NEWS GLEAMS: Eviction Moratorium, WA Redistricting, Flu Shots, & More!

curated by Emerald Staff

A round-up of news and announcements we don't want to get lost in the fast-churning news cycle!

ICYMI: King County's Proof of Vaccination Requirements for Recreational Activities

Last week, Public Health Officer Dr. Jeff Durchin issued a Health Order that will require people to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to participate in recreational activities in most public spaces.

From Public Health — Seattle & King County (PHSKC): "Beginning Monday, Oct. 25, people in King County will be required to show proof of vaccination in a number of public places, such as:

• Outdoor events with 500 or more people
• Indoor recreational activities of any size, such as performances, movie theaters, conferences, or gyms
• Indoors at bars and restaurants (outdoor dining, grocery stores, and take-out are exempt)."

For more reporting on PHSKC's Health Order, check out the Emerald's article "King County Will Require Proof of Vaccination at Outdoor Events, Indoor Restaurants."

Seattle Eviction Moratorium Extended

On Tuesday, Sept. 21, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that she is extending the moratoriums for residential and commercial evictions through Jan. 15, 2022, through Executive Order 2021-07. The order will also modify additional COVID-related relief measures related to utility assistance. This marks the sixth extension of the eviction moratorium as part of the COVID-19 civil emergency since March 14, 2020, when Seattle declared one of the first eviction moratoriums in the country.

The executive order continues tenant protections prohibiting landlords from issuing notices of termination or otherwise initiating eviction actions with the courts unless there is an imminent threat to the health and safety of the community. Late fees, interest, or other charges due to late payment of rent during the moratorium are not allowed. However, tenants are still legally obligated to pay rent during the moratorium, and landlords are encouraged to offer flexible payment plans. Residential tenants who receive an eviction notice during the moratorium should contact the Renting in Seattle hotline at 206‐684‐5700.

The moratorium on eviction of nonprofit and small business commercial tenants applies to independently owned businesses with 50 employees or fewer per establishment, state nonprofits, and 501(c)3) nonprofits. The extension also prevents eligible small businesses and nonprofits from incurring late fees, interest, or other charges due to late payment during the moratorium. For additional information, please see the Office of Economic Development's COVID-19 Lease Amendment Tool Kit.

Get Your Seasonal Flu Shot at a SVNA Regional School-Based Flu Clinic

The Seattle Visiting Nurse Association (SVNA), the largest community mass immunizer in Washington State, is partnering with Seattle Public Schools (SPS) to offer a series of regional school-based flu clinics for the 2021 school year.

The clinics are being held on weekends, and it's recommended that patients register for appointments as early as possible. All patients will need their own separate appointment, so for example, a family of four will need to register four appointments. Clinics will be held indoors, but SVNA have instituted COVID-19 safety measures, including social distancing, masking, and limiting the number of patients in the building.

From the SVNA: "Due to a cut in federal, state, and local funding, insurance will be required to receive no-cost flu shots. Most insurance, including Apple Health, is accepted. We are unable to accept Cigna and TriCare insurance this season. Uninsured patients will be billed for services."

South Seattle SVNA Flu Clinic Dates and Times:

• Sunday, Sept. 26
  • Louisa Boren STEM K—8, 9 a.m. — 3 p.m.
  • Garfield High School, 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. (COVID-19 vaccines will also be available at this clinic 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.)
• Friday, Oct. 1
  • John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence, 11 a.m. — 2 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 2
  • Washington Middle School, 9 a.m. — 3 p.m.
  • Chief Sealth High School, 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. (COVID-19 vaccines will also be available at this clinic 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.)
• Wednesday, Oct. 6
  • John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence, 11 a.m. — 2 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 9
  • Rainier Beach High School, 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. (COVID-19 vaccines will also be available at this clinic 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.)

To register for an appointment, fill out the SVNA Managed Vaccination Solution form and select "flu shot" for service and vaccine.

Redistricting Commission Releases Legislative District Maps

Redrawing voting districts, or redistricting, happens every 10 years (after the completion of the U.S. census) in order to ensure that the districts reflect the state's changing populations. Washington State's redistricting process is currently taking place, and on Tuesday, Sept. 21, voting commissioners of the Washington State Redistricting Commission released their first drafts of legislative district maps, and the public will be able to give feedback on these drafts on Oct. 5. Drafts of the congressional district maps will be released next Tuesday, Sept. 28, at Noon, with the public invited to give feedback on those drafts on Oct. 9.

