[NFBSea] FW: District 6 Town Hall // Voting // District Updates

Sat Oct 10 00:28:40 UTC 2020

Passing on for your information.

District 6 Town Hall // Voting // District Updates

Trouble seeing the message?  <https://mailchi.mp/seattle/district-6-town-hall-voting-district-updates?e=062471dd79> View this email in your browser.

Dear Neighbor, 

I'm thrilled to announce my next town hall and would be honored if you could attend. Check out the details below and follow the link to RSVP. 

Other topics in this newsletter include voting, bridges, resources for youth, information on how Seattle participates in the global community, updates on using our streets during COVID-19, and opportunities to get involved.

As always, I want to remind you that my staff and I are available to meet with you about the issues that matter to you most.  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=267a0c10b2&e=062471dd79> Click here to sign up to meet with my office. Just know that we are in budget season and are working to be responsive to thousands of people for the next several weeks.

I look forward to having you at the town hall next week. Until then, stay safe, wash your hands, and enjoy the fall!

--Dan

District 6 Updates

Town Hall

 <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=8ab6435431&e=062471dd79> 

I am excited to announce our next District 6 Town Hall! It will be held on remotely on Tuesday, October 13th starting at 5PM.

I am looking forward to answering your questions, updating you on my work, and discussing my budget priorities. 

 <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=08bc00b1e2&e=062471dd79> Please RSVP here and expect a link to submit your questions 24 hours in advance of the Town Hall. I look forward to seeing you there! 

Office Hours

You shouldn't have to go out of your way to have your voice heard at City Hall. I firmly believe that, and that's why I hold office resident office hours every week.  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=7898b41ef6&e=062471dd79> Please use this form to schedule a time to meet <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=55de8faaf3&e=062471dd79> . Note: In order to respect constituents' time, everyone requesting a meeting during office hours will be scheduled in advance.

I look forward to hearing your perspective and talking with you! 

Time to Vote!

Election day is almost here! Our friends over at King County Elections have a goal of hitting 90% voter turnout, a new record that would top 2012's 85% turnout. So lets #hit90! 

Here are some helpful tips to make sure you're ready to cast your vote by November 3rd:

1) Get registered!
Go to  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=f07a36f21b&e=062471dd79> VoteWA.gov or  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=167e537fec&e=062471dd79> visit the Washington Secretary of State Elections page to begin or check on your current registration status. The deadline to register to vote online or return a paper registration form by mail is Monday, October 26. You can also register the day of the election in-person. 

2) Important Dates 

*	October 14 – Ballots mailed
*	October 15 – Drop boxes open
*	October 19 – Voters should have their ballot in hand by the 10/19 mail delivery
*	October 26 – Deadline for online and mail voter registration
*	November 3 – Election Day! Drop boxes close at 8 p.m. sharp or ballots must be postmarked by today
*	November 23 – Final day to return the form to cure a challenge/fix a signature issue
*	November 24 – Certification Day, marks the official end of vote counting

3) Make a Plan: 

*	Life is busy and creating a vote plan can help make sure you get your ballot in on time - you can use the template available  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=dc3d39a0dc&e=062471dd79> here.
*	Vote early! Voting early means that you can provide a more meaningful set of initial results on Election Night.

4) Returning your Ballot
We are fortunate to have access to safe and secure options to return our ballots. You can either mail or drop your ballot off at a secure drop box. 

Find your nearest drop box  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=9283faad82&e=062471dd79> here. There are 73 across the county.  

District 6 has two specific locations: 

*	Ballard Branch Library
Corner of NW 57th St and 22nd Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
*	Green Lake Community Center 
7201 East Green Lake Drive North
Seattle, WA 98115

Voting in person is available during COVID-19, please note: 

*	Given the pandemic, King County Elections is encouraging people to vote from home so we can keep lines and crowds down and voters and staff safe. 
*	 <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=1fd983827f&e=062471dd79> There are seven in-person voting centers that can be found here.

Find out about other options and resources available  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=fef7c1020a&e=062471dd79> here.

