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HomeMy WebLinkAbout010421_electronic_CorrFrom:ptcodt@mg2.lglcrm.net on behalf of "Brian Anderson" To:jeffbocc Subject:Olympic Discovery Trail - A Year of Challanges & Successes Date:Wednesday, December 16, 2020 4:42:05 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. 2020 A Year of Challenges & Successes In 2020, many of us spent time on the Olympic Discovery Trail to renew our energy and spirit. Multi-use trails have seen a 60% increase in use during the pandemic1, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy recently reported. Getting out on the trail has been a lifesaver for many of us. The Olympic Discovery Trail also helps to revitalize our communities as we continue to adapt to this year’s crisis. Now, before the year ends, join us as we continue the work to complete the Olympic Discovery Trail. Each additional mile helps improve our health and well-being. 1. DONATE TODAY to support the Peninsula Trails Coalition. PTC leads the way and works with local government trail developers on the design, construction, and maintenance of the 137-mile Olympic Discovery Trail which is now the west end of the Great American Rail-Trail, a 3,700-mile trail from Washington DC to our ODT and the Pacific Ocean at La Push. 2. RENEW or BECOME A MEMBER and discover more ways to volunteer, connect and engage. About 90 of the ODT’s 137 miles are now complete. In 2020, 9.5 miles were finished which took the Great American Rail-Trail to its 2,000 miles completed mark! A great accomplishment to celebrate! 3. FOLLOW US on Facebook and share stories there with other friends. Facebook is a great place to find updates, and to learn about trail adoptions and work parties. Together, we can arrive at the Pacific Ocean Thank you for supporting your Olympic Discover Trail. Stay Safe Out There. 2020 Trail Building Campaign • News • Letterhead Header 1 https://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2020/october/23/americans-urged-to-recreateresponsibly-as-trail-use-surges-during- covid/ From:Payne, Dontae (GOV) Subject:FW: Inslee announces updated school guidance for in-person instruction Date:Wednesday, December 16, 2020 5:34:38 PM Attachments:image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png image005.png image006.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Good evening, Please see the text below for more information regarding the Governor’s announcement on in-person instruction guidance for schools during the press conference this afternoon. Please share it with those you deem appropriate. Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a great evening. Help us share trusted sources of information on COVID-19: Washington Department of Health coronavirus webpage | CDC’s coronavirus website | Governor’s COVID-19 resource website. If you have specific questions that cannot be answered by these resources, you can call the Washington Department of Health’s public call center at 1-800-525-0127, then wait and press #. Dontae Payne, MPA Regional Representative – South Sound & Olympic Peninsula |Office of Governor Jay Inslee (he/him/his) Cell: 360-867-8914 www.governor.wa.gov | dontae.payne@gov.wa.gov Email communications with state employees are public records and may be subject to disclosure, pursuant to Ch. 42.56 RCW. From: Gov. Inslee Press Updates <press@updates.gov.wa.gov> Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2020 4:06 PM To: Payne, Dontae (GOV) <dontae.payne@gov.wa.gov> Subject: Inslee announces updated school guidance for in-person instruction The governor also announced $3 million from set aside funds for health and safety protocols in schools washington governor - jay inslee - medium dot gov story December 16, 2020 Public and constituent inquiries | 360.902.4111 Press inquiries | 360.902.4136Inslee announces updated school guidance for in-person instruction Safe schools matrix Gov. Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal today announced an update in the metrics used to inform local school district decisions for in-person learning. They also announced $3 million from set aside funds to be distributed to implement health and safety protocols. The update to the school health and safety toolkit comes after recent data showed limited COVID-19 transmission in school environments when state health and safety protocols are implemented. The Department of Health suggests three categories for re-introducing in-person learning: For schools in counties where COVID-19 cases are “low” (less than 50 residents per 100,000), in-person learning should be made available for all students. In counties where COVID-19 cases are “moderate” (between 50 and 350 residents per 100,000), in- person learning should be phased in, starting with elementary students not already attending in person and middle school students, followed by high school students. This email was sent to dontae.payne@gov.wa.gov using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Office of the Governor / Office of Financial Management · PO Box 40002 · Olympia, WA · 98504-0002 Finally, in counties where COVID-19 cases are “high” (over 350,000 per 100,000 residents), it’s recommended that schools should only offer in-person instruction for elementary and high-need students in small groups of 15 students or fewer. "I have sought the opinions of state and local education administrators, as well as educators, staff, parents and school boards. And today, we are providing them more clarity and confidence in getting students back in the classroom," Inslee said during a press conference Wednesday. "Many people's lives revolve around a regular school schedule and, apart from the academics, schools provide social supports that advance healthy childhood development." Related to safety in schools, the governor will issue an accompanying proclamation requiring schools by law to implement health and safety measures, and mandates staff involvement in health and safety related decisions. Read the rest of the story on the governor's Medium page. Read the full in-person guidance here. Stay Connected with the Office of the Governor: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions | Unsubscribe All | Help From:Payne, Dontae (GOV) Subject:Governor Inslee to roll out COVID-19 and budget proposals Thursday Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 10:34:06 AM Attachments:image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png image005.png image006.png Importance:High CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Good morning, Gov. Jay Inslee will address the media today via streaming video and telephone to announce his full 2021-2023 budget proposals, including COVID-19. The governor will be joined by: Sen. Karen Keiser Sen. June Robinson Rep. Marcus Riccelli David Schumacher, director, Office of Financial Management Dominique Morel, director, retail operations, REI Members of the governor's cabinet will be available for questions. Thursday, December 17 2:30 PM - Media availability The press conference will be livestreamed by TVW. Help us share trusted sources of information on COVID-19: Washington Department of Health coronavirus webpage | CDC’s coronavirus website | Governor’s COVID-19 resource website. If you have specific questions that cannot be answered by these resources, you can call the Washington Department of Health’s public call center at 1- 800-525-0127, then wait and press #. Dontae Payne, MPA Regional Representative – South Sound & Olympic Peninsula |Office of Governor Jay Inslee (he/him/his) Cell: 360-867-8914 www.governor.wa.gov | dontae.payne@gov.wa.gov Email communications with state employees are public records and may be subject to disclosure, pursuant to Ch. 42.56 RCW. From:Payne, Dontae (GOV) Subject:FW: UPDATE: Inslee announces updated school guidance for in-person instruction Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 10:41:30 AM Attachments:image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png image005.png image006.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Good morning All, Please see updated school guidance information below from yesterday’s press conference. Help us share trusted sources of information on COVID-19: Washington Department of Health coronavirus webpage | CDC’s coronavirus website | Governor’s COVID-19 resource website. If you have specific questions that cannot be answered by these resources, you can call the Washington Department of Health’s public call center at 1-800-525-0127, then wait and press #. Dontae Payne, MPA Regional Representative – South Sound & Olympic Peninsula |Office of Governor Jay Inslee (he/him/his) Cell: 360-867-8914 www.governor.wa.gov | dontae.payne@gov.wa.gov Email communications with state employees are public records and may be subject to disclosure, pursuant to Ch. 42.56 RCW. From: Gov. Inslee Press Updates <press@updates.gov.wa.gov> Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2020 6:52 PM To: Payne, Dontae (GOV) <dontae.payne@gov.wa.gov> Subject: UPDATE: Inslee announces updated school guidance for in-person instruction The update corrects a typo in the definition of “high” COVID-19 case counties and adds a link to the proclamation. washington governor - jay inslee - medium dot gov story December 16, 2020 Public and constituent inquiries | 360.902.4111 Press inquiries | 360.902.4136UPDATED: Inslee announces updated school guidance for in-person instruction The update corrects a typo in the definition of “high” COVID-19 case counties and adds a link to the proclamation. Safe schools matrix Gov. Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal today announced an update in the metrics used to inform local school district decisions for in-person learning. They also announced $3 million from set aside funds to be distributed to implement health and safety protocols. The update to the school health and safety toolkit comes after recent data showed limited COVID-19 transmission in school environments when state health and safety protocols are implemented. The Department of Health suggests three categories for re-introducing in-person learning: For schools in counties where COVID-19 cases are “low” (less than 50 residents per 100,000), in-person learning should be made available for all students. In counties where COVID-19 cases are “moderate” (between 50 and 350 residents per 100,000), in- person learning should be phased in, starting with elementary students not already attending in person and middle school students, followed by high school students. Finally, in counties where COVID-19 cases are “high” (over *CORRECTED* 350 per 100,000 residents), it’s recommended that schools should only offer in-person instruction for elementary and high-need students in small groups of 15 students or fewer. "I have sought the opinions of state and local education administrators, as well as educators, staff, parents and school boards. And today, we are providing them more clarity and confidence in getting students back in the classroom," Inslee said during a press conference Wednesday. "Many people's lives revolve around a regular school schedule and, apart from the academics, schools provide social supports that advance healthy childhood This email was sent to dontae.payne@gov.wa.gov using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Office of the Governor / Office of Financial Management · PO Box 40002 · Olympia, WA · 98504-0002 development." Related to safety in schools, the governor will issue an accompanying proclamation requiring schools by law to implement health and safety measures, and mandates staff involvement in health and safety related decisions. Read the rest of the story on the governor's Medium page. Read the full in-person guidance here. Read the full proclamation here. Stay Connected with the Office of the Governor: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions | Unsubscribe All | Help From:Payne, Dontae (GOV) Subject:Governor"s 2021-2023 Budget Proposal Documents Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 3:26:46 PM Attachments:image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png image005.png image006.png 000_Final-Full_2021-23_BudgetandPolicyHighlights.pdf 000_2021-23_Budget_SummaryTable.pdf Final_CovidRecoveryBrief-Dec2020.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Good afternoon, For your reference, I’ve attached materials from the Governor’s budget proposal announced this afternoon. Help us share trusted sources of information on COVID-19: Washington Department of Health coronavirus webpage | CDC’s coronavirus website | Governor’s COVID-19 resource website. If you have specific questions that cannot be answered by these resources, you can call the Washington Department of Health’s public call center at 1- 800-525-0127, then wait and press #. Dontae Payne, MPA Regional Representative – South Sound & Olympic Peninsula |Office of Governor Jay Inslee (he/him/his) Cell: 360-867-8914 www.governor.wa.gov | dontae.payne@gov.wa.gov Email communications with state employees are public records and may be subject to disclosure, pursuant to Ch. 42.56 RCW. Learn More // Donate Thomas Kline/Getty Images/First Light From:Wild Fish Conservancy To:jeffbocc Subject:Reminder: Sunday is the last day to vote in WFC"s 2020 board election! Date:Friday, December 18, 2020 8:00:34 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Cast Your Vote in the 2020 Board Election by 5 pmPST Sunday December 20th Votes will be counted at Wild Fish Conservancy's Virtual Annual Meeting on December 21st Wild Fish Conservancy Members, We wanted to remind you that we're holding our 2020 Annual Meeting virtually on Monday Vote Now! December 21st, 2020. There are currently two Board positions to renew for the upcoming year. The following Board members have been nominated for re-election for three year terms beginning in 2021: Board Position 5: Dr. Jack Stanford Professor Emeritus at Flat Head Lake Biological Station of the University of Montana Board Position 6: Dr. Steve Conroy Senior Ecologist with the King County Department of Transportation Thank you to our members for participating in this year's election! Please cast your votes online no later than 5 pm PST on Sunday December 20, 2020. Cast Your Vote Now! Jack Stanford is Professor Emeritus at the Flathead Lake Biological Station of The University of Montana, where he has worked since 1972. He has graduated 13 PhD and 28 MS students and published over 220 scientific papers. Professor Stanford is most noted for his long-term studies in the 18,200 km 2 Flathead River-Lake Ecosystem in Montana and British Columbia that demonstrated the 4 dimensional nature of rivers, ecological connectivity of aquatic systems, and food web cascades caused by introduction of nonnative species. In 1999 Dr. Stanford began long term research on a suite of observatory salmon rivers in Kamchatka, Argentina, Alaska, and Washington, Montana and British Columbia. The research focuses on cross-site comparisons of salmon and steelhead phenology, adaptation and productivity and relationships with brown bears and other consumer species. Professor Stanford has served on many national and international science review panels and editorial boards concerning issues such as climate warming, endangered species and water quantity and quality. He was elected a Fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science in 2000. In 2004 Professor Stanford received the Award of Excellence of the Society for Freshwater Science, and in 2011 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for River Science. He resides on the Twisp River, Washington, with wife, Bonnie. Dr. Steve Conroy is a Senior Ecologist with the King County Department of Transportation where he directs fish passage restoration projects, conducts research on the reconstruction of steep stream reaches, and provides biological support in policy and regulation development. Dr. Conroy has been a researcher at Case Western Reserve University, the University of Washington, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He has been a Senior Ecologist with the King County Department of Development and Environmental Services, and a past Director of Science and Research at Wild Fish Conservancy. Dr. Conroy earned an Honors degree in Biochemistry and his PhD in protein chemistry from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He has authored peer-reviewed scientific/biomedical publications as well as articles about ecology and wild-fish conservation. Learn more about WFC's current board members on our website. Results of the board election will be available at wildfishconservancy.org following the meeting. Feel free to reach out to info@wildfishconservancy.org with any questions. Thank you for taking part in this election and for supporting Wild Fish Conservancy. Sincerely, Kurt Beardslee Executive Director Wild Fish Conservancy wildfishconservancy.org Copyright © 2020 Wild Fish Conservancy, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Wild Fish Conservancy PO Box 402 Duvall, Wa 98019 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. All the news you can use on Washington's great outdoors View this email in your browser Coalition E-News: December 2020 From:Christine Mahler To:jeffbocc Subject:December E-News: $100 Mill for WWRP Date:Friday, December 18, 2020 8:00:34 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Unifying voices for Washington's great outdoors #RecreateResponsibly Coalition's Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Action Plan Earlier this year, our staff put out a statement about the endemic racism in our systems and culture— including in the outdoors—and pledged to be part of the solution. Since that time, we’ve been working on how to best do that, personally and as an organization. This involved a lot of learning, brainstorming, and tough conversations. But, we’ve come up with a plan. One that begins to address our past mistakes and ignorance, while leveraging our strengths and abilities towards equity, inclusion, and social justice. Read more Whose ancestrial land do you recreate on? Click here to find out Governor Inslee Includes $100 mill for WWRP Yesterday, Governor Inslee released his budget, which includes $100 million in funding for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) and $400,000 to create a more equitable grant process at the Recreation and Conservation Office. The COVID19 crisis has affected our outdoor recreation needs in significant ways, bringing more people outside to recreate for their mental and physical health. Indeed, the demand for outdoor recreation has never been higher. Meanwhile, the economic crisis created by COVID19 has made the outdoor recreation economy even more important. It has also highlighted the inequities in our current system, as many communities were left without access to safe and healthy recreation opportunities close to home. Read more RSVP to Legislative Day 2021 Join the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Coalition and the Washington Recreation & Park Association on February 4, 2021 at our annual Parks and Great Outdoors Legislative Day. Help us advocate for our state's premier outdoors fund, the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP), and tell your legislators why Washington's parks, wildlife habitat areas, and working lands are so important! Even better, this year, you won't have to travel to Olympia, risking snowy mountain passes or the hazards of I-5. We'll be conducting our Legislative Day 2021 entirely remotely, so get your Zoom-pants on! REGISTER HERE 12 Months of WWRP: State Land Development and Renovation This month's WWRP category is State Land Development and Renovation. The Department of Natural Resources will use this grant to fund the renovation of one mile of backcountry hiking trail, six backcountry campsites, and the new construction of three small pedestrian bridges on the Walt Bailey Trail and Cutthroat Lakes Campground. This project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2021. Read more Each month we will be highlighting a group in Washington & short film using the outdoors to help support their community How Communities Use Outdoor Spaces: South Wenatchee We all have our own connections to the outdoors, unique lived experiences, and personal perspectives on what the outdoors means to us. These varying relationships can be due to geography, family, community, culture, income, age, race, gender, sexuality, and other factors. There are a multitude of ways outdoor spaces can provide for communities, over the next few blog posts we will be focusing on different communities in Washington and their relationships to outdoor spaces. Earlier this December I connected with Teresa Bendito, a founding member of the Parque Padrinos (Park Godparents) from South Wenatchee, WA, about their newly renovated Kiwanis Methow Park. It was a wonderful conversation about how parks can provide the community with many services and safe gathering spaces, and how the Methow Park has become a place for the Parque Padrinos to support their community. Read more In this film by American Rivers and Swiftwater Films, Indigenous leaders share why removing four dams to restore a healthy Klamath River is critical for clean water, food sovereignty and justice. A 'barrier-breaking public servant' Indian Country Today Trails for Everyone Washington Trails Association Magazine FEATURED NEWS Virtual Workshop: Restoration in a Changing Climate December 19th Washington State Parks Boating Guide Survey Due January 15th UPCOMING EVENTS Breaking Buildings’ Addiction to Fossil Fuels How to Save the Planet Native history is WA history, and tribes are helping schools teach it Crosscut. Legislative Day 2021 February 4th Check Out Washington (Free Discover Pass) Copyright © 2020, Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition The Vance Building 1402 Third Avenue, Suite 714 Seattle WA 98101 Photo credits: Katy Herko (Title Photo), RCO Prism (12 Months of WWRP) and (How Communities Use Outdoor Spaces) update subscription preferences unsubscribe from this list From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Free E-Commerce Support & $10,000 Tourism Grants from the Port of Seattle Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 8:00:31 AM From: Clallam EDC Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 8:00:26 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Free E-Commerce Support & $10,000 Tourism Grants from the Port of Seattle CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Free One-on-One Business Advising in E-Commerce and Social Media Marketing for local Business Owners: The North Olympic Development Council (NODC) is providing free technical assistance to help businesses in Jefferson and Clallam Counties that have experienced reduced sales as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This program, supported by a grant from the Economic Development Administration’s CARES Act supplemental funding program, will help businesses develop or improve online marketing and e-commerce efforts to reach consumers who are doing more online shopping. This FREE Business Assistance Program offers practical, hands-on help and coaching for business websites, e-commerce and social media marketing. Do you want to talk about your online marketing? Are you having a challenge with your website or social media? Do you want to learn how to make these tools work better for you? You can find more information here, https://www.noprcd.org/ecommerce-assistance You are invited to take advantage of this FREE regional service provided by the North Olympic Development Council. To make an appointment, contact Susan Shoemaker, Business Assistance Specialist, susan@noprcd.org. $10,000 Tourism Grants from the Port of Seattle: Applications for the 2021 Tourism Marketing Support Program are now being accepted! On the Port of Seattle website you’ll find the Application Packet, which includes an application form, proposal requirements, and program overview information. The Port of Seattle Commission announced its sixth annual Tourism Marketing Support Program, which will provide $200,000 in matching dollars to local communities and non- profit organizations across the state of Washington, with a goal of spending $50,000 of those funds to address equity, diversity, and inclusion. The program provides matching support of up to $10,000 to non-profit destination marketing organizations (DMO’s), attractions, cities, tribal organizations and Chambers of Commerce to effectively market their destination to non-resident visitors. “As the Port of Seattle continues to lead on equitable economic recovery for our region and state, we are acutely aware that tourism has been hit hard as a result of the Covid-19 crisis,” said Port of Seattle Commission President Peter Steinbrueck. “We hope these small steps will go a long way to help these communities recover.” Prior to the pandemic, tourism was recognized as the 4th largest economic sector for our state. Estimates for job losses in the industry right now are over 100,000 for the state. All application, submitted as one document to application@portseattle.org, are due no later than Feb. 5, 2021 by 2pm. There will be a Information Session held on January 12, 2021. If interested in attending, please REGISTER HERE. Choose Clallam First | ChooseClallamFirst.com ‌ Clallam County Economic Development Council | 338 W 1st St., Suite 105, Port Angeles, WA 98362 Unsubscribe gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by info@clallam.org powered by Try email marketing for free today! From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Urgent action needed: Call on Congress to support relief for counties Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 8:12:35 AM From: NACo Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 8:10:34 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Urgent action needed: Call on Congress to support relief for counties CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Having trouble viewing this email? Click Here National Association of Counties NACo-HQ-facade_700px_1683094.png URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Call on Congress to Support Relief for Counties Join NACo TODAY for a membership update call Counties need support from our federal partners to keep up the fight against COVID-19. Please urge your members of Congress to support immediate relief for counties in the upcoming federal COVID-19 aid package. The National Association of Counties (NACo) continues to urge Congress to pass direct, flexible aid to counties of all sizes. NACo research shows that counties continue to experience severe fiscal JOIN US TODAY FOR A NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP CALL WHEN: Dec. 17 | 4 p.m. EST RSVP: RSVP here for call-in details QUESTIONS: Email question@naco.org strain as we mitigate this public health and economic crisis. Yesterday, NACo, along with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and National League of Cities, called on Congress to deliver relief in addition to direct and flexible aid for local governments. Join us in advocating for key measures, including: 1.Adjust FEMA Cost-Share Upwards To help local governments offset the costs associated with the current national emergency response to this ongoing pandemic, Congress should include provisions within H.R. 8266, the FEMA Assistance Relief Act of 2020, including adjusting the FEMA cost-share for all COVID-19 related Emergency and Major Disaster declarations to 100 percent. 2.Enhanced Flexibility for Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) Amending Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act language to enhance flexibility for CRF by making “replacement of lost revenue” an eligible expenditure would meaningfully aid state, county and municipal governments. 3.Deadline Extension for Coronavirus Relief Funds Early regulatory uncertainty created a challenging environment for state and local governments to confidently make eligible expenditures or payments to smaller jurisdictions. We recommend the spending deadline for CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds be extended to December 31, 2021 to allow local governments to continue to invest wisely in our communities by supporting small businesses and protecting vulnerable residents. TAKE ACTION NOW Federal relief for local government is critical for the health, safety and vibrancy of our communities. America’s counties are on the front lines of this pandemic, providing vital health services, distributing vaccines, mitigating economic challenges and much more. Contact your members of Congress and urge them to support relief for local goverments on the front lines. CONTACT YOUR SENATORS CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE STAY UPDATED WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION We are hosting national members calls until a coronavirus relief bill is passed. RSVP below for daily updates on the latest federal COVID-19 policy and how you can support our advocacy efforts. RSVP: Thurs. 12/17 | Fri. 12/18 Access Recordings: Tue. 12/15 | Wed. 12/16 Our recent survey with the COVID RELIEF NOW coalition, a partnership of nearly 300 major public and private sector groups, shows that small businesses, cities and counties will likely experience further devastating impacts from the pandemic without additional federal aid. Without federal aid to local governments: COVID-Survey-stats_652px_1763600.jpg COVID-19 UPDATES FROM NACo During this critical and unprecedented time, NACo is focused on advocating for the needs of counties at the federal level, disseminating useful information to our members and facilitating the exchange of effective strategies and approaches. We share the latest news and resources online at www.NACo.org/coronavirus. Click below to subscribe to updates. NACo.org/coronavirus SUBSCRIBE TO UPDATES 660 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20001 Did someone forward you this email? Sign up to stay up-to-date on topics affecting America’s counties! Click here to unsubscribe. From:David Sullivan To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: [New post] Rider Alert: Christmas Day 12/25/2020 Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 8:23:41 AM From: Jefferson Transit Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 8:23:32 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: David Sullivan Subject: [New post] Rider Alert: Christmas Day 12/25/2020 CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Lisa Bradley posted: " Jefferson Transit will NOT Operate service on Christmas Day, December 25th, 2020 We will resume regularly scheduled service on December 26th, 2020 If you have any questions please call Customer Service at 360-385-4777 " New post on Jefferson Transit Rider Alert: Christmas Day 12/25/2020 by Lisa Bradley Jefferson Transit will NOT Operate service on Christmas Day, December 25th, 2020 We will resume regularly scheduled service on December 26th, 2020 If you have any questions please call Customer Service at 360-385-4777 Lisa Bradley | December 17, 2020 at 8:23 am | URL: https://jeffersontransit.com/?p=23459 Comment See all comments Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Jefferson Transit. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://jeffersontransit.com/2020/12/17/rider-alert-christmas-day-12-25-2020/ From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Small-Business Survival: Local Leaders Share Their Secrets Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 9:47:44 AM From: Localgov Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 9:47:40 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Small-Business Survival: Local Leaders Share Their Secrets CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Localgov logo Local Leaders Roundtable: Small-Business Support Greg, All over the nation, we know that local government leaders are doing their best, working their hardest to try to make real improvements in their communities. And right now, they’re extra focused on supporting those small, mom and pop, Main Street businesses that are the heart of every community. Last week, we asked how these local leaders are helping their businesses survive during this time. We heard from dozens of mayors, treasurers, city managers, clerks, and council members. Check out their stories of creativity, resilience, and survival on our blog. Read the Full Article Localgov 55 E. Jackson Blvd. Chicago Illinois 60604 United States You received this email because you are subscribed to Marketing Information from Localgov. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: 936 acres of DNR forest on Toandos Peninsula and Dabob Bay Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 10:02:54 AM ________________________________________ From: Jackie Breslawski Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 10:02:49 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: 936 acres of DNR forest on Toandos Peninsula and Dabob Bay CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Pease act to move the 936 acre Heritage Forest on the Toandos Peninsula and along Dabob Way from a trust status to a conservation status. Please permanently protect this, the largest rare rhododendron forest ecosystem in the world, for future generations of our state, nation and world to enjoy and wonder at. The Toandos and Dabob Bay are national legacies that we, as Washingtonians have the unique privilege and duty to permanently protect and care for. In the face of climate change and increased deforestation nationally and worldwide, it is not only the right and moral decision but the only decision to make . Thank you. Your voting constituent, Jackie Breslawski Sent from my iPad Sent from my iPad From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Rural Tech Project finalists announced and other rural news: Education Almanac December 2020 Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 10:12:09 AM From: U.S. Department of Education Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 10:11:28 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Rural Tech Project finalists announced and other rural news: Education Almanac December 2020 CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Opportunities, events, news, and other information relevant to rural schools and communities Rural Newsletter Header Rural Education Updates from the U.S. Department of Education Partners and Friends, Welcome to the Education Almanac, rural updates from the U.S. Department of Education. Each month, the Department highlights opportunities, events, news, and other information relevant to rural schools and communities. We will also feature schools and leaders who are rethinking education in order to make a positive difference in rural students’ lives. We welcome your feedback and questions. Please feel free to share them to rural@ed.gov. Thank you, Michael Chamberlain U.S. Department of Education Opportunities from ED The Department's Discretionary Grant Applications page contains a list of competitions currently open. Department News ED ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR $600,000 RURAL TECH PROJECT The U.S. Department of Education has announced the five finalist teams in the Rural Tech Project. The $600,000 challenge aims to advance technology education, support rural educators, and prepare students for the careers of today and tomorrow. The Rural Tech Project is designed to empower educators with resources for creating technology education programs customized for their students and local needs. From June to October, the Department invited rural high schools and local educational agencies to propose technology education programs that use competency-based distance learning. Entrants proposed programs focusing on a range of technology skills — from computer science and cybersecurity to robotics and aviation. The five finalist teams will each receive $100,000 and progress to Phase 2 of the challenge, a two-year implementation period. They will have on-the-ground assistance, expert mentorship, and access to virtual resources as they plan, run, refine, and report on their programs. One grand-prize winner will receive an additional $100,000. “Rural communities have envisioned a breadth of technology education programs. The finalist teams are setting out to equip their students with in-demand skills for rewarding careers across industries,” said Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education Scott Stump. “We look forward to supporting the teams as they use flexible learning models to create programs that increase instructional capacity and truly work for their students.” Congratulations to the winning teams: iLead Academy (Carrollton, Kentucky) Louisa County Public Schools (Mineral, Virginia) Premont Independent School District (Premont, Texas), collaborating with Brooks County and Freer Independent School Districts Ravenna High School (Ravenna, Michigan) Woodlake High School (Woodlake, California) Meet the finalist teams and learn more about the Rural Tech Project. SECRETARY DEVOS ANNOUNCES NEW FUNDING TO ACCELERATE EDUCATION AND INNOVATION AND EMPOWER TEACHERS WITH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS ED SealSecretary Betsy DeVos recently announced $185 million in new grant funding for 28 school districts, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations across the U.S. as part of the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program. These new grant awards will accelerate locally driven innovation and improve academic achievement for high-need students around the country. Over $79 million of the awards went to grants serving rural areas. This year’s funding supports a new, groundbreaking effort to empower teachers to personalize their professional development. More than $72 million in new funding will help develop systems to enable teachers to select professional learning options that meet their personal development needs, without cost to the teachers and beyond the one-size-fits-all training typically offered by school systems. “When you empower teachers to do what they know is best, teachers benefit — and so do students,” said Secretary DeVos. SECRETARY DEVOS EXPANDS ON REVAMPED COLLEGE SCORECARD Delivering on her promise to continually update and improve College Scorecard, Secretary Betsy DeVos recently announced that students can now compare average earnings two years after graduation based on field of study and how much federal student loan debt they can expect to incur, including new information on Parent PLUS loans, based on where they decide to attend school. Building on Secretary DeVos’ successful revamp of College Scorecard in November 2019, College Scorecard now provides new median income data for students two years out from their date of graduation across the various fields of study an institution offers. Future earnings data will become available through College Scorecard in each subsequent year, creating a long-range view of how postsecondary graduates within a field of study and at different credential levels fare throughout their careers. “Every student’s learning journey is unique, and the decisions about what to study and where to study it are important and personal,” said Secretary DeVos. “As students make choices that impact their future careers and earning potential, it’s imperative they have access to relevant, actionable information like how much money they might make after graduating in their chosen field of study, or how much debt they may have to take on depending on where they choose to learn.” DEPARTMENT EXTENDS STUDENT LOAN RELIEF UNTIL JANUARY 2021 Secretary DeVosOn Dec. 4, the Department announced the federal student loan administrative forbearance and 0% interest rate have been extended to Jan. 31, 2021, to provide relief during the COVID-19 emergency. Back in August, Secretary Betsy DeVos directed Federal Student Aid (FSA) to extend student loan relief to borrowers through Dec. 31, 2020. Borrowers with federally held student loans now will have their payments automatically suspended until the end of January 2021 without penalty. Borrowers will continue to have the option to make payments if they so choose. Doing so will allow borrowers to pay off their loans more quickly and at a lower cost. This action continues to extend the actions taken by Secretary DeVos at the start of the national emergency and maintained under law by the CARES Act, which allow borrowers to temporarily defer their payments without accruing interest. ED UNVEILS FREE SPEECH HOTLINE ED’s Office of General Council (OGC) unveiled its “Free Speech Hotline” (freespeech@ed.gov) at a special event earlier in December. The Free Speech Hotline is a dedicated email account monitored by OGC attorneys where any First Amendment violations on campuses may be reported. Just last month, the Department implemented new regulations aimed at promoting free speech. The regulations stipulate cutting off some federal funding to public institutions if a court determines that they violated the First Amendment or to private institutions if they violated their own free speech policies. CTE MISSION: CUBESAT FINALISTS ANNOUNCED This past summer, advancing the Administration’s commitment to expand student interest in the booming science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, the Department launched CTE Mission: CubeSat, a national challenge to inspire students to build technical skills for careers in space and beyond. High school students nationwide were invited to design and build cube satellite (CubeSat) prototypes — or satellites that aid in space research — bringing space missions out of the clouds and into the classroom. Teams from 22 states developed CubeSat proposals. The Department ultimately selected five finalists: Opelika High School (Alabama), Anderson Clark Magnet High School (La Crescenta, California), Princeton High School (New Jersey) collaborating with Montgomery High School (Skillman, New Jersey), Freeport High School (New York), and Mooresville High School (North Carolina). Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education Scott Stump announced the finalists in a video. The finalists were recommended by a judging panel. Each was awarded $5,000 and in- kind prizes. During Phase 2, which runs from January to May 2021, they will have access to expert mentorship and additional virtual resources as they build CubeSat prototypes and flight events to launch their prototypes. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S OPERATION WARP SPEED ACCOMPLISHES HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT White House logoOn Dec. 8, the White House hosted state and local leaders and private sector partners for the Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Summit. This summit featured remarks from President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, as well as panel discussions on the development, testing, and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. Operation Warp Speed kicked off in May and accomplished an historic achievement, with the first vaccine doses administered on Dec. 14, just 10 months after the first positive case in the country. Approximately 40 million doses will be releasable. One day later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an updated COVID-19 Toolkit for K-12 Schools with guidance and tools to help school administrators make decisions, protect their students and staff, and effectively communicate with their communities. Also, in November, the Department issued an updated fact sheet for procuring, donating, or loaning personal protective equipment and other medical supplies and equipment purchased with federal funding. Rural News US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LAUNCES ASKUSDA, IMPROVES AND STREAMLINES CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE USDA In November, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the official launch of the AskUSDA Contact Center program. The AskUSDA Contact Center will serve as the “one front door” for phone, chat, and web inquires, transforming how the public interacts with USDA and providing an enhanced experience for the public. Prior to the creation and implementation of AskUSDA, members of the public had to navigate dozens of phone numbers and had no chat function or online platform for self-service, creating frustrations and inefficiencies. AskUSDA was created to make USDA more responsive to the public by providing a single destination for phone, chat, and web inquiries. Whether it’s talking to a USDA representative via phone, chatting with a live agent on the website, or communicating with USDA via e-mail, the public will have streamlined access. SUCCESSFUL RURAL DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY FUND AUCTION TO EXPAND BROADBAND TO OVER 10 MILLION RURAL AMERICANS FCCEarlier in December, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that millions of rural Americans in 49 states and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands will gain access to high-speed Internet service through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction. Auction results show that bidders won funding to deploy high-speed broadband to over 5.2 million unserved homes and businesses, almost 99% of the locations available in the auction. Moreover, 99.7% of these locations will be receiving broadband with speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps, with an overwhelming majority (over 85%) getting gigabit-speed broadband. A total of 180 bidders won auction support, to be distributed over the next 10 years. A broad range of providers successfully competed in the Phase I auction, including cable operators, electric cooperatives, incumbent telephone companies, satellite companies, and fixed wireless providers. And the FCC’s structuring of the reverse auction yielded significant savings, as competitive bidding among over 300 providers yielded an allocation of $9.2 billion in support out of the $16 billion set aside for Phase I of the auction. News from the Field CONSISTENT, EFFECTIVE, HIGH-QUALITY, AND DYNAMIC INSTRUCTION SETS THIS SCHOOL APART Brooks Elementary relies on the four pillars of relationships, relevance, engagement, and rigor to ensure student success. Walking into any classroom, it is evident that these four ideals drive instruction and promote learning. Teachers and administrators have high expectations for themselves and their students. Having these expectations is impossible without interlocking relationships, relevance, engagement, and rigor. Students, even the youngest of our learners, embrace expectations, set personal and academic goals, and advocate for themselves and their academic success. Read more about National Blue Ribbon School Brooks Elementary School in Newnan, GA. Share and Connect Find more information and updates on rural education at the Department’s Rural Education Resource Center. Do you know of a rural school or school leader whose innovative approach would be a great fit for our Rethinking School feature? Do you have a story to share? Do you have friends or colleagues who would be interested in receiving the Education Almanac? You can connect with us at rural@ed.gov. View this newsletter in your browser. All the Best, Office of Rural and Community Engagement U.S. Department of Education Education Almanac is a product of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Communications and Outreach, Rural and Community Engagement This newsletter contains hypertext links to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites. ABOUT US | CONTACT US | FAQs 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202 KEEP UPDATED: twitter youtube Manage Subscriptions / Unsubscribe This email was sent to gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us by U.S. Department of Education · 400 Maryland Ave · Washington DC 20202 · 800-USA-LEARN Thursday, December 17 Production of this newsletter will be suspended over the next two weeks. WSAC will continue to monitor events and will issue alerts when needed. From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: COVID-19 News | December 17, 2020 Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 11:00:37 AM From: Washington Counties (WSAC) Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 10:59:54 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: COVID-19 News | December 17, 2020 CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Want to receive this email in your inbox? Click here to subscribe. COVID-19 NEWSLETTER Statewide Vaccination Effort Continues The Washington State Department of Health anticipates receiving tens of thousands more doses of COVID-19 vaccine later this week, as vaccinations continue for frontline health workers and long-term care residents and staff across the state. These groups are the first and only people eligible to receive the vaccine at this time. As of midday today, at least 410 doses of vaccine have been administered to these groups in Washington. The department estimates it will take until around mid- to late January to finish vaccinating these groups and begin offering the vaccine to the next eligible groups. Read more Announcements and Resources FEDERAL COVID-19 Response & Recovery Information Washington is in the red zone for cases, indicating 101 or more new cases per 100,000 population, with the 46th highest rate in the country. Washington is in the orange zone for test positivity, indicating a rate between 8.0% and 10.0%, with the 39th highest rate in the country. Read more LUCC, RAC Members Talk Housing, Hunger as Pandemic Continues NACo's urban and rural county caucuses tackled issues like housing and hunger that span the divide and have become more pronounced during the pandemic. Read more STATE Inslee Announces Updated School Guidance for In-Person Instruction Gov. Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal announced an update in the metrics used to inform local school district decisions for in-person learning. They also announced $3 million from set aside funds to be distributed to implement health and safety protocols. Read more Department of Commerce Seeking Input on Draft 2019 Action Plan Amendment for State CDBG-CV2 Funds Washington State is receiving three allocations totaling $38 million in Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funds from the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These funds are for state and local activities that prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus. Attached is an overview of these state CDBG-CV funds. Read more BUDGET & FINANCE December 2020 Economic & Revenue Update Economic data this month were generally positive but some indicators suggest the recovery could be slowing. While employment grew for a seventh consecutive month, the increase was less than half of October’s job gains and still leaves employment 9.8 million jobs lower than in February. Initial claims for unemployment insurance also increased sharply. However, residential construction and existing homes sales were strong and manufacturing activity expanded for a sixth month. Read more EMPLOYMENT Monthly Employment Report Washington’s economy added 100 jobs in November and the state’s preliminary seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate for November remained the same as it was in October at 6.0 percent according to the Employment Security Department (ESD). Read more Business & Worker Update: December 16, 2020 The Business and Workers update is a weekly newsletter providing news and information to help businesses and workers navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The information is compiled by the state Economic Resiliency Team (ERT), part of the Joint Information Center. Read more Initial Unemployment Claims for Regular Unemployment Decreased During the Week of December 6 - December 12 During the week of December 6 – December 12, there were 19,547 initial regular unemployment claims (down 20.5 percent from the prior week) and 491,261 total claims for all unemployment benefit categories (down 0.3 percent from the prior week) filed by Washingtonians, according to the Employment Security Department (ESD). Read more TIP OF THE DAY Coping with COVID: Healthy Communication During the December holidays in the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many opportunities for tough conversations with family and friends. We may have differing opinions on how to celebrate the holidays while keeping ourselves and our families safe, and it can be hard to share those opinions when you want to keep the peace. Read more PUBLIC HEALTH COVID-19 Safety Behaviors Remain Necessary, Even as Vaccinations Begin As the first COVID-19 vaccinations begin this week, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is reminding people that it is very important to continue taking measures to prevent the spread of the virus. The initial distribution of vaccine is a major step forward. 20,475 doses arrived in the state as of noon today. While vaccines are a crucial tool in beating the virus, they can’t be used alone at this time. Read more Antigen Positive Test Results Now Included in DOH Dashboards The Washington State Department of Health will now include antigen-positive COVID- 19 cases in the COVID-19 Data Dashboard and the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Dashboard. Since September 30, antigen-positive testing data have been included in a separate weekly report because at the time, we were not able to roll these results into the main dashboards for reporting. With this inclusion, reporting antigen-positive test results will provide a more accurate picture of community transmission and help guide efforts to respond to COVID-19. Read more View this email in your browser This email was sent to gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us | Why did I get this? Want to change how you receive these emails? Update your preferences | Unsubscribe from this list Copyright © 2020 WSAC, All rights reserved. 