Washingtonians are encouraged to participate in the redistricting process, and the WA State Redistricting Commission even has a webpage detailing the different ways you can ensure that the voting districts reflect your community. You can also work with organizations like Redistricting Justice for Washington, who is holding a coalition meeting about the legislative district map drafts on Friday, Sept. 24, at 2 p.m., to testify and advocate to ensure your community is represented within your voting district.

Seattle Candidate Forum: School Board and City Council Next Tuesday

Black Education Strategy Roundtable (BESR), League of Education Voters (LEV), School's Out Washington (SOWA), Southeast Seattle Education Coalition (SESEC), and Youth Development Executives of King County (YDEKC) have teamed up to host a virtual forum with the 2021 Seattle School Board and Seattle City Council candidates next Tuesday, Sept. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m.

From the hosts: "This will be a unique forum where we will bring Seattle School Board and City Council candidates together with families and community members in an interactive setting to learn more about each candidate's vision for Seattle's children and youth.

"Auto closed captioning will be available. If you have any questions or access needs/accommodations/supports (such as language interpretation), please contact vivian@allfivesinfive.org or mindy@allfivesinfive.org."

To register for this Seattle Candidates Forum, please visit bit.ly/SESECSeattleCandidateForum2021

Tasveer Film Fund Submissions Open!

Submissions for the second Tasveer Film Fund (TFF) are open! Supported by Netflix, the TFF will award three grants of $5,000 each to South Asian filmmakers in the U.S. towards making a short film, documentary, or LGBTQIA+ film. TFF grantees will also receive mentorship, networking connections, distribution advice, and the opportunity to premiere their film in Tasveer's 2022 film festival.

The deadline for script submissions is Sept. 25.

For more information, including eligibility requirements and the submission process timeline, and to apply for the TFF, visit Tasveer Festival's Film Fund webpage.

Seattle Mayoral Candidate Forum: Let's Clear the Air! on October 5

The Seattle Parks Foundation and the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/TAG present a climate/environmental justice forum with the 2021 Seattle mayoral candidates, Bruce Harrell and Lorena Gonzlez, on Tuesday, Oct. 5, from 5 to 6 p.m. The Emerald's Marcus Green will be moderating, and live attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions for the candidates.

From the hosts: "The theme of the forum will be community level climate change mitigation and racial equity and justice in greenspaces. Through this event, we will spotlight pressing environmental justice issues and the 100-year history of redlining that has perpetuated inequity in Seattle's Communities of Color. To right these wrongs and confront the climate crisis, our civic leaders need to come together and truly invest in open spaces as if our lives depend on it — because they do.

"Join us for a civic conversation with Seattle's mayoral candidates, Bruce Harrell and Lorena Gonzlez, on climate change and environmental justice. Hear their views on how city policies can address future challenges. Engage with community groups and leaders actively working on these issues. This event is presented by Seattle Parks Foundation and Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition in partnership with Seattle-area environmental and climate justice organizations."

For more information and to register for the "Let's Clear the Air" mayoral candidate forum, visit Seattle Parks Foundation and Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/TAG's Facebook event page.

Krystal Marx Withdraws From WA State Ninth Congressional District Race

On Thursday, Sept. 22, Kyrstal Marx, "a queer housing activist, Deputy Mayor of Burien, and a working-class mother of four," announced her withdrawal from the race to represent Washington State's Ninth Congressional District. In a press release, Marx indicated that she is focusing on her re-election campaign for her seat on the Burien City Council: "As a mom to one trans son and to another with type 1 diabetes, as a queer housing activist, and as someone who has experienced houselessness and chronic unemployment while being my partner's sole caregiver, I feel a sense of urgency that is missing in the halls of Congress. That being said, I realized my experience and dedication was better served in Burien on the Burien City Council, and wish to continue serving my community there."

When announcing her withdrawal, Marx also Tweeted out her support for Stephanie Gallardo's campaign for the Ninth Congressional District representative's seat.