Golden Gardens Drive Opening to Cars

The Golden Gardens Dr. NW Keep Moving Street is now closed to pedestrian only traffic and is reopened to vehicles. As a part of SDOT’s Keep Moving Streets program, both Golden Gardens Drive and W. Green Lake Way N. were closed to vehicles to accommodate the social distancing requirements of COVID-19 so people could utilize streets to walk, roll, or run during quarantine. W. Green Lake Way N. will remain open to people walking, rolling, and biking until the  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=e5f6264cce&e=062471dd79> Small Crafts Center parking lots reopen.

For Stay Healthy Streets, you spoke and SDOT listened. After questions and concerns from Seattle residents, SDOT is in the process reviewing and summarizing the over 9,000 online survey responses and getting ready to host additional feedback sessions in October and November before they make the final determination on what streets will remain permanent Stay Healthy Streets. SDOT will center the experiences of our BIPOC communities and the people most effected by the Stay Healthy Streets closures.

The city doesn't always get it right the first time, and that's ok. I am happy to see that our City is taking a step back to hear your feedback before making the final decision to keep these streets permanently closed. They are also interested in hearing about what other ideas you have to potentially add more streets to the program. Their goal is to have up to 20 miles of permanent Stay Healthy Streets in place by Summer 2021.

Learn more about the Stay Healthy Streets in Ballard and Greenwood on their  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=aebf84a992&e=062471dd79> website and email your thoughts to  <mailto:StayHealthyStreets at Seatte.gov> StayHealthyStreets at Seatte.gov. 

BNSF Bridge #4 - Salmon Bay Bridge

You may remember that previously, BNSF planned a newer and larger replacement for Salmon Bay - Bridge #4. Recently, BNSF updated their plans to keep the iconic bridge in place and will choose instead, to retrofit the existing structure. 

Now, the century-old Salmon Bay Rail Bridge is in the preliminary design phase to complete much needed maintenance work. BNSF Railway has been exploring how to address the failing counterweight system that experiences tremendous wear from frequent openings to accommodate marine traffic. They are investing in a path forward that results in the lowest environmental and community impacts. BNSF anticipates submitting permit applications soon, so stay tuned.  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=7892825457&e=062471dd79> To learn more and stay updated, check out their page on The Salmon Bay Rail Bridge Project.

Salmon Bay Park Opportunity for Input

The Salmon Bay Park play area is getting an update and the Seattle Parks Department wants to hear from you regarding the planned renovations.  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=11533f23a9&e=062471dd79> Check out their webpage if you are interested in submitting feedback and reading about the background and the goals of the project. They are currently in the planning phase, so please submit your feed back as soon as possible.  

Across the City

Seattle Parks Play Areas Re-opening

Beginning October 6th, all Seattle Parks play areas reopened to the public. The Seattle Parks and Recreation staff, with support from the Washington State Department of Health and Seattle King County Public Health, created some guidelines that can keep us all safe while using these spaces. Safety Guidelines include:

*	Play equipment is open to five or fewer kids at a time.
*	Stay home if you are sick or if anyone in your family is sick.
*	Please wash your child’s hands before and after play.  
*	All children over the age of two must wear a mask.  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=1b46da4aec&e=062471dd79> See here for mask information and exception because of disability. 
*	Give yourself and others at least six feet of space.   

Note: play areas are not regularly sanitized or cleaned.  

 <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=c00c11b496&e=062471dd79> Please check out Seattle Parks blog here for more information on best practices for using our parks during COVID-19.

We cannot allow play areas to be places where COVID-19 is spread, so we need folks to use these spaces safely.  

For questions or concerns please email  <mailto:PKS_info at seattle.gov> PKS_info at seattle.gov  

New Works by Seattle, City of Literature

In 2017, Seattle was selected by  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=44fd6da204&e=062471dd79> the United Nations Education, Science, and Culture (UNESCO), to participate in their Creative Cities Network as a City of Literature. Since then, our literary community has taken to heart fulfilling UNESCO's vision producing international bodies of work, connecting with writers and artists worldwide, and carving out a place for Seattle in the conversation about how art and culture shape a healthy city. 