206 10th Ave SE · Olympia, WA 98501-1311 · USA | Contact Us From:Kate Dean To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Winter Sidewalk and Road Conditions | In-Person Public Meetings | Payroll Administration Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 11:12:07 AM From: MRSC – Local Government Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 11:11:48 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Kate Dean Subject: Winter Sidewalk and Road Conditions | In-Person Public Meetings | Payroll Administration CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. December 17, 2020 The Role of Cities and Counties in Keeping Winter Walking (and Driving) Safe By Flannary Collins What is a local government's responsibility when rain, ice, or snow create treacherous road or sidewalk conditions? This blog covers the basics. More from MRSC Insight From MRSC In-Person Public Meetings Put on Hold for Now By Jill Dvorkin This blog post reviews Proclamation 20-28.14, which extends and modifies the temporary rules governing open public meetings and ties the in-person meeting requirements to Proclamation 20-25 and the "business meetings" guidance for Miscellaneous Venues. More from MRSC Insight Ask MRSC If an employee's husband is high risk for COVID, does that mean the employee benefits from the high-risk protections under the Governor's proclamation? This employee has used New Payroll Administration Page Payroll administration is complicated, including state/federal withholding and reporting, calculation of overtime wages, and more. To help explain, we’ve published a new Payroll Administration topic page. Protecting Public Works Projects from COVID-19 Economic Impacts By Lane Powell This blog post reviews how local governments can protect public works projects from COVID-19-related economic impacts. More from MRSC Insight Social Equity in Cannabis Program By Linda Gallagher This blog post offers an overview of E2SHB 2870, 2020 legislation creating a social equity in cannabis program for Washington State. More from MRSC Insight COVID-19 Resources for Local Governments We are continuously updating our COVID-19 content and collecting new sample documents to keep local governments informed during the current crisis. See our COVID-19 Resources page her FFCRA, accrued, and FMLA leave. We are looking for a definition of "Lodging Tax Funds" at the county level. Our county receives “hotel/motel special tax” and “transient rental tax” (2% for each for a total of 4%). We believe that the hotel/motel special tax is considered lodging tax funds but are unsure on the transient rental tax. Have a question? Officials and employees from eligible government agencies can use our free one-on-one inquiry service, Ask MRSC. Ask MRSC Upcoming Trainings Ethical Considerations for Local Government Officials and Staff - 2021 (Webinar) January 21, 11 AM - 12 PM Cost: $35 | Credits: CLE, CML Learn more and register PRA and OPMA Case Law Update - 2021 (Webinar) January 26, 10 AM - 11 AM Cost: $35 | Credits: CLE, CML Learn more and register Making Your Job Easier with MRSC's Services (Webinar) February 11, 11 AM - 12 PM Cost: Free Learn more and register Missed a webinar? On-Demand Webinars are now available to view for a fee; credits are available for some. In Focus Washington’s COVID-19 Alert App Is Promising Washington's long-awaited COVID-19 notification app WA Notify was launched recently by the state's Department of Health, and iPhone users Relief Against the Piercing Cold: Homeless Shelters and Warming Centers During COVID-19 Local governments have capacities and programs to blunt the “bleak, dark, and piercing cold” for were sent a message asking them to opt in or out by toggling a switch. More from Government Technology How Localities Continually Adapt Enterprise Strategies to Manage Natural Disasters The authors of this report delve into city-level surveys of hundreds of communities, conducted by the International City/County Managers Association, to learn firsthand what challenges face local leaders and how they prepare in advance to blunt the effects of natural disasters. More from The IBM Center for the Business of Government What Makes a Community Livable? Few moments in history have made the importance of cities, towns and villages more clear than now, amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. More from NLC's Cities Speak many homeless populations. More from ICMA Blog New Ballot Initiatives Impact Cities While much remains to be seen on how the next four years of federal leadership will impact America’s cities and towns, it is clear there is a growing movement for better transportation, higher wages, police reform, and drug decriminalization, at least in state and local ballot initiatives. More from NLC's Cities Speak Counties Address Pandemic Housing Needs Counties are tailoring housing stabilization and homeless services to stem the tide of home losses as eviction moratoriums end. More from NACo's County News Washington News Everett Police will put body cameras on all its officers Washington lawmakers prepare slew of bills to change policing and accountability An Everett company’s tiny homeless shelters pop up in Portland, more cities across U.S. Mercer Island switches operations to 100 percent wind power on Dec. 1 King County settles $2 million dog bite lawsuit Olympia City Council passes comprehensive zoning reform ordinance How the Port of Everett is preparing for a rising sea level Roy Council passes ordinances requiring police wear body cameras National News Rural health systems challenged by COVID-19 surge States try to rescue small businesses as US aid is snarled What will happen to cities in 2021 Are people really moving out of cities due to the pandemic? Police body cameras cited as ‘powerful tool’ against stop-and-frisk abuses As COVID-19 vaccine nears, employers consider making it mandatory Coronavirus cases are skyrocketing again in cities Policing mental health crises Thank you to our generous sponsors Stay Informed MRSC publishes a number of e-newsletters related to local government issues. You can also keep up with us on social media. Manage your Subscription ‌ ‌ If you have questions or comments for the newsletter editor, please contact Byron Katsuyama, Public Policy & Management Consultant.MRSC.org MRSC | 2601 Fourth Avenue, Suite 800, Seattle, WA 98121 Unsubscribe kdean@co.jefferson.wa.us Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by it@mrsc.org Washington Low Income Housing Alliance Dear Kate, The state Legislature convenes in less than a month. This session will be unlike any other as lawmakers work, remotely, to respond to the health and economic challenges caused by the pandemic. They should keep in mind people like Arianna and Anngie who shared their stories of struggling to pay rent at a work session recently, and make housing stability a priority for the 2021 session. Long before COVID-19 arrived in Washington, we were facing a housing crisis in every corner of our state. The pandemic has made that worse and has made clearer From:Kate Dean To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Tell state lawmakers: Housing must be a priority! Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 12:17:54 PM From: Rachael Myers, Housing Alliance Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 12:17:42 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Kate Dean Subject: Tell state lawmakers: Housing must be a priority! CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. than ever the weaknesses and inequities of our affordable housing and homelessness response systems. People with the smallest incomes – disproportionately Black, Indigenous, and other people of color – were already the most likely to be struggling to afford a place to live. And now those same people are most likely to have lost income or become sick with COVID-19. Pictured above: Arianna Laureano, an incredible tenant advocate, spoke in a Senate Housing Stability and Affordability Committee work session earlier this month. Arianna underscored the crucial need for the eviction moratorium, for just cause protections, and was featured in this Q13 story. To prevent evictions and homelessness like we’ve never before seen in Washington, the legislature must respond with bold solutions to the immediate crisis we’re facing and with investments in the affordable homes we need for the long term. Will you join us in calling on the legislature to fund rental assistance to Follow Us Donate Washington Low Income Housing Alliance 100 West Harrison St. Seattle, Washington 98119 (206) 442-9455 info@wliha.org ensure that whenever the eviction moratorium ends, the 170,000+ people currently behind on rent don’t lose their homes, and for a robust investment in building homes that are affordable for the lowest income people in Washington? Take action now! So far, most people have been able to remain in their homes, thanks to our state’s eviction moratorium. We’re hopeful that Governor Inslee will extend that through March, so the legislature has time to work on a longer-term solution. We’re also hopeful that the federal government will pass a robust relief package, including funding for rental assistance and homelessness. While they’ve reconvened and are considering a package that includes rental assistance, advocates across the country have been calling for that for months, and it hasn’t happened yet. We can’t count on federal assistance, but we can count on each other and make sure that no one here in Washington loses their home during a deadly pandemic because they can’t afford to pay their rent. Please take action right now and tell your lawmakers that you’re counting on them to make this a top priority in the 2021 legislative session. Rachael Myers Executive Director P.S. Watch Arianna and Anngie share their stories with the Senate Housing Stability and Affordability Committee here, and then to make sure they don’t lose their homes – and no one else does either. View this email in your web browser Unsubscribe From:Kate Dean To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Inslee releases 2021 – 2023 budget proposal Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 2:52:11 PM From: Gov. Inslee Press Updates Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 2:49:52 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Kate Dean Subject: Inslee releases 2021 – 2023 budget proposal CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when openingattachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. In my proposed operating, capital and transportation budgets, I am investing in the people of our state.GovDelivery Bulletin Medium Story December 17, 2020 Public and constituent inquiries | 360.902.4111 Press inquiries | 360.902.4136 Inslee releases 2021 – 2023 budget proposal Highlights Gov. Inslee announced the details of his 2021 – 2023 biennial budget proposal Thursday, which included significant funding for public health, economic supports for workers and businesses, and other services that Washingtonians need to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19. "We must invest in the relief, recovery and resilience of Washington. We cannot cut the things that we need most during a pandemic," Inslee said during a press conference Thursday. "In my proposed operating, capital and transportation budgets, I am investing in the people of our state." Inslee’s budget proposals would: Continue an aggressive response to the ongoing pandemic and build more capacity for tackling future public health crises. Rebuild the state’s economy and continue efforts to support households, students, workers and businesses impacted by the pandemic. Address racial and economic inequity. This email was sent to kdean@co.jefferson.wa.us using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Office of the Governor / Office of Financial Management · PO Box 40002 · Olympia, WA · 98504-0002 Protect previous investments in areas such as education, childcare and early learning, climate action, behavioral health reform, combating homelessness and access to health care. Read the rest of the story on the governor's Medium page. Read the proposed 2021 – 2023 Budget and Policy Highlights. Read the Health and Economy policy brief. Stay Connected with the Office of the Governor: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions | Unsubscribe All | Help From:David Sullivan To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: WSF Weekly Update Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 3:02:28 PM From: Washington State Department of Transportation Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 3:01:55 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: David Sullivan Subject: WSF Weekly Update CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. banner Limit holiday ferry travel to essential trips With guidance to limit gatherings during a time we normally spend with family and friends, the holidays will be different for many this year. We are asking the public to limit rides on our ferries to essential purposes only over the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season. If you must ride, be aware that some sailing schedules are different from years past as December 17, 2020 New Mukilteo terminal opens evening of Dec. 29 We’re gearing up to open our first new terminal in 40 years! Our new Mukilteo terminal will open around they are dependent on our COVID Response Service Plan. Face coverings are required aboard our vessels and at our terminals. It is OK to remove your mask while inside a vehicle, except at tollbooths. Lengthy wait times are possible for essential travelers driving a vehicle onto a vessel over the holidays. With Christmas falling on a Friday this year, the Wednesday and Thursday before, and the Saturday and Sunday following the holiday are expected to be the busiest. Delays are possible in both directions on several routes. Historically, far fewer people catch a ferry during the week of the New Year’s holiday. A special thank you to our many employees working over the holiday season to make sure our essential travelers get 5:50 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, upon arrival of the 5:35 p.m. ferry out of Clinton. That sailing will mark the end of an 18-hour service suspension of the route to move floating marine structures from the old terminal to the new one. Because of COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings, there will be no grand opening ceremony. The new terminal honors the tribal history of the land, which is the site of the 1855 Point Elliott treaty signing. The new terminal was built on the site of an abandoned U.S. Air Force fueling pier. The location has been restored to a more natural setting. The Mukilteo Sounder Train station is now just an 800-foot walk from the passenger building, which was designed to account for sea-level rise and meets current seismic standards. An overhead walkway set to open in February will streamline loading by directing walk-on passengers to load and unload directly to the passenger deck of ferries while vehicles will load to the car deck. Buses recently tested the site's new transit center, located steps from the passenger building’s east to their destinations safely. On Friday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Jan. 1, there will be a few schedule changes for the Edmonds/Kingston, Mukilteo/Clinton and Point Defiance/Tahlequah routes. The Seattle/Bainbridge Island route will operate on a Saturday timetable on both days. Holiday sailings are marked on the schedule page for each route. People catching our ferries for essential trips over the holidays should sign up for our email alerts, check terminal conditions and read our COVID-19 travel updates. WSF Stewardship Award We honored Staff Chief Engineer Mark Nitchman with this year’s WSF Stewardship Award today. The award recognizes an individual or team whose efforts help the organization achieve significant savings, efficiency or value in our efforts to care for state resources. Screenshot of Stewardship Award presentation Director of Vessel Engineering and Maintenance Matt Von Ruden and I had the honor of virtually presenting Staff Chief Engineer Mark Nitchman with the WSF Stewardship Award. Mark works in the engine room of the Puyallup, one of our largest ferries in the fleet. Thanks to his hard work and dedication, it's one of our most reliable vessels. In addition to his daily responsibilities on Puyallup, Mark also serves as construction staff chief, overseeing the intricate integration details of the vessel’s control system and electric hybridization propulsion upgrades. Thank you, Mark, for the excellent work and the great care you take in preserving our state resources. Job well done and congratulations! Amy Scarton elevator and stairs. View of the vehicle holding lanes and exit lanes at our new Mukilteo terminal from the south balcony of the passenger building. There are public restrooms in the passenger building and at a separate ground floor building at the head of the vehicle holding lanes. Assistant Secretary, WSDOT/Ferries Division Twitter and Facebook logos WSF Weekly Updates are available online at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/about-us/weekly-update Questions? Contact us at WSFWeeklyUpdate@wsdot.wa.gov Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) information If you would like to learn more about accessibility and the tools we have available, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Accessibility STAY CONNECTED: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Preferences | Unsubscribe | Help This email was sent to dsullivan@co.jefferson.wa.us using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Washington State Department of Transportation 310 Maple Park Ave SE · Olympia, WA 98504 From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Coronavirus Pandemic Resources for Counties – December 17, 2020 Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 3:05:52 PM From: NACo Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 3:04:15 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Coronavirus Pandemic Resources for Counties – December 17, 2020 CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Having trouble viewing this email? Click Here federal-policy-feed_969768.png NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES | NACo.org/coronavirus DECEMBER 17, 2020 URGENT: CALL ON CONGRESS TO SUPPORT COVID RELIEF FOR COUNTIES; JOIN US TOMORROW FOR A NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP CALL Counties need support from our federal partners in the fight against COVID-19. Please urge your members of Congress to support immediate relief for counties in the upcoming federal COVID-19 aid package. In addition to calling for direct and flexible funding for counties of all sizes, join us in advocating for other key measures, including: Adjusting the FEMA cost-share for all COVID-19 related Emergency and Major Disaster declarations to 100 percent Amending Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act language to enhance flexibility for CRF by making "replacement of lost revenue" an eligible expenditure Extending the CRF deadline to December 31, 2021 to allow local governments to continue to invest wisely in our communities by supporting small businesses and protecting vulnerable residents. RSVP for tomorrow's (12/18) membership call at 4 p.m. EST, and take action by contacting your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative. RSVP for Tomorrow's Call | View Our Recent Letter to Congress NACo Webinar: Changing the COVID Conversation – Communication Strategies for Local Governments Americans remain divided about how serious the virus is and what steps should be taken to contain it, according to a new poll by Dr. Frank Luntz and the de Beaumont Foundation. Learn about new research on public sentiment around COVID communications and how to overcome political divisions in public health messaging. REGISTER Workforce development planning in the COVID era NACo, with support from the Walmart Foundation, is conducting a survey to better understand county-level planning for the Future of Work and how the current COVID-19 pandemic has changed or shaped county-level needs related to workforce planning. Please complete the survey today to help NACo better understand county needs. TAKE THE SURVEY FEDERAL POLICY NEWS & RESOURCES FDA Advisory Panel Meets to Consider Second Vaccine Candidate FDA advisory panel meets to consider second vaccine candidate The Moderna vaccine could receive an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as early as tomorrow with shipment beginning shortly thereafter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that health care personnel and long-term care facility residents be vaccinated in the initial phase. LEARN MORE HHS publishes week one vaccine allocations to states and jurisdictions Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published the week one allocations of the initial Pfizer vaccine doses provided to states and jurisdictions. Each week on Tuesday, states and jurisdictions will be provided allocations available to ship the following week. LEARN MORE CDC releases vaccine communication toolkit for health care providers On December 11, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the first in a series of communication toolkits aimed at building confidence about COVID-19 vaccination, including materials for health care teams and other medical staff. VIEW TOOLKIT CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND (CRF) SPOTLIGHT VACCINE DISTRIBUTION Macomb County, Mich.Macomb County, Mich. Macomb County allocated a portion of its CRF dollars to cover the costs of three ultra-cold freezers needed to store COVID-19 vaccines. The county is in the process of purchasing two more and is planning a public outreach campaign to encourage COVID-19 vaccination. LEARN MORE Orange County, Fla.Orange County, Fla. Orange County entered a contract with the Central Florida Family Health Center for COVID-19 testing and vaccine storage reimbursement. The county also purchased a refrigerator, freezer and an ultra-cold freezer to store about 150,000 vaccine doses. LEARN MORE To find additional examples of how counties are investing federal CRF dollars, visit NACo’s CRF resource hub. HOW COUNTIES ARE RESPONDING Colorado county program helps local businesses Rather than see them go rogue against COVID-19 restrictions, Mesa County, Colo. and the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce are working with businesses to standardize safety measures. READ MORE Counties adapt holiday events to meet COVID-19 restrictions With large gatherings out of the question during the pandemic, counties are rethinking holiday events to limit COVID-19 risk. READ MORE COVID-19 leaves empty seats in county government A number of county elected officials have died recently from complications from COVID-19. READ MORE NKN_Banner_collection-covid_1729564.png DEC 18 Changing the COVID Conversation: Communication Strategies for Local Governments DECEMBER 18 | 1 - 2 P.M. EST REGISTER DEC 18 Enhancing Fiscal Resilience in a Disruptive Environment: What We’ve Learned. What’s Next. DECEMBER 18 | 2 - 3 P.M. EST REGISTER DEC 18 NACo National Membership Call DECEMBER 18 | 4 - 5 P.M. EST REGISTER MORE UPCOMING EXPLORE ON-DEMAND NACo PARTNER RESOURCES Google COVID-19 vaccine resources: Google is working to continue providing quality information and resources to help keep people safe, and to provide public health, scientists and medical professionals with tools to combat the pandemic. COVID-19 UPDATES FROM NACo During this critical and unprecedented time, NACo is focused on advocating for the needs of counties at the federal level, disseminating useful information to our members and facilitating the exchange of effective strategies and approaches. We share the latest news and resources online at www.NACo.org/coronavirus, as well as via this recurring digest. Click below to subscribe to updates. NACo.org/coronavirus SUBSCRIBE TO UPDATES 660 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20001 Did someone forward you this email? Sign up to stay up-to-date on topics affecting America’s counties! Click here to unsubscribe. December 2020 eNews From:Kate Dean To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Jefferson Land Trust News and Events - December 2020 Date:Thursday, December 17, 2020 3:09:45 PM From: Jefferson Land Trust Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 3:09:27 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Kate Dean Subject: Jefferson Land Trust News and Events - December 2020 CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Cattle at Ruby Ranch in Chimacum At Ruby Ranch in Chimacum, the Goulartes currently raise a herd of grass-fed beef cattle. The couple plan to use some of the funds from easement to begin diversifying their farm’s offerings. Ruby Ranch in Chimacum is Now Protected Forever! We’re celebrating the permanent protection of another family farm in Chimacum with the purchase of a conservation easement on Ruby Ranch. This 65-acre property owned by Joe and Val Goularte is located in the fertile bottomlands of Beaver Valley. The Goulartes currently raise a herd of grass-fed beef cattle and are eager to begin diversifying their farm’s offerings using some of the funds from the easement. Inspired by the agricultural revival happening in the Chimacum community, Joe and Val are excited about their plans to expand and increase their farm’s contribution to our local food system. The couple is also thrilled that the land they’ve come to love is now permanently protected. Warm Holiday Wishes from the Land Trust Team! Land Trust Staff Holiday Zoom Celebration Screenshot A screenshot from the Land Trust’s 2020 Staff Holiday Zoom Celebration. What's on the Land Trust Team’s Holiday Celebration Must- Have List? Read more here We surveyed Land Trust staff members at our recent Zoom Holiday Celebration for their must-have dishes on or around the holidays. Their answers ran the gamut, including chile, a cheese platter, chutney, carrots, and Christmas cake. And those are just the ones that start with the letter “C”... See the fun full list here >> When planning your own holiday celebrations, we hope you’ll join us in using local ingredients that help support our local farmers and food producers. Here’s an extra incentive: Jefferson County Farmers Markets online is offering a 15% HOLIDAY DISCOUNT with code CHEER 20 for orders this week to be picked up or delivered on December 19. Discover More About the Forest With Us! In Discovering the Forest, an offshoot of the popular Nature in Your Neighborhood program, we’re learning about community forests: how we can tell if they're healthy, ways we can ensure they thrive, how they nourish communities, and how we can grow strong and resilient together. Watch the recording of the first episode of the Discovering the Forest series! Friday, December 18 (tomorrow) 4 - 5:30 pm via Zoom Join us for the second Discovering the Forest session as we dive into the question “How can we help forests be healthy?” Featuring presentations by David Brownell, Historic Preservation Officer for Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, and Carrie Clendaniel, Jefferson Land Trust Preserve Manager. We’ll learn how stewardship and responsible forest management can impact forests and support their growth. Learn more and sign up for the series here Begin (or Continue) Shaping Your Legacy Shaping a Legacy Image If you've been meaning to review (or begin) your estate plans, sign up to join us for Shaping a Legacy, a complimentary educational seminar with attorney Alexandra (Xan) Gerson from Metis Estate Planning. Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Noon - 1:00 pm via Zoom During the 1-hour seminar, Xan will review estate planning basics, estate taxes, when and why to update your estate plan, charitable planning, and share new opportunities for charitable giving under the SECURE Act. Learn More and Register Here >> 'Tis the Season Barred OwlAs you’re thinking about your year-end giving, please consider including Jefferson Land Trust in your plans. Our work is powered by your gifts — gifts that help protect wildlands, farmland, and forests in Jefferson County that are at risk of being lost forever. Donations made online on or before December 31, or checks postmarked by December 31 will count toward your charitable giving for 2020. Thank you for your support! Swans at Sunrise Swans at Sunrise John Gussman, local videographer and photographer, shared these beauties with us. He took the photos early Monday morning in nearby Sequim Valley and explained that “swans roost at night on water for safety and then fly to local fields to feed during the day." Swans at Sunrise The four swans pictured above are three juveniles and a parent. Juvenile swans are grey in color until they mature. Photo by John Gussman. Land Trust Office Information Our Land Trust's office remains closed to the public in accordance with the Governor’s Stay Healthy guidelines. However, we’re continuing to work remotely and invite you to email us (info@saveland.org) with your inquiries or leave us a message at 360.379.9501. We’ll respond to you as soon as we can. Holiday Closure: The Land Trust will be closed for the holidays on December 24-25, 2020 and January 1, 2021. Happy Holidays! Upcoming Events Discovering the Forest — December Event Friday, December 18, 4:00 - 5:30 pm How can we help healthy forests thrive? We’ll learn how stewardship and responsible forest management can impact a forest and support its growth. Learn more and sign up here >> Tasting Terroir — Geologic and Climatic influences on wine flavors in the Pacific NW Saturday, January 9, 4:00 - 5:00 pm Dig in to the topic of terroir with Scott Burns, Emeritus Professor of Geology from Portland State University. Scott will lead us through a virtual tasting with a focus on the Pacific Northwest. Check it out >> Save the Date: Estate Planning Online Seminar Wednesday, January 13, noon - 1:00 pm If you have questions about estate planning or suspect your current plan may need a tune-up, mark your calendar for this online seminar with estate planning attorney Alexandra (Xan) Gerson of Metis Estate Planning. Learn more and register here >> Facebook Instagram YouTube Website Email Email Copyright © 2020 Jefferson Land Trust, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Jefferson Land Trust 1033 Lawrence St Port Townsend, WA 98368-6523 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. December 18, 2020 Production of this newsletter will be suspended over the next two weeks. WSAC will continue to monitor events and will issue alerts when needed. COUNTY NEWS Lewis County Officials Highlight 2021 Legislative Priorities Last Friday Lewis County officials asked state lawmakers from Legislative districts 19 and 20 to support the county’s 2021 legislative priorities and funding needs, including those for the proposed flood retention facility, From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Friday 5 | Lewis County | State Budget | Stevens County | HealthPlanFinder Date:Friday, December 18, 2020 10:04:53 AM From: Washington Counties (WSAC) Sent: Friday, December 18, 2020 10:04:31 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Friday 5 | Lewis County | State Budget | Stevens County | HealthPlanFinder CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. broadband internet and infrastructure improvements. STATE NEWS Inslee Releases 2021–2023 Budget Proposal Governor Inslee announced the details of his 2021–2023 biennial budget proposal Thursday, which included significant funding for public health, economic supports for workers and businesses, and other services that Washingtonians need to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19. STATE NEWS Washington Healthplanfinder Sees Surge in Customers as Final 2021 Deadline Approaches People statewide flocked to Washington Healthplanfinder this week to beat the December 15 deadline for health coverage that would start the first of the year. With that date now passed, Washingtonians still seeking 2021 health coverage have until January 15, 2021 to shop on Washington Healthplanfinder for coverage that begins February 1. COUNTY NEWS Learn More Learn More Learn More Contaminated Former Orchards in Central Washington One Step Closer to Being Safer Homes, schools, parks and daycares on Central Washington’s former orchards could soon be one step closer to sitting atop less contaminated ground. A workgroup is finalizing a report to help spread the word about pesticide contamination from more than a century ago – and to give advice on how to help clean it up. COUNTY NEWS Chewelah’s Mark Burrows Goes From Police Chief to Commissioner In early November, Chewelah Chief of Police Mark Burrows learned that he was selected by the Washington Governor’s Office to fill the vacant Stevens County Commissioners No. 2 seat. While he will be serving the whole county now, many people in town can attest to how he has already served Chewelah. JANUARY 11 Legislative Session Begins Online JANUARY 21 Ethical Considerations for Local Government Officials and Staff 11:00 am | $35 | Webinar Learn More Learn More UPCOMING EVENTS facebook twitter instagram linkedIn wsac.org View this email in your browser This email was sent to gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us | Why did I get this? Want to change how you receive these emails? Update your preferences | Unsubscribe from this list Copyright © 2020 Washington State Association of Counties, All rights reserved. 206 10th Ave SE · Olympia, WA 98501-1311 · USA | Contact Us View More Upcoming Events FOLLOW US From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Urgent action needed: Call on Congress to support relief for counties Date:Friday, December 18, 2020 11:36:24 AM From: NACo Sent: Friday, December 18, 2020 11:36:02 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Urgent action needed: Call on Congress to support relief for counties CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Having trouble viewing this email? Click Here National Association of Counties NACo-HQ-facade_700px_1683094.png URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Call on Congress to Support Relief for Counties Join NACo TODAY for a membership update call Counties need support from our federal partners to keep up the fight against COVID-19. Please urge your members of Congress to support immediate relief for counties in the upcoming federal COVID-19 aid package. The National Association of Counties (NACo) continues to urge Congress to pass direct, flexible aid to counties of all sizes. NACo research shows that counties continue to experience severe fiscal JOIN US TODAY FOR A NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP CALL WHEN: Dec. 18 | 4 p.m. EST RSVP: RSVP here for call-in details QUESTIONS: Email question@naco.org strain as we mitigate this public health and economic crisis. On Wednesday, NACo, along with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and National League of Cities, called on Congress to deliver relief in addition to direct and flexible aid for local governments. Join us in advocating for key measures, including: 1.Direct and flexible aid to counties of all sizes in the current package, as well as potential future packages State and local governments continue to feel the pandemic’s devastating health and economic impacts and as these frontline leaders face a crushing increase in local service demands and needs. 2.Adjust FEMA Cost-Share Upwards To help local governments offset the costs associated with the current national emergency response to this ongoing pandemic, Congress should include provisions within H.R. 8266, the FEMA Assistance Relief Act of 2020, including adjusting the FEMA cost-share for all COVID-19 related Emergency and Major Disaster declarations to 100 percent. 3.Enhanced Flexibility for Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) Amending Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act language to enhance flexibility for CRF by making “replacement of lost revenue” an eligible expenditure would meaningfully aid state, county and municipal governments. 4.Deadline Extension for Coronavirus Relief Funds Early regulatory uncertainty created a challenging environment for state and local governments to confidently make eligible expenditures or payments to smaller jurisdictions. We recommend the spending deadline for CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds be extended to December 31, 2021 to allow local governments to continue to invest wisely in our communities by supporting small businesses and protecting vulnerable residents. TAKE ACTION NOW Federal relief for local government is critical for the health, safety and vibrancy of our communities. America’s counties are on the front lines of this pandemic, providing vital health services, distributing vaccines, mitigating economic challenges and much more. Contact your members of Congress and urge them to support relief for local goverments on the front lines. CONTACT YOUR SENATORS CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE Our recent survey with the COVID RELIEF NOW coalition, a partnership of nearly 300 major public and private sector groups, shows that small businesses, cities and counties will likely experience further devastating impacts from the pandemic without additional federal aid. Without federal aid to local governments: COVID-Survey-stats_652px_1763600.jpg COVID-19 UPDATES FROM NACo During this critical and unprecedented time, NACo is focused on advocating for the needs of counties at the federal level, disseminating useful information to our members and facilitating the exchange of effective strategies and approaches. We share the latest news and resources online at www.NACo.org/coronavirus. Click below to subscribe to updates. NACo.org/coronavirus SUBSCRIBE TO UPDATES 660 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20001 Did someone forward you this email? Sign up to stay up-to-date on topics affecting America’s counties! Click here to unsubscribe. Celebrating 35 years! The Port Townsend Main Street Program is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 1985. Our mission is to preserve, promote, and enhance our historic business districts. From:The Port Townsend Main Street Program To:jeffbocc Subject:Happy Holidays and Opportunities! Date:Friday, December 18, 2020 3:12:59 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Main Street News: Attention Artists! The Port Townsend Creative District seeks to commission an artist or team of artists to develop art elements for a new infrastructure project to enhance the visibility of the Creative District. The project will include design and fabrication of five Art Markers and a single design for smaller directional wayfinding signs that thread pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists between the two ends of the Creative District, and link Downtown, Uptown and Fort Worden State Park. For more information CLICK HERE! Have you signed up for our FREE Marketing Campaign yet?! This year-long marketing campaign will support the historic business districts and it will feature media buys, direct mail, campaign website presence, self-guided tours, and small niche experiences/promotions, sensitive to COVID phases. Sign up to be part of this campaign to attract people and business to the historic districts! Sign up ASAP! Email: admin@ptmainstreet.org or drop off to the Main Street Office at 211 Taylor Street, STE 3 (second floor) How much is it? It is FREE for historic district businesses to participate! CLICK HERE to sign up! Let's talk about the Holidays! The Port Townsend Main Street Program lit the community tree and the Fire Bell Tower on Dec. 5th, 2020 and filmed it LIVE for all to see! You can still view it on our Port Townsend Main Street Facebook Page in case you missed it. Santa Zoom Visit Slots are still available! The Port Townsend Main Street Program is working with Key City Public Theatre to connect young people VIRTUALLY with Santa at the North Pole to hear their Christmas wishes! While we cannot gather in person this year at the Reindeer Region at the Legion, we can still find merriment and happiness in our hearts. Santa and his elf helpers are looking forward to meeting with your children (accompanied by a parent/guardian on the call). CLICK HERE to sign up today! Looking for a free, fun, and socially distant activity to do this Holiday season? Take a wander and check out all the beautiful Winter Window displays Downtown and Uptown and find the hidden Woodland Critter. Pick up a scorecard from the participating merchants or download and print one from the link below. Visit our website for more information. Winter Window Wander Score Card Aldrich's Gingerbread Contest Submissions for Aldrich's Gingerbread Contest will be made virtually this year and photos will be shared to their Instagram page. Submissions will be accepted until December 20th at midnight. CLICK HERE to submit your Gingerbread House! The Port Townsend Main Street Program Holiday Campaign is sponsored by Homer Smith Insurance, KPTZ 91.9 FM, and the Port Townsend Leader, and participating merchants. WA Main Street District Trends Survey This is a survey of business and property owners administered by Washington Main Street, a statewide program that supports local community revitalization across the state. Businesses and property owners in Washington’s designated Main Street Communities are invited to participate in this survey that gauges confidence in the downtown district. Your feedback in this survey is optional, anonymous, and appreciated! Please complete by December 22, 2020. CLICK HERE to take the survey. The Port Townsend Main Street Program is pleased to offer the opportunity to put your state B&O tax dollars to work here in Port Townsend through the work of the Main Street Tax Incentive Program. It's never too early to start thinking about next year! Put your State B&O Taxes to work here in Port Townsend through the 2021 Main Street Tax Incentive Program. 75% of your donation is returned to you via B&O tax credits in 2022. In addition, your entire contribution may qualify as a 501(c)(3) charitable deduction on your 2021 federal income tax return. Details about the Main Street Tax Incentive Program are available on our website. Find out more here! Rotary Bulletin Board on Taylor Street: On hiatus during Covid-19 restrictions. News Around the Block: KPTZ has lots of exciting programming going on this month! be sure to check out the spotlight featuring Lance Bailey, the Development Services Director for the City of Port Townsend, to see what his plans are for Port Townsend's future, airing on December 29th, 2020, and January 3, 2021. CLICK HERE for a full schedule of KPTZ spotlight events. 2020 Mary P. Johnson Awards for Historic Preservation The Jefferson County Historical Society is pleased to announce twelve awards for outstanding efforts in historic preservation by community members and organizations in Jefferson County in 2020. The Historic Preservation Awards provide an opportunity to honor individuals and groups who have worked to preserve or restore traditions, stories, or structures in Jefferson County, Washington. Structures may include residential, commercial, or public buildings. The awards have been presented annually since 1978. Congratulations to this year's Mary P. Johnson Award Recipients! Port Townsend Vineyards, for the restoration of the 1885 C.F. Clapp Building at 725 Water Street. The building has formerly been a grocery, athletic club, dance club, and art gallery. The building was first restored by the namesake to these awards, Mary P. Johnson and her husband Harry, in the early 1950s. This second full restoration of the building by Port Townsend Vineyards opens the space up to the public with the “Vintage Wine Bar and Plaza.” The Quilcene Museum for the restoration of the 1892 Worthington Mansion. The former home of the Worthington family, the structure has been completely restored by an all-volunteer team for the past 8 years. It features a stunning French 2nd Empire Mansard roof finished with 9,000 cedar shingles. Each shingle needed to be individually coated with finish, and set on a rack to dry. All 17 rooms on three floors have been fully restored with every detail accounted for, including hand-crafted trim and period hardware. The space is now ADA accessible as an event center. "There have been 32,000+ volunteer hours invested – including preservation expertise, local artisans, craftspeople, & construction." ---Quilcene Museum Congratulations to Aaron Asis, Washington State Parks, and Centrum for the Fort Words project. This public art installation was created & installed in 2020 to celebrate the unique character and historic significance of Fort Worden State Park. The temporary installation consisted of 23 quotes drawn from local oral histories, collections of historic texts, and public testimonials to give voice to the battery sites and share stories of the Fort’s dynamic history with park visitors. If you are looking for a fun, free, and socially distant activity, head over to Fort Worden and check out this art installation! Last Jefferson County Farmers Market this Saturday! This Saturday, December 19th will be the last Jefferson County Farmers Market of the year. Head over to get any last-minute fresh local produce or local handmade artisan gifts! Key City Public Theatre's Great Cookie Challenge! Starting December 18th, 2020 - It's time for KCPT staff to face off with the Great Cookie Challenge of 2020 on #VLOGMAS The winning cookie will be judged by Tony Gorzycki, San Francisco Opera's Head of Wardrobe and Costume Designer for KCPT's 2019 Shakespeare in the Park. A multi-state multi-person multi-media baking contest! For more information or to get the recipes, CLICK HERE! Commercial Space Available Prime retail space available on Water Street in the Historic Mount Baker Block Building. CLICK HERE for a list of available spaces. For more commercial retail opportunities, visit our website. More COVID-19 "Safe Start" Updates: For more information about grant opportunities and resources, visit our website. For more information about COVID-19 visit these sites: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/1429/COVID-19 Main Street Makes a Difference, Join Us! Main Street Promotion Committee volunteer, Donna Etchey, helping to decorate the Community Tree. Did you know that our nonprofit works in four volunteer committees-- Organization, Design, Economics, and Promotion? With partners, we are working on business recovery plans in response to COVID-19 impacts. We care for the downtown gardens and Adams Street Park. We coordinate Creative District efforts, work on design projects, promote our local economy, and help light up Port Townsend for the holidays. We offer low-interest loan funds to property owners for commercial building renovations and microloans to business owners to offset the financial impacts of emergencies. Our work enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors. Become a member or consider making a donation to help us fulfill our mission to preserve, promote, and enhance the Historic Business Districts. CLICK HERE to DONATE! Head over to our Port Townsend Main Street website for a complete list of our activities and business resources. Follow us on Facebook, twitter and Instagram. Visit our website for more information ptmainstreet.org view this email in your browser Copyright © 2020 Port Townsend Main Street Program, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 211 Taylor Street, Suite 3 Port Townsend, WA 98368 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. From:Levi Ross To:jeffbocc Subject:Joe D"Amico Date:Saturday, December 19, 2020 11:20:23 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Commissioners, I and most of the membership of the Jefferson County Sportsmen's Association are aware of the threat of lawsuit by Fort Discovery, i.e. Joe D'Amico. If his suit has any merit, and is carried out as described, it would effectively be a hostile takeover of a public resource and a privatization of a public asset. It is also, I suspect, an unintended consequence of the county disallowing any future outdoor shooting ranges and an attempt to stop Joe from continuing to develop his business plan. He is using this latest scheme to apply pressure to you and divide the shooting community and gun aware population into another skirmish. Now, I've expressed my views before you in the past and will again here. There are many firearms owned and used by Jefferson County citizens. Taking those guns away is not going to happen. I believe the best thing a community can do to promote gun use safety is to provide a venue for gun owners to gain firearms education and experiential training. The Jefferson County Sportsmen's Association gun range has served this purpose well for over 50 years. It cannot be allowed to become privatized or eliminated due to this kind of threat and the subsequent legal entanglements that are likely to accrue. I'm not sure how to get out of this mess. But, I do have one suggestion that I have also posed before. That suggestion is to declare or go through whatever public process is required to designate the gun range property as a Jefferson County Park, under the parks and recreation banner. Then offer the management and maintenance of the range as a task to be jobbed out to the lowest bidder. This should remove the possibility for Joe to privatize the range and limit or charge highly for public use and allow the current, very effective management by a community volunteer organization such as the existing JCSA to continue. Just a thought. Thank you for your consideration. Levi Ross 181 Raven Rd. Port Townsend, WA 98368 armspro.com From:Stephen Schumacher Cc:heidi4commissioner@gmail.com Subject:Merry Christmas! Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 9:00:21 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Jefferson County Commissioners, Merry Christmas and prayers for you and your families and all of us in the coming year! Yours truly, Stephen Schumacher 2023 E. Sims Way #200 Port Townsend, WA 98368 From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Trump Administration Strengthens Conservation by Finalizing Endangered Species Critical Habitat Designation Rule Date:Friday, December 18, 2020 1:45:39 PM From: Office of Intergovermental and External Affairs Sent: Friday, December 18, 2020 1:43:53 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Trump Administration Strengthens Conservation by Finalizing Endangered Species Critical Habitat Designation Rule CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution whenopening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Trump Administration Strengthens Conservation by Finalizing Endangered Species Critical Habitat Designation Rule Mail from the U.S. Department of the Interior WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) finalized new regulations regarding critical habitat designations under the Endangered Species Act that provide greater legal certainty in response to the unanimous 2018 Supreme Court decision (Weyerhauser) to create an orderly and transparent public process for the public to understand the requirements of section 4(b)(2) and promote better conservation for endangered and threatened species through stronger collaboration with private landowners and other partners. “After a transparent public input process involving stakeholders and other interested parties, the Service is pleased to finalize these regulations, which align with the Trump Administration and Interior Secretary Bernhardt’s priorities,” said Service Director Aurelia Skipwith. “In addition to improving consistency and predictability for stakeholders, these regulations will stimulate more effective conservation on the ground.” This final rule supports the conservation of imperiled species, which has been a hallmark of the Trump Administration, as no administration in history has recovered more endangered and threatened species in their first term. Since 2017, 14 species have been determined to not be either a threatened species or endangered species under the ESA’s List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, and another seven species have been downlisted from endangered species to threatened species. To provide context for this in looking at other administrations in their first term, the Obama Administration recovered six species; the Bush Administration recovered eight species, and the Clinton Administration recovered nine species. This rulemaking action demonstrates the Secretary of the Interior’s responsiveness to public concerns about the impacts of critical habitat designation by committing to always undertake an analysis when a proponent of an exclusion presents credible information supporting their case. The types of impacts that the Secretary will consider include requests from Tribes regarding the management of their lands; requests from States or local governments when proposed critical habitat may impact schools, hospitals or other important community facilities; the potential that critical habitat designation may increase catastrophic wildlife or invasive species to the detriment of the ESA listed species; and whether areas should be excluded because there are already species conservation measures being implemented to recover the species. Section 4(b)(2) of the ESA gives the Secretary the authority to exclude any particular area from a critical habitat designation if the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of inclusion for that area, so long as excluding the habitat will not result in the species’ extinction. The rule provides the framework for how the Service will take into consideration the economic impact, impact on national security and other relevant impacts of designating critical habitat. Additionally, the regulations provide categories of “other relevant impacts” that the Service may consider, including public health and safety, community interests, and the environment, such as the increased risk of wildfire or pest and invasive species management. The rule does not affect how the Service administers the ESA within areas that currently are designated as critical habitat, which are areas identified as essential to a species’ conservation and recovery and containing one or more physical or biological features. The ESA’s language makes clear that the conservation needs of the species drive the initial step of identifying critical habitat and expressly requires proposed designations to be made based on the best scientific data available. The final regulations can be found in the Federal Register Reading Room at: https://public- inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-28033.pdf Additional Background on ESA Improvements and Accomplishments Under the Trump Administration. Fish and wildlife conservation depends on federal partnerships with states, landowners, and most importantly sportsmen who directly fund – to the tune of $1 billion last year alone and more than $23 billion since inception – conservation efforts by purchasing hunting and fishing licenses, fishing tackle, ammunition, boating fuel and other recreational items. To support stronger on-the-ground conservation efforts, encourage private actions to benefit our most imperiled species and provide greater legal certainty for ESA determinations, the Service updated its ESA regulations in 2019 to improve the implementation of the law. The regulations hadn’t been updated since the ESA passed some forty years ago. However, those changes did not modify the five statutory factors that are considered for each listing determination. The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov/. Connect with our Facebook page, follow our tweets, watch our YouTube Channel and download photos from our Flickr page. SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:Manage email updates | Delete profile | Help | Contact DOI This email was sent to gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us by: U.S. Department of the Interior · 1849 C Street, N.W. · Washington DC 20240 · 202-208-3100 View this email in your browser Olympic Peninsula Farmers Fund From:Kate Dean To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Farmers and Food Banks Thank you! Date:Friday, December 18, 2020 2:59:02 PM From: Olympic Peninsula Farmers Fund Sent: Friday, December 18, 2020 2:58:51 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Kate Dean Subject: Farmers and Food Banks Thank you! CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Sharing the bounty of the Olympic Peninsula "The Olympic Peninsula Farmers Fund has been great for us. It has given us an avenue for sales that we really needed this year as our Farmers Market and restaurant sales have been considerably lower than normal, plus we really love that our produce is getting to the food banks and schools on the Peninsula. Thanks for this opportunity!" Marko Colby- Midori Farm Last June, the Olympic Peninsula Farmers Fund provided pre-paid contracts totaling $50,250 to local farms to purchase local food to go to food banks, schools and meal programs. A second round of contracts this winter is providing an additional $72,100 to nine local farms and ranches and one fishing business. The funding for the second round of contracts came from $12,000 in individual donations, a $15,000 grant from the Benjamin N. Phillips Memorial Fund of the Seattle Foundation and support from federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds allocated through Jefferson and Clallam Counties. Of the ten recipients, five are in Clallam County and five are in Jefferson County. Food from all of the producers goes to food banks, schools and meal programs in both counties from one end of the Peninsula to the other. Producers receiving contracts in this round of funding include: Clallam County Dungeness Valley Creamery (raw milk) Chi’s Farm (salad greens) The Farm (wide variety of vegetables and berries) Sequim Bee Farm (creamed wildflower honey) Reaume Farm (wide variety of vegetables) Jefferson County Spring Rain Farm and Orchards (chicken, duck, produce & eggs) Westbrook Angus (USDA ground beef and soup bones) Mystery Bay Farm (Chèvre) Katfish Salmon Co. (frozen, filleted Coho Salmon) Midori Farm (wide variety of vegetables) Food banks, tribal food pantries, and schools have already received salmon, raw milk, cheese and winter produce from the program and we expect to distribute more throughout the winter, next spring and summer. This program is just one example of the many ways the Olympic Peninsula community cares. Thank you for your support. Would you like to continue to get updates on NODC programs? Sign Up for Our Newsletter View this email in your browser Copyright © 2020 North Olympic Development Council (NODC), All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: North Olympic Development Council (NODC) PO Box 2526 Port Angeles, WA 98362-0321 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Thanks For Supporting The Salish Sea From:David Sullivan To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Northwest Straits: Marine Science and Sounds Date:Friday, December 18, 2020 3:14:44 PM From: Northwest Straits Foundation Sent: Friday, December 18, 2020 3:14:19 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: David Sullivan Subject: Northwest Straits: Marine Science and Sounds CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Watch a replay of last night's Holiday Special above. Our virtual fundraiser last night was a blast! Thank you to everyone who donated. We've put your support right to work restoring our coasts for marine life and people. For those who were unable to donate last night, please consider giving now. We rely on support from our community. We're reposting the event so you can learn about our great work, meet some cool conservationists and enjoy some wicked-talented artists. Please consider making a generous year-end gift to support restoration projects and derelict gear removal in the Salish Sea. You can also make a "gift donation" on behalf of a friend or family member. We'll send them a special message on your behalf. If you've already given to the Northwest Straits Foundation this year, thank you for helping to protect the Salish Sea for future generations. Enjoy the show and share with friends. Copyright © 2020 Northwest Straits - Foundation, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have expressed interest in the Northwest Straits Initiative or have attended a workshop hosted by the Northwest Straits Foundation. Our mailing address is: Northwest Straits - Foundation 1155 North State Street, Suite 402 Bellingham, WA 98225 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Support NWSF From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: This Week in Photos Date:Saturday, December 19, 2020 5:07:43 AM From: NACo Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2020 5:06:01 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: This Week in Photos CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Having trouble viewing this email? Click Here This Week in Photos SBCounty @SBCounty This Week in Photos Laura Curran @NassauExecutive This Week in Photos Counties begin administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. San Bernardino County, Calif. Board Chair Curt Hagman announces the arrival and distribution of vaccines; and Nassau County, N.Y. Executive Laura Curran (right) celebrates with an ER nurse, one of the first vaccine recipients. Jennifer O'Rourke @JennORourke72 Jessica Vega Pederson @JVP_MultCoD3 This Week in Photos The National Organization of Black County Officials and the National Association of Black County Officials discuss county infrastructure needs with Transportation Secretary-designate Pete Buttigieg. This Week in Photos Multnomah County, Ore. Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson (top left) participates in a panel discussion on the federal policy outlook with U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley. NACo @NACoTweets This Week in Photos Maui County, Hawaii councilmembers and staff, NACo President Gary Moore (bottom left) and NACo CEO Matt Chase (bottom right) honor retiring Councilmember Riki Hokama (bottom center), a former NACo president and Board member, for his decades of public service. Johnny Olszewski @BaltCoExec This Week in Photos Baltimore County, Md. Executive Johnny Olszewski thanks public works crews for their efforts to keep roads safe during a recent snow storm. Clark County Nevada @ClarkCountyNV Hilda Solis @HildaSolis This Week in Photos This Week in Photos Clark County, Nev. Commission Chair Marilyn Kirkpatrick and Los Angeles County, Calif. Supervisor Hilda Solis distribute gifts for children and families in need this holiday season. Washington Co WI @WashCoWisco This Week in Photos Washington County, Wis. Executive Josh Schoemann presents awards to county employees for their outstanding contributions and service. New Mexico Counties @NMCounties33 This Week in Photos New Mexico Counties wraps up four days of training for newly elected county clerks, commissioners and treasurers. SEE MORE PHOTOS 660 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20001 Did someone forward you this email? Sign up to stay up-to-date on topics affecting America’s counties! Click here to unsubscribe. From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: White House IGA Weekly Recap National COVID-19 Call Invite Date:Saturday, December 19, 2020 9:22:06 AM From: White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2020 9:21:48 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: White House IGA Weekly Recap National COVID-19 Call Invite CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Office of Intergovernmental Affairs White House Weekly Recap for State, local, and Tribal officials | December 19, 2020 On behalf of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA), we are pleased to provide you with the below top-line update of this week's resources, news, and guidance from the Trump Administration and Federal partners. Also find an invitation for the next White House National COVID-19 Briefing Call for State, local, and Tribal officials scheduled on Wednesday, January 6. National COVID-19 Briefing Call Registration Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2020 Time: 1:00 PM Eastern (please note start time and time zone) Call-In Registration: CLICK HERE Note: Call-in lines are limited. RSVP's will be allocated in the order they are received. You must register to join the call. This week's recap includes: COVID-19 Update First Vaccine Administered; Second Vaccine Authorized; Vice President Pence Receives Vaccine 32nd National COVID-19 Briefing Call Readout 44th Governors COVID-19 Coordination Call Executive Order on Increasing Economic and Geographic Mobility Safe Policing for Safe Communities HHS Report Released President Trump Signs Legislation Authorizing Women's Suffrage Monument Regulatory Definition of "Habitat" Under Endangered Species Act Finalized We appreciate your partnership and will continue to share pertinent updates as they become available. We welcome your State, local, and Tribal official colleagues to join our distribution list - they can do so by signing-up here. As a reminder, IGA is the primary liaison between the White House and America's State and local elected officials and Tribal governments. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can ever be of assistance. Sincerely, The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs William F. Crozer Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director O: 202-456-8491 | C: 202-881-8545 | E: William.F.Crozer@who.eop.gov WilliamCrozer45 Nick Barbknecht Associate Director Cell 202-881-9124 Nicolas.Barbknecht2@who.eop.gov Gabby Uli Deputy Associate Director Cell 202-881-8552 Gabriella.M.Uli2@who.eop.gov COVID-19 Vaccines Update On Monday, December 14, the first COVID-19 vaccines were administered across the United States. This historic achievement to deliver a safe and effective vaccine in record time is the result of President Donald J. Trump's leadership and the unprecedented public- private sector collaboration driven through Operation Warp Speed. President Donald J. Trump: First Vaccine Administered. Congratulations USA! Congratulations WORLD! Vice President Mike Pence: While we have a ways to go, and all of us have a role to play, every American should take pride in Operation Warp Speed...a Historic Medical Achievement. ONLY IN AMERICA. WilliamCrozer45: Great to see State & local officials highlighting #COVID19 #vaccine arrival in their communities. Through President @realDonaldTrump's leadership & the unprecedented public-private collaboration driven by Operation Warp Speed, a safe & effective vaccine is here in record time. Read More: HHS Secretary Azar - How Operation Warp Speed Delivered a COVID Vaccine in Record Time Watch: @SecAzar and @Surgeon_General observe the administration of some of the nation's first doses of a #COVID19 vaccine to frontline healthcare workers at @GWHospital. The vaccine, produced by Pfizer, was issued emergency use authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday, December 11. The EUA authorizes the distribution of Pfizer's vaccine across the United States to sites designated by the public health jurisdictions and five federal agencies with which OWS and CDC have been working to plan distribution. Find a helpful Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine available here and a Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers here. Click here to watch President Trump's address. On December 11, 2020, President Donald J. Trump addressed the Nation from the Oval Office at the White House to announce the first authorized COVID-19 vaccine that will be administered to Americans within 48 hours of distribution to states. As a reminder, the 64 jurisdictions - which encompasses all 50 States, 8 U.S. territories, and six major metropolitan areas - as well as five federal agencies - including the Indian Health Service, Department of Defense, and Department of Veterans Affairs - are responsible for administering vaccines. Each week, as doses are released by companies for distribution, planes and trucks transport the vaccine to States and jurisdictions across the country. Learn more about the distribution process here. Find distribution plans for all 64 jurisdictions here, the Indian Health Service here, and the Department of Veterans Affairs here. Local officials should coordinate with their respective States on any vaccine allocation and/or distribution questions. Rollout of COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Is Off to Successful Start, Officials Say HHS Announces that CDC will Award Nearly $227 Million for COVID-19 Vaccine Preparedness and Response Activities HHS Extends Coverage for Qualified National Guard Personnel to Administer Authorized COVID-19 Vaccines Indian Health Service Allocates Vaccines for Urban Indian Organizations For more information on COVID-19 vaccines, the EUA process, and guidance to industry for developing a COVID-19 vaccine, please visit: COVID-19 Vaccines Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines Explained Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines to Prevent COVID-19; Guidance for Industry Development and Licensure of Vaccines to Prevent COVID-19; Guidance for Industry FDA Plans for Monitoring Approved COVID-19 Vaccines Explained Second COVID-19 Vaccine Authorized On Friday, December 18, the FDA authorized a second COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna. This critical emergency use authorization and subsequent distribution of the vaccine to the American people is an important step in increasing the available vaccine supply. Per Operation Warp Speed, the federal government will immediately begin distribution of 5.9 million does of the Moderna vaccine this weekend with deliveries beginning Monday. President Donald J. Trump: Congratulations, the Moderna vaccine is now available! HHS Secretary Alex Azar: The public-private partnership of #OperationWarpSpeed has helped Moderna, an American startup, become one of the first two companies to receive FDA authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine. HHS and DoD Statements on FDA Authorization of Moderna Vaccine Earlier this week, Vice President Pence, HHS Secretary Alex Azar, and CDC Director Robert Redfield visited Catalent, a Moderna partner located in Indiana, to tour their vaccine manufacturing facility and participate in a vaccine distribution roundtable. Vice President Pence Receives COVID-19 Vaccine On Friday, December 18, Vice President Mike Pence, joined by Second Lady Karen Pence and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, publicly received a COVID-19 vaccine to promote the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and build confidence among the American people. Image Read More: Remarks by Vice President Pence at a Safe and Effective Vaccine Confidence Event Vice President Mike Pence: We gather at the end of a historic week to affirm to the American people that hope is on the way. @SecondLady & I were honored to step forward and receive the Safe and Effective Coronavirus Vaccine and we hope it will be a source of confidence & comfort for the American people. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams: I've never been more excited or proud to #SleeveUp Watch: Vice President Pence Gives Remarks Before Receiving Vaccine Readout from the 32nd National COVID-19 Briefing Call Thank you for your efforts in the whole-of-America approach to responding to COVID-19. Below you will find a readout from the White House COVID-19 National Briefing Call with State, local, and Tribal officials. WilliamCrozer45: Just concluded the 32nd @WhiteHouse Intergovernmental Affairs National #COVID19 Briefing Call with stakeholders. Joined by @HHSGOV, @US_FDA, & @CDCgov to talk all things #covid19 #vaccine and the important role of State/Local/Tribal leaders. Together, we will defeat the virus! Participants on the December 16th call included: Ambassador Deborah Birx, White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Paul Mango, Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Health and Hunan Services Stephen Hahn, M.D., Commissioner, Food & Drug Administration Nancy Messonnier, M.D., Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC Ambassador Deborah Birx, White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator: Ambassador Birx provided an update on trends observed from her continued travel across the country meeting with State, local, and Tribal leaders. Dr. Birx noted a rise in cases and hospitalizations across the country. While the heartland and center of the country are stabilizing in their case rates, the coasts and sun belt positivity rates are worsening. As a vaccine works toward distribution to all Americans, continued vigilance, distancing and testing are essential. It is also essential to increase testing in vulnerable populations as therapeutics have been shown to work the earlier the virus is discovered - and treated - in patients. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams: If you've recently been diagnosed with #COVID19, ask your doctor about monoclonal antibody therapy, which could reduce your risk of hospitalizations by 70% if taken in time! Paul Mango, Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Paul Mango provided an update covering the first Emergency Use Authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine on December 11 and the first vaccination occurring on December 14th. Comparing the success of Operation Warp Speed in producing and distributing a vaccine to Roger Bannister's breaking the 4 minute mile in 1954, Mango stated the equivalent would be Operation Warp Speed running a 45 second mile. While vaccines typically take years to develop and approve, by comparison, the Pfizer was produced, authorized, and distributed in only 10 months. 3 Million vaccines will have been delivered to front line workers and vulnerable populations across the country and another 8 million will be delivered next week. Joint vaccine operations continue in both Atlanta and Washington, D.C. tracking the vaccine distribution in real time. Mango also highlighted that two other promising vaccines candidates from Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca are also in the development pipeline. Stephen Hahn, M.D., Commissioner, Food & Drug Administration: On Friday, December 11, 2020 the FDA provided Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the first COVID-19 vaccine after upholding safety and science to continue to uphold the FDA's reputation as the gold standard in medicinal approval. While rare allergic reactions continue to be addressed for the vaccine, they will through continued study as all vaccines work toward final approval. Although this Pfizer vaccine is proven to be effective in preventing the contracting of the virus, prevention of the spread of the virus is still being studied. This vaccine achievement is a significant accomplishment by the CDC and FDA through a historic public-private-partnership. An additional achievement is the FDA approval of an at-home test for COVID-19. While these developments are promising, continued hand washing, mask usage, and social distancing is essential for the remainder of the pandemic. READ MORE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Antigen Test as First Over-the-Counter Fully At-Home Diagnostic Test for COVID-19 Nancy Messonnier, M.D., Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC: The hard work of distribution of the vaccines to every corner of the country has begun and partnership by every state, local and tribal stakeholder is essential. Pfizer shipped the vaccine to 61 jurisdictions last weekend, and all are beginning vaccination with healthcare workers, and some are beginning with long term care workers as well. In the first several days the CDC has been fielding calls by healthcare workers through distribution while working in concert with the pharmaceutical developers. In addition, the FDA's forthcoming review of the Moderna vaccine promises continued hope to end this pandemic. To find where you can donate source plasma, visit donatingplasma.org and coronavirus.gov. The White House has hosted 32 National COVID-19 Briefing Calls reaching more than 73,000 State, local, and Tribal officials in the most robust Federal-State collaboration in modern American history. Readout from the 44th Governors Call on COVID-19 On Monday, December 14, Vice President Mike Pence led a discussion with the chief executives and senior leaders of approximately 50 states, territories, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to discuss local, state, and federal COVID-19 response and recovery efforts including the continued collaboration on vaccine distribution and administration planning and execution. The Vice President and governors of both parties discussed the positive news of the Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization (EUA) and the shipments of the initial allocations of a safe and effective vaccine. The authorization is a tribute to presidential leadership, scientific advancement, and private sector innovation. Vice President Mike Pence: As the @WhiteHouse Coronavirus Task Force told America's Governors: This is a Historic Day! We have come to the Beginning of the End of the Coronavirus pandemic with the first vaccine being administered in States across the country. Participants from the White House Coronavirus Task Force: Vice President Mike Pence Secretary Alex Azar, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Ambassador Deborah Birx, M.D., White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Seema Verma, Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) General Gustave F. Perna, Chief Operation Officer, Operation Warp Speed (OWS) Director Anthony Fauci, M.D., National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases Commissioner Stephen Hahn, Federal Drug Administration (FDA) Director Robert Redfield, M.D., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS Administrator Pete Gaynor, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Brigadier General David Sanford, Defense Supply Center & Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, DOD The Vice President discussed with governors the ongoing whole-of-government effort to mitigate and respond to COVID-19, the ongoing robust partnership to prepare for the distribution and administration of a safe and effective vaccine with our nation’s governors and public health jurisdictions, and provided an update on key state and federal medical supply chain management efforts. The Vice President also reminded governors about the multi-layered, transparent, and independent vaccine approval process. Governors highlighted their best practices on distributing and administering a safe and effective vaccine including: Arizona Governor Doug Ducey; Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards; Maryland Governor Larry Hogan; North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper; North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum; Texas Governor Greg Abbott; and West Virginia Governor Jim Justice FDA Commissioner Dr. Hahn and CDC Director Redfield provided an update on vaccine and therapeutic developments with a focus on the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which was granted an emergency use authorization on December 11, 2020. Secretary Azar provided an update on Moderna’s vaccine trial, the submission of the company’s EUA application, and distribution and administration coordination with states. Secretary Azar reiterated the rigorous standards of vaccine the approval process—even in the context of an expedited timeline created by Operation Warp Speed. Secretary Azar also highlighted CDC and NIH executive summaries on monoclonal antibodies and other treatments to increase hospital resiliency and encouraged governors to redouble their collaboration with health care professionals in their state to ensure earlier use of monoclonal antibodies to prevent severe illness and hospitalization. General Perna provided an update on vaccine distribution and administration planning and execution efforts including collaboration between public and private sector partners and discussion on the status of and process whereby the recently authorized Pfizer COVID- 19 vaccine is being allocated, shipped, and distributed to states. Administrator Verma discussed her recent letter to Governors regarding CMS’ comprehensive strategy to enhance hospital capacity and dialysis center vaccination. Ambassador Birx provided an update on data and trends from across the Nation and discussed engagement meeting with state, local, and community leaders. Dr. Birx highlighted encouraging signs in the Heartland and areas of the Midwest, and also mentioned some signs of improvement in the Sunbelt amid an increase in cases. Additionally, Dr. Birx urged Governors to encourage clinicians to use monoclonal antibodies and remdesivir early in treatment of COVID+ patients, in line with recent CDC and NIH guidance documents. Since January 2020, the Trump Administration has organized and hosted 44 governors- only briefings to drive effective communication and collaboration at every level of government. Public health incidents, like natural disasters, are locally-executed, State- managed, and Federally-supported. This is likely the most robust Federal-State collaboration in our Nation’s history. Executive Order on Economic and Geographic Mobility On December 14, 2020, President Trump signed the Executive Order on Increasing Economic and Geographic Mobility. Developed in consultation with State and local leaders, the President’s Executive Order challenges State and local leaders to continue to remove unnecessary barriers and to empower American workers with workforce freedom and mobility. The Executive Order (EO) outlines six principles for State and local governments should follow to alleviate occupational licensing burdens, which particularly impact lower income workers and small businesses. The EO specifically references Arizona, Florida, Iowa and Missouri as model examples of States to follow in enacting occupational licensing reform. Ivanka Trump: This week, POTUS signed an EO to reduce unnecessary licensing regs & expand opportunities across America. In 1950, 1 in 20 workers needed a license for a job & today over 1 in 4 are required to have one to work. We’re cutting unneeded regs & working hard to create better+more opportunity! READ MORE: Deregulation is Spurring Growth (by Brooke Rollins - Director, White House Domestic Policy Council - and Doug Hoelscher -Director, White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs) Through the Governors' Initiative on Regulatory Innovation, the White House and Administration are working alongside State, local, and Tribal leaders to cut red tape, create jobs, and grow economies across the country. Since the Trump Administration launched the Governors’ Initiative on Regulatory Innovation in October 2019: Iowa, Idaho, Missouri, and Utah joined Arizona in enacting universal occupational licensing reform. At least 19 States have taken occupational licensing reform actions, including Florida’s actions to remove occupational and business licenses, reduce training hour requirements for professions, and allow reciprocity for certain out of state licenses. At least 15 governors highlighted and called for occupational licensing reforms in their State of the State speech or legislative agenda. States have taken concrete actions to put people over paperwork including: Arizona requiring three regulations to be eliminated for every new regulation created, Idaho officially cutting or simplifying 75% of their regulatory code along with announcing the zero-based regulation initiative and preserving deregulatory work, Mississippi's Secretary of State initiating the "Tackle the Tape" initiative to increase economic opportunities for all Mississippians, Ohio launching an artificial intelligence tool to analyze their regulatory code, and Oklahoma requiring two regulations to be eliminated for every one created. All 50 States have taken some form of action to reduce red tape during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional Resources The President’s Principles on Workforce Freedom and Mobility The Economic Effect of Federal Deregulation Since January 17: An Interim Report This Is How Much Overregulation Would Cost Your Family Each Year President Donald J. Trump’s Historic Deregulatory Actions Are Creating Greater Opportunity and Prosperity for All Americans President Trump’s Regulatory Relief Helps All Americans President Donald J. Trump Is Modernizing Federal Environmental Reviews to Accelerate America’s Infrastructure Development Safe Policing for Safe Communities HHS Report Released President Donald J. Trump signed the Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities on June 16, 2020 to address problems that inhibit the rule of law while holding police misconduct accountable. This week, HHS released a report required under the EO covering the mental health resources that the law enforcement community, mental health community, and State and local leaders can use to support both our law enforcement and communities alike. President Donald J. Trump signs an executive order on safe policing for safe communities Tuesday, June 16, 2020, in the Rose Garden of the White House. SAMHSA: Dr. McCance-Katz, Asst Secy for Mental Health and Substance Use, participated in the @WhiteHouse presentation of the Safe Policing for Safe Communities report, a very important step in advancing evidence-based treatment for mental illness in communities https://go.usa.gov/xAgka Background: Signed by President Trump in June 2016, the Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities directs the Administration to seek reforms that improve the relationship between law enforcement and all communities. The Executive Order represents a commitment by the President and the Administration to support – not defund – the brave men and women of law enforcement by providing them with necessary resources to implement best practices and protect the communities they serve. Among others, key provisions include: credentialing of police departments for use-of-force and de- escalation standards; information-sharing related to excessive force adjudications against law enforcement personnel; mental health support for police officers, as well as programs to include social workers as co-responders for incidents involving those who may mentally ill, homeless or drug-addicted. READ MORE: Executive Order Safe Policing for Safe Communities: Addressing Mental Health, Homelessness, and Addiction Report READ MORE: The Department of Justice Announces Standards for Certifying Safe Policing Practices by Law Enforcement Agencies WI State Rep. Barbara Dittrich: Today I was privileged to attend the @WhiteHouse Briefing on Safe Policing for Safe Communities. It was encouraging to see how this plan is already transforming training for officers, especially in the areas of mental health & substance abuse. https://cops.usdoj.gov/SafePolicingEO President Trump Signs Legislation Authorizing Women's Suffrage Monument Image On Thursday, December 17, President Trump signed legislation - Every Word We Utter - authorizing an outdoor federal monument in Washington, D.C. to the women’s suffrage movement to honor the activists who won women the right to vote. The sculpture by Jane DeDecker features historical women who contributed to women's rights, including Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony and Ida B. Wells. It will be placed near the U.S. Supreme Court. First Lady Melania Trump: Yesterday @POTUS signed a bill authorizing the "Every Word We Utter" Monument. This landmark will serve as a tribute to the brave women who devoted their life to the women's suffrage movement, the ratification of the 19th Amendment, & those who still fight for women's equality. Earlier this year, President Donald J. Trump issued a Proclamation on the 100th Anniversary of the Ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, which secured the right to vote for women and marked a monumental step towards the "more perfect Union" envisioned by our Founders. The White House: This morning, President @realDonaldTrump was joined by @FLOTUS, @SBAJovita, and more as he signed a proclamation in honor of the centennial anniversary of women's suffrage. First Lady Melania Trump: 100 years ago today, the #19thAmendment was ratified, securing the right to vote for American women. Today, @POTUS signed a proclamation recognizing this historic anniversary & we celebrate the countless contributions of women throughout our Nation's history. #SuffrageMonth President Trump also issued an Executive Grant of Clemency (Full Pardon) posthumously to Susan B. Anthony, a peerless advocate for women’s suffrage, for a wrongful and unjust conviction stemming from the only vote she ever cast in an election. As we commemorate the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment—known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment—this grant of full clemency recognizes and pays tribute to the advocacy, perseverance, and leadership of a truly remarkable woman and an American hero. Regulatory Definition of "Habitat" Under Endangered Species Act Finalized On Tuesday, December 15, the Trump Administration - through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service - announced a final regulatory definition of the term “habitat” that will be used for designating critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The definition is part of the efforts of the Trump Administration to balance effective, science-based conservation with common-sense policy designed to bring the ESA into the 21st century. The final definition of habitat is, “For the purposes of designating critical habitat only, habitat is the abiotic and biotic setting that currently or periodically contains the resources and conditions necessary to support one or more life processes of a species.” This definition explicitly limits the term habitat to apply only to critical habitat designations under the ESA, and no previously finalized critical habitat designations will be reevaluated as a result of its establishment. Read More: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries Finalize Regulatory Definition of Habitat Under Endangered Species Act Unsubscribe Office of Intergovernmental Affairs · 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW · Washington, DC 20500-0003 · USA · 202-456- 1111 $98,000 To Go with Two Weeks Remaining From:Kate Dean To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: "Tis the Season to Give Date:Saturday, December 19, 2020 11:19:11 AM From: United Good Neighbors of Jefferson County Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2020 11:18:52 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Kate Dean Subject: 'Tis the Season to Give CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. To date, more than 620 households, 25 businesses, and 10 workplace campaigns have donated $201,944 to the critical programs and safety-net services supported by United Good Neighbors' Give Jefferson. That’s 67% of the way towards our goal of $300,000. To those who have already donated, Thank You! It is your mindfulness and magnanimity that inspires others to rise to the extraordinary challenges of the pandemic and ensures that those most in need in Jefferson County are not left to weather this crisis alone. We humbly ask that you continue to raise awareness about this charitable opportunity. Tell a friend, a neighbor, a coworker today! Donate a Stocking Stuffer There may only be six more days until Christmas but there are two weeks remaining in Give Jefferson. If you haven't donated yet, it’s not too late. Consider gifting in the name of a loved one for a unique, meaningful stocking stuffer. Gifts large and small, support food security, emergency shelter, affordable housing and healthcare, and all-ages education programs in Jefferson County. $5 Can feed one person a hot meal or provide one month of internet access to a remote learning student Give Today! $10 Puts clean laundry vouchers in the hands of families in need or transports a senior citizen to a healthcare appointment $25 Means a gift under the tree for a local foster child or that a patient can receive medical treatment and medication $50 Houses one person in a warm, safe space for one night or sends a future homeowner to a Homebuyers Education course $100 Provides two-weeks of tutoring and mentorship for local students or purchases 2,500 lbs of food to feed 125 local families Your donations directly impact the lives of children, families, senior citizens, essential workers, and those vulnerable populations that need, now more than ever, the hope that your charity inspires. And this year, that impact is amplified by the All in WA match. Share Forward This email was sent to kdean@co.jefferson.wa.us why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences Jefferson Community Foundation · P.O. Box 1394 · Port Hadlock, WA 98339 · USA From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Working WA 3 Grant Update & New Federal COVID Relief Bill Passed! Date:Sunday, December 20, 2020 8:13:09 PM From: Clallam EDC Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2020 8:12:54 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Working WA 3 Grant Update & New Federal COVID Relief Bill Passed! CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Working WA 3 Updates Business Owners: The WA State Dept. of Commerce shared with, EDC's around the state that no businesses had yet been notified of their Working WA 3 award status. Applications are still being processed this weekend and the hope is to notify businesses this week as to whether they will be receiving a grant and the associated amount. Stay tuned... About 28,000 applications were received. Approximately 7,800 applications meet the targeted priority businesses which include restaurants, bars, fitness centers, bowling alleys and event venues and that had less than $5M in revenues in 2019. Congressional COVID Relief Bill Passed: Highlights include: 1. $325 billion for small business, including $284 billion for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The legislation also expands PPP eligibility to include 501(c)(6) organizations. 2. Direct payments to taxpayers – $600 for individuals making up to $75,000 per year and $1,200 for couples making up to $150,000 per year, as well as a $600 payment for each child dependent. 3. Extension of unemployment benefits through March 14, 2021 with an additional $300 per week (on top of state benefits). 4. $45 billion for transportation, including $15 billion for airline payroll support, $1 billion for airline contractor payrolls, $14 billion for transit, $10 billion for state highways, $2 billion for airports and airport concessionaires, $2 billion for the private motorcoach, school bus, and ferry industries, and $1 billion for Amtrak. 5. Extends the availability by one year (until Dec. 31, 2021) for funds provided to states and localities by the Coronavirus Relief Fund in the CARES Act. 6. $82 billion for schools. 7. $25 billion for rental assistance, including $800 million for tribal housing entities and an extension of the federal eviction moratorium. 8. $69 billion for COVID testing and tracing and for vaccine distribution. The package excludes two key items that have stymied negotiators the past several months: funding for state and local government and liability protection for business. Choose Clallam First | ChooseClallamFirst.com ‌ Clallam County Economic Development Council | 338 W 1st St., Suite 105, Port Angeles, WA 98362 Unsubscribe gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by info@clallam.org powered by Try email marketing for free today! From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Questions for the December 21st BOCC Meeting Date:Sunday, December 20, 2020 9:26:39 PM From: Kathleen Keenan Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2020 9:26:12 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton; KPTZ VTeam; Kate Dean; Keppie Keplinger; Tom Locke; Willie Bence; David Sullivan; jeffbocc Subject: Questions for the December 21st BOCC Meeting CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Holiday greetings.....as you well may expect, KPTZ listener’s have again nearly set a record for questions. Expected of course, as there is news about the pandemic every minute of the day...especially about the unexpected efficacy the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have demonstrated. The questions are a mix of anticipation about the pandemic end being somewhere in sight, vaccine rollout and distribution scenarios and what actually are the actions of vaccines. Our station manager, Kate Ingram is still reporting all 100 slots allotted KPTZ are being reserved by community members for this BOCC Public Health and EOC update, as well as the many listener’s who tune into the live stream the radio provides on their website. This partnership has provided an extraordinary opportunity this last year in keeping our community informed during a difficult time. The information provided the these weekly updates continue to the guide for developing our public service announcements (PSA). Our KPTZ Virus Watch Team wishes to extend our thanks and gratitude for your co-operation in this effort. We also wish you all a quiet, peaceful and restful holiday. Happy holidays Kate Keenan KPTZ Virus Watch Team Questions KPTZ would like to have presented on the air to Dr. Locke / Public Health/County Commissioners (BOCC)/EOC/Chamber of Commerce Questions for December 20th BOCC Meeting: Dr. Tom Locke: 1. What kind of guidance has been given to local medical providers regarding seeing patients for appointments who voluntarily quarantine after they travel out of state. A friend called to reschedule an appointment made prior to the travel and was told not to cancel. As long as he didn’t have symptoms, he was advised to keep the appointment. 2. In a previous broadcast..it was mentioned that suicide increases during the holiday season. One link on the topic through CDC….suggests that December has the lowest frequency of all months. Could you please clarify this in an upcoming broadcast? (https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/holiday.html) 3. Early in the pandemic there was talk of transmission via eye socket fluids but I’ve heard nothing of this in many months. Is this a viable route of transmission? 4. I understand the vaccines for Covid-19 are being allocated to each state based on population. Since Port Townsend has nearly 37% of its population over the age of 65…..will it take longer for older people to get vaccinated here than other cities who may have less seniors? 5. I see that most people who have Covid-19 like symptoms and get tested are negative. This suggests other respiratory infections are prevalent. Is it the flu or colds? If a lot of us are following public health recommendations, but some of us are still getting ill, what does this tell us about the risks we take when we go out into public spaces? 6. We hear daily about rising Covid-19 infections and deaths. Are the recent improvements in treatment not working? What is the difference between the hospitalized person who survives and the person who advances to severe disease, needs a respirator and may die? 7. Isn’t it time to start enforcing mask wearing by every person? The explosion of new cases here tells me that it’s time to stop being nice. Also, I don’t see the stores limiting their capacity to be in line with the Governor’s recent restrictions. Who is supposed to monitor this? Covid-19 Testing: 1. Will Jefferson County still allow those of us who want to have a very small family holiday celebration to get a Covid-19 test two days before we gather? If we can’t….what do you recommend as an alternative? Public Health Strategies/Vaccines: 1. After much reading and listening to public health officials and medical experts, I apparently have a misunderstanding about the actions of vaccinations. They apparently do not prevent you from getting an infection of Covid-19 when exposed..even if you get the new vaccines. Is this right? 2. I heard that there is a group from our state that will review and give their opinion on the newest vaccine candidate from Moderna. Will this process delay the implementation of the vaccine rollout in our state? 3. Why aren't we testing for antibodies? If positive, wouldn't that mean the person doesn't need the vaccine because they already had the disease and most likely is protected? Are we missing the chance to make the vaccine stretch farther? 4. What happens if someone with undiagnosed, asymptomatic COVID gets the vaccine? Will there be complications from this? 5. We read that the two vaccines currently in use are about 95% effective. What does that number actually mean? What happens to the other 5% of the people? 6. Does the effectiveness of a vaccine vary from person to person, with some highly protected, some not protected at all, and the rest somewhere in between? 7. I’ve heard that a person successfully vaccinated can still pass the coronavirus on to others and will therefore need to continue safe practices until the general population reaches the 60-70% threshold needed for herd immunity. Is this correct? How can that be? 8. Recent news from England about a new infectious strain of this novel coronavirus may not be stopped by the current vaccines just produced and distributed. How useful are these vaccines when the virus mutates so quickly? 9. Dr. Locke..are you worried about the severe side effects announced on the news that some people have experienced with the Pfizer vaccine? With more people vaccinated, will we see more unexpected reactions? It worries me. Board of County Commissioners/Chamber of Commerce: (none submitted) EOC: 1. Does the DEM and EOC play any role in the distribution and rollout of the vaccines coming to Jefferson County? Who keeps track of how many people get vaccinated From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Transportation Safety Review Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 4:02:02 AM From: Village Council Sent: Monday, December 21, 2020 4:01:36 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Transportation Safety Review CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Transportation Safety Committee PLVC Roadway Safety Committee Visit the Village Council Web Site Your Village Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose purpose is to be a unifying force and information conduit for the benefit of all Port Ludlow residents. Port Ludlow Village Council | Post Office Box 65012, Port Ludlow, WA 98365 Unsubscribe gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by portludlowvillagecouncileblast@gmail.com From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Happy Holidays from WA211 Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 8:02:02 AM From: Washington 211 Sent: Monday, December 21, 2020 8:01:55 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Happy Holidays from WA211 CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. As we reflect back on this year, WA211 staff would like to thank you for your support and engagement. Together we have faced enormous challenges and heart ache, experienced and witnessed hardships and lost loved ones. We have been tested and we have grown. candles_romantic.jpg As we look toward 2021, we are heartened by the strength and community spirit that have embraced the 211 Network this year. Our best to you for this holiday season and New Year. WE WISH YOU A SAFE AND WARM HOLIDAY SEASON AND A PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR! WA211 | wa211.org Washington 211 | 304 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima, WA 98902 Unsubscribe gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by info@wa211.org powered by Try email marketing for free today! From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: White House IGA Weekly Recap (12-14/12-20) National COVID-19 Call Invite Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 8:08:26 AM From: White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Sent: Monday, December 21, 2020 8:07:45 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: White House IGA Weekly Recap (12-14/12-20) National COVID-19 Call Invite CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Office of Intergovernmental Affairs White House Weekly Recap for State, local, and Tribal officials | December 21, 2020 On behalf of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA), we are pleased to provide you with the below top-line update of this past week's resources, news, and guidance from the Trump Administration and Federal partners. Also find an invitation for the next White House National COVID-19 Briefing Call for State, local, and Tribal officials scheduled on Wednesday, January 6. National COVID-19 Briefing Call Registration Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2020 Time: 1:00 PM Eastern (please note start time and time zone) Call-In Registration: CLICK HERE Note: Call-in lines are limited. RSVP's will be allocated in the order they are received. You must register to join the call. This week's recap includes: COVID-19 Update First Vaccine Administered; Second Vaccine Authorized; Vice President Pence Receives Vaccine 32nd National COVID-19 Briefing Call Readout 44th Governors COVID-19 Coordination Call Executive Order on Increasing Economic and Geographic Mobility Safe Policing for Safe Communities HHS Report Released President Trump Signs Legislation Authorizing Women's Suffrage Monument Regulatory Definition of "Habitat" Under Endangered Species Act Finalized We appreciate your partnership and will continue to share pertinent updates as they become available. We welcome your State, local, and Tribal official colleagues to join our distribution list - they can do so by signing-up here. As a reminder, IGA is the primary liaison between the White House and America's State and local elected officials and Tribal governments. