’t primarily used for indoor dining such as grocery stores. Small restaurants and bars, defined as those with seating capacity for less than 12 people, will phase in on December 6, 2021.  

We know that vaccination requirements are an effective tool to decrease COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. An analysis from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation found that the vaccine verification policy at restaurants, bars and gyms/fitness centers alone could have a significant positive impact, preventing between 17,900 and 75,900 infections, 421 and 1,760 hospitalizations and 63 and 257 deaths locally over six months with the order in place. You can find more information on this new King County policy at www.kingcounty.gov/verify [ [link removed] ].

List of different forms of proof of vaccination. More info can be found at www.kingcounty.gov/verify [ [link removed] ]

As a City, we innovated and brought nation-leading testing and vaccination sites to our residents. Every step of way we have followed the advice of public health officials and scientists.  

The City of Seattle is proud to implement a vaccination verification policy, both for our residents, and as an employer. Vaccination verification is the right thing to do for our workers, our customers, our economy, and the health and vitality of our city.  

As always, please continue to write me at [email protected], reach out via Twitter [ [link removed] ] and Facebook [ [link removed] ], and stay up-to-date on the work we’re doing for the people of Seattle on my blog [ [link removed] ].       

Stay safe and healthy,   

Mayor Jenny Durkan's Signature________________________________________________________________________

First major Fall storm system of the season moves into Seattle this weekend

Storm safety tips to report outages, report flooding, drive safely, and sign up for AlertSeattle

Rain and gusty winds will move into Seattle on Friday, September 17 and remain in the area through the weekend, with the heaviest rain anticipated on Friday night.   

Rain and wind can lead to tree damage and power outages, and heavy rain can create hazardous driving conditions due to flooding and low visibility. Here are some tips to help you get ready for storm season: 


* Report outages by calling (206) 684-3000 
* Report flooding by calling (206) 386-1800
* Drive safely 
* Sight up for AlertSeattle [ [link removed] ] 

Read more [ [link removed] ] 
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Happening Sunday: Welcome Back Seattle Finale Concert

Happening Sunday: Welcome Back Seattle Finale Concert

September 19, we're hosting a Welcome Back Seattle finale concert at the Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center! The Vera Project will provide free screen-printing of an exclusive Welcome Back Seattle design. Local Seattle hip-hop, soul, and R'n'B artists will perform until sunset., with Adra Boo hosting!   

Due to likely rainfall, the Welcome Back Seattle Finale Concert is moving indoors to Fisher Pavilion. To support social distancing, Fisher Pavilion will not operate at full capacity, and masks and proof of full vaccination is required.

*Concert lineup:  * 


* 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.: Screen-printing with The Vera Project  
* 4:00 - 4:30 p.m.: Essam [ [link removed] ] 
* 5:00 - 5:45 p.m.: Fly Moon Royalty [ [link removed] ]  
* 6:15 - 7:30 p.m.: Sango [ [link removed] ] 

When [ [link removed] ]: Sunday, September 19, 2 - 7:30 p.m. (RSVP [ [link removed] ])  

Where [ [link removed] ]: Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109 

Read more [ [link removed] ] 
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Seattle Hosting the 2023 MLB All-Star Game

Mayor Durkan and other leaders pose for a photo at the MLB All-Star Game post

Seattle has been picked to host the All-Star game in 2023! This event will come as our brand-new waterfront opens, and with our high vaccinations and investments in downtown recovery  - Seattle ready for baseball fans to experience everything our city has to offer! 

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City of Seattle Testing Locations Administer One Million COVID-19 Tests

"Free, Accessible Testing Remains Key to Curbing Further Spread of Delta Variant" 

Mayor Jenny A. Durkan today announced that City of Seattle COVID-19 testing sites created over the pandemic have administered one million tests since beginning operations in 2020. Testing sites include fixed locations with UW Medicine in Aurora, SODO, Rainier Beach, and West Seattle, as well as seven Curative kiosks placed throughout the city. The free testing infrastructure has been used by more than one in three Seattle residents. 

Read more [ [link removed] ]  
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Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Adrian Diaz Issue Statements on Council Vote on SPD Hiring and Retention Funding

Mayor Jenny A. Durkan and Police Chief Adrian Diaz released a statement urging the Seattle City Council to support funding for a hiring and retention plan [ [link removed] ] that helps our City reimagine policing while addressing the urgent staffing crisis at the Seattle Police Department. As covered by KING5, City Council rejected funding for SPD hiring and retention efforts [ [link removed] ] at a time that SPD has lost a record number of officers.  

“We don’t need to rehash the budget debates of last year on defunding, cuts, and out of order layoffs, but as a City, we need to address the real hiring and retention challenges at the Seattle Police Department,” said Mayor Durkan. “It’s a false choice to invest in alternatives or hire and retain officers to meet our current 911 response – we have shown we can invest tens of millions in new alternatives like HealthOne, civilian Community Service Officers, and prevention programs. I urge Council to approve a plan to address our staffing crisis and give the Seattle Police Department the critical resources it needs to hire and retain officers committed to community policing and public service.” 

Read more [ [link removed] ]
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DEEL Invests In Youth Leaders To Address Bias, Hate, and Discrimination with new $100K Mini-Grant

Applications are open now for DEEL’s Youth-Led Social Justice Mini-Grant [ [link removed] ]

Calling all youth leaders ages 12-24! Are you interested in OR currently working on a project that speaks out against racism and hate in your community? The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) has a grant opportunity for you! 

Applications are open now for DEEL’s Youth-Led Social Justice Mini-Grant. Youth can apply either as individuals or as a group, with up to $8K available per awardee. Learn more and apply at: tinyurl.com/SeaSJYouthGrant [ [link removed] ] 

Read more [ [link removed] ] 
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WEEKEND READ: KUOW: Why this Seattle business owner is 'ecstatic' about King County's new vaccine rule

Photo of Cafe Lago pasta shef rolling out a very long sheet of pasta

By: Katie Campbell, Angela King, and Eilis O’Neill 

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan says  [ [link removed] ]local businesses have already been leading the way on measures like proof-of-vaccination requirements to combat the pandemic. 

Carla Leonardi owns one such business, Cafe Lago in Seattle's Montlake neighborhood. 

Leonardi says she was "ecstatic," even "euphoric" when she first learned that Seattle and King County would require patrons to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test result. [ [link removed] ] 

It's a rule she and her staff have been enforcing on their own [ [link removed] ] since early August. In fact, a collection of bars and restaurants around Seattle have required customers to show proof-of-vaccination. 

"We did worry a bit about the legal implications of it, if someone was going to be that upset at us to perhaps want to take us to court about it," she says. "But we went ahead and did it anyway. So, it's really great to have the county's support backing us up." 

She notes, however, that other local, small business owners weren't prepared to take that leap on their own. Leonardi heard some attorneys even advised against businesses implementing their own policies to avoid any risks. 

But for her, it was a choice between accepting the risk and keeping her staff safe [ [link removed] ]. 

"My staff, they were the impetus for it. They were the ones who came to me," she says. "They were more than willing to implement it ... I wouldn't have done it otherwise." 

Read more [ [link removed] ] 
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