This month, Seattle’s City of Literature published ‘Seismic,’ a collection of essays in which contributing writers were asked to consider what the UNESCO designation means for our City and how literature might be an agent of change.

 <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=46f2e11b6a&e=062471dd79> Visit the Seattle City of Literature page to learn more about their work, the UNESCO designation. 

School-Based Health Centers Expansion

 <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=64693b4124&e=062471dd79> 

 <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=4092c4af53&e=062471dd79> School-Based Health Centers are already available at most Seattle Public middle and high schoo <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=7458028502&e=062471dd79> ls and we are fortunate to have one at Ballard High School already in operation. I am encouraged to hear the Department of Education and Early Learning investments is expanding with four additional school-based health centers to include Robert Eagle Staff Middle School, Meany Middle School, Lincoln High School, and Nova High School.

This investment is an excellent way to provide this critical service to students and equitable access to healthcare this fall. Even though students are remote learning this school year, they are still able to access health centers onsite at school, at a community-based clinic, through the web, or by a phone-based telehealth service.

Thank you Seattle Public Health of King County for collaborating in this effort with Seattle Public Schools to ensure access is maintained for all students regardless of remote learning.

To learn more about the work of the Department of Education and Early learning and check out resources for parents and students during COVID-19, please visit  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=5365eec7a2&e=062471dd79> www.seattle.gov/education.

Speaking of Bridges.... City Wide

Seattle needs a strategic approach to maintaining the many vehicle and pedestrian bridges we all rely on everyday. In the  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=2a3b4b658c&e=062471dd79> City of Seattle Auditors report released i <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=78d1839c70&e=062471dd79> n September, it's clear that we are underspending to maintain our valuable bridge infrastructure. 

Highlights from the report include: 

*	Of the 77 vehicle bridges SDOT owns and operates: 

*	22 are in good condition
*	50 are in fair condition
*	5 are in poor condition including: 

*	Fairview Avenue N (in the process of being replaced)
*	Magnolia
*	2nd Ave S. Ext
*	University (counted as two bridges)

*	We are currently spending $6.6 million a year to maintain our bridges when it's recommended we spend $34 million a year
*	The average age of our bridges is 70 years
*	SDOT needs to develop a strategic bridge preservation program

 <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=e93c0e925a&e=062471dd79> The presentation begins at the 50 minute mark and  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=8874b7b929&e=062471dd79> you can access the slides from the presentation to Council here. It's imperative for the livability, transportation, and the safety of our residents to ensure our bridges are in good working order and replaced once they reach the end of their useful life. The current realities of COVID and the budget impacts are daunting, but I know we can come up with a good solution. I look forward to working on this!

Other notable topics from this meeting include and update presentation on the  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=27170f3a7b&e=062471dd79> Internet for All initiative and the long anticipated  <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=c7b69e006a&e=062471dd79> Rapid Ride G-line network expansion.  

Free Stay Healthy Block Permits

I am excited to announce Stay Healthy Blocks, which are a terrific opportunity for community-based organizations and non-profits to create more temporary outdoor recreation space. This is an example of our city departments continuing to look for and implement creative solutions to help us cope with the realities of COVID-19. The program goes live on October 19, 2020 and SDOT will be soliciting feedback from residents about the success of this idea. 

 <https://seattle.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11a79978ca7225050bfabf7ad&id=461b0b4aa0&e=062471dd79> Please visit SDOT's city page to take a survey and learn more about this new opportunity.  

If you need assistance, please reach out to my office: 

*	For all issues - email me at:  <mailto:Dan.Strauss at seattle.gov> Dan.Strauss at seattle.gov
*	For small businesses - Peter Nguyen:  <mailto:Peter.Nguyen at seattle.gov> Peter.Nguyen at seattle.gov
*	For housing and food assistance - Amanda Pleasant-Brown:  <mailto:Amanda.Pleasant-Brown2 at seattle.gov> Amanda.Pleasant-Brown2 at seattle.gov
*	For emerging issues - Noah An:  <mailto:Noah.An at seattle.gov> Noah.An at seattle.gov

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