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can ever be of assistance. Sincerely, The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs William F. Crozer Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director O: 202-456-8491 | C: 202-881-8545 | E: William.F.Crozer@who.eop.gov WilliamCrozer45 Nick Barbknecht Associate Director Cell 202-881-9124 Nicolas.Barbknecht2@who.eop.gov Gabby Uli Deputy Associate Director Cell 202-881-8552 Gabriella.M.Uli2@who.eop.gov COVID-19 Vaccines Update On Monday, December 14, the first COVID-19 vaccines were administered across the United States. This historic achievement to deliver a safe and effective vaccine in record time is the result of President Donald J. Trump's leadership and the unprecedented public- private sector collaboration driven through Operation Warp Speed. President Donald J. Trump: First Vaccine Administered. Congratulations USA! Congratulations WORLD! Vice President Mike Pence: While we have a ways to go, and all of us have a role to play, every American should take pride in Operation Warp Speed...a Historic Medical Achievement. ONLY IN AMERICA. WilliamCrozer45: Great to see State & local officials highlighting #COVID19 #vaccine arrival in their communities. Through President @realDonaldTrump's leadership & the unprecedented public-private collaboration driven by Operation Warp Speed, a safe & effective vaccine is here in record time. Read More: HHS Secretary Azar - How Operation Warp Speed Delivered a COVID Vaccine in Record Time Watch: @SecAzar and @Surgeon_General observe the administration of some of the nation's first doses of a #COVID19 vaccine to frontline healthcare workers at @GWHospital. The vaccine, produced by Pfizer, was issued emergency use authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday, December 11. The EUA authorizes the distribution of Pfizer's vaccine across the United States to sites designated by the public health jurisdictions and five federal agencies with which OWS and CDC have been working to plan distribution. Find a helpful Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine available here and a Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers here. Click here to watch President Trump's address. On December 11, 2020, President Donald J. Trump addressed the Nation from the Oval Office at the White House to announce the first authorized COVID-19 vaccine that will be administered to Americans within 48 hours of distribution to states. As a reminder, the 64 jurisdictions - which encompasses all 50 States, 8 U.S. territories, and six major metropolitan areas - as well as five federal agencies - including the Indian Health Service, Department of Defense, and Department of Veterans Affairs - are responsible for administering vaccines. Each week, as doses are released by companies for distribution, planes and trucks transport the vaccine to States and jurisdictions across the country. Learn more about the distribution process here. Find distribution plans for all 64 jurisdictions here, the Indian Health Service here, and the Department of Veterans Affairs here. Local officials should coordinate with their respective States on any vaccine allocation and/or distribution questions. Rollout of COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Is Off to Successful Start, Officials Say HHS Announces that CDC will Award Nearly $227 Million for COVID-19 Vaccine Preparedness and Response Activities HHS Extends Coverage for Qualified National Guard Personnel to Administer Authorized COVID-19 Vaccines Indian Health Service Allocates Vaccines for Urban Indian Organizations For more information on COVID-19 vaccines, the EUA process, and guidance to industry for developing a COVID-19 vaccine, please visit: COVID-19 Vaccines Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines Explained Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines to Prevent COVID-19; Guidance for Industry Development and Licensure of Vaccines to Prevent COVID-19; Guidance for Industry FDA Plans for Monitoring Approved COVID-19 Vaccines Explained Second COVID-19 Vaccine Authorized On Friday, December 18, the FDA authorized a second COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna. This critical emergency use authorization and subsequent distribution of the vaccine to the American people is an important step in increasing the available vaccine supply. Per Operation Warp Speed, the federal government will immediately begin distribution of 5.9 million does of the Moderna vaccine. President Donald J. Trump: Congratulations, the Moderna vaccine is now available! HHS Secretary Alex Azar: The public-private partnership of #OperationWarpSpeed has helped Moderna, an American startup, become one of the first two companies to receive FDA authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine. HHS and DoD Statements on FDA Authorization of Moderna Vaccine Last week, Vice President Pence, HHS Secretary Alex Azar, and CDC Director Robert Redfield visited Catalent, a Moderna partner located in Indiana, to tour their vaccine manufacturing facility and participate in a vaccine distribution roundtable. Vice President Pence Receives COVID-19 Vaccine On Friday, December 18, Vice President Mike Pence, joined by Second Lady Karen Pence and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, publicly received a COVID-19 vaccine to promote the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and build confidence among the American people. Image Read More: Remarks by Vice President Pence at a Safe and Effective Vaccine Confidence Event Vice President Mike Pence: We gather at the end of a historic week to affirm to the American people that hope is on the way. @SecondLady & I were honored to step forward and receive the Safe and Effective Coronavirus Vaccine and we hope it will be a source of confidence & comfort for the American people. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams: I've never been more excited or proud to #SleeveUp Watch: Vice President Pence Gives Remarks Before Receiving Vaccine Readout from the 32nd National COVID-19 Briefing Call Thank you for your efforts in the whole-of-America approach to responding to COVID-19. Below you will find a readout from the White House COVID-19 National Briefing Call with State, local, and Tribal officials. WilliamCrozer45: Just concluded the 32nd @WhiteHouse Intergovernmental Affairs National #COVID19 Briefing Call with stakeholders. Joined by @HHSGOV, @US_FDA, & @CDCgov to talk all things #covid19 #vaccine and the important role of State/Local/Tribal leaders. Together, we will defeat the virus! Participants on the December 16th call included: Ambassador Deborah Birx, White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Paul Mango, Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Health and Hunan Services Stephen Hahn, M.D., Commissioner, Food & Drug Administration Nancy Messonnier, M.D., Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC Ambassador Deborah Birx, White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator: Ambassador Birx provided an update on trends observed from her continued travel across the country meeting with State, local, and Tribal leaders. Dr. Birx noted a rise in cases and hospitalizations across the country. While the heartland and center of the country are stabilizing in their case rates, the coasts and sun belt positivity rates are worsening. As a vaccine works toward distribution to all Americans, continued vigilance, distancing and testing are essential. It is also essential to increase testing in vulnerable populations as therapeutics have been shown to work the earlier the virus is discovered - and treated - in patients. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams: If you've recently been diagnosed with #COVID19, ask your doctor about monoclonal antibody therapy, which could reduce your risk of hospitalizations by 70% if taken in time! Paul Mango, Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Paul Mango provided an update covering the first Emergency Use Authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine on December 11 and the first vaccination occurring on December 14th. Comparing the success of Operation Warp Speed in producing and distributing a vaccine to Roger Bannister's breaking the 4 minute mile in 1954, Mango stated the equivalent would be Operation Warp Speed running a 45 second mile. While vaccines typically take years to develop and approve, by comparison, the Pfizer was produced, authorized, and distributed in only 10 months. 3 Million vaccines will have been delivered to front line workers and vulnerable populations across the country and another 8 million will be delivered next week. Joint vaccine operations continue in both Atlanta and Washington, D.C. tracking the vaccine distribution in real time. Mango also highlighted that two other promising vaccines candidates from Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca are also in the development pipeline. Stephen Hahn, M.D., Commissioner, Food & Drug Administration: On Friday, December 11, 2020 the FDA provided Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the first COVID-19 vaccine after upholding safety and science to continue to uphold the FDA's reputation as the gold standard in medicinal approval. While rare allergic reactions continue to be addressed for the vaccine, they will through continued study as all vaccines work toward final approval. Although this Pfizer vaccine is proven to be effective in preventing the contracting of the virus, prevention of the spread of the virus is still being studied. This vaccine achievement is a significant accomplishment by the CDC and FDA through a historic public-private-partnership. An additional achievement is the FDA approval of an at-home test for COVID-19. While these developments are promising, continued hand washing, mask usage, and social distancing is essential for the remainder of the pandemic. READ MORE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Antigen Test as First Over-the-Counter Fully At-Home Diagnostic Test for COVID-19 Nancy Messonnier, M.D., Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC: The hard work of distribution of the vaccines to every corner of the country has begun and partnership by every state, local and tribal stakeholder is essential. Pfizer shipped the vaccine to 61 jurisdictions last weekend, and all are beginning vaccination with healthcare workers, and some are beginning with long term care workers as well. In the first several days the CDC has been fielding calls by healthcare workers through distribution while working in concert with the pharmaceutical developers. In addition, the FDA's forthcoming review of the Moderna vaccine promises continued hope to end this pandemic. To find where you can donate source plasma, visit donatingplasma.org and coronavirus.gov. The White House has hosted 32 National COVID-19 Briefing Calls reaching more than 73,000 State, local, and Tribal officials in the most robust Federal-State collaboration in modern American history. Readout from the 44th Governors Call on COVID-19 On Monday, December 14, Vice President Mike Pence led a discussion with the chief executives and senior leaders of approximately 50 states, territories, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to discuss local, state, and federal COVID-19 response and recovery efforts including the continued collaboration on vaccine distribution and administration planning and execution. The Vice President and governors of both parties discussed the positive news of the Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization (EUA) and the shipments of the initial allocations of a safe and effective vaccine. The authorization is a tribute to presidential leadership, scientific advancement, and private sector innovation. Vice President Mike Pence: As the @WhiteHouse Coronavirus Task Force told America's Governors: This is a Historic Day! We have come to the Beginning of the End of the Coronavirus pandemic with the first vaccine being administered in States across the country. Participants from the White House Coronavirus Task Force: Vice President Mike Pence Secretary Alex Azar, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Ambassador Deborah Birx, M.D., White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Seema Verma, Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) General Gustave F. Perna, Chief Operation Officer, Operation Warp Speed (OWS) Director Anthony Fauci, M.D., National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases Commissioner Stephen Hahn, Federal Drug Administration (FDA) Director Robert Redfield, M.D., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS Administrator Pete Gaynor, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Brigadier General David Sanford, Defense Supply Center & Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, DOD The Vice President discussed with governors the ongoing whole-of-government effort to mitigate and respond to COVID-19, the ongoing robust partnership to prepare for the distribution and administration of a safe and effective vaccine with our nation’s governors and public health jurisdictions, and provided an update on key state and federal medical supply chain management efforts. The Vice President also reminded governors about the multi-layered, transparent, and independent vaccine approval process. Governors highlighted their best practices on distributing and administering a safe and effective vaccine including: Arizona Governor Doug Ducey; Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards; Maryland Governor Larry Hogan; North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper; North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum; Texas Governor Greg Abbott; and West Virginia Governor Jim Justice FDA Commissioner Dr. Hahn and CDC Director Redfield provided an update on vaccine and therapeutic developments with a focus on the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which was granted an emergency use authorization on December 11, 2020. Secretary Azar provided an update on Moderna’s vaccine trial, the submission of the company’s EUA application, and distribution and administration coordination with states. Secretary Azar reiterated the rigorous standards of vaccine the approval process—even in the context of an expedited timeline created by Operation Warp Speed. Secretary Azar also highlighted CDC and NIH executive summaries on monoclonal antibodies and other treatments to increase hospital resiliency and encouraged governors to redouble their collaboration with health care professionals in their state to ensure earlier use of monoclonal antibodies to prevent severe illness and hospitalization. General Perna provided an update on vaccine distribution and administration planning and execution efforts including collaboration between public and private sector partners and discussion on the status of and process whereby the recently authorized Pfizer COVID- 19 vaccine is being allocated, shipped, and distributed to states. Administrator Verma discussed her recent letter to Governors regarding CMS’ comprehensive strategy to enhance hospital capacity and dialysis center vaccination. Ambassador Birx provided an update on data and trends from across the Nation and discussed engagement meeting with state, local, and community leaders. Dr. Birx highlighted encouraging signs in the Heartland and areas of the Midwest, and also mentioned some signs of improvement in the Sunbelt amid an increase in cases. Additionally, Dr. Birx urged Governors to encourage clinicians to use monoclonal antibodies and remdesivir early in treatment of COVID+ patients, in line with recent CDC and NIH guidance documents. Since January 2020, the Trump Administration has organized and hosted 44 governors- only briefings to drive effective communication and collaboration at every level of government. Public health incidents, like natural disasters, are locally-executed, State- managed, and Federally-supported. This is likely the most robust Federal-State collaboration in our Nation’s history. Executive Order on Economic and Geographic Mobility On December 14, 2020, President Trump signed the Executive Order on Increasing Economic and Geographic Mobility. Developed in consultation with State and local leaders, the President’s Executive Order challenges State and local leaders to continue to remove unnecessary barriers and to empower American workers with workforce freedom and mobility. The Executive Order (EO) outlines six principles for State and local governments should follow to alleviate occupational licensing burdens, which particularly impact lower income workers and small businesses. The EO specifically references Arizona, Florida, Iowa and Missouri as model examples of States to follow in enacting occupational licensing reform. Ivanka Trump: This week, POTUS signed an EO to reduce unnecessary licensing regs & expand opportunities across America. In 1950, 1 in 20 workers needed a license for a job & today over 1 in 4 are required to have one to work. We’re cutting unneeded regs & working hard to create better+more opportunity! READ MORE: Deregulation is Spurring Growth (by Brooke Rollins - Director, White House Domestic Policy Council - and Doug Hoelscher -Director, White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs) Through the Governors' Initiative on Regulatory Innovation, the White House and Administration are working alongside State, local, and Tribal leaders to cut red tape, create jobs, and grow economies across the country. Since the Trump Administration launched the Governors’ Initiative on Regulatory Innovation in October 2019: Iowa, Idaho, Missouri, and Utah joined Arizona in enacting universal occupational licensing reform. At least 19 States have taken occupational licensing reform actions, including Florida’s actions to remove occupational and business licenses, reduce training hour requirements for professions, and allow reciprocity for certain out of state licenses. At least 15 governors highlighted and called for occupational licensing reforms in their State of the State speech or legislative agenda. States have taken concrete actions to put people over paperwork including: Arizona requiring three regulations to be eliminated for every new regulation created, Idaho officially cutting or simplifying 75% of their regulatory code along with announcing the zero-based regulation initiative and preserving deregulatory work, Mississippi's Secretary of State initiating the "Tackle the Tape" initiative to increase economic opportunities for all Mississippians, Ohio launching an artificial intelligence tool to analyze their regulatory code, and Oklahoma requiring two regulations to be eliminated for every one created. All 50 States have taken some form of action to reduce red tape during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional Resources The President’s Principles on Workforce Freedom and Mobility The Economic Effect of Federal Deregulation Since January 17: An Interim Report This Is How Much Overregulation Would Cost Your Family Each Year President Donald J. Trump’s Historic Deregulatory Actions Are Creating Greater Opportunity and Prosperity for All Americans President Trump’s Regulatory Relief Helps All Americans President Donald J. Trump Is Modernizing Federal Environmental Reviews to Accelerate America’s Infrastructure Development Safe Policing for Safe Communities HHS Report Released President Donald J. Trump signed the Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities on June 16, 2020 to address problems that inhibit the rule of law while holding police misconduct accountable. This week, HHS released a report required under the EO covering the mental health resources that the law enforcement community, mental health community, and State and local leaders can use to support both our law enforcement and communities alike. President Donald J. Trump signs an executive order on safe policing for safe communities Tuesday, June 16, 2020, in the Rose Garden of the White House. SAMHSA: Dr. McCance-Katz, Asst Secy for Mental Health and Substance Use, participated in the @WhiteHouse presentation of the Safe Policing for Safe Communities report, a very important step in advancing evidence-based treatment for mental illness in communities https://go.usa.gov/xAgka Background: Signed by President Trump in June 2016, the Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities directs the Administration to seek reforms that improve the relationship between law enforcement and all communities. The Executive Order represents a commitment by the President and the Administration to support – not defund – the brave men and women of law enforcement by providing them with necessary resources to implement best practices and protect the communities they serve. Among others, key provisions include: credentialing of police departments for use-of-force and de- escalation standards; information-sharing related to excessive force adjudications against law enforcement personnel; mental health support for police officers, as well as programs to include social workers as co-responders for incidents involving those who may mentally ill, homeless or drug-addicted. READ MORE: Executive Order Safe Policing for Safe Communities: Addressing Mental Health, Homelessness, and Addiction Report READ MORE: The Department of Justice Announces Standards for Certifying Safe Policing Practices by Law Enforcement Agencies WI State Rep. Barbara Dittrich: Today I was privileged to attend the @WhiteHouse Briefing on Safe Policing for Safe Communities. It was encouraging to see how this plan is already transforming training for officers, especially in the areas of mental health & substance abuse. https://cops.usdoj.gov/SafePolicingEO President Trump Signs Legislation Authorizing Women's Suffrage Monument Image On Thursday, December 17, President Trump signed legislation - Every Word We Utter - authorizing an outdoor federal monument in Washington, D.C. to the women’s suffrage movement to honor the activists who won women the right to vote. The sculpture by Jane DeDecker features historical women who contributed to women's rights, including Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony and Ida B. Wells. It will be placed near the U.S. Supreme Court. First Lady Melania Trump: Yesterday @POTUS signed a bill authorizing the "Every Word We Utter" Monument. This landmark will serve as a tribute to the brave women who devoted their life to the women's suffrage movement, the ratification of the 19th Amendment, & those who still fight for women's equality. Earlier this year, President Donald J. Trump issued a Proclamation on the 100th Anniversary of the Ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, which secured the right to vote for women and marked a monumental step towards the "more perfect Union" envisioned by our Founders. The White House: This morning, President @realDonaldTrump was joined by @FLOTUS, @SBAJovita, and more as he signed a proclamation in honor of the centennial anniversary of women's suffrage. First Lady Melania Trump: 100 years ago today, the #19thAmendment was ratified, securing the right to vote for American women. Today, @POTUS signed a proclamation recognizing this historic anniversary & we celebrate the countless contributions of women throughout our Nation's history. #SuffrageMonth President Trump also issued an Executive Grant of Clemency (Full Pardon) posthumously to Susan B. Anthony, a peerless advocate for women’s suffrage, for a wrongful and unjust conviction stemming from the only vote she ever cast in an election. As we commemorate the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment—known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment—this grant of full clemency recognizes and pays tribute to the advocacy, perseverance, and leadership of a truly remarkable woman and an American hero. Regulatory Definition of "Habitat" Under Endangered Species Act Finalized On Tuesday, December 15, the Trump Administration - through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service - announced a final regulatory definition of the term “habitat” that will be used for designating critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The definition is part of the efforts of the Trump Administration to balance effective, science-based conservation with common-sense policy designed to bring the ESA into the 21st century. The final definition of habitat is, “For the purposes of designating critical habitat only, habitat is the abiotic and biotic setting that currently or periodically contains the resources and conditions necessary to support one or more life processes of a species.” This definition explicitly limits the term habitat to apply only to critical habitat designations under the ESA, and no previously finalized critical habitat designations will be reevaluated as a result of its establishment. Read More: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries Finalize Regulatory Definition of Habitat Under Endangered Species Act Unsubscribe Office of Intergovernmental Affairs · 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW · Washington, DC 20500-0003 · USA · 202-456- 1111 From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: The holiday season is different this year Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 8:15:28 AM From: Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Sent: Monday, December 21, 2020 8:15:24 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: The holiday season is different this year CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. The Chamber of Jefferson County www.jeffcountychamber.org 360.385.7869 director@jeffcountychamber.org Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce | 2409 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368 Unsubscribe gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by director@jeffcountychamber.org powered by Try email marketing for free today! Dear Kate, From serious illness to job loss to struggling to pay the rent or mortgage, people across our state are hurting. Instead of cutting the services we depend on and jobs we need, we need to ask legislators to invest in families and communities. Lawmakers must find progressive revenue and ask the wealthiest to contribute more. We've teamed up with many other organizations to make sure lawmakers hear loud and clear the call to fix our upside-down tax code and build an economy where more people can participate and thrive. Will you join us in signing this petition? Sign the petition now! When Governor Inslee announced his budget proposal last week, it included a progressive capital gains tax. That additional revenue – which would be paid by the wealthiest people in our state – allowed for investments that benefit all of us. His budget proposal includes $328 million for rental assistance, $250 million to build and From:Kate Dean To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Sign the petition: Progressive revenue now! Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 8:30:36 AM From: Rachael Myers, Housing Alliance Sent: Monday, December 21, 2020 8:30:19 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Kate Dean Subject: Sign the petition: Progressive revenue now! CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Donate Washington Low Income Housing Alliance 100 West Harrison St. Seattle, Washington 98119 (206) 442-9455 info@wliha.org preserve affordable homes, and much more. In total his budget included $758 million in new funding for affordable housing and preventing homelessness! (Read our summary here.) Progressive revenue makes investments like that possible, and it ensures that the people and corporations that can afford it, are the ones to pay for those investments. Make sure to take action by December 31 so that your name is included along with thousands of others who are concerned about the future of our state. Thank you for adding your voice! ~rachael Rachael Myers Executive Director P.S. Starting in January, we’ll bring affordable housing and homelessness stakeholders together for legislative and coronavirus response updates every other week. The first call will be on January 6 from 10 to 11:15. Register here. View this email in your web browser Unsubscribe View this email in your browser Local 20/20 logo Local 20/20 Weekly Announcements December 21, 2020 From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Local 20/20 Weekly Announcements Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 9:00:57 AM From: Local 20/20 Sent: Monday, December 21, 2020 9:00:37 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Local 20/20 Weekly Announcements CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Full Moon by Mel Carter; Happy Solstice! COVID-19 Update - Mon, Dec 21th *Update* The Weekly COVID-19 update with Jefferson County Public Health Officer, Dr. Thomas Locke at today's meeting of the County Commission. To watch live or recorded videos of the entire 9 a.m. Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, including the 9:45 a.m. COVID-19 update, go to the website for videos of meetings. You can choose “Streaming Live” or, if viewing later, “Recorded.” You can also listen live to Dr. Locke at 9:45 a.m. on KPTZ or later on the KPTZ home page. And see below, in Community Notices, how to be COVID S.M.A.R.T.! Shy Acre Farm 1st Annual Winter Solstice Celebration - Mon, Dec 21st In celebration of the longest hours of darkness, all are invited. Community participation is central to creating an abundant display of light on the hillside. Tell your family and friends! You can sign up here (click on Monday) for a private, self-guided exploration of the farm and a labyrinth pathway of luminaries. After signing up, we will send you luminary-art-making tips, a cultural history of the winter solstice, and directions to the shadow art play kit. People are encouraged to contribute luminaries by placing along the path during your visit. For more information, you can email Shy Acre Farm or go to their website. Give Jefferson through Dec 31st. For over 60 years, United Good Neighbors has championed local organizations that provide for the basic human needs of individuals and families. Your donation to Give Jefferson supports frontline efforts delivering food, shelter, healthcare, education, and hope to our neighbors most in need. All donations this year will be matched by All in WA, a statewide relief effort supporting families and workers impacted by Covid-19. Every dollar donated stays in Jefferson County. Give Jefferson helps our community weather uncertainty and recover from crisis! Washington Climate Assembly Livestreamed - Tues, Jan 12th *Online* The WA Climate Assembly is a virtual event convening 80 Washington State residents in January 2021 to learn about, discuss, and recommend climate change solutions for consideration by the State Legislature. Assemblies have been used worldwide to help shape the work of governments, and this virtual event will focus on climate mitigation strategies that equitably support communities disproportionately impacted by climate change. Assembly members will be chosen through a lottery to accurately represent the state in terms of demographics such as age, race/ethnicity, geographic distribution, and political perspectives. The event will be live streamed and recorded starting on January 12, 2021 via Zoom and available for subsequent viewing on the WA Climate Assembly’s website and YouTube channel. To learn more visit WA Climate Assembly. Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #WAClimateAssembly. Jefferson MRC New Member Applications Due - Fri, Jan 15th The Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) is seeking to fill committee member positions for a District 1 Representative, District 1 Alternate, and District 3 Alternate (see more information and districts map here).. MRC Members are appointed for a four-year term and commit to: attending monthly meetings the first Tuesday of every month from 6–8PM (currently held virtually), participating in project work groups, reviewing and responding to emerging issues, and respecting diverse views. To apply, email (1) an application form, (2) a letter of interest and (3) a resume to Monica Montgomery. The deadline for applications is January 15, 2021 or until filled. For information, go here. Local 20/20 Council Meeting - Wed, Jan 20th *Online* The monthly Local 20/20 Steering Council meeting is open to all and welcomes those interested in active involvement in Local 20/20 leadership. Newcomers are always welcome. If you'd like a virtual orientation, please email Marlow. For online meeting information, contact Mark. Time: 4-6 pm Location: Zoom meeting Taming Bigfoot Is Back! - Sign up by - Fri, Jan 22nd The hugely popular and engaging “Taming Bigfoot” community carbon footprint reduction competition is returning. Perhaps you participated last time (5 years ago). Perhaps you heard about it and wanted to participate next time. Perhaps you are new to this and want to learn more. Visit here for more information and an application to form and/or join a team. Teams are forming now. Applications are due January 22, 2021. Find out how you can be part of this next competition and invite friends to join too! Have fun working on our elusive BIG carbon FOOTprint! Community Notices Local 20/20 COVID-19 Resources l2020.org/COVID-19/ *Online* A central location for community-wide information relating to COVID-19, updated frequently. Includes Reliable Information Sources, Food Sources, Community Covid-19 Resource pages, Giving and Getting Assistance, Community Events Online, Community Face Mask Program, and information web posts related to COVID-19. Look in the red box at the top of the page for all the newest information. Community Build project invites volunteers. *NEW* Since late September, the Community Build Project has been busy creating 12 emergency shelters, which will be occupied by seniors without homes by the end of 2020. This is a dynamic and inspiring volunteer opportunity for skilled builders, painters, and those willing to prepare level spaces where the tiny houses are being placed. Due to COVID safety protocols, masks are required and the number of people working at any one time is limited. New volunteers must attend an initial safety talk at 9:30 a.m. on-site at the Port Hadlock Community Methodist Church. Please contact one of the Build team to indicate what you are able to do and to specify your availability through December. Skilled builders and those interested in site development should phone Todd Armstrong at 206-713-6859 or email Randy Welle or text him at 360-643-3511. To volunteer for painting and other tasks, email Judy Alexander or call her at 360-385-5794 (before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m.). Here's a drone-captured video of project volunteers in action. If you can help, contact the team first! Rising COVID Case Rates - Rising COVID Risk! The Jefferson County community has done exceptionally well holding widespread COVID at bay. Good Job!! We are now faced with a third wave and rising rates in our county. We must not let up and get lax in our vigilance! The Department of Emergency Management is asking you to: Be COVID S.M.A.R.T.! S: Sanitize Frequently M: Mask appropriately - even with family & friends outside your household A: When socializing - stay in good air flow. Outside or Inside with fans and open windows R: Room Between People - Social Distancing reduces virus transmission T: Technology for Gatherings - Use zoom or other conferencing technology instead of in-person visits Opening for a Part-time Development and Administrative Assistant at Jefferson Land Trust Jefferson Land Trust is seeking a detail-oriented professional as our Development and Administrative Assistant. Visit the Land Trust jobs page here to learn more and apply! Please share with anyone you know who may be interested. November King Tide Info & Photos 'Tis the season of higher tides, and there was a higher- than-average predicted tide on November 17, 2020 (9.5′ predicted, 10.5' observed), and a few Local 20/20 Climate Action volunteers were out there early in the morning to capture it. The king tide gives us a chance to visualize the higher sea levels that will become more frequent in the future due to global sea- level rise. You can learn more about the project in this post. The photos from the project are shared on the MyCoast website. (You can zoom in on the map to find the Port Townsend photos, and others are posted all over the state coastline.) Housing Solutions Network Call to Action Thanksgiving is a time when we are grateful for the ability to lean on one another in the supportive communities we have here in Jefferson County. Right now, we need that sense of community support to rally around the issue of housing. Now more than ever, affordable housing is key to our health and economic recovery from the pandemic. Finding solutions is going to require action from all of us. Housing leaders and advocates across Jefferson County have created a Community Call to Action for Housing. They are calling on everyone to take action; individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and government all have a role to play. Today, they ask you to stand with them and: READ THE DECLARATION & CALL TO ACTION SIGN YOUR NAME SPREAD THE WORD BY SHARING THIS MESSAGE Openings for 2021 Farm Intern Applicants Sunfield Biodynamic Farm in Port Hadlock seeking 2021 Farm Intern Applicants! The internship starts April 1st and ends October 31st, with an option to go through the winter with reduced hours. Farm food, housing, and a small stipend is provided. Please email Ezra with a cover letter, resume, and references. For more information see Internship Opportunity Join the Jefferson County Farmers Market Board of Directors The Jefferson County Farmers Market Board is an enthusiastic group of market vendors and community members who love local food and strengthening our local economy. We have two open board member positions. If you have: experience with fundraising, marketing, policy writing, graphic design; connections with organizations or groups; or experience inspiring people to volunteer their time, please consider applying! Submit a completed application here. Learn more here. Local 20/20 Social Justice Workgroup Webpage Now Live *Online* Besides the Local 20/20 Social Justice Statement and Addendum, the newly launched pages feature sources we are reading and discussing, community organizations and businesses to support, a spotlight on a regional community artist, and links to other reading and visual resources. Our intent is to learn and share how to be an antiracist, how to support antiracist policies and ideas, and how to incorporate anti-racism into our core purpose, identifying the relationship between climate justice and social justice. To view the new pages, go here. You can find it here or at the Resiliency of the Heart group webpages. Check out our New Music section to share the voices of young Native Americans. Local 20/20 Statement on Systemic Racial and Social Inequities As our hearts, minds, and bodies survive and move through the COVID 19 pandemic and into the uprising of voices demanding social and racial justice sparked by the murder of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement, Local 20/20 acknowledges the existence of systemic racial and social inequities in our country. With compassion, we “take a knee” in solidarity with victims of oppression in any form. We pledge to work harder at understanding what it takes to make positive change toward our collective goals for policy that reflect antiracist actions and ideas. Local 20/20’s mission is to promote sustainability and resilience through advocacy and education. We recognize that our goals of a healthy existence for all can ONLY be achieved through policies that uphold racial and social equity. As we enjoy the benefits of living in this incredible paradise, we also acknowledge that we live on land usurped by European Settlers from the Jamestown S’Klallam, the Lower Elwah Klallam, the Port Gamble S’Klallam, the Skokomish, the Quinault, the Quileute, the Hoh, and the Makah tribes. Read about actions that have emerged since we first posted this statement. See updated readings in our Resilience Review section below on this topic. Host a Meeting on the Local Housing Emergency *Online* The HSN's Outreach Housing Action Team is releasing the Cultivating Community Solutions to the Housing Crisis video online to continue reaching broader audiences and inspiring more action. You can view the video here. You can continue spreading this call to action by sharing this video in the community. COVID-19 is a threat multiplier to the challenges our struggling community members were already facing. You can join the HSN Giving Circle here. Just Soup on Tuesdays On Tuesday, 11:30-1:30, Just Soup provides free, hot soup lunches at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1020 Jefferson St, on the Tyler St. bus line [by the Bell Tower.] Enter the rear church parking lot on Franklin, and whether you are on foot, bike, or car, you will be in line for curbside pickup, with masks, gloves, and safe distancing protocols in place. Pick up a lunch for yourself or your neighbor in need. No questions asked. Many partners and supporters have come together to feed Port Townsend one bowl at a time!!! This information also appears on Local 20/20 COVID- 19 Resources Meals Page here. Times and Locations: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, St. Paul's Episcopal Church Download Port Townsend Walking Times Map Local 20/20 Transportation Lab's popular walking times map is downloadable here. It provides approximate travel time on foot between points. Estimates are based on an average speed of 3 mph. Walking is healthy, social, fun, costs nothing, keeps your carbon footprint small and allows you to maintain social distance. Use the map to find new routes across our beautiful town. Emergency Text Alerts from Jefferson County Sign up to receive Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management’s emergency alerts by text on your mobile phone and/or by email. NIXLE messages provide crucial information in an emergency & are sent directly to your text-enabled device and/or email. The sign up web page also has information about other alert and warning systems, including the tsunami warning system and the WSDOT alert system. A Tool for Neighborhood Organization Nextdoor is a private social network for YOUR neighborhood. Use this link to join one of 59 Nextdoor Neighborhoods in Jefferson County. Currently there are 11,874 subscribers, with many new members joining each day. Email Pete Hubbard with questions or comments. Calling Local Photographers! Local 20/20 Weekly Announcements invites local photographers to submit images that capture the character of our community and its natural setting. For the opening photo of each weekly email, we seek local color, horizontal (“landscape”) orientation, and jpeg format. Please no children, pets or recognizable faces. Kindly send to events@l2020.org. Please include your name in the jpeg filename. We are an all-volunteer non-profit, so compensation for your talent and generosity is a photo credit and our profound thanks. Resilience Readings Do you have readings, podcasts or videos to share that are aligned with our Local 20/20 mission? Please submit them here for consideration. 2020: The Year Consensus Reality Fractured *New* Let’s get real, people. 2020 has been a year that has at times seemed surreal or even unreal. In this year-end essay Richard Heinberg discusses the concept of consensus reality. He first describes how consensus reality develops then talks about how it has fallen apart. Heinberg argues that a breakdown of consensus reality during a period of economic, political, or social emergency may contribute to societal collapse when it undermines the social trust that is required for complex societies to function. Heinberg takes it a step further when he suggests part of the problem is a deep “blindspot” and lack of a “unifying vision” here in the U.S. If our “main guiding value is only ‘more” (consumerism) then we continue to dig ourselves a very deep hole indeed. In the last part of the essay Heinberg optimistically speculates that despite the challenges a new consensus is possible. He describes a very positive view of what that that could look like and though he acknowledges that such a reunification will be difficult, he leaves us with the notion that it is something worth striving for. Please enjoy a peaceful holiday season and find Heinberg’s article here. Community Program 'Taming Bigfoot®' is Back *New* The December column for Local 20/20’s Resilience Review in The Port Townsend Leader is from Bob Bindschadler, a member of the Local 20/20 Climate outreach group. He announces that the Taming Bigfoot® carbon reduction contest is back! It was first held 5 years ago in Jefferson County. After spreading to other areas of the state and country, it will be repeated here, as “Taming Bigfoot 2021: Recovering Greener”, capturing the time we are in as we emerge from the pandemic with an opportunity to adjust some of our lifestyle choices. The meetings will all be virtual. Applications are due by 1/22/20, so read more here to learn more and join in! Citizens Climate Assembly: Report from the UK There are indicators that our existing national political system is not up to the task of responding to the climate crisis. For multiple reasons our political "leaders" seem unlikely to enact the significant change we need within the urgent timeframe required. One possible alternative providing a glimmer of hope is a “Citizens Climate Assembly." A citizens assembly is a form of participatory democracy in which members of the community are called to duty to listen to the evidence and craft recommended actions and strategies. The UK convened a climate assembly earlier this year with 108 members of the public randomly selected. They met over a period of five months and heard testimony from 47 subject matter experts. A 556-page report from this citizen group was recently released and an article from carbonbrief.org goes over some of its findings and offers links to the full report. The hope is that citizens working together can find solutions that will be acceptable to a majority of stakeholders and that it will help coerce and support politicians to enact needed policies. The report provides 50 key recommendations to help the UK reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. In a world where both our ecosystems and our democracies seem imperiled this approach offers a way forward. Please see the post above on a Washington State Citizen Climate Assembly starting January 2021. For a detailed look at the UK effort and its findings please access the article here. Transforming Life on Our Home Planet, Perennially This essay by Wes Jackson et al is the first part of a new book, The Perennial Turn: Contemporary Essays from the Field, and it is a joy. The authors suggest analysis as the first step in facing “the multiple, cascading crises that humans have created.” He argues that agriculture may be “the worst mistake in the history of the human race" (argued by Jared Diamond among many others) and that by ramping up agriculture to industrial scales we have monkeyed with ecosystems that we do not fully understand or appreciate. The book discusses how our claim to dominion over the resources of the entire planet sets up an artificial separation of humans from nature. They key thing to understand, the authors write, is that earth’s atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere are not separate from the biosphere. Earth is alive in a holistic way. As they put it, “We hold this to be a truth that must become self evident: Our shared human responsibility is to live on, not dominate, our home planet.” Success will be measured by the “long-term flourishing of ecosystems, including people.” Their prescriptions do not reject reductionist science but call for greater appreciation of complex systems and a “revolutionary change in theory and practice.” They reject fantasies of unlimited growth. They close soberly by considering Wendell Berry, who says we live on “the human estate of grief and joy.” They acknowledge that our cumulative harms of the past mean that unless we change we face grief “unprecedented in human history.” Please find the article here. Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story This worthy yet entertaining documentary on YouTube is an eye opener. The documentary also goes into wasted land, water and inputs. The documentary is free, with a few ads. Filmmakers and food lovers, Jen and Grant, dive into the issue of food waste and pledge to quit grocery shopping and survive only on discarded food for 6 months. In addition, the film looks into expiry dates, perfect produce, and portion sizes, supposedly little things that add up to an overwhelming problem. You can watch the video here. It Took a Townsend The November column for Local 20/20’s Resilience Review in The Port Townsend Leader is from Tracy Grisman, who is a member of Local 20/20's Beyond Waste Action Group. Tracy provides a recap of the Repair Cafe she and others organized earlier this year. The title of the article is “It Took a Townsend: A Fond Memory from 2020." In the article we are introduced us to a new term, the Repairocene (noun): A time when common goals of healing, repairing, and restoring of our lands, our things, and our relationships are shared. Port Townsend’s Repair Café debut was a smash hit! (No pun intended.) You can find the article on our website here. The "Market" Won't Save Us from Climate Disaster This article from The Guardian’s Robert Devine argues that “expecting the free market to fix global warming is like trying to pound nails with a saw.” It quotes a former Chief Economist for the World Bank calling climate change “the greatest and widest-ranging market failure ever seen.” Devine goes into what “market failure” means and how a defect in communication has contributed to consumers not having the appropriate information when they choose to buy, say, a gallon of gasoline. He talks about how ecosystem services have been terribly undervalued for too long. Devine stops short of offering a prescription for radical departure from the free market but offers some ideas for how the current system can be greatly improved and perhaps work towards our goals instead of against them. Please find the article here. Food for Thought Author Leander Jones tackles the problems of our dominant industrial agriculture model and how a system that relies on global production and transportation contributes to risk for some communities when it is stressed by situations like Covid-19. Jones offers an alternative model practiced in Germany that combines collective land ownership with CSA membership. Such a model adheres to principles such as localism, ecological sustainability, common ownership and production for need rather than profit. It pays farm workers a living wage that is independent of crop fluctuations. CSA members are encouraged to help work on the farm and invest their labor as well as their capital to help ensure success. The operation Jones highlights resists growing in size beyond that which serves its members. Also, Jones illustrates how growing local food for local consumption can greatly help reduce agriculture’s greenhouse gas footprint. It's a model worth exploring locally. Please find the article here. No Matter Who Wins The 2020 election is behind us and many people feel optimistic for our future once again. Thus it is a good time to inject some big picture reality into the equation. Some may equate reality with pessimism but as our political leaders begin to transition to establishing new priorities and approaches to problem solving it would be good to base our plans on reality and science. Nate Hagens is with the University of Minnesota and the Institute for the Study of Energy and the Future. He is one of those big picture guys, especially in finance and energy systems. Just before the election he wrote an essay in which he draws our attention back to the really big problems we face, all of which have in recent months been forced off the radar screen of our limited attention spans. He covers the impact of COVID and its economic impact, pending oil supply problems, and our interdependence with the natural world as well as offering some great titanic iceberg analogies. Hagens offers a number of quotes that begin with the same phrase “No matter who wins the election” such as “we will have to face a more complex and less certain energy future.” Readers are encouraged to take the time and inform themselves on the Big Picture with Nate Hagens, find the article here. How to Fix Our Country's Empathy Problem, Starting with the Farmworkers Who Keep Us Fed This article from Salon’s Ashlie Stevens provides good food for thought. It takes up the situation of the migrant workers who play a key role in our food supply chain. Most of us are mostly unaware of the role these essential workers play and of the conditions with which they contend. Stevens argues that many of us have lost a sense of empathy, that we don’t consider the suffering that others must endure simply to earn the money needed to support themselves and their families. We have become deficient in empathy. As we consider how to make our local food system more resilient for the challenging times ahead, we should create a system that works for all stakeholders. Justice for front line workers fosters stability and resilience and, more importantly, it is simply the right priority for our fellow human beings. Please find the article here. Einstein’s Take on Capitalism, Socialism and a New Kind of Business & What Evil Lurks Poised at the precipice of this particular national election, many of us are experiencing anxiety. We are unsure of both the electoral outcome and of the consequences of the result as expressed by the reactions of those on “the other side” of our politically polarized society. Thus it seems like a perfect time to take a deliberate moment and turn the focus inward. Are we as a People really so divided, or is this a construct that comes from within ourselves and, if given free rein, threatens extreme and disastrous results for all? The two articles below from Resilience.org offer much to the reader willing to take time to look inward and consider such tough questions. The first, authored by Eduardo Sasso, is Einstein’s Take on Capitalism, Socialism and a New Kind of Business. The more I learn about Einstein the more I am impressed. The patent clerk turned scientist was also an amazing philosopher. Sasso starts with the premise that “we are still largely governed by the old dichotomy of business vs. society." Sasso draws from Einstein’s Out of My Later Years and offers a quote that seems especially relevant: ‘The crisis of our time concerns the relationship of individual to society [whereby the individual] does not experience his dependence on society as a positive asset, as an organic tie or as a protective force, but rather as a threat to his/her rights or to his economic existence." Sasso shows how Einstein favored a new model blending market mechanisms with socialism’s goal of benefiting all. Blending science with religion and philosophy. "In the quest for a more noble society, we must leave behind the shores of comfort and venture instead towards unknown yet far more promising destinations." The second essay is from John Michael Greer and examines our inherent capacity for good and evil from three perspectives. In What Evil Lurks, Greer examines the 1930’s radio show, Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and Jung’s psychological archetypes. Fittingly for our present times, perhaps, all three of these concepts were products of the 1930’s. Similarly today, many of us fear a shadowy threat of economic depression and war. Greer helps provide context to our present situation “where one party accuses the other of being full-blown goose-stepping Nazis and the other party insists that the first are Satan- worshiping pedophiles.” He asks us to consider how the manifestation of the shadow of evil is a projection onto others of what is inside each of us. Greer’s goal is to have us find a solution to the present threat other than mutual slaughter. On Fire Local 20/20's monthly PT Leader column for October is about the increasing fire risk west of the Cascades. Human caused climate change is making wildfires worse. Climate experts project that wildfire risk will increase significantly this century west of the Cascades where much of the fuel is Yet another reminder that we need action on all levels (federal, state, local, and even individual actions) to avert the worst consequences of climate change. Please find the article here. On Fire is the title given by the author, Cynthia Bratz. Kiss the Ground This fantastic documentary presents the amazing potential of regenerative agriculture. Narrated by Woody Harrelson and featuring Ian Somerhalder, this 2020 Tribeca Film Festival selection was produced by Josh & Rebecca Tickell and provides viewers with the compelling story of how our soil can not only sequester carbon but even draw it down from the atmosphere. The film includes the perspectives of thought leaders, soil conservationists, ranchers, and farmers. This is one of those rare examples of something tangible we can undertake to head off a catastrophe. You can watch it now on Netflix, or on October 22nd you can stream it for $1. This 84 minute film will leave you feeling... hopeful. To watch a trailer, and to learn more, please visit the Film’s website here. The Great Climate Migration Compared to many places, we live in a region where the climate forecast offers reasonable temperature and adequate rainfall. While we cannot expect to escape the direct nor the indirect effects of climate change, we may be one of the places where people from other regions migrate to escape inhospitable temperatures and humidity, drought, or recurring natural disasters. It is, however, a complex situation. A recent report from ProPublica & The New York Times Magazine takes a look at the prospects for climate migration. They begin with analysis of the geophysical forecasts for the U.S. using county-level data displayed in a series of interactive maps. The accompanying article provides an in-depth analysis of the impacts on agriculture, water, and housing issues, as well as consideration of economic and social factors that are quite concerning. This is important information as we begin to think about how we might react and what community values we would like to uphold in such a scenario. The ProPublica article is here, and an interactive and comprehensive mapping feature is here. Want Some Eco-Friendly Tips? A New Study Says No, You Don’t This article by Grist’s Kate Yoder takes a look at the effectiveness of trying to encourage individual efforts to reduce our carbon footprint as we try to mitigate climate change. It argues that not only are such efforts puny in the face of the enormity of the situation, but that often the results of efforts to persuade people are actually counter- productive. Take, for example, the phenomenon of those who rebel against encouragements to drive fuel efficient or hybrid vehicles by building jacked-up diesel pickups capable of “rolling coal”. The article is based on a study of 2,000 people and their reactions to various messages and messengers. The article derides the idea that we can “shop our way out of the climate crisis.” Instead of trying to co- opt people through “ecopiety,” we have to find a way to make behavioral changes fun and sexy. This will be very helpful information as we try to shape public policies and educational efforts. Please find the article here. Has Oil Peaked? For those who follow the status of how human society accesses energy, here is a new essay from Post Carbon Fellow Richard Heinberg. Heinberg, ever the voice of rational analysis, describes how the concept of peak oil can be approached from a demand or a supply perspective. He discusses the paradox of how decreases in demand for oil can cause a decrease in price even as decreases in supply would be expected to increase the price of a barrel of oil. Also, he revisits how the fracking phenomenon is faced with the impossible situation of being too expensive to extract more than the low hanging fruit they have already run through. As Heinberg notes, the overarching importance of our energy systems with regards to food production, transportation, and the greater economy indicate a significant challenge for the future. Please click here for Heinberg’s article. Local 20/20 Was Founded in the Transition Movement Local 20/20’s monthly Port Townsend Leader column for September, authored by Sonja Hammar, provides a few examples of what it means to be a Transition Town. Hammar outlines the basic precepts of the Transition Movement. Local 20/20's very mission statement, “ Working together toward local sustainability and resilience – integrating ecology, economy, and community through action and education” aptly illustrates the credo of Transition. Follow this link to learn more about "Transition" and to find the article on Local 20/20's website. The Five Real Conspiracy Theories You Need to Know About The current sad state of our national political system includes a descent into conspiracy theories that threaten real harm to real people and degrade the health of our society. This article does not go into any depth examining Q-Anon, coronavirus or anti-vaxxer conspiracies but takes the opportunity to highlight some very real and impactful things happening in our world. For the most part these are phenomena that are so insidious and have been with us for so long that they’ve faded into the background paradigm. Author Jeremy Lent asks us to consider the vast conspiracy that makes things possible such as turning the world into one giant marketplace and in the process creating almost unimaginable levels of wealth disparity. Lent also outlines the conspiracy to plunder the global south, and the efforts to hide the effects of climate change to protect corporate profit. Lent’s last “conspiracy” is the one to “grow the global economy indefinitely, while killing most of life on Earth and risking the collapse of civilization.” In terms of impact this last one seems especially far fetched. Such a thing could not really be possible… right? Please find the article at Resilience.org here. Ontology as a Hidden Driver of Politics This article is a thought-provoking dive into the paradigms that operate in the background and which shape how we think about the world. Essentially this refers to what we call reality. One of the current problems we face that seems almost insurmountable is that our society has devolved into the situation where major segments of the population believe different things and operate from different realities. Understanding how or why this happens would be a place to start healing the divide. Only when we start pulling together will we have a decent chance to address the enormous challenges before us (see Climate change article below). Authored by David Bollier, this is an overview to a report compiled at last year’s workshop by the Commons Strategies Group and the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies. The article and a link to access the full report are available here. New Study Shows a Vicious Cycle of Climate Change Building on Layers of Warming Ocean Water It would have been easy to miss the alarming new report from researchers who describe how the Oceans are “stabilizing”. These days it would be quite understandable to welcome any sort of stabilizing but in our oceans this represents an ominous situation. The ability of our oceans to buffer the impacts of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has allowed us to delay the onset of the major impacts of climate change forecast for the future. However, it seems the ability of the oceans to perform this service is ending far sooner than scientists had expected. One of the study's co-authors is Michael Mann of Penn State who also says we now cannot rule out some of the more dire risks including that atmospheric CO2 could triple by the year 2100, and that global average temperature could rise by 8 degrees F. Even as so much of our attention seems focused on things like the death toll from COVID-19 and an uncertain political situation we should also take time to assess our world from the big picture perspective and to act accordingly. Find the article by Bob Berwyn at Inside Climate News here. The Political Economy of Decarbonization: Tradable Energy Quotas for Energy Descent Futures When we consider the many challenges of climate change, we often avoid considering the need to modify our lifestyles to utilize less energy. This article by Samuel Alexander and Joshua Floyd examines the concept of ‘Tradable Energy Quotas (TEQs) that could help equitably manage a societal response to transitioning away from using fossil fuels, whether we choose to do so to forestall climate catastrophe, or whether we’re forced to by diminished supply. Alexander and Floyd examine Joseph Tainter’s theory that as societal complexity increases, greater inputs of energy are required to solve problems that arise. The implication is that if we adopt lower energy lifestyles and economic degrowth there will be the risk of destabilizing societal inequities. A system of TEQs offers a way to distribute the available energy equitably among all stakeholders in relation to basic human needs rather than some other system that exacerbates current economic inequality. This wonky but worthwhile article holds relevance to our local community and can be found here. Truth and Redistribution In the Yes! magazine's Black Lives Issue, authors Darrick Hamilton and Naomi Zewde discuss how to fix the racial wealth gap, end plutocracy, and build black power. They discuss how acknowledgment alone is insufficient to address "America's race problem manifesting as a Black economic problem." “We can only move forward from the long history of racial exploitation for those who have been harmed. In essence, acknowledgment and apology alone (truth and reconciliation) will be incomplete if not accompanied by some form if material redress: It is only with both these factors that America can ever have racial justice.” This article addresses what needs to happen for equity in America. What does reparation mean, and how would that make real change? Please find the article here. Living in the Time of Dying Living in the Time of Dying is short documentary film (54 min.) by Australian Michael Shaw. It begins with a trip to visit local author Dahr Jamail (The End of Ice). It is a meaningful exploration of the situation in which humanity finds itself here on planet Earth--that we must consider societal collapse as likely and even human extinction as quite possible. Featured interviews with Jem Bendell (Deep Adaptation) and Native Elder Stan Rushworth help us consider our own story in the here and now. Noted dharma teacher and author of Facing Extinction, Catherine Ingram asks us to find the courage to move towards acceptance. Ingram leaves us with a Leonard Cohen quote: “So come my friends, be not afraid. / We are so lightly here. / It is in love that we are made; / In love we disappear.” If you are able to find some quiet time today, I think you will enjoy this video available here. A Helpful Approach to Communication in These Difficult Times Local 20/20's monthly PT Leader column for July shared how in times like the ones we are experiencing now, one of the most compassionate things we can do for one another is to listen--listen carefully and offer back what we have heard the other person say about what they are feeling and needing. "It is impossible to overemphasize the immense need humans have to be really listened to, to be taken seriously, to be understood,” notes Dr. Paul Tournier. This article by Suzanne Jones, M.A., is entitled “A Helpful Approach to Communication in These Difficult Times” Our Power Comes from Acting without Escape from Our Pain This article is co-authored by Gail Bradbook, one of the founders of the Extinction Rebellion (XR), and Jem Bendell from the Deep Adaptation Forum (DA), and represents a unified view on how the two groups view the climate crisis. As outlined in Heinberg’s article below, both groups agree on the urgency and existential level of the threat. There had been some concerns expressed that the Deep Adaptation approach, which begins with an acceptance of the probability of civilization collapse may lead people into bottomless despair and inaction. This essay addresses that concern directly and, beautifully, I think, realigns the two camps. While XR will continue efforts to demand action from the current political system in order to lower our collective greenhouse gas footprint, DA people will focus on work at a personal and local level to help cushion the inevitable fall. Both approaches are valid and necessary; the important thing is the awareness of the urgency of the situation. Please find the article here. In Detroit a New Type of Neighborhood Has Emerged Where exactly is the line between a community garden and urban agriculture? Does it matter? As Port Townsend debates the future of the City-owned golf course, there is a growing advocacy for considering the value of growing our own food close to home. At the same time there remains a level of skepticism as to whether small scale agriculture or community gardens can grow a significant part of our community's food supply. This article describes the emerging phenomenon of “agrihoods,”communities built around a large garden/small farm hub. Increasing food security and building community are some of the ways these efforts increase our resilience. Please read this 2019 article from Yes! magazine about efforts in Detroit and imagine how Port Townsend might look and feel in the future. The Pandemic Is Making Us Question the Connection between Work and Money This is a wonderful meditation on the concept of money. Author Curtis White picks up on the recent automatic deposits sent to people to provide relief from COVID-19’s economic effects and wonders if money can be magically created out of thin air, what does that mean? What is this thing called money, and how insidiously ingrained has it become in our psyche? White further explores how life without money might be possible, and he offers an argument for local communities taking control of their economy to find new ways to do the things that communities do regardless of money. Please find the article at Salon here. Local 20/20 Mission Working together toward local sustainability and resilience – integrating ecology, economy and community through action and education. Action Groups are where we do most of our work. Each is focused on an interrelated aspect of sustainability. Visit L2020.org to learn what the different action groups are working on. Want to submit an announcement? We welcome notices of events, calls for participation and other items of interest. Local 20/20 Announcements goes out every Monday morning. Please submit the following in paragraph form: Subject or event. Brief description. Day, date, time. Venue address. Contact information. Web links. Include a logo or a photo in jpeg format. See existing announcements for examples – no bullets, colored fonts, etc., plain text is best. Email to events@L2020.org by 8 p.m. Saturday. We post announcements aligned with Local 20/20’s mission and of interest to our community. Note that we don’t post on line petitions, pleas to contact legislators, or gofundme type items. Local 20/20 reserves the right to edit or reject submissions. If you have questions or concerns, please email us at events@l2020.org. The posting of any specific event does not in itself endorse the organization or the event. We reserve the right to edit or reject submissions considered inappropriate or inconsistent to our mission statement. Consider forwarding Local 20/20 Announcements to a friend. New subscribers can sign up here. Copyright ©2020 by Local 20/20 All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 1240 W. Sims Way #12, Port Townsend, WA 98368 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Help Sustain Local 20/20 This email was sent to GBrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences Local 20/20 · 1240 W. Sims Way #12 · Port Townsend, Wa 98368 · USA From:David Sullivan To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: News from the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 10:02:27 AM From: Northwest School of Wooden BoatBuilding Sent: Monday, December 21, 2020 10:02:05 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: David Sullivan Subject: News from the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. First Virtual Graduation Congratulations to the Class of 2020! This was the first year we've had to hold a virtual graduation and while we wish we could have all hugged at the end, it was wonderful to see family joining in from all over the world (including Indonesia, Romania, Montreal and the east coast). As in years past, there were laughs and tears and incredible stories shared. It was especially moving to hear students describe the year as "transformative", "life- changing" and "the crazy-best experience I've ever had." It's been a hard year but these students persevered and brought an admirable amount of enthusiasm despite the circumstances. We are honored they chose to spend the year at the school and we know they will use the skills they learned for the rest of their lives. Watch Graduation Leaving On a Good Note A Nordic Folk Boat Awaits Planks The Westrem crew on the last day in the shop, poses (socially distanced) in the frames of a Nordic Folk Boat. The school was commissioned to build this beauty and it's nearly ready for planking. The centerline and transom are locally sourced white oak. Special Tax Provision Helps Non-Profits Like NWSWB Donations Must Be Made Before December 31st Did you know the CARES Act put a $300 charitable deduction tax credit in place this year, even for those who don’t itemize their taxes? This is a special tax provision intended to help non-profits weather the COVID storm. COVID has tested educational institutions around the world. NWSWB had to close for three months, reduce class size, reduce staff hours and purchase new sanitation supplies and PPE. The coming months will remain a challenge as we all continue to survive, adapt, and innovate. All this means that we are relying on our long-term friends and supporters, now more than ever. If your household budget allows, please consider a gift in any amount to NWSWB.To donate Click Here. NMTA Interviews Marine Systems Instructor Kevin Ritz What distinguishes your program from others? "There are all kinds of online classes and video-based training out there. Our program is hands-on and competency- based. That means students have to demonstrate that they can perform core tasks before they graduate to the next system. Our students get hands-on practice in a controlled shop environment then do field training on a variety of boats, ranging from fish boats to recreational boats to commercial boats to historic vessels including the 133’ schooner Adventuress and the Turner Joy, a 407’ Destroyer built at Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Company in Seattle and launched in 1958." To read the full article, Click Here. The New Marine Systems Building is Nearly Complete Have Your Contribution Commemorated The new Marine Systems Building is nearing completion and is built to last with energy efficient systems, sealing and insulation. Our contractor Brent Davis calls it "a hundred year building". Help us put the finishing touches on the building and have your contribution recognized on a plaque by the door to the building. Contact Betsy Davis to find out how to contribute: Click Here Take the Prep Work Out of Dinner & Support the Ajax The Ajax Cafe is Now Offering Meals Ready for the Oven Since the beginning of 2020 when things got a little crazy our neighbors at the Ajax cut back on hours and limited days of service. They adapted to the new circumstances with curbside pick up, delivery and providing meals for folks that were struggling in our community. We are grateful for their contributions and now it's our turn to support the Ajax and help keep their kitchen humming. The Ajax recently released a new "Packaged with Love" line. These items are pre-packaged and come to you chilled with reheating instructions so you can eat them piping hot at home. Additionally, they are offering a special holiday meal that's ready for the oven with all the prep work done by the elves at the Ajax. Click Here to view their new menu. Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding 42 N. Water Street Port Hadlock, WA (360) 385-4948 www.nwswb.edu Copyright © 2020 Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, All rights reserved. To safely unsubscribe, please click here | Spam Policy This email was sent to dsullivan@co.jefferson.wa.us by info@nwswb.edu Northwest School of Wooden BoatBuilding | 42 N. Water St | Port Hadlock | WA | 98339 From:alby To:Board of Health; Public Comments Subject:For Review Date:Friday, December 18, 2020 9:51:14 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Please be advised. Thanks. Alby Baker 'Government by decree - Covid-19 and the Constitution': Lord Sumption https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amDv2gk8aa0&feature=emb_logo “It is the right and duty of every citizen to see what the scientists have said and to analyse it for themselves.” Lord Sumption, former Justice of The Supreme Court From:JIm Moffitt To:Public Comments Cc:Jim Moffitt Date:Monday, December 14, 2020 10:10:23 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Thank you to all the JeffCo Commissioners, Healthcare, team member professionals, and our small businesses for having our backs during this challenging period we live in. Everyone feels the fatigue from the last 8 months of living with COVID-19. What we need to remember, contrary to some thinking, is that we do live in a free society. But freedom is NOT FREE. There is a price we have to pay for the freedoms we enjoy. Those whom feel victimized by the protocols in place need to rise above it for the sake of community respect. Nothing can be said that will change their perspective or beliefs. They need to fine their own path. But the price we are paying now is a small investment that we have to pay for that freedom. Our overall behavior right now will determine how quickly we get through this. Again, thank you and keep fighting the good fight. Jim Moffitt Port Ludlow Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From:Stephen Schumacher Cc:heidi4commissioner@gmail.com Subject:Merry Christmas! Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 9:00:21 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Jefferson County Commissioners, Merry Christmas and prayers for you and your families and all of us in the coming year! Yours truly, Stephen Schumacher 2023 E. Sims Way #200 Port Townsend, WA 98368 From:alby To:Public Comments Subject:Out Of Touch Date:Friday, December 18, 2020 8:54:37 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Members of the BOCC & BOH — As others during recent months, my intent was to send additional studies to counter over-hyped covid narratives and politicized science — to see these months of unnecessary havoc finally ended. But given the BOCC’s and health board's consistent dearth of interest, as well incomprehensible denial — such academic efforts would be wasted. The problem has become how to even reach you? — bubble-wrapped within apparent isolated lives & meetings -- having blown off real interactions with genuinely informed citizens, along with genuine research outside those privy echo chambers. Throughout 2020, it’s become abundantly clear that the commissioners, along with other “authorities & experts”, have: **Regularly betrayed & failed constituents. **Ignored the responsibilities of personal investigations into local & global covid unfoldments, agendas, and horrendous aftermaths. **Cared little for the consequences & destruction wrought on local lives & businesses, via profoundly careless uninformed determinations, preferring unilateral ignorance & censorship instead. **Inhabited a tiny impervious sphere that breeds petty license & despotism. What has been just as alarming is the increasing authoritarian climate & use of censorship — abetted at The Leader as well. The death of honesty, integrity, truth, and discourse accompanies the death knell of democratic possibilities & institutions. Have you any idea?: *What you’ve set in motion?; what you are complicit in? **How much of the spectrum of science & research you are stonewalling? **Of the global economic demolition that is well underway, crushing any real future for our children? **Of the extraordinary numbers of whistleblowers from every facet of medical/scientific/governmental institutions & professions? **That much of the world has been vigorously pushing-back in order to reclaim lives & sovereignty? Can the members still be unaware of the consequences, including global outrage & protests, as well the common law warrants being issued for fraud & treason? No? Has responsibility and integrity then been relinquished, possibly due to nonlocal ham-stringing? Whatever the boards' choices are from here, there will be a time/place where all will be held to account. Alby Baker Port Townsend From:Annette Huenke To:Public Comments Subject:comment for 12/21 meeting Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 8:48:15 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Good morning, Commissioners. "The freedom of the press, protected by the First Amendment, is critical to a democracy in which the government is accountable to the people. A free media functions as a watchdog that can investigate and report on government wrongdoing. It is also a vibrant marketplace of ideas, a vehicle for ordinary citizens to express themselves and gain exposure to a wide range of information and opinions." [ACLU] “The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.” —U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black in New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) The Peninsula Daily News, the county’s paper of record, has now joined the Leader in censoring that avenue for ordinary citizens to express themselves, including paid advertisements that contain data and opinions from health experts from the most respected institutions in the world. The Fourth Estate is now the polar opposite of “a pillar of truth.” Mainstream media outlets, including those on the Olympic peninsula, are nothing more than stenographers for government. They write and say what they’re told, instead of doing their job, which is to hold authority’s feet to the fire and present a diversity of viewpoints. It is not their job to assist policy-makers in presenting 'a unified message,’ even in a so-called pandemic. As you have already heard, tens of thousands of medical professionals do not agree with the characterization of this situation or the way it is being managed, including the incessant fear-mongering being funneled through the mockingbird media. The Leader justified their abrogation of duty by calling it a ‘business decision.’ If it is good business for the press to silence debate around the destruction of our society and economy, we are in precarious times indeed. sincerely, Annette Huenke Port Townsend From:Barbara Morey To:Public Comments Subject:"Tis the Season Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 2:56:09 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Good Morning Commissioners, Today is a special day. As it begins, I want to say thank you to David Sullivan for his many years of service to our community and especially his commitment to helping us address the issue of affordable housing. Although we have not always agreed on the specific path to take, David has always acted with personal commitment, integrity and respect. Thank you, Commissioner Sullivan. Tonight we will have the opportunity to view the conjunction of 3 planets into what has been called "The Star of Bethlehem". The last time this occurred was 800 years ago. And we will be witness to it this evening! A conjunction is a "coming together". My hope is that in the coming year, we in Jefferson County will be able to come together to address the issue that this star heralded over 2000 years ago, when a family had to be housed in a stable because there was no room for them in the inn. Tonight, we will see this light shining down on those who are living in tents in the fairgrounds campground or in the woods because now, as then, there is no shelter for them. My wish for the coming year is that we, like the fabled Wise Men, will have our eyes and hearts and lives opened to explore exciting new possibilities-- to make sure that no one remains unhoused or without the basic necessities of life. And that we, as a community, make a commitment to follow the best of our knowledge and abilities to illuminate the issues and to act on the opportunities that shine for us. After this year of the pandemic crisis, of stress and isolation, I hope that we can come together to experience, in the words of the carol, : "A thrill of hope. The weary world rejoices. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn." Peace on earth; Good will to All. Barbara Morey. Housing Advocate 206 326-9022 Nevertheless, she persisted... From:Brian Kuh To:Public Comments Subject:Thank You Commissioner Sullivan! Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 8:56:12 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. On behalf of EDC Team Jefferson and our Board of Directors, I’d like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to Commissioner David Sullivan for his 16 years of service to Jefferson County. His visionary leadership has helped us through periods of thoughtful growth and occasional hardship. He has proven to be a champion of economic development who’s efforts will ensure our resiliency for generations to come. Thank you David, and our best wishes to you in your retirement! Gratefully, Brian Kuh Executive Director EDC Team Jefferson 360.406.1123 From:Douglas Milholland To:Public Comments Subject:Public comments submission Date:Sunday, December 20, 2020 10:35:03 PM Attachments:Jefferson County be it resolved Dec 20.docx CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Greetings Phillip: On Friday I was at the courthouse and stopped in the office of the County commissioners. I wanted to find out how to submit testimony to the Monday morning meeting the public comment meeting. The secretary gave me the public comments email address and told me that you would read what I sent in into the record. Please do so I enjoy greeting you when we past while shopping at the food co-op Warm regards, Doug Milholland From:Hannah McFarland To:Public Comments Subject:Covid Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 7:41:36 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. The many months of challenge is straining on everyone no matter what one’s view of Covid. For people who have backgrounds that include major and minor benefits from alternative medicine, we have a different set of struggles. The constant drumbeat from the Establishment of masks, social distancing and vaccines illustrates that profit driven conventional medicine is in charge. Anything else is automatically dismissed as “unscientific” or a “conspiracy theory.” 20 plus years ago I had stage 2 breast cancer that responded favorably to alternative treatments. I have been cancer free since then. I do not care that Establishment medicine tells me to ignore my success. Same goes for not having a cold or flu for 20 years. There are many ways to enhance our immune system yet we hear nothing about this regarding Covid. Many doctors and medical professionals are recommending high dose Vitamin C, Vitamin D, herbs, and other therapies. Yet this information is often removed from the public “discussion” and the internet. I have heard it said at BOCC meetings that there are many “conspiracy theories” out there that make the job of dealing with Covid more challenging. Nary a word have I heard regarding the possibility that Covid could be dealt with by not shutting down society. This type of narrow mindedness affirms that the Establishment is in bed with profit driven conventional medicine. If the BOCC wants to more fully represent Jefferson County, please consider meeting with myself or others regarding our concerns. To continue dismissing anything outside the Establishment recommendations sends a signal that the BOCC is a captured entity of profit driven conventional drug based medicine. I envision a positive change for all of us. Let’s get going. Sincerely, Hannah McFarland Port Townsend From:Tom Sparks To:Public Comments Subject:Holoday Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 8:14:52 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Greetings and happy quiet day (s) ! Hope you folks have a safe and warm holiday. and We'll see you in 2021. thanks again to the rain gods. T. Parks Commerce Logo From:Washington State Department of Commerce To:jeffbocc Subject:Planners" Update Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 12:18:41 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. A monthly newsletter from the Growth Management division of the Washington State Department of Commerce Having trouble viewing this email? View it online DEC. 21, 2020 2021 Critical Areas and Shoreline Monitoring & Adaptive Management Online Workshops The Washington state departments of Commerce, Ecology and Fish and Wildlife invite you to join them for an in-depth review of best practices, case studies, resources and tools to enhance monitoring and adaptive management efforts for your critical areas and shorelines. As a follow-up to our 2018 workshops, this 11-week webinar series features expert guest speakers, opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, information sharing and individual technical assistance. Click on a link below to register for the free zoom webinars (you may choose to attend one or all). All webinars will be held from 9 - 11 a.m. For full webinar descriptions and more information about the series, visit the project webpage. Adaptive Management Workshop 1 – How to Successfully Protect Critical Areas and Shorelines: A Step-by-Step Introduction to Monitoring and Adaptive Management (Jan.13, 2021) Adaptive Management Workshop 2 – Setting the Stage: Successful Adaptive Management and Critical Areas Monitoring Program Basics (Jan. 20, 2021) Adaptive Management Workshop 3 – Wetlands (Jan. 27, 2021) Adaptive Management Workshop 4 – Geologically Hazardous (Feb. 3, 2021) Adaptive Management Workshop 5 – Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas (Feb. 10, 2021) Adaptive Management Workshop 6 – Frequently Flooded Areas (Feb. 17, 2021) Adaptive Management Workshop 7 – Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas (CARAs) (Feb. 24, 2021) Adaptive Management Workshop 8 – Shoreline (March 3, 2021) Adaptive Management Workshop 9 – Permit Implementation Monitoring Tools (March 10, 2021) Adaptive Management Workshop 10 – CAO Performance Indicators (March 17, 2021) Adaptive Management Workshop 11 – Adaptive Management Interactive Workshop (March 24, 2021) Planning for housing The University of Washington Center for Real Estate Research (WCRER) recently published a Housing Market Data Toolkit with funding associated with HB 1923. The Housing Market Data Toolkit is provided for all Washington cities over 10,000 population and for all counties in the state. A webinar is scheduled in February. The UW will share about the data and how cities can use it. More details will be forthcoming in January. Commerce is working to finalize and publish guidance on Housing Elements of Comprehensive Plans. The guidance will be available in January of 2021 and a webinar on the material is scheduled for March. More details to come. Planners’ Forum Upcoming Planners’ Forums include the following: Northwest Section Planner’s Forum on Thursday, Jan. 7 from 9:30-11 a.m. (virtual meeting). The topic will be Washington’s Growth Policy Framework Project. Agenda with Zoom registration information. Eastern Washington Planner’s Forum on Wednesday, Jan. 27 from 1- 3 p.m. (virtual meeting). Topic and agenda forthcoming. Short Course on Local Planning In 2020, Commerce offered only eight courses due to the pandemic, but because of the geographic advantages of virtual webinars, we were able to serve more than 400 people. Views of the Short Course video series also increased in 2020. We are currently putting together the 2021 spring roster of dates and topics for Short Courses, which will be held virtually. If you have requests for a daytime course, special topics or courses on certain days, please contact Anne.Fritzel@commerce.wa.gov. To access Short Course resources, visit www.commerce.wa.gov/serving- communities/growth-management/short-course/. 2021 Leadership in Community Resilience Grant Program with National League of Cities (NLC) National League of Cities’ (NLC) Leadership in Community Resilience (LCR) grant program is currently accepting grant applications. NLC supports and enhances local capacity among elected leaders and staff, communities, and community-based organizations as they pursue coordinated climate resilience efforts. The 2021 request for proposals will award $10,000 grants and ongoing technical assistance to eight new cities next year. Proposal deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 23. Program begins March 2021 and assistance continues until December 2021. For more information visit: https://www.nlc.org/initiative/leadership-in-community-resilience- program-application/ Who should apply: Cities and towns with a population of 5,000 or more are encouraged to apply. Lead applicant must be a municipal government, represented by a department head, other city staff, or elected official (mayor, council member, commissioner, etc.). Local nonprofits and community-based organizations may apply in partnership with a city. Cities may apply on behalf of or in conjunction with a regional climate collaborative. Stay connected About Commerce Commerce works with local governments, businesses, community-based organizations and tribes to strengthen communities. The department’s diverse portfolio of more than 100 programs and effective public and private partnerships promote sustainable community and economic development to help all Washingtonians thrive. For more information, visit http://www.commerce.wa.gov. For information on locating or expanding a business in Washington, visit choosewashingtonstate.com. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by Washington Department of Commerce. Subscribe | Manage Preferences | Unsubscribe All | Help | Contact us This email was sent to jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Washington State Department of Commerce · 1011 Plum Street SE, P.O. Box 42525 · Olympia, WA 98504- 2525 From:NKladis To:citycouncil@cityofpt.us; jeffbocc; James Kennedy Subject:Woman arrested for psilicybin mushrooms Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 1:31:37 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Commissioners/City Councilmembers, In August of 2019, the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society asked the city council and county commission to pass a resolution supporting the decriminalization of entheogenic plants. In response to this request, city council members and county commissioners assured us that prosecuting Jefferson County citizens for possession of entheogenic plants, such as psychedelic mushrooms, was already a “low priority” for local law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys. Commissioner Kate Dean shared that Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy said he could not recall a case where possession of psychedelics had ever risen to the level of criminal prosecution, and that it was therefore “de-facto decriminalized.” (From the August 26, 2019 meeting) But on November 6, 2020, Port Townsend Police Officer Nate Holmes and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Kolby Schreier arrested a woman named Annie Barton for possession of psilocybin mushrooms. That person now faces felony charges, despite having no criminal history. We urge you to act now and pass a joint resolution decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi and declare that the adult use of entheogenic substances on the federal Schedule 1 list be amongst the lowest priority for the city of Port Townsend and Jefferson County. The resolution can be viewed here: https://www.porttownsendpsychedelicsociety.org/resolution-1 We also urge you to contact Prosecutor James Kennedy and demand that he dismiss the charges against Annie Barton. Sincerely, Nico Kladis Housing Solutions Network: Year End Newsletter Dear friends, This community continues to amaze. Even in the face of an incredibly challenging year, we were able make real change to create housing opportunities locally. The accomplishments of our community-led Housing Action Teams has been phenomenal. The community's response to our work has been phenomenal. Thank you for being part of this network. We look toward 2021 ready to deepen our impact and cultivate tangible results from the foundation that has been laid in 2020. Many of our Housing Action Teams are poised to see significant results next year. Our newly formed Housing Connections HAT is exploring ways to open up new units of housing through home-sharing. Our Permit HAT has begun working with local government on improvements in permitting, and we look forward to the resulting changes. Our Tiny Home Communities HAT is spreading community support of density changes in Port Townsend and using tiny shelters as supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness. From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Celebrating our accomplishments, with eyes on the horizon. Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 2:04:05 PM From: Kerry Hastings Sent: Monday, December 21, 2020 2:03:40 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Celebrating our accomplishments, with eyes on the horizon. CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. As we celebrate these accomplishments, and more, we also acknowledge the gravity of the task at hand and the challenges that remain for many individuals and families in our community. With the eviction moratorium set to expire at the end of December, the stakes could not be higher. If the moratorium is not extended, we will see a wave of evictions at a time when the local shelter is full and services are stretched thin. Even with the moratorium in place, many local workers and tenants are increasingly vulnerable. As the housing market skyrockets, landlords are more likely to sell, which effectively evicts tenants and makes the home increasingly less accessible for local workers to afford the security of home-ownership. Read this testimonial from a local worker and tenant about her experience this year. In a small community like ours we can have an impact. Every single unit of housing that is created makes a difference to someone; this fundamental truth drives our work. As we transition staffing with Kerry stepping down from her role and Justine becoming the new HSN Director, we are confident that this work will continue to grow with your engagement and support. The year ahead will be another of tremendous challenges and opportunities, and we are so grateful to have each of you on our team. Best holiday wishes, In This Newsletter Our Housing Action Teams' Impact | Our Giving Program Impact Our Communications Impact | WA Eviction Moratorium Update Our Housing Action Teams' Impacts HSN's Housing Action Teams are groups of dedicated volunteers who meet regularly to generate and implement solutions to the housing crisis. Over the course of 2020 these teams produced amazing work. Our Outreach & Education HAT continued holding screenings of the Cultivating Community Solutions to the Housing Crisis video, and released the video online where it has been viewed over 930 times. The group also partnered with Clallam-Jefferson Pro Bono Lawyers and Northwest Justice Project to provide a free webinar about the eviction moratorium, available here. Our Tiny Home Communities HAT produced a series of three webinars on the 'what,' 'how,' and 'why,' of tiny home communities. With over 130 total registrants, this webinar series was well received and valued by community members. Watch recordings of the webinars, here. This group also supported the Community Build Project, which has built twelve tiny shelters for seniors experiencing homelessness. Our Permitting HAT crafted and distributed a Permit Survey that received 101 responses. Using these responses, the team created a Permit Survey Report, which was sent to local government. The team has been meeting with both City and County government to work on addressing the issues identified by the Survey. The Neighborly Rentals HAT met with many people who were interested in participating in their pilot program for financing ADUs. The team also focused on collecting stories of people who have decided to rent out rooms in their homes, to build interest in this valuable concept. Our Rental Connections HAT, in collaboration with Barney Burke, produced the 'How to be a Good Landlord,' webinar - inspiring and informing people how to rent out spaces that are currently vacant. The webinars were well attended and the video is now accessible here. Thank you Barney! For more information on this incredible work, view our slideshow here. Our Giving Program Impact HSN's Giving Program raised over $35,000! Together, we were able to achieve the goals we had set when we launched our Giving Program in the summer. We provided necessary COVID-related resources to renters We launched a County-wide affordable Housing Declaration and Community Call to Action We launched a Support Council for HSN, to continue growing HSN as an engine for change We supported the emergence of a new Housing Action Team focused on exploring ways to connect individuals to resources, and potential landlords to potential tenants We were able to keep our doors open through the end of 2020 with a strong foundation set for deepening our impact in 2021 Our Communications Impacts Our Housing Declaration and Community Call to Action was endorsed by every housing organization in Jefferson County. As of December 18th, 92 community members have signed on. KPTZ reached out to do a media partnership to promote the Declaration further. Our Network Weaver, Justine Gonzalez-Berg, secured a regular column in the PT Leader focused on affordable housing She contributed six "Housing Hub" columns We continue to share timely updates and resources through our newsletter and social media. WA Eviction Moratorium Update Washington's eviction moratorium is set to expire on December 31st. If it is not extended, we will see a wave of evictions in the middle of winter, in the midst of a pandemic, and in addition to our existing market of extreme housing inaccessibility. Let Governor Inslee know that you support the health and safety of tenants across the state, here. If you, or someone you know, has questions about the eviction moratorium, this video is a good place to start. The video is a recording of a presentation that was organized as a joint effort between the Clallam-Jefferson Counties Pro Bono Lawyers, Northwest Justice Project, and Housing Solutions Network. If you think you are facing an unlawful eviction and need legal help, contact the CLEAR Hotline 1.888.201.1014 (both lines are open from 9:10AM- 12:15PM) CLEAR Senior: 1.888.387.7111 Learn about the eviction moratorium at Washington Law Help. Find more housing related COVID-19 resources here. Copyright © 2020 Jefferson Community Foundation, All rights reserved. Housing Solutions Network is an initiative of the Jefferson Community Foundation. Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 1394, Port Hadlock, WA 98339 https://www.jcfgives.org/ Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. This email was sent to gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences Housing Solutions Network · PO Box 1394 · Port Hadlock, WA 98339-1394 · USA From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: JTA Resolutions 12/15/20 Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 1:56:38 PM Importance:High From: Sara J. Peck Sent: Monday, December 21, 2020 1:56:26 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Kate Dean; David Sullivan; Greg Brotherton; Ariel Speser Cc: Tammi Rubert Subject: JTA Resolutions 12/15/20 CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Greetings, JTA would appreciate the 12/15 Resolutions to be signed promptly to get paperwork sent out. Would you please let me know the easiest method to do so? I am available to deliver/pick up, leave them at the 4 Corners front desk, or scan and email. Please let me know what is most convenient for you. Greg, I also missed your signature on Resolution 20-22 CARES Act Grant Amendment. I will include it with the most recent Resolutions. Kindly, Sj Peck Executive Assistant/Clerk of the Board Jefferson Transit Authority 63 4 Corners Road, Port Townsend, WA 98368 speck@jeffersontransit.com | 360-385-3020 x 108 From:Payne, Dontae (GOV) Subject:Governor Inslee press conference Monday Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 2:08:16 PM Attachments:image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png image005.png image006.png Importance:High CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Good afternoon, Gov. Jay Inslee will address media today via Microsoft Teams to give an update on the state's response to COVID-19 concerning travel from abroad, including the United Kingdom. The governor will be joined by Dr. Scott Lindquist, state epidemiologist for communicable diseases. *Please read the details below as a different system will be used for today's availability. Monday, December 21 2:30 PM - Media availability The press conference will be livestreamed by TVW. Help us share trusted sources of information on COVID-19: Washington Department of Health coronavirus webpage | CDC’s coronavirus website | Governor’s COVID-19 resource website. If you have specific questions that cannot be answered by these resources, you can call the Washington Department of Health’s public call center at 1- 800-525-0127, then wait and press #. Dontae Payne, MPA Regional Representative – South Sound & Olympic Peninsula |Office of Governor Jay Inslee (he/him/his) Cell: 360-867-8914 www.governor.wa.gov | dontae.payne@gov.wa.gov Email communications with state employees are public records and may be subject to disclosure, pursuant to Ch. 42.56 RCW. From:Jennifer Rotermund To:jeffbocc Subject:Decriminalize Nature in Port Townsend Immediately Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 11:42:12 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Commissioners, In August of 2019, the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society asked the city council and county commission to pass a resolution supporting the decriminalization of entheogenic plants. In response to this request, city council members and county commissioners assured us that prosecuting Jefferson County citizens for possession of entheogenic plants, such as psychedelic mushrooms, was already a “low priority” for local law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys. Commissioner Kate Dean shared that Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy said he could not recall a case where possession of psychedelics had ever risen to the level of criminal prosecution, and that it was therefore “de-facto decriminalized.” (From the August 26, 2019 meeting) But on November 6, 2020, Port Townsend Police Officer Nate Holmes and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Kolby Schreier arrested a woman named Annie Barton for possession of psilocybin mushrooms. That person now faces felony charges, despite having no criminal history. We know from an abundance of clinical research over the last 70 years, that the assignment of the majority of entheogenic medicines as Schedule 1 Narcotics is blatantly incorrect and was politically politically (not factually) motivated 50 years ago. Specifically Psilocybin is known to have tremendous therapeutic value and is almost never addictive - the exact opposite of the definition required for the schedule 1 category. As a homeowner and taxpayer in Port Townsend, and in general, as someone who loves this community, I am horrified and sickened by the arrest of a local woman for psilocybin mushroom possession. The fact that the City Council justified their refusal to decriminalize these healing substances for reasons of supposed existing de-facto decriminalization, only to have an arrest for possession take place, reminds me specifically of the outdated and descriminatory anti-sodomy laws I witnessed years ago in my home state of Texas. Those laws were created in the 1800’s, and when citizens requested they be eliminated, state & local governments refused, saying it was so outdated the police would never use these laws in an actual arrest, to single anyone out. Unfortunately, the police did use this law to force their way into homes of gay couples and arrest them as they slept in the middle of the night. As a lesbian woman, I was horrified by this occurrence in my community, no longer felt safe from the police in Texas and moved to the Pacific Northwest - the first place I have ever felt safe to live a normal life with my partner of 25 years. In my experience, if a law exists, no matter how wrong and outdated it is, it will be followed by law enforcement at some point. After all, that is their job. Furthermore, it places law enforcement in an unreasonable and unfair position, lacking in integrity, to ask them to look the other way on issues we all agree are of little to no priority, without actually changing the law that keeps it in place. It’s sloppy, incomplete work that ends up doing more harm to everyone involved in the long run. In the meantime, I know countless people who have received deep and profound healing from a number of entheogenic medicines. My understanding is that the psychedelic community in this region is highly educated and deeply respectful of their use of etheogens such as psilocybin. They see these substances as sacred medicines to be used carefully and respectfully. Given the broad clinical research backing the efficacy of these substances, to now know that an arrest has been made in this community for psilocybin possession, makes me feel a lot less safe and less trusting of our local leadership. Likewise, I am highly disappointed in the City Council for not taking seriously the request of the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society to decriminalize these substances. What will it take for you to trust your local citizen with these substances? Alcohol and cigarettes are far more dangerous and life-threatening than psilocybin (for example), and we continue to first trust the adults of each community with them. This recent arrest only proves the immediate need for decriminalization, and this community will only be less safe if this (and any future) arrest is allowed to stand. I urge you to act now and pass a joint resolution decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi and declare that the adult use of entheogenic substances on the federal Schedule 1 list be amongst the lowest priority for the city of Port Townsend and Jefferson County. The resolution can be viewed here: https://www.porttownsendpsychedelicsociety.org/resolution-1 I also urge you to contact Prosecutor James Kennedy and demand that he dismiss the charges against Annie Barton. Sincerely, Jennifer Rotermund Sent from my iPad From:Sarah Brownstein To:jeffbocc; citycouncil@cityofpt.us; James Kennedy Subject:Please, Decriminalize Nature Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 6:44:37 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Commissioners, City Councilmembers, and Attourney James Kennedy, In August of 2019, the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society asked the city council and county commission to pass a resolution supporting the decriminalization of entheogenic plants. In response to this request, city council members and county commissioners assured us that prosecuting Jefferson County citizens for possession of entheogenic plants, such as psychedelic mushrooms, was already a “low priority” for local law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys. Commissioner Kate Dean shared that Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy said he could not recall a case where possession of psychedelics had ever risen to the level of criminal prosecution, and that it was therefore “de-facto decriminalized.” (From the August 26, 2019 meeting) But on November 6, 2020, Port Townsend Police Officer Nate Holmes and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Kolby Schreier arrested a woman named Annie Barton for possession of psilocybin mushrooms. That person now faces felony charges, despite having no criminal history. We urge you to act now and pass a joint resolution decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi and declare that the adult use of entheogenic substances on the federal Schedule 1 list be amongst the lowest priority for the city of Port Townsend and Jefferson County. The resolution can be viewed here: https://www.porttownsendpsychedelicsociety.org/resolution-1 We urge Prosecutor James Kennedy to dismiss the charges against Annie Barton. Sincerely, Dr. Sarah Brownstein From:Cynthia Flowers To:jeffbocc Subject:Please consider this request Date:Monday, December 21, 2020 4:22:50 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Commissioners/City Councilmembers, In August of 2019, the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society asked the city council and county commission to pass a resolution supporting the decriminalization of entheogenic plants. In response to this request, city council members and county commissioners assured us that prosecuting Jefferson County citizens for possession of entheogenic plants, such as psychedelic mushrooms, was already a “low priority” for local law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys. Commissioner Kate Dean shared that Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy said he could not recall a case where possession of psychedelics had ever risen to the level of criminal prosecution, and that it was therefore “de-facto decriminalized.” (From the August 26, 2019 meeting) But on November 6, 2020, Port Townsend Police Officer Nate Holmes and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Kolby Schreier arrested a woman named Annie Barton for possession of psilocybin mushrooms. That person now faces felony charges, despite having no criminal history. We urge you to act now and pass a joint resolution decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi and declare that the adult use of entheogenic substances on the federal Schedule 1 list be amongst the lowest priority for the city of Port Townsend and Jefferson County. The resolution can be viewed here: https://facebook.us19.list-manage.com/track/click? u=2c83c12d1eb6bb2a9920a5de3&id=477c8d7730&e=954c9724e3 Please consider this request. Sincerely, Micheal and Cynthia Flowers 101-2 Upper Bluffs Dr. Port Townsend,WA 98368 919-869-4218 From:Yahoo Mail To:citycouncil@cityofpt.us; jeffbocc Subject:Recent arrest for possesion of psilocybin mushrooms. We are better than this! Date:Tuesday, December 22, 2020 10:44:31 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. As a supporter of decriminalizing plants and fungi that occur in our habitat, have no addictive properties, nor negative health effects, I am seriously disappointed that you, elected officials, will allow this behavior to go on. In 46 years that I have lived here, I know of no instances of anyone being harmed due to psilocybin mushrooms. And I know that there is a very large possibility that many of you have experienced the positive effects they can produces. This may not seem a high priority now, given all of the other challenges we face, but I assure you that the person facing a felony charge in this matter would not agree, and that a large majority of the community members will support your action to decriminalize. Please do it. Find a way. Bernard Donanberg Port Townsend 360 301-0908 From:Shira Stardrift To:James Kennedy; jeffbocc; citycouncil@cityofpt.us Subject:Decriminalization of Entheogens and this recent arrest Date:Tuesday, December 22, 2020 2:02:27 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.Dear City Councilmembers, In August of 2019, the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society asked the citycouncil and county commission to pass a resolution supporting thedecriminalization of entheogenic plants. In response to this request, city council members and county commissionersassured us that prosecuting Jefferson County citizens for possession ofentheogenic plants, such as psychedelic mushrooms, was already a “lowpriority” for local law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys. CommissionerKate Dean shared that Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy said he couldnot recall a case where possession of psychedelics had ever risen to the levelof criminal prosecution, and that it was therefore “de-facto decriminalized.”(From the August 26, 2019 meeting) But on November 6, 2020, Port Townsend Police Officer Nate Holmes andJefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Kolby Schreier arrested a woman namedAnnie Barton for possession of psilocybin mushrooms. That person nowfaces felony charges, despite having no criminal history. We know from an abundance of clinical research over the last 70 years, thatthe assignment of the majority of entheogenic medicines as Schedule 1Narcotics is blatantly incorrect and was politically politically (not factually)motivated 50 years ago. Specifically Psilocybin is known to have tremendoustherapeutic value and is almost never addictive - the exact opposite of thedefinition required for the schedule 1 category. I am a resident of Port Townsend because I sense this community, and I feltour City Council, had a unified vision in sustainability of naturalness and therhythms of the Earth alongside protecting the people from what is trulyunjust. Maybe that is not so by this recent arrest. My personal experience with psilocybin has been one of healing. Like manyI have suffered from addictions and severe mental illness in my life. When I was introduced to psilocybin in a medicinal way, it changed my life and myneuro chemistry. Criminalizing a healing substance that can heal addictionto harmful substances and habits would greatly, this is an opinion, alleviatesome of the reasons there is so much lawlessness in citizens. These naturalmedicines do more than reconnect neural pathways in the brain, they alsohelp heal reconnection to the Earth which fulfills a need lacking in so manyhumans- the need to belong. I know countless people who have received deep and profound healingfrom a number of entheogenic medicines. My understanding is that thepsychedelic community in this region is highly educated and deeplyrespectful of their use of entheogens such as psilocybin. They see thesesubstances as sacred medicines to be used carefully and respectfully. Giventhe broad clinical research backing the efficacy of these substances, to nowknow that an arrest has been made in this community for psilocybinpossession, makes me feel a lot less safe and less trusting of our localleadership. Likewise, I am highly disappointed in the City Council for nottaking seriously the request of the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society todecriminalize these substances. What will it take for you to trust your localcitizen with these substances? Alcohol and cigarettes are far moredangerous and life-threatening than psilocybin (for example), and wecontinue to first trust the adults of each community with them. This recentarrest only proves the immediate need for decriminalization, and thiscommunity will only be less safe if this (and any future) arrest is allowed tostand. I urge you to act now and pass a joint resolution decriminalizingentheogenic plants and fungi and declare that the adult use of entheogenicsubstances on the federal Schedule 1 list be amongst the lowest priority forthe city of Port Townsend and Jefferson County. The resolution can beviewed here: https://www.porttownsendpsychedelicsociety.org/resolution-1 Resolution | Psychedelic Society port townsend city council and jefferson county board ofcommissioner joint resolution supporting thedecriminalization of entheogenic plants and fungi practices,declaring that the investigation and arrest of individualsinvolved with the adult use of entheogenic substances on thefederal schedule 1 list be amongst the lowest priority for the www.porttownsendpsychedelicsociety.org I also urge you to contact Prosecutor James Kennedy and demand that hedismiss the charges against Annie Barton. Sincerely, Jamie Lashbrook "I do not pray for success. I ask for faithfulness" ~ Mother Theresa From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: INVITATION: Call with Rep. Kilmer TODAY @ 3pm Date:Tuesday, December 22, 2020 10:26:42 AM From: Roper, Andrea Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 10:24:58 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Roper, Andrea Subject: INVITATION: Call with Rep. Kilmer TODAY @ 3pm CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Friends, I hope this message finds you well. Rep. Kilmer is inviting elected officials throughout Washington’s 6th district to participate in a call TODAY, December 22nd at 3:00pm. The purpose of this call is to provide a brief update on the most recent COVID-19 relief and omnibus spending bill. If you are unable to participate in today’s call but would like more information, I will be sure to send out bill summaries as they become available to me. Date: Tuesday, December 22nd Time: 3:00PM PT Participants: Rep. Kilmer and elected officials in WA’s 6th congressional district Dial-in: 253-993-5140 – no PIN or code needed RSVP: Please RSVP to andrea.roper@mail.house.gov Thank you for your continued leadership. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. ANDREA ROPER |District Director Office of Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-6) 950 Pacific Avenue, Suite 1230 | Tacoma, WA 98402 | (253) 272-3515 kilmer.house.gov | Twitter: @repderekkilmer | Facebook: @Derek.Kilmer From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Naval Special Operations Training in Western Washington State– State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Date:Tuesday, December 22, 2020 10:54:16 AM From: Washington State Parks Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 10:54:06 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Naval Special Operations Training in Western Washington State– State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. The United States (U.S.) Naval Special Warfare Command has requested a real property agreement from Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission to conduct special operations training in twenty-eight state parks throughout western Washington. This MDNS is attached and also is available at http://bit.ly/ParksSEPA This MDNS is issued pursuant to 197-11-340(2), State Parks will not act on this proposal until the comment period has ended. Comments must be submitted by January 6, 2021, or they may not be considered. Any person wishing to comment should submit written comments to: http://bit.ly/ParksSEPA For questions please contact: Attention: Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Jessica Logan, Environmental Program Manager Address: PO Box 42650, Olympia WA 98504-2650 Phone: (360) 902-8679 Email: SEPA@parks.wa.gov TDD: Washington Relay Service 711 or (800) 833-6388. Manage Subscriptions | Unsubscribe All | Help | Contact Us | Subscribe This email was sent to gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Washington StateParks and Recreation Commission 1111 Israel Road S.W. · Tumwater · WA 98501-6512 From:Kate Dean To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Ask MRSC: December 2020 Date:Tuesday, December 22, 2020 11:19:36 AM From: Ask MRSC Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 11:19:24 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Kate Dean Subject: Ask MRSC: December 2020 CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. December 2020 IN THIS ISSUE To what extent may a possible real estate purchase be discussed in executive session and what is required to be kept confidential? Is MRSC aware of any Washington local governments with either COVID-19 testing at their wastewater treatment plants or at the sewer collection systems for individual facilities? When the State Auditor audits a local government agency or special taxing district and the State Auditor has a finding, what does that mean for the agency that was audited? Is it a gift of public funds for the city to install sidewalks in areas where there are none? Does state law specify when school impact fees need to be Have a question? Officials and employees from eligible government agencies can use our free one-on-one inquiry service, Ask MRSC. Ask MRSC collected for development activity? Scroll down to read the answers To what extent may a possible real estate purchase be discussed in executive session and what is required to be kept confidential? Under the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), executive sessions may be convened at a council meeting for consideration of certain aspects of potential real estate transactions. The city’s real estate agent(s) may be included in those discussions. See RCW 42.30.110(1)(b) & (c): (b) Consideration of the selection of a site or the acquisition of real estate by lease or purchase when public knowledge would cause a likelihood of increased price. (c) Consideration of the minimum price at which real estate will be offered for sale or lease when public knowledge would cause a likelihood of decreased price. As you can see, both of these executive session reasons apply only when public knowledge of the consideration would cause a likelihood of a change in purchase price that would be adverse to the city. We have helpful information on our website, including an executive session checklist as well as our OPMA publication (see pages 16-28). We also have a blog article called Executive Sessions 101 that addresses the more common reasons for going into executive session or closed session. Confidences shared in a properly convened executive session must be kept confidential. See AGO 2017 No. 5 stating that participants in an executive session have a duty to hold in confidence information they obtain, if the information is within the scope of the statutorily authorized purpose of the executive session. Is MRSC aware of any Washington local governments with either COVID-19 testing at their wastewater treatment plants or at the sewer collection systems for individual facilities? We are aware of a couple of testing programs in the cities of Vancouver and Lynden. See this Bellingham Herald story (Here’s where Whatcom sewage is being sampled for COVID-19 and what it might tell us) reporting on the Lynden testing program that includes testing at two schools in the city. Here is a Vancouver press release detailing the testing program there. The Vancouver page includes a few links to additional references. We monitor a lot of the local newspapers in Washington for general local government news and have not noticed any reports other than the Vancouver and Lynden programs. Our guess is that there are probably not a lot who are doing this. We sent a survey out to public works directors in cities over 20,000 population. You can view the results here. The results so far indicate that one other city, Spokane, has participated in a pilot study for wastewater COVID-19 testing. When the State Auditor audits a local government agency or special taxing district and the State Auditor has a finding, what does that mean for the agency that was audited? The audit process conducted by the State Auditor’s Office(SAO) uses a progressive step approach to findings that are based on a review of agency’s internal procedures and a determination that there is a lack of appropriate internal controls to protect the public asset. The first step is typically an 'audit recommendation" that provides suggestions on areas that need improvement. It is typically provided to management and staff. The second step is a 'management letter', which is presented to the governing body in an open public meeting. A management letter will typically be issued when the recommendations that were made in the previous audit have not been implemented. The third step is the 'audit finding'. An audit finding is published in the local newspaper of the entity by the SAO as a way of informing the public of the severity of a compliance issue. Audit findings can also be issued without the step procedures if the compliance issue is more severe or an isolated incident such as bid law compliance, or federal single audit compliance. Regardless of the type of audit finding, they are always considered to be significant compliance issues that require the local agency to address the deficiency as quickly as possible. Here are a few links to the SAO's website that you may find helpful in further understanding the audit process: Anatomy of an Audit - Understanding the Audit Process Local Government Audits – Types of audits and reports The Audit Dispute Process Is it a gift of public funds for the city to install sidewalks in areas where there are none? Sidewalk construction is clearly a proper municipal function. Authority for cities and towns to construct and pay for sidewalks can be found at RCW 35.68.010, which provides: Any city or town, hereinafter referred to as city, is authorized to construct, reconstruct, and repair sidewalks, gutters and curbs along and driveways across sidewalks, which work is hereafter referred to as the improvement, and to pay the costs thereof from any available funds, or to require the abutting property owner to construct the improvement at the owner's own cost or expense, or, subject to the limitations in RCW 35.69.020 (2) and (3), to assess all or any portion of the costs thereof against the abutting property owner. Street improvement projects (including installation of sidewalks) are not cheap, and financing them can be a challenge for municipalities. The decision of how to prioritize the use of available funds for these purposes is a legislative function of the city council. A street improvement project would not typically raise gift of public funds concerns because such projects generally benefit the community instead of a small group of specific individuals. We have more information on our Sidewalk Construction, Maintenance, and Repair and Gift of Public Funds webpages. Does state law specify when school impact fees need to be collected for development activity? Normally, impact fees are paid before construction begins because they are a condition for receiving a permit. However, RCW 82.02.050 requires cities, towns, and counties to adopt an impact fee payment deferral system for small single-family residential developments, allowing developers to pay the fees after construction instead of beforehand. For details and examples, see Impact Fee Payment Deferral Programs. More general information is on MRSC’s Impact Fees page. Thank you to our generous sponsors Stay Informed MRSC publishes a number of e-newsletters related to local government issues. You can also keep up with us on social media. Manage your Subscription ‌ ‌ If you have questions or comments for the newsletter editor, please contact Byron Katsuyama, Public Policy & Management Consultant or Jill Dvorkin, Legal Consutant. MRSC.org MRSC | 2601 Fourth Avenue, Suite 800, Seattle, WA 98121 Unsubscribe kdean@co.jefferson.wa.us Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by it@mrsc.org From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Rep Kilmer explains the new federal COVID Relief Programs on Coffee with Colleen Tomorrow Morning Date:Tuesday, December 22, 2020 12:44:46 PM From: Clallam EDC Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 12:44:43 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Rep Kilmer explains the new federal COVID Relief Programs on Coffee with Colleen Tomorrow Morning CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Join Congressman Kilmer Tomorrow Morning at 8am! Please join us tomorrow morning on Coffee with Colleen to hear from Congressman Kilmer as he reviews the newest programs and provisions of the latest Federal COVID Relief Bill, including: A second Round of PPP loans, even if you've received one before Clarification on Tax Treatment of PPP loans - including the ability to deduct expenses A new Round of EIDL Grants and Loans Increased and Extended Unemployment Payments Employee Retention Tax Credit Modifications $15 Billion in Grants to Shuttered Venue Operators, live performing arts organizations, and museums. Please join us: Join Zoom Meeting at 8 a.m., Wednesday Morning https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81875115879?pwd=UnEzQjV1N09rM2ZLbFIzVVVxYzJoQT09 Meeting ID: 818 7511 5879 Passcode: 923050 One tap mobile +12532158782,,81875115879#,,,,,,0#,,923050# US (Tacoma) Upcoming Coffee with Colleen Guests: Dec 30th - No Coffee with Colleen Jan 6th - Sen. Kevin Van de Wege Jan 20th - NOLA Lobbyist, Josh Weiss Choose Clallam First | ChooseClallamFirst.com ‌ Clallam County Economic Development Council | 338 W 1st St., Suite 105, Port Angeles, WA 98362 Unsubscribe gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by info@clallam.org powered by Try email marketing for free today! From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: TOMORROW: COVID Relief Bill Q&A with Congressman Kilmer Date:Tuesday, December 22, 2020 1:11:14 PM From: EDC Team Jefferson Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 1:11:09 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: TOMORROW: COVID Relief Bill Q&A with Congressman Kilmer CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. NEW COVID Relief Bill Details and Q&A Join Congressman Kilmer Wednesday Morning at 8am! Please join us and the Clallam EDC tomorrow morning to hear from Congressman Kilmer as he reviews the newest programs and provisions of the latest Federal COVID Relief Bill, including: A second Round of PPP loans, even if you've received one before Clarification on Tax Treatment of PPP loans - including the ability to deduct expenses A new Round of EIDL Grants and Loans Increased and Extended Unemployment Payments Employee Retention Tax Credit Modifications $15 Billion in Grants to Shuttered Venue Operators, live performing arts organizations, and museums. Join Zoom Meeting at 8am, Wednesday morning: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81875115879?pwd=UnEzQjV1N09rM2ZLbFIzVVVxYzJoQT09 Meeting ID: 818 7511 5879 Passcode: 923050 One tap mobile +12532158782,,81875115879#,,,,,,0#,,923050# US (Tacoma) You can read more about the COVID Relief Bill here - https://www.axios.com/stimulus- checks-congress-deal-33e713ae-501e-484b-9cea-1a77c39d32e7.html Get Help Today! EDC Team Jefferson | 360.379.4693 | edcteamjefferson.org ‌ ‌ ‌ EDC Team Jefferson | 2409 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368 Unsubscribe gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by help@edcteamjefferson.org powered by Try email marketing for free today! From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Join Kilmer on Coffee with Collen, and vote for "Best of"! Date:Tuesday, December 22, 2020 1:13:54 PM From: director@forkswa.com Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 1:11:06 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Join Kilmer on Coffee with Collen, and vote for "Best of"! CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Greg Brotherton , As the year comes to a close, I want to extend my appreciation to all the businesses and citizens who make up our great community. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and a great New Year! 2021 Board of Directors Elections Please take a moment to vote for the 2021 Board of Directors https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FWLP5YG (one vote per member business please). “Best Of” Nominations We are now taking nominations for “Best Of” 2020! For your convenience, we have printed nomination forms placed throughout town at Forks Outfitters Customer Service Center, First Federal, and Umpqua Bank. If you would like to download a copy you can do that with this link. You can also nominate with online https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FTDL6ZY and feel free to nominate as many people and businesses as you see fit. The location of the awards presentation will be announced in January. Upcoming Programs December 23 and 30 – NO MEETINGS January 6 – Business Meeting and Program TBA January 13 – Diana Reaume, Superintendent QVSD January 20 – Heidi Anderson, CEO Forks Community Hospital January 27 – State of the City Address by Mayor Tim Fletcher Our meeting takes place online Noon – 1pm and is open to the public and all are welcome to attend. You can join the meeting with this recurring link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84599423539?pwd=aGlFWGYvQjRUeWdOM0hNTVc5MlM0QT09 Meeting ID: 845 9942 3539 Passcode: 912775 One tap mobile +12532158782,,84599423539#,,,,,,0#,,912775# US (Tacoma) +16699009128,,84599423539#,,,,,,0#,,912775# US (San Jose) FROM CLALLAM EDC: Join Congressman Kilmer Wednesday Morning at 8am! Please join us Wednesday morning on Coffee with Colleen to hear from Congressman Kilmer as he reviews the newest programs and provisions of the latest Federal COVID Relief Bill, including: A second Round of PPP loans, even if you've received one before Clarification on Tax Treatment of PPP loans - including the ability to deduct expenses A new Round of EIDL Grants and Loans Increased and Extended Unemployment Payments Employee Retention Tax Credit Modifications $15 Billion in Grants to Shuttered Venue Operators, live performing arts organizations, and museums. Please join us: Join Zoom Meeting at 8 a.m., Wednesday Morning https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81875115879?pwd=UnEzQjV1N09rM2ZLbFIzVVVxYzJoQT09 Meeting ID: 818 7511 5879 Passcode: 923050 One tap mobile +12532158782,,81875115879#,,,,,,0#,,923050# US (Tacoma) Upcoming Coffee with Colleen Guests: Dec 30th - No Coffee with Colleen Jan 6th - Sen. Kevin Van de Wege Jan 20th - NOLA Lobbyist, Josh Weiss If you would like to be added to Clallam EDC’s mailing list, please contact Peggy Simmons at psimmons@clallam.org They are an invaluable source for information! CHAMBER RENEWALS for 2021 have been mailed. Please feel free to contact me with questions. We accept cash, check and credit cards (we can take your card over the phone, or send you a Paypal invoice). We appreciate your continued support! Chamber News… FORKS VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER (VIC) We are open with a modified foyer to help visitors. We can help one group at a time (up to 4 people) inside the visitor center and we will be open Monday through Saturday 10 am – 4 pm and Sunday 11 am – 4 pm through the winter. WE ARE CLOSED CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S DAY. FOREVER TWILIGHT IN FORKS COLLECTION is closed until January 4th, due to the Governor’s mandate. EVENTS PAGE We are in the process of repopulating our events page. We accept online and in-person events (events allowed in Phase 2). If you have an event you would like share, please send it to events@ForksWA.com. FORKS CHAMBER STAFF DIRECTORY Lissy Andros, executive director Rob Hunter, VIC staff member and assistant to the E.D. Rob handles all of our visitor correspondence and administrative duties for the Chamber, and the online store. Gay Bunnell, Forever Twilight in Forks Collection and VIC staff member. Gay is our lead staff member at the Collection, including maintaining the records for the exhibits. She is in charge of procuring our brochures, maps, and information for the VIC. Kari Larson, VIC staff member. Kari is in charge of ordering our merchandise and sending out visitor packets. Susie Michels, IT Manager. Susie runs our website and handles all technical issues. I will be on vacation beginning December 28th and will return to the office on January 4th. PPP, EIDL and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Happy Holidays, Lissy Lissy Andros, Executive Director Forks Chamber of Commerce 1411 S. Forks Avenue Forks, WA 98331 360-374-2531 office 903-360-4449 cell From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: County News Now – December 22, 2020 Date:Tuesday, December 22, 2020 2:07:59 PM From: NACo County News Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 2:07:22 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: County News Now – December 22, 2020 CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Having trouble viewing this email? Click Here County News December 22, 2020 Congress passes $2.3 trillion appropriations and COVID relief package Congress passes $2.3 trillion appropriations and COVID relief package The deadline to spend Coronavirus Relief Fund money moves to Dec. 31, 2021, additional funding was allocated for nutrition assistance, child care and rental assistance, along with new funding for the Payment Protection Program, unemployment benefits, vaccine distribution and COVID-19 testing. READ MORE Neglect of public sector frontline workers in relief bill disappoints counties Though the final coronavirus relief and omnibus appropriations package of the 116th Congress includes some modest policy priorities for America’s counties, it does not include critical aid to state and local governments on the front lines of the nation’s response to the pandemic. Read more ‘Mayor Pete’ talks transportation issues with county officials Pitching to NABCO and NOBCO, Transportation Secretary nominee Pete Buttigieg noted bipartisan enthusiasm for more infrastructure investment, but acknowledged past plans have ended up relying on local governments to pay. Read more Counties work to reduce reliance on fines and fees Three counties worked with NACo, the PFM Center for Justice & Safety Finance and Arnold Ventures to reduce their reliance on criminal fines and fees for revenue. Read more MORE COUNTY NEWS Standards Connect from American National Standards Institute Legislative Updates FHFA extends moratoriums on foreclosure and REO evictions Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will extend the moratoriums on single-family foreclosures and real estate owned evictions to at least Jan. 31, 2021. Read more Appeals Court upholds injunctions on “public charge” rule The "public charge" rule may result in a decrease in use of federal public benefits and impose new administrative demands, which will lead to increased costs for counties that are already faced with tight budget constraints. Read more House passes bipartisan Water Resources Development Act WRDA authorizes $9.9 billion for 46 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects, including those that achieve flood control, environmental restoration, coastal protection and other water infrastructure goals, plus 27 feasibility studies. Read more EPA releases interim guidance on PFAS The new interim guidance outlines the current state of the science on techniques and treatments that may be used to destroy or dispose of PFAS and PFAS-containing materials from non-consumer products, including aqueous film-forming foam. Read more Pandemic Response Accountability Committee releases new Coronavirus Relief Fund spending dataset The data shows how 585 direct recipients used CRF allocations between March 1 and Sept. 30, 2020. Read more Congress passes Seeding Rural Resilience Act The Seeding Rural Resilience Act aims to curb the suicide rates in rural areas, but particularly among farmers and ranchers. Read more President Trump signs Digital Coast Act into law after NACo advocacy The Digital Coast Act officially codifies the NOAA's Digital Coast program, which contains data, tools and training to help coastal counties protect county-owned infrastructure, residents and businesses against hurricanes, earthquakes, drought, tsunamis and other disasters. Read more Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis provides best practices for counties negotiating renewable-energy agreements The report includes general guidance on best community practices for negotiating renewable-energy agreements and salient detail from recent agreements between private-sector companies and local governments. Read more North American Electric Reliability Corps. warns of future energy shortfalls The growth of wind and solar power on the country’s electric grid could lead to energy shortfalls during peak demand in upcoming years. Read more EPA retains existing air quality standards for particulate matter The EPA announced it will retain, without revision, the nation’s existing National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter. Read more MORE NEWS SPONSORED CONTENT Mobilize and Scale Your Vaccine Administration Program Work.com for Vaccines on the Salesforce Platform provides a rapid and flexible approach for managing, delivering and administering vaccine programs. Take this self-guided tour to explore its features and capabilities. Read more The Latest From NACo Enhancing fiscal resilience in a disruptive environment: What we’ve learned and what’s next KPMG and county officials discussed different approaches to enhance resilience in light of shifting public health, economic, budgetary and community dynamics – and how the difficult lessons of 2020 can help counties navigate a still uncertain 2021 outlook. Read more New resource for rental assistance programming To help guide county, city, and state policymakers effectively distribute the $25 billion in rental assistance funds included in Congress's end-of-year COVID-19 relief package, NACo partner the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program and the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project issued a new resource today: "Emerging Best Practices for COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Programs." For more information on Aspen's housing program, sign up for their upcoming Jan. 12 event on housing affordability and stability. Survey: Workforce development planning in the COVID era world NACo, with support from the Walmart Foundation, is conducting a survey to better understand county-level planning regarding the Future of Work and how the current COVID-19 pandemic has changed or shaped county-level needs related to workforce planning. Take the survey today to help NACo understand county need. 2021 Achievement Awards now open! Join us in celebrating 51 years of county innovation! Does your county have an innovative program to spotlight that is modernizing and improving county government? The NACo Achievement Awards program celebrates initiatives nationwide in categories such as health, civic education, public safety and more. NACo will highlight the 18 “best in category” winners, as well as feature all winners in NACo materials and online. Apply now! 660 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20001 Did someone forward you this email? Sign up to stay up-to-date on topics affecting America's counties! Click here to unsubscribe. From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Reminder-Rep Kilmer on Coffee with Colleen this Morning Date:Wednesday, December 23, 2020 7:29:24 AM From: Clallam EDC Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2020 7:28:54 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Reminder-Rep Kilmer on Coffee with Colleen this Morning CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. This Morning Congressman Kilmer on at 8am Please join us tomorrow morning on Coffee with Colleen to hear from Congressman Kilmer as he reviews the newest programs and provisions of the latest Federal COVID Relief Bill, including: A second Round of PPP loans, even if you've received one before Clarification on Tax Treatment of PPP loans - including the ability to deduct expenses A new Round of EIDL Grants and Loans Increased and Extended Unemployment Payments Employee Retention Tax Credit Modifications $15 Billion in Grants to Shuttered Venue Operators, live performing arts organizations, and museums. Please join us: Join Zoom Meeting at 8 a.m., Wednesday Morning https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81875115879?pwd=UnEzQjV1N09rM2ZLbFIzVVVxYzJoQT09 Meeting ID: 818 7511 5879 Passcode: 923050 One tap mobile +12532158782,,81875115879#,,,,,,0#,,923050# US (Tacoma) Upcoming Coffee with Colleen Guests: Dec 30th - No Coffee with Colleen Jan 6th - Sen. Kevin Van de Wege Jan 20th - NOLA Lobbyist, Josh Weiss Choose Clallam First | ChooseClallamFirst.com ‌ Clallam County Economic Development Council | 338 W 1st St., Suite 105, Port Angeles, WA 98362 Unsubscribe gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by info@clallam.org powered by Try email marketing for free today! Washington Low Income Housing Alliance Hi Kate! Just bumping this email from Rachael to make sure you don't miss it. If you haven't yet, please take action and tell lawmakers that housing stability must be a priority this session. The Governor's proposed budget included $250 million to build and preserve affordable homes and $328 million for rental assistance. State legislators are making decisions about their priorities right now, so even though we're well into the holiday season, it's a critical time to add your voice. Your actions this year have made a difference. Thank you! I hope you'll speak up one more time before the new year! Happiest of holidays to you, your friends, and family! May you be celebrating in a warm and healthy home this season. In peace and health, Jamala Henderson From:Kate Dean To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Tell state lawmakers: Housing must be a priority! Date:Wednesday, December 23, 2020 8:30:49 AM From: Jamala Henderson, Housing Alliance Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2020 8:30:36 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Kate Dean Subject: Re: Tell state lawmakers: Housing must be a priority! CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Communications Specialist _____________________________________________________________________________ Dear Kate, The state Legislature convenes in less than a month. This session will be unlike any other as lawmakers work, remotely, to respond to the health and economic challenges caused by the pandemic. They should keep in mind people like Arianna and Anngie who shared their stories of struggling to pay rent at a work session recently, and make housing stability a priority for the 2021 session. Long before COVID-19 arrived in Washington, we were facing a housing crisis in every corner of our state. The pandemic has made that worse and has made clearer than ever the weaknesses and inequities of our affordable housing and homelessness response systems. People with the smallest incomes – disproportionately Black, Indigenous, and other people of color – were already the most likely to be struggling to afford a place to live. And now those same people are most likely to have lost income or become sick with COVID-19. To prevent evictions and homelessness like we’ve never before seen in Washington, the legislature must respond with bold solutions to the immediate crisis we’re facing and with investments in the affordable homes we need for the long term. Will you join us in calling on the legislature to fund rental assistance to ensure that whenever the eviction moratorium ends, the 170,000+ people currently behind on rent don’t lose their homes, and for a robust investment in the Housing Trust Fund to build homes that are affordable for the lowest income people in Washington? Take action now! We need to make sure that no one loses their home here in Washington during a deadly pandemic because they can’t afford to pay their rent. Please take action right now and tell your lawmakers that you’re counting on them to Follow Us Donate Washington Low Income Housing Alliance 100 West Harrison St. Seattle, Washington 98119 (206) 442-9455 info@wliha.org make this a top priority in the 2021 legislative session! Rachael Myers Executive Director P.S. Watch Arianna and Anngie share their stories with the Senate Housing Stability and Affordability Committee here, and then take action to make sure they don’t lose their homes – and no one else does either. View this email in your web browser Unsubscribe From:Steve Baker To:citycouncil@cityofpt.us; jeffbocc; James Kennedy Subject:Public comment Date:Wednesday, December 23, 2020 10:53:37 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Commissioners/City Councilmembers, In August of 2019, the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society asked the city council and county commission to pass a resolution supporting the decriminalization of entheogenic plants. In response to this request, city council members and county commissioners assured us that prosecuting Jefferson County citizens for possession of entheogenic plants, such as psychedelic mushrooms, was already a “low priority” for local law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys. Commissioner Kate Dean shared that Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy said he could not recall a case where possession of psychedelics had ever risen to the level of criminal prosecution, and that it was therefore “de-facto decriminalized.” (From the August 26, 2019 meeting) But on November 6, 2020, Port Townsend Police Officer Nate Holmes and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Kolby Schreier arrested a woman named Annie Barton for possession of psilocybin mushrooms. That person now faces felony charges, despite having no criminal history. We urge you to act now and pass a joint resolution decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi and declare that the adult use of entheogenic substances on the federal Schedule 1 list be amongst the lowest priority for the city of Port Townsend and Jefferson County. The resolution can be viewed here: https://www.porttownsendpsychedelicsociety.org/resolution-1 We also urge you to contact Prosecutor James Kennedy and demand that he dismiss the charges against Annie Barton. Sincerely, Steve Baker Virus-free. www.avast.com Make a Year End Gift Supporting the Our Sound, Our Salmon campaign Photo Tavish Campbell (@tavishcampbell) From:Our Sound, Our Salmon To:jeffbocc Subject:Huge victory in the coastwide effort to end open water net pen aquaculture Date:Wednesday, December 23, 2020 1:34:12 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Salmon advocates coastwide celebrate BC First Nations' landmark success as Canada agrees to remove 19 salmon farms in the Discovery Islands On Thursday, in a truly inspiring victory for wild Pacific salmon, orcas, and BC First Nations, the Canadian government agreed to phase out all open water salmon farms in BC's Discovery Islands near Campbell River over the next 18 months. This historic decision is the result of the unwavering dedication and direct action of the BC First Nations and their supporters. For years, they have called on Canada's local and federal officials to end net pen salmon farms in their traditional waters where they operate without the Nations' consent. These facilities further contribute to the decline of BC's imperiled salmon runs and threaten the way of life, food security, and the health of the environment of First Nations coastwide. This new agreement is the largest and latest success by BC First Nations to demand the removal of net pens in their traditional waters. Last year, in a historic negotiation, First Nations in the Broughton Archipelago successfully advocated for the Canadian government to require the immediate removal of five farms and the decommissioning of the remaining twelve by 2023. We commend the hard work and dedication of the Discovery Islands First Nations, as well as First Nations and Tribal Nations coastwide, who continue to lead this inspiring effort to protect wild salmon and end this dangerous industry throughout the Pacific coast. In 2018, on the same day Washington passed a landmark law banning all Atlantic salmon net pens, WFC director and staff proudly participated in a peaceful protest led by the First Nation-led Wild Salmon Defenders Alliance outside a prominent BC legislator's office in Vancouver, BC. This fall, following a major sea lice outbreak known to have infected 97% of juvenile salmon migrating near the infected Discovery Island pens, 101 B.C. First Nations and their supporters called on the Canadian government for the removal of all Discovery Islands salmon farms, asking they be moved to land-based closed-containment systems. Juvenile salmon infected with sea lice observed during sampling near Discovery Island during an April 2019 sea lice outbreak that infected 30% of farms coastwide. Researchers found infection rates where highest near the Discovery Island net pens where 94% of juvenile salmon migrating near the Discovery Island pens. For young salmon, even a few sea lice can be lethal. Salmon lice were never reported on juvenile salmon in BC prior to salmon farming. Photo Tavish Campbell (@tavishcampbell) ⠀ The group called for the government to uphold a key recommendation of the Cohen Commission (which published its landmark study on how to reverse the decline of Fraser River salmon in 2012) to close salmon farms in the Discovery Islands by September 30, 2020 if they continued to pose a risk to wild salmon. Read the letter Our Sound, Our Salmon delivered to Canada's leaders standing in solidarity with BC First Nations. The removal of these 19 facilities within the Discovery Islands represents a major victory and a huge step forward for our coastwide, international coalition and shared effort to end commercial net pen aquaculture throughout the Pacific coast. Salmon have no borders, and neither does our shared advocacy to end this dangerous practice coastwide. Make a gift to the Our Sound, Our Salmon campaign to help end net pen aquaculture in Puget Sound and drive forward this coastwide effort in 2021. Make a year-end donation to support the Our Sound, Our Salmon Taking Back Our Sound campaign in the new year. We need your help to end this fight and net pen aquaculture once and for all. Learn more about this campaign to evict the net pen industry from our public waters and restore Puget Sound for the benefit of all. The Our Sound, Our Salmon campaign is facilitated by Wild Fish Conservancy. As a 501c3 nonprofit, your donatoin toward this campaign is fully tax-deductible. oursound-oursalmon.org The Taking Back Our Sound campaign is a part of the broader Our Sound, Our Salmon campaign, facilitated by the Wild Fish Conservancy to protect Puget Sound from commercial open water net pen aquaculture. Copyright © 2020 Wild Fish Conservancy, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Wild Fish Conservancy PO Box 402 Duvall, Wa 98019 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Donate today for a healthier tomorrow. From:Barbara Liden To:jeffbocc Subject:housing tax Date:Wednesday, December 23, 2020 4:08:21 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Thinking about the subject, in order to raise $600,000 a year there would have to be $600 million dollars spent on taxable things by folks in this county each year. Not sure if the subject tax would apply to food, but it's hard to picture the $600 mil that needs to be spent to raise the $600 thou. Need help here, to understand. Thanks. In addition, I want to express my strong support for the approval by the BOCC of the resolution to support the movement to make nuclear weapons illegal. The enormous military budget which includes millions for weapons of war and consumes 1/3 of the total budget can best be controlled by small governments making statements about national issues. Please carefully consider Approving the resolution. Neal Liden, long time resident of district 2. From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Year In Review: Season’s Greetings and Thank You Date:Wednesday, December 23, 2020 9:37:00 AM From: NACo Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2020 9:36:05 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Year In Review: Season’s Greetings and Thank You CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Having trouble viewing this email? Click Here year-end_alt_1774798.png THANK YOU TO OUR MEMBERS FOR A YEAR OF FEDERAL POLICY ACCOMPLISHMENTS There is no question 2020 has been a challenging year. But while we've faced many obstacles, we have even more to be proud of. Through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, economic crisis, civil unrest and political polarization, one thing is clear: counties have answered the call. As we take time to reflect during the holiday season, the National Association of Counties (NACo) thanks our members who worked to achieve several significant policy wins: Secured the creation of the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) in the CARES Act, which, while only available directly for five percent of counties, was a positive force for local economies and the overall stability of the American economy Shaped the implementation of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's CRF to benefit counties Secured full funding for the Broadband DATA Act, which will improve broadband mapping, along with hundreds of millions of dollars in local broadband investment Watch: Special holiday message from NACo President Gary Moore Watch: Your Voice in Washington: 2020 Spearheaded the creation of the Congressional Caucus of Former Local Elected Officials, and continuing to advocate for a strong federal-state-local partnership Achieved full funding for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) for federal public lands counties this year, and ensured full funding for 2021 in both U.S. House and U.S. Senate appropriations bills Secured two years of funding for Secure Rural Schools (SRS), key for forest counties, in FY 2020 appropriations Published a joint report and policy recommendations with the National Sheriffs' Association calling on Congress and the administration to change the federal Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy for pre-trial detainees Launched the NACo Broadband Task Force after conducting more than 163,000 broadband connectivity tests across all 50 states and the District of Columbia using NACo's TestIT app Secured a one-year extension of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, and continuing to work with Congress to ensure that county priorities are included in final reauthorization language RESOURCES & HIGHLIGHTS PILT-Toolkit_icon_302_932842.jpg NACo created a COVID resource hub with news, best practices and advocacy resources, including our analysis of the year- end relief and omnibus package. PILT-Toolkit_icon_302_932842.jpg NACo launched a Coronavirus Relief Fund toolkit with the latest federal guidance and examples from counties across the country. DoD_graphic_923401.png To recognize and thank county employees on the front lines, we launched the We Are Counties campaign, featuring social media resources, county video highlights and a call-to-action, urging direct and flexible federal COVID relief to counties of all sizes. 400_FIN_SALT_Fillers_Middle_Income_Pct_947138.jpg Watch: Counties Matter: COVID-19 WATCH THE VIDEO PILT-Toolkit_icon_302_932842.jpg NACo released timely research and analysis on the impacts of COVID-19 on counties, including monthly jobs reports, national surveys and more. PILT-Toolkit_icon_302_932842.jpg To help counties plan vaccine distribution efforts, we launched a resource hub with county examples, federal guidance and statewide plans. 400_FIN_SALT_Fillers_Middle_Income_Pct_947138.jpg County Explorer: County- Level COVID-19 Cases Over Time CONFIRMED CASES PER 10K RESIDENTS VIEW ON COUNTY EXPLORER PILT-Toolkit_icon_302_932842.jpg PILT-Toolkit_icon_302_932842.jpg Through NACo, county leaders engaged with federal officials across the political spectrum: President Donald Trump spoke during NACo's Legislative Conference in March; and President- elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris addressed the NACo Board of Directors earlier this month. DoD_graphic_923401.png NACo launched an online advocacy center, which provides updates on county federal policy priorities, sample tweets and email templates, and talking points for engaging with members of Congress and other federal decision-makers. PILT-Toolkit_icon_302_932842.jpg PILT-Toolkit_icon_302_932842.jpg The county voice in Washington was more important than ever. NACo convened county leaders virtually to tell the county story, including during NACo's Federal Policy Summit, PILT "fly-in," joint Large Urban County Caucus/Rural Action Caucus Symposium and more. PILT-Toolkit_icon_302_932842.jpg NACo focused on bridging the digital divide, releasing a new report on the state of PILT-Toolkit_icon_302_932842.jpg With the National Sheriffs' Association, NACo worked to secure changes to the connectivity across the country using data from NACo's TestIT app, and launching a Broadband Task Force. Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy, culminating with a joint report and federal policy recommendations. 400_FIN_SALT_Fillers_Middle_Income_Pct_947138.jpg County-Level Broadband Data COUNTY AVERAGE CELLULAR AND FIXED WIRELESS DOWNLOAD SPEEDS VS. FCC MINIMUM STANDARD VIEW THE FULL REPORT PILT-Toolkit_icon_302_932842.jpg With nearly $1 trillion in federal funding apportioned each year based on the Census, NACo developed a hub to assist counties in achieving a complete count. PILT-Toolkit_icon_302_932842.jpg Counties play a critical role in administering and funding all federal, state and local elections. NACo released a video highlighting the county role. PILT-Toolkit_icon_302_932842.jpg NACo achieved full funding and reauthorization of Payments in Lieu of Taxes PILT-Toolkit_icon_302_932842.jpg NACo secured a one-year extension of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, KNK_1775007.png (PILT) and Secure Rural Schools (SRS). Counties advocacated for PILT and SRS during the virtual PILT "fly-in" and throughout the year using NACo resources. which – absent a new, long-term reauthorization – will provide counties with funding certainty through the 2021 construction season. 400_FIN_SALT_Fillers_Middle_Income_Pct_947138.jpg Individual County PILT Profiles VIEW ON COUNTY EXPLORER Also see Individual County SRS Profiles LEG-ADV2_1781182.png NCGM-196_1774977.png HPLA_ADV2_1781166.png Group_TY_933722.png 660 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20001 Did someone forward you this email? Sign up to stay up-to-date on topics affecting America’s counties! Click here to unsubscribe. From:David Sullivan To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Happenings from Port Ludlow Date:Wednesday, December 23, 2020 10:35:28 AM From: The Resort at Port Ludlow Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2020 10:35:25 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: David Sullivan Subject: Happenings from Port Ludlow CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. GIFT CARDS PACKAGES UPCOMING EVENTS Happenings at the Resort ~ January 2021 Greetings from Port Ludlow, We are sending this a little early so we have an opportunity to wish you Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and for the Canadians-Happy Boxing Day. We have so much we can be grateful for and look forward to in the new year - vaccinations rolling out, our family and friends, our health and the ability to be physically together (soon we hope). We are excited about the coming year as we continue to welcome you in an environment that allows you to fully relax and refresh, at a location that is right in your backyard. We all want something to look forward to and a night or two away from the house by a cozy fire lets us feel like we are on vacation, even if it’s a staycation. Here’s to love, laughter and good health for the holidays. And may you have a Happy New Year too! Cheers, Dan Ratigan General Manager INN» 360.437.7000» reservations@portludlowresort.com» Book a Room This New Year we will give you a reason to take your first STAYCATION of 2021. Book online and enter code STAY and receive 25% off any stay of 2 or more consecutive nights. BOOK NOW THE FIRESIDE» 360.437.7412» Reserve a Table We are still open for outside seating, and continue to work toward making your dining experience more comfortable. We have ordered clear vinyl wind barriers, set to arrive around the 1st, and we have blankets and patio heaters available to keep you warm. Online Take Out Ordering Now Available! Enjoy take out from the Fireside with our new online service. Place your order, including payment and we will do the rest. PLACE AN ORDER GROUP SALES » 360.437.7040» groupsales@portludlowresort.com» Request a Proposal Engagement Season is Here! With water and mountain views, we are the perfect setting for a Pacific Northwest wedding of 50 guests or less. Schedule a site visit with our Group Sales Team to walk the space and talk about your 2021 or 2022 wedding details. MARINA» 360.437.0513» marina@portludlowresort.com» Request a Slip We are excited to share that Port Ludlow Marina was named a 2020 Boaters' Choice Elite Fleet marina by Marinas.com! The Elite Fleet tier of Boaters’ Choice represent the marinas among the top 0.2% on Marinas.com. Seattle Boat Show Connected We'll be attending the virtual Seattle Boat Show this January 28-31, 2021. Tickets start at just $5! GOLF » 360.437.0272» teetimes@portludlowresort.com» Make a Tee Time Port Ludlow Winter Series 4 Player Scramble Thurs, December 31, 2020 2 Player 6-6-6 (Best ball, Scramble, Alternate Shot) Sat, January 16, 2021 4 Player 2 Best Ball Sat, February 6, 2021 There's still a few days to participate in our 12 Days of Giveaways with prizes including a Stay & Play and Taylormade Spider Putter. ENTER GIVEAWAY 2 Player 9-9 9 hole scramble, 9 hole best ball Sat, February 27, 2021 Entry fee: $65 per person includes cart rental SIGN UP LIVING IN PORT LUDLOW» 360.620.9351» jamiejensen@johnlscott.com» Westharbor Homes Santa Claus made a stop in Port Ludlow to help light the Village Center tree. Though we couldn’t gather like we did last year we hope to be able to again in 2021. Many thanks to the Port Ludlow Village Council for decorating. www.portludlowresort.com One Heron Rd Port Ludlow, WA 98365 ‌ ‌ The Resort at Port Ludlow | One Heron Road, Port Ludlow, WA 98365 Unsubscribe dsullivan@co.jefferson.wa.us Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by dratigan@portludlowresort.com powered by Try email marketing for free today! From:Kate Dean To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Happy Holidays from the WSHFC Date:Wednesday, December 23, 2020 11:00:27 AM From: Steve Walker Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2020 11:00:05 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Kate Dean Subject: Happy Holidays from the WSHFC CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Season's Greetings and Happy 2021! Everyone deserves an affordable place to call home, for the holidays and always. As we close out a very difficult year for our state and our world, the Commission is grateful to all our partners who work toward this vision. Our very best wishes to you and yours--may your holidays be bright and may the new year be far brighter! —All of us at the Washington State Housing The Washington State Housing Finance Commission 1000 2nd Ave #2700 Seattle, WA 98104 Finance Commission Unsubscribe From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: observation and request - litter is extreme Date:Wednesday, December 23, 2020 11:25:56 AM From: Steve Baker Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2020 11:25:40 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton; Heidi Eisenhour; Kate Dean Subject: observation and request - litter is extreme CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Good day, I wanted to call attention to the obscene amounts of trash across our county. It has gotten so bad that we look like a foreign 3 world country. It is disgusting and unacceptable. It also goes against our ecological values here in jefferson county. Is there something powerful we could do to fix this problem and set an example for other counties to follow? May we create a job position or two to clean up our county? May we start a campaign to engage the public on this? The city of Curitiba Brazil spent decades perfecting the city so well that people stopped littering and committing crime because they loved where they lived so much they didnt want to act out and hurt it. I remain available to help on a program like this thanks in advance Steve Baker Virus-free. www.avast.com From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Wishing You and Yours the Very Best! Date:Wednesday, December 23, 2020 4:46:50 PM Attachments:image001.png From: Robert Gelder Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2020 4:44:54 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Robert Gelder Subject: Wishing You and Yours the Very Best! CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. As we see the days shorten and begin to lengthen again – As we see a year full of challenges come to a close – As we look to all the wonder of a new year ahead – We give thanks. Thanks to you for all you do and for being part of what makes our community truly great. Wishing you and yours a very happy and healthy holiday season!! Rob Robert Gelder Commissioner, District 1 Kitsap County 614 Division Street, MS-4 Port Orchard, WA 98366 (360) 337-7080 rgelder@co.kitsap.wa.us www.kitsapgov.com General inquiries to: kitsapcommissioners@co.kitsap.wa.us (360) 337-7080 Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail may contain legally privileged confidential information. The e-mail and the information it contains are solely for the use of the addressee(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or other use is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us by return e-mail and delete it from your computer. NOTICE OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE: This e-mail account is public domain. Any correspondence from or to this e-mail account may be a public record. Accordingly, this e-mail, in whole or in part, may be subject to disclosure pursuant to RCW 42.56, regardless of any claim of confidentiality or privilege asserted by an external party. Dear Kate, Happy holidays! I’m excited to share the great news that Governor Inslee has announced that he is extending the moratorium on evictions through March 31! This means that thousands of people in Washington can spend the rest of the holiday season without fear that they’ll lose their homes in January. It will keep thousands of our neighbors safe and healthy into the new year. Will you consider a gift today to support the advocacy that makesprogress like this possible? Donate now! Last week, Governor Inslee also released his budget proposal, including more than $750 million for affordable housing and preventing homelessness. This is an unprecedented level of investment! Join us in thanking the Governor for hisleadership by visiting his webpage and sending a note of thanks. Sample message: Thank you for prioritizing housing stability in your budgetproposal and for extending the eviction moratorium through March! So many From:Kate Dean To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: We did it: eviction moratorium extended! Date:Thursday, December 24, 2020 8:00:34 AM From: Rachael Myers, Housing Alliance Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2020 8:00:24 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Kate Dean Subject: We did it: eviction moratorium extended! CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Donate Washington Low Income Housing Alliance 100 West Harrison St. Seattle, Washington 98119 (206) 442-9455 info@wliha.org Washington residents are struggling right now and worried about their futures. Your leadership is keeping people safe and healthy. Thank you! In other good news, Congress finally passed another relief bill, including $25billion for rental assistance. That’s about a quarter of what’s needed but wouldmean over $500 million for rental assistance in Washington! The President hasindicated that he may not sign the bill, but it passed Congress with a veto-proofmajority, so we’re hopeful that this will mean real support for struggling rentershere in Washington and across the country. We’ll share updates as we know more. Our work is far from done. By raising our voices collectively, we’ve ensured that many thousands of Washington residents are staying safe in their homes. While the moratorium is a reprieve for a few months, we’ll need to be louder than everin the new year to make sure that everyone is protected throughout thepandemic – and into the future. If you are able, please consider supporting our work with a year-endgift. With gratitude and renewed hope, ~rachael Rachael MyersExecutive Director P.S. If you’ve already made a year-end gift, thank you! If you haven’t, and areable, I hope you’ll consider making a tax-deductible gift by the end of the year. However large or small, we’ll put every gift right to use fighting for a day when everyone in our state can live in a safe, healthy, affordable home. View this email in your web browser Unsubscribe Don't let 2020 get you down. Get outside! View this email in your browser From:Wa. Wildlife & Recreation Coalition To:jeffbocc Subject:Stuck inside with the winter blues? Date:Monday, December 28, 2020 8:00:27 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. 2020 was not great. As the days get shorter and darker, you might be battling the winter blues, or just feeling a little stuck inside. Don't worry – we’re here to help! Washington is brimming with outdoor recreation possibilities all across the state. The Coalition is ready to connect you with new places to explore close to home, so that you can #recreateresponsibly all winter long. If you happen to live in Clallam County, then you definitely want to check out the recently re-opened Spruce Railroad Trail! Built on the ancestral land of the Coast Salish and S'Klallam People, this WWRP funded trail is part of the larger Olympic Discovery Trail that will one day span all the way from the Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean. Hugging the quiet northern shore of Lake Crescent, the Spruce Railroad Trail is perfect for bird watching, jogging, biking, or horseback riding. Ready to get outside, but don’t live near the Spruce Railroad Trail? Click here to find an outdoor recreation area close to you. Want to help improve access to outdoor recreation across WA? Make a year- end gift to support WA's great outdoors. Every community in WA deserves to have a place like the Spruce Railroad Trail close to home. Together, we can make that a reality! Will you help improve access to outdoor recreation by making a generous gift today? Copyright © 2020 Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to Coalition emails or are a member of one of our partner organizations. Our mailing address is: Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition 1402 3rd Ave, Suite 714 Seattle, Wa 98101 Add us to your address book Photo Credit: Betsy Robblee Want to change how you receive these emails? Make a Gift Today You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list From:Lynette Bullard To:citycouncil@cityofpt.us; jeffbocc; James Kennedy Subject:Entheogens arrest Date:Sunday, December 27, 2020 7:05:51 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Commissioners/City Councilmembers, In August of 2019, the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society asked the city council and county commission to pass a resolution supporting the decriminalization of entheogenic plants. In response to this request, city council members and county commissioners assured us that prosecuting Jefferson County citizens for possession of entheogenic plants, such as psychedelic mushrooms, was already a “low priority” for local law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys. Commissioner Kate Dean shared that Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy said he could not recall a case where possession of psychedelics had ever risen to the level of criminal prosecution, and that it was therefore “de-facto decriminalized.” (From the August 26, 2019 meeting) -- But on November 6, 2020, Port Townsend Police Officer Nate Holmes and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Kolby Schreier arrested a woman named Annie Barton for possession of psilocybin mushrooms. That person now faces felony charges, despite having no criminal history. We urge you to act now and pass a joint resolution decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi and declare that the adult use of entheogenic substances on the federal Schedule 1 list be amongst the lowest priority for the city of Port Townsend and Jefferson County. The resolution can be viewed here: https://www.porttownsendpsychedelicsociety.org/resolution-1 We also urge you to contact Prosecutor James Kennedy and demand that he dismiss the charges against Annie Barton. Sincerely, Lynette Bullard RN CNM Port Townsend,WA "Be yourself, everybody else is taken" Oscar Wilde From:Connie Segal To:jeffbocc Subject:decriminalize entheogenic plants Date:Sunday, December 27, 2020 5:02:43 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Commissioners, In August of 2019, the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society asked the city council and county commission to pass a resolution supporting the decriminalization of entheogenic plants. In response to this request, city council members and county commissioners assured us that prosecuting Jefferson County citizens for possession of entheogenic plants, such as psychedelic mushrooms, was already a “low priority” for local law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys. Commissioner Kate Dean shared that Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy said he could not recall a case where possession of psychedelics had ever risen to the level of criminal prosecution, and that it was therefore “de-facto decriminalized.” (From the August 26, 2019 meeting) But on November 6, 2020, Port Townsend Police Officer Nate Holmes and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Kolby Schreier arrested a woman named Annie Barton for possession of psilocybin mushrooms. That person now faces felony charges, despite having no criminal history. We urge you to act now and pass a joint resolution decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi and declare that the adult use of entheogenic substances on the federal Schedule 1 list be amongst the lowest priority for the city of Port Townsend and Jefferson County. The resolution can be viewed here: https://www.porttownsendpsychedelicsociety.org/resolution-1 We also urge you to contact Prosecutor James Kennedy and demand that he dismiss the charges against Annie Barton. Sincerely, Connie Segal From:Jason Victor Serinus To:Maraiah Lynn Nadeau Cc:jeffbocc; Tom Locke Subject:Re: covid question Date:Sunday, December 27, 2020 3:48:47 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. On Dec 27, 2020, at 11:12 AM, Maraiah (Lynn) Nadeau <welcome@olympus.net> wrote: You seem to be following the case data pretty closely. I wonder about all the age 0-19 cases in PT, I count 7 out of the 20 or so cases since 12-3. What do we know about these cases? Teens? Children? Symptomatic or not? Maraiah Hi honey, Send this question to the county commissioners and Dr. Tom Locke, and await his answer on Monday AM on KPTZ and Zoom. I’m Cc:ing both of them for you, in the hope that this question will make the queue. jason — Jason Victor Serinus http://www.jasonserinus.com (He/his and Jason or Jason Victor rather than Mr. or Sir) • Music and audiophile critic: Stereophile, Seattle Times, San Francisco Classical Voice, Classical Voice North America, Seattle Symphony, Port Townsend Leader, Bay Area Reporter, American Record Guide, AudioStream, Stanford Live, Opera Now, Gay City News, Copper, Opera News, Carnegie Hall... • Whistler Extraordinaire: The Voice of Woodstock in “She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown” • "The Pavarotti of Pucker" • Member, Port Townsend Arts Commission "Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." — Elie Wiesel "This is a time to remember all of us who are LGBTQ. It’s a time to stand out and be proud, to parade who we are, to celebrate and to let them know we will not be silenced, we will not be stopped, we will not go back into the closet. Together, we will love.” — JVS at our Orlando Massacre Support Rally in Port Townsend, WA From:ptcodt@mg2.lglcrm.net on behalf of "Brian Anderson" To:jeffbocc Subject:2020 NEW OLYMPIC DISCOVERY TRAIL MILES! Date:Saturday, December 26, 2020 6:09:03 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. year End Mailing #2 In 2020, 7.5 miles were added to four sections of the Olympic Discovery Trail. Every new mile of trail is reason to celebrate! It’s no secret that the Olympic Discovery Trail is our refuge during the pandemic, and it helps to revitalize our communities as we continue to adapt to this year’s crisis. Now, before the year ends, join us as we continue the work to complete the Olympic Discovery Trail. Each additional mile helps improve our health and well-being. DONATE TODAY to support the Peninsula Trails Coalition. PTC leads the way and works with local government trail developers on the Olympic Discovery Trail which is now the west end of the Great American Rail-Trail, a 3,700-mile cross- country trail. About 90 of the ODT’s 137 miles are now complete. In 2020, 7.5 miles were finished. In Jefferson County .1 mi. was redesigned and paved at Diamond Point Rd. and Old Gardner Rd. to increase safety and avoid Hwy. 101, and in Clallam County 1.75 miles was added to the ODT at Onella Rd, 1.6 mi. was added at Gossett Rd. to Waterline Rd., and the grand reopening of 4 mi. of the ADA graded Spruce RR Trail reopened, which took the Great American Rail-Trail to its 2,000 miles completed mark. A great accomplishment to celebrate! RENEW or BECOME A MEMBER - Volunteer, connect and [safely] engage today! FOLLOW US on Facebook and share stories there with other friends. Together, we can arrive at the Pacific Ocean, on our Olympic Discovery Trail Thank you for supporting our Olympic Discovery Trail. Stay Safe Out There! PTC Logo • 2020 Trail Building Campaign • News • ODT Logo Peninsula Trails Coalition, PO Box 1836, Port Angeles 98362 info@olympicdiscoverytrail.org EIN:91-1416511 From:David Sullivan To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: WSF Weekly Update Date:Thursday, December 24, 2020 12:01:25 PM From: Washington State Department of Transportation Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2020 12:01:17 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: David Sullivan Subject: WSF Weekly Update CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. banner New Mukilteo terminal opens in five days! A project years in the making is now just five days from opening! Two decades ago, our current Chief of Staff Nicole McIntosh, then a young engineering project manager, played an important role in the Port of Everett’s acquisition of the 20-acre site of our new Mukilteo terminal from the U.S. Air Force. She convinced the Port that WSF would help them December 24, 2020 Limit holiday ferry rides to essential trips only As a reminder, we are asking the public to limit rides on our ferries to essential purposes only over develop and distribute the land fairly to stakeholders. Nicole formed the Tank Farm Partnership, a group who met monthly for years to develop the site to benefit all. The site of our new Mukilteo terminal was once filled with toxic debris after the U.S. Air Force abandoned it following the Cold War. As Nicole moved up the ranks at WSF, the new Mukilteo terminal remained dear to her heart and she continued to influence the project, staffing it with capable managers, engineers, planners and a tribal liaison. Thank you and congratulations to Nicole and everyone involved in the upcoming opening of our first new terminal in 40 years! Once the site of a U.S. Air Force fueling pier, the land where our new Mukilteo terminal sits has been restored to a more the holiday season. If you must ride, be aware that some sailing schedules are different from years past as they are dependent on our COVID Response Service Plan. People catching our ferries for essential trips over the holidays should sign up for our email alerts, check terminal conditions and read our COVID-19 travel updates. Review our schedule pages for a few holiday timetable changes on some routes on Friday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Jan. 1. Governor's proposed 2021-23 budget supports ferry electrification Gov. Jay Inslee released his 2021-2023 budget plan last week. His budget proposal provides strong support for ferry system electrification, including funding requests to build a second new Olympic-class hybrid-electric ferry, convert a second Jumbo Mark II-class vessel to hybrid electric and build three terminal charging stations. I look forward to working with legislators next year as they consider our budget. The governor’s budget plan also puts a high priority on preservation to improve the safety and longevity of our natural setting. Our new Mukilteo terminal will open around 5:50 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, upon arrival of the 5:35 p.m. ferry out of Clinton. That sailing will mark the end of an 18-hour service suspension of the route to move floating marine structures from the old terminal to the new one. Because of COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings, there will be no grand opening ceremony. Welcoming from land and water: A pair of traditional tribal welcome figures, designed by Suquamish tribal artist Kate Ahvakana, greet ferry passengers at the tollbooths. Aerial view of new Mukilteo terminal site Aerial view, looking east, of our new Mukilteo terminal site. Vehicles loading and offloading a ferry will pass through an infrastructure. Happy holidays from Active Ferry Employees Charitable Trust! Because of COVID-19, the Active Ferry Employees Charitable Trust (AFECT) was unable to host its annual Holiday Cruise for People with Disabilities this year. However, keeping in the spirit, AFECT created a holiday video message and continues to fulfill its mission to provide temporary assistance to fellow WSF employees who are in need due to unforeseen circumstances. Thanks to all our employee volunteers! Dozens of our employees normally donate their time to welcome guests from local residential facilities aboard for a holiday ferry ride. Next Weekly Update will be Thursday, Jan. 7 There will be no Weekly Update on Thursday, Dec. 31. I wish you moments of peace over the holidays as we wrap up a difficult year. opening in the passenger building. Amy Scarton Assistant Secretary, WSDOT/Ferries Division Twitter and Facebook logos WSF Weekly Updates are available online at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/about-us/weekly-update Questions? Contact us at WSFWeeklyUpdate@wsdot.wa.gov Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) information If you would like to learn more about accessibility and the tools we have available, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Accessibility STAY CONNECTED: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Preferences | Unsubscribe | Help This email was sent to dsullivan@co.jefferson.wa.us using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Washington State Department of Transportation 310 Maple Park Ave SE · Olympia, WA 98504 From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Merry Christmas, 2020 Date:Thursday, December 24, 2020 4:15:04 PM From: White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2020 4:14:50 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Merry Christmas, 2020 CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Merry Christmas On behalf of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA), we wish you and your family and loved ones a merry, happy, and healthy Christmas. Despite the challenges posed by this year's global pandemic, the American people continue to display incredible courage and patriotism as we collectively work to defeat the virus. As State, local, and Tribal leaders, we appreciate your partnership. First Lady Melania Trump (video message): @POTUS & I send our warmest wishes to all as we celebrate #Christmas. May the love we share with our family & friends fill our hearts with peace & joy! (view on Facebook here) The White House: Merry Christmas Eve! On the final day of the White House Advent Calendar, learn all about the selection of the official White House Christmas Tree! (view the calendar here and on Facebook here) Watch (President Donald J. Trump): "To every family across our Nation, the First Lady and I want to wish you all a very, very merry Christmas." Even amid challenging times, this Christmas we have many reasons to thank God and be hopeful for the future!" And do not forget that the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is tracking Santa Claus as he travels across the globe and the United States. NORAD has been tracking this yearly mission since 1955. Follow Santa online with NORAD's Santa Tracker here. The NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center is also operational and can be reached at 1 (877) HI-NORAD [1 (877) 446-6723] for information on Santa's location. Read More: USDA Clears Santa's Reindeer for Entry into the United States Sincerely, The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs William F. Crozer Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director O: 202-456-8491 | C: 202-881-8545 | E: William.F.Crozer@who.eop.gov @WilliamCrozer45 Nick Barbknecht Associate Director Cell 202-881-9124 Nicolas.Barbknecht2@who.eop.gov Gabby Uli Deputy Associate Director Cell 202-881-8552 Gabriella.M.Uli2@who.eop.gov Christmas at the White House, 2020 The First Family is celebrating their fourth Christmas in the White House. This year’s theme, “America the Beautiful,” is a tribute to the majesty of our great Nation. From coast to coast, our country is blessed with boundless natural wonders. The timeless treasures represented in this year’s holiday showcase remind us of the true American spirit. Together, we celebrate this land we are all proud to call home. Read More: First Lady Melania Trump Unveils the 2020 White House Christmas Décor First Lady Melania Trump (video): During this special time of the year, I am delighted to share “America the Beautiful” and pay tribute to the majesty of our great Nation. Together, we celebrate this land we are all proud to call home. #WHChristmas (view on YouTube here) Per tradition, the official White House Christmas Tree was delivered to the North Portico via horse-drawn carriage and received by the First Lady. This Fraser fir comes from West Virginia and stands 18' 5" tall! Click here to watch a brief video. President Donald J. Trump, joined by First Lady Melania Trump, delivers remarks during the pre-recorded National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, on the Blue Room Balcony of the White House. Watch the virtual ceremony here. Image Upon entering the East Wing, visitors are welcomed by The Gold Star Family Tree, an annual tradition among the holiday decorations. Draped in blue, the color of perseverance and justice, it pays tribute to our American heroes and their families who walk beside them in service. This year, families who decorated the tree placed the name of their fallen family member on ribbon that will adorn the tree. Image The White House Cross Hall & Grand Foyer overflow with love, joy, peace, hope & faith, revealing the most important gifts of the season. The scene reminds us of the many blessings in our own lives & how grateful we are to call this beautiful land our home. Image Out country is a pioneer in the field of innovation and technology and the White House East Room celebrates these monumental triumphs. Planes, trains and automobiles come alive as they race around trees, through the ribbons and between the twinkling lights. Décor in the White House Library celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Trees are adorned with ornaments featuring notable women in our Nation's history & center tables showcase children's art from the First Lady's #BuildingtheMovement exhibit. Image The White House Green Room showcases the diversity of creatures that call our country home. From birds to butterflies, the beauty of American wildlife shines through the décor, and vignettes in the windows showcase wildlife that can find refuge among our native landscape. This year’s White House Christmas tree illuminates the Blue Room, featuring ornaments designed by students. The theme of the ornaments is "America Celebrates." The students' ornaments depict what makes each of their states beautiful by highlighting the people, places, and things that capture the spirit of the State they call home. Watch a brief video highlighting the students' work here. Image Our Nation's heroes are embedded in our hearts & they are truly what make America beautiful. The handmade ornaments in this year's White House Red Room salute the countless frontline workers, first responders & others who serve their communities. For more than 50 years, one of the most beloved White House Christmas traditions has been the display of elaborate gingerbread houses made by the White House pastry kitchen. This year’s Gingerbread House, a delicious masterpiece displayed on the iconic eagle pier table, replicates the West Wing, Executive Residence, East Wing, and—for the first time—the Rose Garden and the First Ladies’ Garden. Image President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump as seen December 10, in their official 2020 Christmas portrait, on the grand staircase of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks) Unsubscribe Office of Intergovernmental Affairs · 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW · Washington, DC 20500-0003 · USA · 202-456- 1111 From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: [EXTERNAL] RE: Governor"s Budget Overview Date:Saturday, December 26, 2020 2:41:25 PM From: tprosys@gmail.com Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2020 2:41:04 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Cc: Philip Morley Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] RE: Governor's Budget Overview CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. … and now for some ~ good news. PS: I have already shared this with Commissioner Dean. From: Vezina, John <VezinaJ@wsdot.wa.gov> Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 9:06 AM To: tprosys@gmail.com Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] RE: Governor's Budget Overview Mr. Thiersch, The governor’s budget proposal funds WSF at a level continuing our current schedule. They did not institute the savings options requested in their June budget exercise. You’re right however, that is dependent on the legislature supporting the governor’s proposal and WSF having the capacity to provide “normal” service while the pandemic continues. But given those two caveats, there are no service reductions in the governor’s budget. John From: tprosys@gmail.com <tprosys@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 7:25 To: Vezina, John <VezinaJ@wsdot.wa.gov> Subject: [EXTERNAL] RE: Governor's Budget Overview WARNING: This email originated from outside of WSDOT. Please use caution with links and attachments. Mr. Vezina, Thanks very much for summarizing the budget proposal. A big question is what effect the proposal is expected to have on service levels. Our community has been rightfully alarmed at the prospect of some of the service reductions proposed earlier this year such as a permanent downsizing of PT-CV to one-boat year-round. So, when you say, “none of the cuts detailed in the Office of Financial Management’s (OFM) earlier budget exercise are including in the next biennium’s budget”, does that mean – assuming that the legislature supports the Governor’s funding proposals – that those route service reductions are no longer being considered? There are still four pillars to consider, and we’re a long way from life returning to anything like “normal”, so I’m just asking before spreading any false hopes… Thank you, Tom Thiersch Chair, Jefferson County Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC), Port Townsend terminal tprosys@gmail.com P SAVE PAPER - Please do not print this email unless absolutely necessary. From: Vezina, John <VezinaJ@wsdot.wa.gov> Sent: Monday, December 21, 2020 4:18 PM Subject: Governor's Budget Overview FAC Members, Good morning and happy solstice! As you know, last week Governor Inslee released his transportation proposals for the supplemental budget (through June 30, 2021, the end of the current biennium), and the next biennium, July 1, 2021-June 30, 2023. Links to the submissions are under my signature. Below that are highlights of the governor’s total transportation budget. Overall, the budget requests are very supportive of WSF’s programs. Our operations budget receives what it needs to finish out the current biennium, and none of the cuts detailed in the Office of Financial Management’s (OFM) earlier budget exercise are including in the next biennium’s budget. To support changes in expenditure demand, the capital budget proposals shift funding from the 2019/2021 to the 2021/2023 biennium. The capital budget proposal also funds the 21/23 biennium’s regular capital investments, while, as I explained in my email last week, adding support for system-wide electrification. Here are highlights from the governor’s proposals: 2019/21 Supplemental Budget Request: The Governor’s supplemental operating budget request for the 2019-21 biennium is $492,752,000. This is $61,548,000 less than the current biennium appropriations of $554,300,000. The decrease is due to savings related to COVID-19 that reduce operating and maintenance costs; a decrease in projected fuel costs; a decrease in credit card fees; savings resulting from freezing non-essential hiring, equipment purchases and personnel service contracts; furlough of state employees; and withholding of general wage increases. The Governor’s supplemental capital budget request for the 2019-21 biennium is $430,495,000. This is $105,249,000 less than the current biennium appropriations of $535,744,000. The decrease supports realignment of project expenditure demand by reappropriating current biennium funds into the 2021-23 biennium. The major contributors to the need to reappropriate funds from the current to the next biennium are system-wide electrification projects. 2021/23 Governor’s Budget Request: The Governor’s operating budget request for the 2021-23 biennium is $530,051,000. This is $24,249,000 less than the 2019-21 appropriations of $554,300,000. The Governor adjusts downward the 2019-21 appropriation base by $38,392,000 in order to get to the maintenance level of the 2021-23 budget request. Through policy changes he added a net of $14,143,000 increases to the maintenance level. Increases total $18,784,000 and include funding for non-routine maintenance, Jones Act claims, on- going operating costs, higher marine insurance costs and new employee training. Offsetting these increases are decreases in compensation totaling $4,641,000. The Governor’s capital budget request for the 2021-23 biennium is $856,010,000. This is $320,266,000 more than the 2019-21 appropriations of $535,744,000. The Governor’s budget request starts with a base list of capital projects totaling $556,166,000 and adds new initiatives totaling $299,844,000. The initiatives include funding for preservation of transportation infrastructure, acquisition of a second hybrid electric vessel, materials for a third hybrid electric vessel, conversion of the MV Tacoma to hybrid electric propulsion and construction of charging stations for hybrid electric vessels at three terminals. We’re appreciative of the governor’s strong support for WSDOT in general, WSF specifically, and excited by his proposals funding a second Olympic Class vessel and shoreside electrification at Seattle, Bainbridge, and either Mukilteo or Clinton. It’s important to note these are “only” proposals, our actual funding will be what is passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, likely in April next year. I’m off Thursday-Sunday this week, so will respond to any questions you send during that time on Monday, December 28. Happy Holidays! John 2021 supplemental transportation budget 2021 supplemental transportation budget bill Supplemental transportation project list 2021-23 biennial transportation budget 2021-23 budget bill 2021-23 Transportation project list All Budget bills (Operating, capital, bond and transportation) Link to other Governor’s budget materials (highlights, financial plans, summary tables, etc.) Highlights for WSDOT budget Fish passage barrier removals: Funds $726 million and additional investments to meet injunction requirements to complete barrier removals by 2030.Preserving Transportation Infrastructure (all modes): Provides an additional $429.6 million across all modes, ($400 million in capital programs) beginning in 2021-23, and each biennia thereafter. This funding reflects the Governor’s commitment to begin addressing the transportation system preservation needs and continue investments that improve the overall safety of the traveling public. The Governor intends to engage the Legislature to develop the specific approach to deferring projects. Preserve Transportation Infrastructure Decision Package(dollars in thousands) 2021-23 2023-25 2025-27 2027-29 Total Information Technology 5 5 5 5 20 Capital Facilities 15 15 15 15 60 TEF 10 10 10 10 40 Aviation 1 1 1 1 4 Preservation 235 235 235 235 940 Public Transportation 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 54.4 Ferry - capital 135 135 135 135 540 Rail - capital 15 15 15 15 60 Total 429.6 429.6 429.6 429.6 1,718.4 Gives the electric ferry program a major boost by funding the conversion of a second Jumbo Mark II vessel (MV Tacoma) to hybrid-electric, the construction of a second new Olympic class hybrid- electric vessel, purchase materials that have long-lead times for a third hybrid-electric vessel, and three new terminal electric charging stations. $190 million in 2021-23, plus ongoing funding.Highway Maintenance: $14.1 million, addresses materials inflation costs and increased damages by third parties, to avoid erosion of purchasing power and reduction of maintenance activities.Capital Facilities: $2.4 million in maintenance and operations funding to keep the capital investments for the new/renovated facilities for Northwest Region Headquarters (Dayton Avenue) and ORMAF in a state of good repair.Public Transportation: $20 million for public transportation grant programs; $15 million for capital grants to help electrify transit systems, and $5 million for the regional mobility grant program. Also, $350,000 for a new telework assistance grant program to help small business implement employee telework programs.Multiple operating programs: funding is provided for the agency requested level for leases, utilities, local government assessments, legal costs, insurance, software licenses, and other unavoidable costs.Ultra-High Speed Rail: $3.2 million to establish a coordinating entity with representation from Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia to conduct public engagement and integrate a high- speed rail corridor system with regional transportation plans. additional preservation work necessary to mitigate further deterioration of the condition of the state’s transportation system. From:Erin Reading To:jeffbocc Subject:Decriminalization of Entheogens Date:Sunday, December 27, 2020 8:14:50 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear County Commissioners, In August of 2019, the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society asked the city council and county commission to pass a resolution supporting the decriminalization of entheogenic plants. We want to thank Commissioner Greg Brotherton for the time he invested in talking with us prior to the pandemic, for talking with Oakland City Councilmember Noel Gallo, and for attending the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society's presentation at The Castle. Through our conversations with both city, county, and other elected officials, we were given the general impression we needed to garner more support for the resolution before it would be voted on. Additionally, as Commissioner Kate Dean pointed out, prosecuting Jefferson County citizens for possession of entheogenic plants, such as psychedelic mushrooms, was already a “low priority” for local law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys. She shared that Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy said he could not recall a case where possession of psychedelics had ever risen to the level of criminal prosecution, and that it was therefore “de-facto decriminalized.” (From the August 26, 2019 meeting) As a result, when Covid began, we were comfortable waiting to continue our efforts towards decriminalization since we trusted no one would be prosecuted in the meantime. But on November 6, 2020, Port Townsend Police Officer Nate Holmes and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Kolby Schreier arrested a woman named Annie Barton for possession of psilocybin mushrooms. That person now faces felony charges, despite having no criminal history. So, we are now resuming our efforts and urge you to act now and pass a joint resolution decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi and declare that the adult use of entheogenic substances on the federal Schedule 1 list be amongst the lowest priority for the city of Port Townsend and Jefferson County. The resolution can be viewed here: https://www.porttownsendpsychedelicsociety.org/resolution-1 We recommend visiting Port Townsend Psychedelic Society’s website and the Oakland Decriminalize Nature Handbook to learn more about the benefits of decriminalizing entheogens and guidance on how to do so: https://www.porttownsendpsychedelicsociety.org/faq https://decriminalizenature.org/images/decrimnature-handbook_final_sept_14.pdf We also urge you to contact Prosecutor James Kennedy and demand that he dismiss the charges against Annie Barton for possession of psilocybin. Additionally, in response to a few statements that James Kennedy has sent out, I would like to clarify a few points. Statement: “Psilocybin mushrooms are still contraband regardless of how you or I may feel about them. Every law enforcement officer in this county has taken an oath to uphold and enforce the law. When law enforcement see contraband right in front of their face they have an obligation to do something about it.” Response: While a law enforcement officer takes an oath to enforce state law, a city wide resolution to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi removes funding so that any tickets written will not have the funds to be processed, hence removing the police officer from a double bind position. The resolution also requests that the Prosecuting Attorney not pursue any cases involving entheogenic plants and fungi. And while our understanding is that you do not direct funding for the Sheriff’s department, you can request that the Sheriff similarly remove funding from pursuing these cases. Furthermore, as evidenced by other cities, law enforcement and the prosecuting attorneys DO have the power to not write tickets or pursue cases involving psilocybin and other entheogenic plants. In Oakland, the police, city attorney, and city councilmembers all acted rationally by analyzing data and arguments regarding entheogens and made their decisions based on sound evidence. They decided that decriminalization of entheogens was the right thing to do, and thus found a way to do it. We request the same of our local officials. And, our path has already been paved: Oakland: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/06/05/oakland-decriminalizes-magic-mushrooms- other-natural-psychedelics/ Santa Cruz: https://doubleblindmag.com/breaking-news-santa-cruz-decriminalize-nature-entheogenic-plants-and- fungi/?fbclid=IwAR3vy_iOXMpXrdTSjkPPRB51s59GSy_P3pXIuHA5hYiEacNraLwQszRUCho Ann Arbor: http://www.easternecho.com/article/2020/10/community-leaders-speak-on-ann-arbors- decriminalization-of-psychedelics Furthermore, we feel strongly that taking an oath to uphold state law is not a sufficient reason to enforce laws that are unethical, especially when it IS possible to avoid enforcement through removing funding. Refusing to enforce such laws at local levels by removing funding is part of what eventually motivates such laws to change at a higher level. Statement: “If you really want to see a change in the law then I encourage you to direct your energy towards our state lawmakers. Neither the Port Townsend City Council nor the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners have the authority to alter state law.” Response: The City Council DOES have the power to pass a resolution decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi in the City of Port Townsend and the County Commission DOES have the power to to request the Sheriff and Prosecutor remove funding for these cases. Furthermore, our understanding is that the Sheriff CAN direct funding for the department away from entheogens and the Prosecutor CAN dismiss charges relating to entheogens. And while we believe entheogens are on track to be decriminalized at the state level in the reasonably near future, we do NOT have to wait until then to do what is right. We encourage you to reach out to Decriminalize Oakland, the Oakland Chief of Police, and Oakland City Attorney to find out how they did it. We already (in October of 2019) connected Port Townsend’s City Attorney Heidi Greenwood with the Oakland City Attorney to learn about how the resolution was implemented there. Heidi indicated she would be willing to have this conversation, but only if directed to do so by the Port Townsend City Manager and City Council. We also connected former Police Chief Michael Evans with the Oakland Chief of Police, who has expressed an open willingness to converse with any other police chiefs whose cities are considering a similar resolution. We never received a response from former Police Chief Michael Evans, but will resend the information to the incoming Police Chief and to Sheriff Joe Nole. Statement: “At this moment, Ms. Barton is charged with possessing psychedelic mushrooms and also prescription opioids. Removing one charge would not end Ms. Barton’s current involvement in the court system.” Response: Regardless of the other charge faced by Ms. Barton, we are asking Prosecutor James Kennedy to dismiss the possession of psilocybin charge, based on the community’s overwhelming support for local decriminalization of entheogens. Bringing up this prescription opioid charge -- which was secondary to the psychedelic mushroom charge -- is a distraction from our request that the charge for psilocybin possession be dropped and our resolution to decriminalize entheogens be passed. If you are curious about this other charge and how the arrest occurred, we recommend requesting body camera footage and the police report for this case from the Port Townsend Police Department. For the public records request form, the incident date is November 6, 2020 and you may have to use Annie’s legal name, which is Andrew Barton. The body camera footage is especially telling. This information will let you come to your own conclusions about the entire case involving Ms. Barton. Online Public Records Request Form: https://cityofporttownsendwa.nextrequest.com The tools to decriminalize entheogens are in your hands and we are happy to facilitate any other information you might need. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Erin Reading Dear Kate, I’m sure you’re looking forward to a new chapter starting in 2021 as much as I am. While things won’t be back to normal anytime soon, and our work will be as hard and important as it’s ever been next year, I’m looking forward to taking my 2020 calendar off my wall (and let’s be honest, probably ceremonially burning it) and hanging a new one for 2021. Like every year at this time, I’ve taken some time to reflect on what we didtogether this year. Before we let 2020 go, I hope you’ll take a moment to join mein looking back at some of this year’s highlights and if you haven't already,consider making a gift before the end of the year to make sure we start 2021 asstrong as this moment needs us to be. Donate now! Ten highlights of 2020: From:Kate Dean To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Ten good things in 2020 Date:Monday, December 28, 2020 8:37:38 AM From: Rachael Myers, Housing Alliance Sent: Monday, December 28, 2020 8:37:33 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Kate Dean Subject: Ten good things in 2020 CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. 1. More than 600 people came to Olympia for Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day in February! 2. The Legislature made the largest ever investment in affordable homes -$230 million for the Housing Trust Fund to build homes for the lowestincome people in Washington. 3. Governor Inslee first proclaimed a moratorium on evictions in mid-March, which currently lasts through March 31, 2021, ensuring that renters who have lost income because of the pandemic don’t also have to worry about losing their homes. 4. Governor Inslee also dedicated $120 million from our state's CARES Actallocation to provide rental assistance in every county in Washington,helping both renters and landlords. 5. We mobilized more people than ever before this year! 5,254 of you called,emailed, or signed a petition calling on lawmakers to keep peoplestable and housed this year! 6. Resident Action Project members took on new leadership. Mindy Woodsjoined the board of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Bretrand“Mr. B” Harrell and Jennifer Bereskin joined the Housing Alliance board, andBrook Fadley participated in a national town hall with Julián Castro. Screen shot from Housing Is Essential town hall 7. We presented Mattye Berry-Evans, Ms. Ellen Conrad, and Ms. Gloria Taylorwith the 2020 Nancy Amidei Movement Builder Award for organizingresidents of New Tacoma Apartments to register to vote and to advocate foraffordable homes for everyone. 8. Over 1,500 people joined at least one of the regular COVID-19 update calls we held starting in March. Participants heard updates from the state, shared best practices about keeping people safe and healthy, and learned from ally organizations how they could help advocate for undocumented people, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, people with disabilities, andother communities who have been the most impacted by the economic andhealth impacts of the pandemic. 9. Housing Alliance staff, board, and members participated in training onTargeted Universalism – a step in ensuring that our advocacy includes strategies that work for everyone, including people who are the furthest away from opportunity. 10. At our annual member meeting, our members described the HousingAlliance, creating this word cloud. Washington Low Income Housing Wordcloud created at annual member meeting. It’s been a hard year for everyone, but our work together has kept thousands of people safe, healthy, and housed. Thank you for helping to make that possible. If you can, please consider making a financial gift so we can accomplish even more in 2021. In gratitude, ~rachael Rachael MyersExecutive Director P.S. If you’ve already made an end of year gift, thank you! If you haven’t and are able, please consider giving before the end of the day December 31. Any gift, large or small, makes a difference. Gifts to the Housing Alliance are tax-deductible, and even if you don’t itemize, the CARES Act allows you to deduct upto $300 contributed to a non-profit by December 31. Donate Alliance 100 West Harrison St. Seattle, Washington 98119 (206) 442-9455 info@wliha.org View this email in your web browser Unsubscribe View this email in your browser Local 20/20 logo Local 20/20 Weekly Announcements December 28, 2020 From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Local 20/20 Weekly Announcements Date:Monday, December 28, 2020 9:01:06 AM From: Local 20/20 Sent: Monday, December 28, 2020 9:00:52 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Local 20/20 Weekly Announcements CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Curious Crows by Stephanie Austin Give Jefferson through Thurs, Dec 31st For over 60 years, United Good Neighbors has championed local organizations that provide for the basic human needs of individuals and families. Your donation to Give Jefferson supports frontline efforts delivering food, shelter, healthcare, education, and hope to our neighbors most in need. All donations this year will be matched by All in WA, a statewide relief effort supporting families and workers impacted by Covid-19. Every dollar donated stays in Jefferson County. Give Jefferson helps our community weather uncertainty and recover from crisis! Washington Climate Assembly Livestreamed - Tues, Jan 12th *Online* The WA Climate Assembly is a virtual event convening 80 Washington State residents in January 2021 to learn about, discuss, and recommend climate change solutions for consideration by the State Legislature. Assemblies have been used worldwide to help shape the work of governments, and this virtual event will focus on climate mitigation strategies that equitably support communities disproportionately impacted by climate change. Assembly members will be chosen through a lottery to accurately represent the state in terms of demographics such as age, race/ethnicity, geographic distribution, and political perspectives. The event will be live streamed and recorded starting on January 12, 2021 via Zoom and available for subsequent viewing on the WA Climate Assembly’s website and YouTube channel. To learn more visit WA Climate Assembly. Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #WAClimateAssembly. Jefferson MRC New Member Applications Due - Fri, Jan 15th The Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) is seeking to fill committee member positions for a District 1 Representative, District 1 Alternate, and District 3 Alternate (see more information and districts map here).. MRC Members are appointed for a four-year term and commit to: attending monthly meetings the first Tuesday of every month from 6–8PM (currently held virtually), participating in project work groups, reviewing and responding to emerging issues, and respecting diverse views. To apply, email (1) an application form, (2) a letter of interest and (3) a resume to Monica Montgomery. The deadline for applications is January 15, 2021 or until filled. For information, go here. Local 20/20 Council Meeting - Wed, Jan 20th *Online* The monthly Local 20/20 Steering Council meeting is open to all and welcomes those interested in active involvement in Local 20/20 leadership. Newcomers are always welcome. If you'd like a virtual orientation, please email Marlow. For online meeting information, contact Mark. Time: 4-6 pm Location: Zoom meeting Taming Bigfoot Is Back! - Sign up by - Fri, Jan 22nd The hugely popular and engaging “Taming Bigfoot” community carbon footprint reduction competition is returning. Perhaps you participated last time (5 years ago). Perhaps you heard about it and wanted to participate next time. Perhaps you are new to this and want to learn more. Visit here for more information and an application to form and/or join a team. Teams are forming now. Applications are due January 22, 2021. Find out how you can be part of this next competition and invite friends to join too! Have fun working on our elusive BIG carbon FOOTprint! Save Styrofoam for Safeway Styrofoam Collection Event - Sat. February 13 *New!* Styrofoam recycling returns to Port Townsend! After a short break due to the retirement of Port Townsend’s long-time volunteer Styrofoam recycler, a small group of Port Townsend residents is working with Safeway to add its Port Townsend store to the Safeway Styrofoam recycling program. The local group, Port Townsend StyroCyclers, is asking residents to set aside clean and dry Styrofoam materials for delivery to the Safeway parking lot on February 13, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Pieces may be broken down to conserve space. Consider collecting pieces in paper yard bags instead of plastic. No packaging peanuts will be collected; contact local mailing vendors to see if they are accepting peanuts when you have them. No water-logged Styrofoam will be accepted; dispose of it with landfill garbage. Please spread the word. For more information and to volunteer at Safeway on February 13, email the PTStyroCyclers. Community Notices Local 20/20 COVID-19 Resources l2020.org/COVID-19/ *Online* A central location for community-wide information relating to COVID-19, updated frequently. Includes Reliable Information Sources, Food Sources, Community Covid-19 Resource pages, Giving and Getting Assistance, Community Events Online, Community Face Mask Program, and information web posts related to COVID-19. Look in the red box at the top of the page for all the newest information. Community Build Project Invites Volunteers Since late September, the Community Build Project has been busy creating 12 emergency shelters, which will be occupied by seniors without homes by the end of 2020. This is a dynamic and inspiring volunteer opportunity for skilled builders, painters, and those willing to prepare level spaces where the tiny houses are being placed. Due to COVID safety protocols, masks are required and the number of people working at any one time is limited. New volunteers must attend an initial safety talk at 9:30 a.m. on-site at the Port Hadlock Community Methodist Church. Please contact one of the Build team to indicate what you are able to do and to specify your availability through December. Skilled builders and those interested in site development should phone Todd Armstrong at 206-713-6859 or email Randy Welle or text him at 360-643-3511. To volunteer for painting and other tasks, email Judy Alexander or call her at 360-385-5794 (before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m.). Here's a drone-captured video of project volunteers in action. If you can help, contact the team first! Rising COVID Case Rates - Rising COVID Risk! The Jefferson County community has done exceptionally well holding widespread COVID at bay. Good Job!! We are now faced with a third wave and rising rates in our county. We must not let up and get lax in our vigilance! The Department of Emergency Management is asking you to: Be COVID S.M.A.R.T.! S: Sanitize Frequently M: Mask appropriately - even with family & friends outside your household A: When socializing - stay in good air flow. Outside or Inside with fans and open windows R: Room Between People - Social Distancing reduces virus transmission T: Technology for Gatherings - Use zoom or other conferencing technology instead of in-person visits Opening for a Part-time Development and Administrative Assistant at Jefferson Land Trust Jefferson Land Trust is seeking a detail-oriented professional as our Development and Administrative Assistant. Visit the Land Trust jobs page here to learn more and apply! Please share with anyone you know who may be interested. Housing Solutions Network Call to Action Thanksgiving is a time when we are grateful for the ability to lean on one another in the supportive communities we have here in Jefferson County. Right now, we need that sense of community support to rally around the issue of housing. Now more than ever, affordable housing is key to our health and economic recovery from the pandemic. Finding solutions is going to require action from all of us. Housing leaders and advocates across Jefferson County have created a Community Call to Action for Housing. They are calling on everyone to take action; individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and government all have a role to play. Today, they ask you to stand with them and: READ THE DECLARATION & CALL TO ACTION SIGN YOUR NAME SPREAD THE WORD BY SHARING THIS MESSAGE Openings for 2021 Farm Intern Applicants Sunfield Biodynamic Farm in Port Hadlock seeking 2021 Farm Intern Applicants! The internship starts April 1st and ends October 31st, with an option to go through the winter with reduced hours. Farm food, housing, and a small stipend is provided. Please email Ezra with a cover letter, resume, and references. For more information see Internship Opportunity Join the Jefferson County Farmers Market Board of Directors The Jefferson County Farmers Market Board is an enthusiastic group of market vendors and community members who love local food and strengthening our local economy. We have two open board member positions. If you have: experience with fundraising, marketing, policy writing, graphic design; connections with organizations or groups; or experience inspiring people to volunteer their time, please consider applying! Submit a completed application here. Learn more here. Local 20/20 Social Justice Workgroup Webpage Now Live *Online* Besides the Local 20/20 Social Justice Statement and Addendum, the newly launched pages feature sources we are reading and discussing, community organizations and businesses to support, a spotlight on a regional community artist, and links to other reading and visual resources. Our intent is to learn and share how to be an antiracist, how to support antiracist policies and ideas, and how to incorporate anti-racism into our core purpose, identifying the relationship between climate justice and social justice. To view the new pages, go here. You can find it here or at the Resiliency of the Heart group webpages. Check out our New Music section to share the voices of young Native Americans. Local 20/20 Statement on Systemic Racial and Social Inequities As our hearts, minds, and bodies survive and move through the COVID 19 pandemic and into the uprising of voices demanding social and racial justice sparked by the murder of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement, Local 20/20 acknowledges the existence of systemic racial and social inequities in our country. With compassion, we “take a knee” in solidarity with victims of oppression in any form. We pledge to work harder at understanding what it takes to make positive change toward our collective goals for policy that reflect antiracist actions and ideas. Local 20/20’s mission is to promote sustainability and resilience through advocacy and education. We recognize that our goals of a healthy existence for all can ONLY be achieved through policies that uphold racial and social equity. As we enjoy the benefits of living in this incredible paradise, we also acknowledge that we live on land usurped by European Settlers from the Jamestown S’Klallam, the Lower Elwah Klallam, the Port Gamble S’Klallam, the Skokomish, the Quinault, the Quileute, the Hoh, and the Makah tribes. Read about actions that have emerged since we first posted this statement. See updated readings in our Resilience Review section below on this topic. Host a Meeting on the Local Housing Emergency *Online* The HSN's Outreach Housing Action Team is releasing the Cultivating Community Solutions to the Housing Crisis video online to continue reaching broader audiences and inspiring more action. You can view the video here. You can continue spreading this call to action by sharing this video in the community. COVID-19 is a threat multiplier to the challenges our struggling community members were already facing. You can join the HSN Giving Circle here. Just Soup on Tuesdays On Tuesday, 11:30-1:30, Just Soup provides free, hot soup lunches at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1020 Jefferson St, on the Tyler St. bus line [by the Bell Tower.] Enter the rear church parking lot on Franklin, and whether you are on foot, bike, or car, you will be in line for curbside pickup, with masks, gloves, and safe distancing protocols in place. Pick up a lunch for yourself or your neighbor in need. No questions asked. Many partners and supporters have come together to feed Port Townsend one bowl at a time!!! This information also appears on Local 20/20 COVID- 19 Resources Meals Page here. Times and Locations: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, St. Paul's Episcopal Church Download Port Townsend Walking Times Map Local 20/20 Transportation Lab's popular walking times map is downloadable here. It provides approximate travel time on foot between points. Estimates are based on an average speed of 3 mph. Walking is healthy, social, fun, costs nothing, keeps your carbon footprint small and allows you to maintain social distance. Use the map to find new routes across our beautiful town. Emergency Text Alerts from Jefferson County Sign up to receive Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management’s emergency alerts by text on your mobile phone and/or by email. NIXLE messages provide crucial information in an emergency & are sent directly to your text-enabled device and/or email. The sign up web page also has information about other alert and warning systems, including the tsunami warning system and the WSDOT alert system. A Tool for Neighborhood Organization Nextdoor is a private social network for YOUR neighborhood. Use this link to join one of 59 Nextdoor Neighborhoods in Jefferson County. Currently there are 11,896 subscribers, with many new members joining each day. Email Pete Hubbard with questions or comments. Calling Local Photographers! Local 20/20 Weekly Announcements invites local photographers to submit images that capture the character of our community and its natural setting. For the opening photo of each weekly email, we seek local color, horizontal (“landscape”) orientation, and jpeg format. Please no children, pets or recognizable faces. Kindly send to events@l2020.org. Please include your name in the jpeg filename. We are an all-volunteer non-profit, so compensation for your talent and generosity is a photo credit and our profound thanks. Resilience Readings Do you have readings, podcasts or videos to share that are aligned with our Local 20/20 mission? Please submit them here for consideration. 2020: The Year Consensus Reality Fractured Let’s get real, people. 2020 has been a year that has at times seemed surreal or even unreal. In this year-end essay Richard Heinberg discusses the concept of consensus reality. He first describes how consensus reality develops then talks about how it has fallen apart. Heinberg argues that a breakdown of consensus reality during a period of economic, political, or social emergency may contribute to societal collapse when it undermines the social trust that is required for complex societies to function. Heinberg takes it a step further when he suggests part of the problem is a deep “blindspot” and lack of a “unifying vision” here in the U.S. If our “main guiding value is only ‘more” (consumerism) then we continue to dig ourselves a very deep hole indeed. In the last part of the essay Heinberg optimistically speculates that despite the challenges a new consensus is possible. He describes a very positive view of what that that could look like and though he acknowledges that such a reunification will be difficult, he leaves us with the notion that it is something worth striving for. Please enjoy a peaceful holiday season and find Heinberg’s article here. Community Program Taming Bigfoot® Is Back The December column for Local 20/20’s Resilience Review in The Port Townsend Leader is from Bob Bindschadler, a member of the Local 20/20 Climate outreach group. He announces that the Taming Bigfoot® carbon reduction contest is back! It was first held 5 years ago in Jefferson County. After spreading to other areas of the state and country, it will be repeated here, as “Taming Bigfoot 2021: Recovering Greener”, capturing the time we are in as we emerge from the pandemic with an opportunity to adjust some of our lifestyle choices. The meetings will all be virtual. Applications are due by 1/22/20, so read more here to learn more and join in! Citizens Climate Assembly: Report from the UK There are indicators that our existing national political system is not up to the task of responding to the climate crisis. For multiple reasons our political "leaders" seem unlikely to enact the significant change we need within the urgent timeframe required. One possible alternative providing a glimmer of hope is a “Citizens Climate Assembly." A citizens assembly is a form of participatory democracy in which members of the community are called to duty to listen to the evidence and craft recommended actions and strategies. The UK convened a climate assembly earlier this year with 108 members of the public randomly selected. They met over a period of five months and heard testimony from 47 subject matter experts. A 556-page report from this citizen group was recently released and an article from carbonbrief.org goes over some of its findings and offers links to the full report. The hope is that citizens working together can find solutions that will be acceptable to a majority of stakeholders and that it will help coerce and support politicians to enact needed policies. The report provides 50 key recommendations to help the UK reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. In a world where both our ecosystems and our democracies seem imperiled this approach offers a way forward. Please see the post above on a Washington State Citizen Climate Assembly starting January 2021. For a detailed look at the UK effort and its findings please access the article here. Transforming Life on Our Home Planet, Perennially This essay by Wes Jackson et al is the first part of a new book, The Perennial Turn: Contemporary Essays from the Field, and it is a joy. The authors suggest analysis as the first step in facing “the multiple, cascading crises that humans have created.” He argues that agriculture may be “the worst mistake in the history of the human race" (argued by Jared Diamond among many others) and that by ramping up agriculture to industrial scales we have monkeyed with ecosystems that we do not fully understand or appreciate. The book discusses how our claim to dominion over the resources of the entire planet sets up an artificial separation of humans from nature. They key thing to understand, the authors write, is that earth’s atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere are not separate from the biosphere. Earth is alive in a holistic way. As they put it, “We hold this to be a truth that must become self evident: Our shared human responsibility is to live on, not dominate, our home planet.” Success will be measured by the “long-term flourishing of ecosystems, including people.” Their prescriptions do not reject reductionist science but call for greater appreciation of complex systems and a “revolutionary change in theory and practice.” They reject fantasies of unlimited growth. They close soberly by considering Wendell Berry, who says we live on “the human estate of grief and joy.” They acknowledge that our cumulative harms of the past mean that unless we change we face grief “unprecedented in human history.” Please find the article here. Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story This worthy yet entertaining documentary on YouTube is an eye opener. The documentary also goes into wasted land, water and inputs. The documentary is free, with a few ads. Filmmakers and food lovers, Jen and Grant, dive into the issue of food waste and pledge to quit grocery shopping and survive only on discarded food for 6 months. In addition, the film looks into expiry dates, perfect produce, and portion sizes, supposedly little things that add up to an overwhelming problem. You can watch the video here. It Took a Townsend The November column for Local 20/20’s Resilience Review in The Port Townsend Leader is from Tracy Grisman, who is a member of Local 20/20's Beyond Waste Action Group. Tracy provides a recap of the Repair Cafe she and others organized earlier this year. The title of the article is “It Took a Townsend: A Fond Memory from 2020." In the article we are introduced us to a new term, the Repairocene (noun): A time when common goals of healing, repairing, and restoring of our lands, our things, and our relationships are shared. Port Townsend’s Repair Café debut was a smash hit! (No pun intended.) You can find the article on our website here. The "Market" Won't Save Us from Climate Disaster This article from The Guardian’s Robert Devine argues that “expecting the free market to fix global warming is like trying to pound nails with a saw.” It quotes a former Chief Economist for the World Bank calling climate change “the greatest and widest-ranging market failure ever seen.” Devine goes into what “market failure” means and how a defect in communication has contributed to consumers not having the appropriate information when they choose to buy, say, a gallon of gasoline. He talks about how ecosystem services have been terribly undervalued for too long. Devine stops short of offering a prescription for radical departure from the free market but offers some ideas for how the current system can be greatly improved and perhaps work towards our goals instead of against them. Please find the article here. Food for Thought Author Leander Jones tackles the problems of our dominant industrial agriculture model and how a system that relies on global production and transportation contributes to risk for some communities when it is stressed by situations like Covid-19. Jones offers an alternative model practiced in Germany that combines collective land ownership with CSA membership. Such a model adheres to principles such as localism, ecological sustainability, common ownership and production for need rather than profit. It pays farm workers a living wage that is independent of crop fluctuations. CSA members are encouraged to help work on the farm and invest their labor as well as their capital to help ensure success. The operation Jones highlights resists growing in size beyond that which serves its members. Also, Jones illustrates how growing local food for local consumption can greatly help reduce agriculture’s greenhouse gas footprint. It's a model worth exploring locally. Please find the article here. No Matter Who Wins The 2020 election is behind us and many people feel optimistic for our future once again. Thus it is a good time to inject some big picture reality into the equation. Some may equate reality with pessimism but as our political leaders begin to transition to establishing new priorities and approaches to problem solving it would be good to base our plans on reality and science. Nate Hagens is with the University of Minnesota and the Institute for the Study of Energy and the Future. He is one of those big picture guys, especially in finance and energy systems. Just before the election he wrote an essay in which he draws our attention back to the really big problems we face, all of which have in recent months been forced off the radar screen of our limited attention spans. He covers the impact of COVID and its economic impact, pending oil supply problems, and our interdependence with the natural world as well as offering some great titanic iceberg analogies. Hagens offers a number of quotes that begin with the same phrase “No matter who wins the election” such as “we will have to face a more complex and less certain energy future.” Readers are encouraged to take the time and inform themselves on the Big Picture with Nate Hagens, find the article here. How to Fix Our Country's Empathy Problem, Starting with the Farmworkers Who Keep Us Fed This article from Salon’s Ashlie Stevens provides good food for thought. It takes up the situation of the migrant workers who play a key role in our food supply chain. Most of us are mostly unaware of the role these essential workers play and of the conditions with which they contend. Stevens argues that many of us have lost a sense of empathy, that we don’t consider the suffering that others must endure simply to earn the money needed to support themselves and their families. We have become deficient in empathy. As we consider how to make our local food system more resilient for the challenging times ahead, we should create a system that works for all stakeholders. Justice for front line workers fosters stability and resilience and, more importantly, it is simply the right priority for our fellow human beings. Please find the article here. Kiss the Ground This fantastic documentary presents the amazing potential of regenerative agriculture. Narrated by Woody Harrelson and featuring Ian Somerhalder, this 2020 Tribeca Film Festival selection was produced by Josh & Rebecca Tickell and provides viewers with the compelling story of how our soil can not only sequester carbon but even draw it down from the atmosphere. The film includes the perspectives of thought leaders, soil conservationists, ranchers, and farmers. This is one of those rare examples of something tangible we can undertake to head off a catastrophe. You can watch it now on Netflix, or on October 22nd you can stream it for $1. This 84 minute film will leave you feeling... hopeful. To watch a trailer, and to learn more, please visit the Film’s website here. The Great Climate Migration Compared to many places, we live in a region where the climate forecast offers reasonable temperature and adequate rainfall. While we cannot expect to escape the direct nor the indirect effects of climate change, we may be one of the places where people from other regions migrate to escape inhospitable temperatures and humidity, drought, or recurring natural disasters. It is, however, a complex situation. A recent report from ProPublica & The New York Times Magazine takes a look at the prospects for climate migration. They begin with analysis of the geophysical forecasts for the U.S. using county-level data displayed in a series of interactive maps. The accompanying article provides an in-depth analysis of the impacts on agriculture, water, and housing issues, as well as consideration of economic and social factors that are quite concerning. This is important information as we begin to think about how we might react and what community values we would like to uphold in such a scenario. The ProPublica article is here, and an interactive and comprehensive mapping feature is here. New Study Shows a Vicious Cycle of Climate Change Building on Layers of Warming Ocean Water It would have been easy to miss the alarming new report from researchers who describe how the Oceans are “stabilizing”. These days it would be quite understandable to welcome any sort of stabilizing but in our oceans this represents an ominous situation. The ability of our oceans to buffer the impacts of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has allowed us to delay the onset of the major impacts of climate change forecast for the future. However, it seems the ability of the oceans to perform this service is ending far sooner than scientists had expected. One of the study's co-authors is Michael Mann of Penn State who also says we now cannot rule out some of the more dire risks including that atmospheric CO2 could triple by the year 2100, and that global average temperature could rise by 8 degrees F. Even as so much of our attention seems focused on things like the death toll from COVID-19 and an uncertain political situation we should also take time to assess our world from the big picture perspective and to act accordingly. Find the article by Bob Berwyn at Inside Climate News here. Local 20/20 Mission Working together toward local sustainability and resilience – integrating ecology, economy and community through action and education. Action Groups are where we do most of our work. Each is focused on an interrelated aspect of sustainability. Visit L2020.org to learn what the different action groups are working on. Want to submit an announcement? We welcome notices of events, calls for participation and other items of interest. Local 20/20 Announcements goes out every Monday morning. Please submit the following in paragraph form: Subject or event. Brief description. Day, date, time. Venue address. Contact information. Web links. Include a logo or a photo in jpeg format. See existing announcements for examples – no bullets, colored fonts, etc., plain text is best. Email to events@L2020.org by 8 p.m. Saturday. We post announcements aligned with Local 20/20’s mission and of interest to our community. Note that we don’t post on line petitions, pleas to contact legislators, or gofundme type items. Local 20/20 reserves the right to edit or reject submissions. If you have questions or concerns, please email us at events@l2020.org. The posting of any specific event does not in itself endorse the organization or the event. We reserve the right to edit or reject submissions considered inappropriate or inconsistent to our mission statement. Consider forwarding Local 20/20 Announcements to a friend. New subscribers can sign up here. Copyright ©2020 by Local 20/20 All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 1240 W. Sims Way #12, Port Townsend, WA 98368 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Help Sustain Local 20/20 This email was sent to GBrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences Local 20/20 · 1240 W. Sims Way #12 · Port Townsend, Wa 98368 · USA From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Heat is back on! Date:Monday, December 28, 2020 8:59:56 AM From: Matt Court Sent: Monday, December 28, 2020 8:59:50 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: CourthouseStaff Subject: Heat is back on! Good Morning All Heat in the Courthouse is now back on after trouble earlier this morning. It will still take some time to warm up. Very Sorry Thank you for your patience Facilities Staff From:Kate Dean To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Heat is back on! Date:Monday, December 28, 2020 8:59:55 AM From: Matt Court Sent: Monday, December 28, 2020 8:59:50 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: CourthouseStaff Subject: Heat is back on! Good Morning All Heat in the Courthouse is now back on after trouble earlier this morning. It will still take some time to warm up. Very Sorry Thank you for your patience Facilities Staff From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Will call you Date:Monday, December 28, 2020 8:56:25 AM Attachments:image001.png From: Tami Pokorny Sent: Monday, December 28, 2020 8:56:22 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: Will call you Hi Greg, Joe is phone only this morning so I’ll call you both. Thanks, Tami Tami Pokorny Natural Resources Program Coordinator Environmental Public Health Jefferson County Public Health 615 Sheridan Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 Ph: 360.379.4498 Fx: 360.385.9401 http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/202/Public-Health CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. PUBLIC RECORDS ACT NOTICE: All e-mail sent to this address has been received by the Jefferson County e-mail system and is therefore subject to the Public Records Act, a state law found at RCW 42.56. Under the Public Records law the County must release this e-mail and its contents to any person who asks to obtain a copy (or for inspection) of this e-mail unless it is exempt from disclosure under state law, including RCW 42.56. From:David Sullivan To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: [New post] Rider Alert: Closed New Years Day 1-1-2021 Date:Monday, December 28, 2020 11:05:25 AM From: Jefferson Transit Sent: Monday, December 28, 2020 11:05:19 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: David Sullivan Subject: [New post] Rider Alert: Closed New Years Day 1-1-2021 CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Lisa Bradley posted: "Jefferson Transit will NOT Operate service on New Years Day, January 1, 2021 We will resume regularly scheduled service on January 2, 2021 If you have any questions please call Customer Service at 360-385-4777" New post on Jefferson Transit Rider Alert: Closed New Years Day 1-1-2021 by Lisa Bradley Jefferson Transit will NOT Operate service on New Years Day, January 1, 2021 We will resume regularly scheduled service on January 2, 2021 If you have any questions please call Customer Service at 360-385-4777 Lisa Bradley | December 28, 2020 at 11:04 am | URL: https://jeffersontransit.com/?p=23472 Comment See all comments Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Jefferson Transit. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://jeffersontransit.com/2020/12/28/rider-alert-closed-new-years-day-1-1-2021/ From:Joseph Goforth To:jeffbocc Subject:Decriminalize Entheogens NOW Date:Monday, December 28, 2020 2:01:23 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Commissioners, In August of 2019, the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society asked the city council and county commission to pass a resolution supporting the decriminalization of entheogenic plants. In response to this request, city council members and county commissioners assured us that prosecuting Jefferson County citizens for possession of entheogenic plants, such as psychedelic mushrooms, was already a “low priority” for local law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys. Commissioner Kate Dean shared that Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy said he could not recall a case where possession of psychedelics had ever risen to the level of criminal prosecution, and that it was therefore “de-facto decriminalized.” (From the August 26, 2019 meeting) But on November 6, 2020, Port Townsend Police Officer Nate Holmes and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Kolby Schreier arrested a woman named Annie Barton for possession of psilocybin mushrooms. That person now faces felony charges, despite having no criminal history. We urge you to act now and pass a joint resolution decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi and declare that the adult use of entheogenic substances on the federal Schedule 1 list be amongst the lowest priority for the city of Port Townsend and Jefferson County. The resolution can be viewed here: https://www.porttownsendpsychedelicsociety.org/resolution-1 We also urge you to contact Prosecutor James Kennedy and demand that he dismiss the charges against Annie Barton. Sincerely, Joseph Goforth From:Doug Humes To:jeffbocc Subject:Decriminalize entheogens Date:Monday, December 28, 2020 4:52:32 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Greetings County Commissioners - I understand that there may be therapeutic benefits to entheogens and that several cities in the U.S. have decriminalized it. Please consider doing the same. Thanks, Doug Humes Don't let 2020 get you down. Get outside! View this email in your browser From:Wa. Wildlife & Recreation Coalition To:jeffbocc Subject:Finished Netflix? Date:Tuesday, December 29, 2020 7:59:43 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Feeling guilty about your screen time these days? Watched all of Netflix? We have a cure for that! Washington is brimming with outdoor recreation possibilities all across the state. The Coalition is ready to connect you with new places to explore close to home, so that you can #recreateresponsibly all winter long. If you happen to live near Wenatchee, then you definitely want to check out Hale Park! Built on the ancestral land of the Yakama and np̓əšqʷáw̓səxʷ (Wenatchi) People, this WWRP funded park is a great place to get some fresh without leaving the city. Featuring a skate park and off-leash dog area, this park has something for everyone! If you want to stretch your legs even more, Hale Park also provides access to the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail. Ready to get outside, but don’t live near Hale Park? Click here to find an outdoor recreation area close to you. Want to help improve access to outdoor recreation across WA? Make a year- end gift to support WA's great outdoors. Every community in WA deserves to have a place like Hale Park close to home. Together, we can make that a reality! Will you help improve access to outdoor recreation by making a generous gift today? Copyright © 2020 Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to Coalition emails or are a member of one of our partner organizations. Our mailing address is: Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition 1402 3rd Ave, Suite 714 Seattle, Wa 98101 Add us to your address book Photo Credit: RCO's PRISM Database Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Make a Gift Today From:Peninsula Pariah To:jeffbocc Subject:Decriminalization of Entheogens Date:Monday, December 28, 2020 8:58:53 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear County Commissioners, I want to voice my support for the resolution to decriminalize entheogens in Port Townsend and Jefferson County. This is a very necessary move in the right direction, seeing as our local culture here is already steeped in plant medicine work. I have personally had many positive life changing experiences with entheogens and can attest to many other people’s positive healing experiences as well. This is work that will only grow over time as more people become aware of the benefits. No one should ever be prosecuted for possession or use of these plants, and I urge you to vote to pass the resolution. Respectfully, Kris Heyting Learn More // Donate From:Kurt Beardslee To:jeffbocc Subject:Only Four Days Left to Make a Year End Gift for Wild Fish! Date:Monday, December 28, 2020 5:49:57 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Make a Gift Today to Support Wild Fish in the New Year! Wild Fish Enthusiast, Thanks to your unwavering dedication and support over the past twelve months, this undeniably challenging year was full of incredible promise and success for the northwest's wild fish. In fact, over the past twelve months, your support led to enormous strides Make a Year End Gift for Wild Fish! on the largest and most impactful projects we’ve undertaken in over thirty years. As we lay the groundwork for a long list of exciting initiatives in 2021 to continue this vital work, I hope you’ll consider making a year-end gift to Wild Fish Conservancy and together we can continue this unwavering advocacy in 2021. Whether you’re most passionate about reforming harvest and hatchery practices, ending commercial net pen aquaculture in Puget Sound, or restoring and protecting wild fish habitat, your year-end gift will advance solutions to the issues you care about most. Make a gift today to help us reach our $100,000 goal and drive forward these initiatives in 2021. On behalf of all of us here at Wild Fish Conservancy, thank you for your continued support in the new year. We can’t do this work alone, and we’re so grateful for your dedication to the future of the northwest’s wild fish heritage and everything it represents. Here's to another year of success, Kurt Beardslee Executive Director Wild Fish Conservancy Wild Fish Conservancy is a 501c3 nonprofit and all donations are fully tax-deductible. In 2020, taxpayers who itemize deductions on their tax returns can make a cash donation to a qualifying charity and deduct up to 100% of their adjusted gross income. Help us Reach our $100,000 goal! wildfishconservancy.org Copyright © 2020 Wild Fish Conservancy, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Wild Fish Conservancy PO Box 402 Duvall, Wa 98019 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. From:Hannah Christine To:citycouncil@cityofpt.us; jeffbocc; James Kennedy Subject:Decriminalize Entheogens Date:Monday, December 28, 2020 5:44:59 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Commissioners/City Councilmembers, In August of 2019, the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society asked the city council and county commission to pass a resolution supporting the decriminalization of entheogenic plants. In response to this request, city council members and county commissioners assured us that prosecuting Jefferson County citizens for possession of entheogenic plants, such as psychedelic mushrooms, was already a “low priority” for local law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys. Commissioner Kate Dean shared that Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy said he could not recall a case where possession of psychedelics had ever risen to the level of criminal prosecution, and that it was therefore “de-facto decriminalized.” (From the August 26, 2019 meeting) But on November 6, 2020, Port Townsend Police Officer Nate Holmes and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Kolby Schreier arrested a woman named Annie Barton for possession of psilocybin mushrooms. That person now faces felony charges, despite having no criminal history. We urge you to act now and pass a joint resolution decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi and declare that the adult use of entheogenic substances on the federal Schedule 1 list be amongst the lowest priority for the city of Port Townsend and Jefferson County. The resolution can be viewed here: https://www.porttownsendpsychedelicsociety.org/resolution-1 We also urge you to contact Prosecutor James Kennedy and demand that he dismiss the charges against Annie Barton. I would like to add a personal message to this statement, which is that providing safe, trusted, local sources for entheogenic experiences is a step toward preventing the use of drugs that are actually dangerous, in situations that are dangerous. It also provides access to therapeutically healing experiences with professionals for people with severe trauma.. There are decades of research behind the use of entheogens for healing PTSD in war veterans to survivors or rape, car accidents, and among people who suffer from acute mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression, or to help people cope with major trasitions in their lives such as deaths of loved ones, or loss of careers. For centuries, entheogenic plants have been used as effective means of Rites of Passage, and they help a person connect with their unique creative gift for the world, which we need more than ever in these times. Entheogens invoke actual healing and productive engagement with the community, rather than remaining dependent on chemical pharmaceutical drugs, dangerous street drugs, or even legal drugs such as marajuana and alcohol, all of which dull the desire for community affairs. I know there have also been responses and then addendums to the responses which I will not copy and paste but I agree with whole-heartedly. Sincerely, Hannah Christine Poirier 705 Berry Hill Ln Port Townsend, WA 98368 From:Greg Brotherton To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Notice of Board of Natural Resources Meeting - Land Bank Exchange 2019 Date:Monday, December 28, 2020 5:19:21 PM Attachments:image001.png BNR Proposal - Land Bank Exch 2019.pdf BNR Map - Land Bank Exchange 2019.pdf From: WHITNEY, DEBORAH (DNR) Sent: Monday, December 28, 2020 5:19:00 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) Cc: ANDERSON, LISA S (DNR); Jahshan, Amanda (DNR); Steele, Jesse (DNR); Wolf, Jeff (DNR); Mink, Kathryn (DNR) Subject: Notice of Board of Natural Resources Meeting - Land Bank Exchange 2019 CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Good Afternoon, The Washington State Department of Natural Resources will be presenting the following transaction to the Board of Natural Resources on Tuesday, January 5, 2020: Name, Type, File No.: Land Bank Exchange 2019 Parties involved: DNR Location & Acres: 7.25 acres located in Benton County 5.8 acres located in Klickitat County 480 acres located in Okanogan County 13.1 acres located in Spokane County 311.25 acres located in Skagit County Purpose: To perform an equal-valued land exchange to replace unproductive Trust property with productive recently purchased Land Bank property. The meeting will convene at 9 a.m. via teleconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Public comment on land transaction agenda items is accepted at the beginning of the meeting. Information is posted to the Board of Natural Resources webpage at the hyperlink listed below for how to pre-register for the teleconference to provide public comments or to listen to this meeting. https://www.dnr.wa.gov/about/boards-and-councils/board-natural-resources Documents are attached for your information. If you have any questions, please contact Deb Whitney, Project Manager, at deborah.whitney@dnr.wa.gov. Thank you, Deb Whitney Deborah Whitney Project Manager, Transactions Section Conservation, Recreation & Transactions Division Washington State Department of Natural Resources (360) 995-3181 (Work Cell) deborah.whitney@dnr.wa.gov www.dnr.wa.gov cc: Amanda Jahshan, DNR Director of Legislative and External Affairs Lisa Anderson, DNR Commissioner County Liaison Jesse Steele, DNR Northwest Region Transaction Coordinator Jeff Wolf, DNR Northeast Region Transaction Coordinator Kathryn Mink, DNR Southeast Region Transaction Coordinator From:Montgomery, Monica Subject:January 5 - Jefferson MRC Meeting Date:Tuesday, December 29, 2020 3:23:16 PM Attachments:JCMRC_Agenda_01.05.2021.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Jefferson MRC Collaborators, Supporters, and Interested Parties - Hope you all had a wonderful and safe holiday! The next MRC monthly meeting is scheduled for 6-8pm on Tuesday, January 5th (see attached agenda). Our guest speaker will be Kevin Long with the North Olympic Salmon Coalition, sharing about the Kilisut Harbor restoration project. Please let me know if you plan to attend and I'll be happy to share Zoom meeting details with you. Also, please note that the MRC is seeking to fill committee member positions in District 1 and District 3 (deadline for applications is January 15th). See our website for more information. Feel free to share with your networks and reach out if you have any questions. Monica Montgomery Water Programs Coordinator Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee and WSU Extension 121 Oak Bay Rd., Port Hadlock, WA 98339 360.379.5610 x230 https://www.jeffersonmrc.org/ https://extension.wsu.edu/jefferson/ Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jefferson County Extension Office is currently closed to the public and all Extension programming is being delivered virtually, postponed or cancelled. We are supporting efforts to keep our communities safe and healthy and monitoring guidance from local, state and federal officials. We will re- open the office when it is safe to do so. Staff is available via email, telephone and video-conference. Contact information is available at our website: http://extension.wsu.edu/jefferson Please take care of yourselves and each other. We will see you soon. Don't let 2020 get you down. Get outside! View this email in your browser From:Wa. Wildlife & Recreation Coalition To:jeffbocc Subject:Need a vacation? Date:Wednesday, December 30, 2020 8:00:26 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Need to get away without actually getting away? A close-to-home conservation area might be exactly what you need! Washington is brimming with outdoor recreation possibilities all across the state. The Coalition is ready to connect you with new places to explore close to home, so that you can #recreateresponsibly all winter long. If Spokane is your stomping ground, then you definitely want to check out Mica Peak! Located on the ancestral land of the Schitsu’umsh (Coeur d’Alene), Spokane, and Ktunaxa ɁamakɁis People, a recent WWRP grant helped to connect the Mica Peak Conservation Area with nearby Liberty Lake Regional Park. This area now spans a whopping 5,300 acres that are home to moose and elk. It also happens to be a great spot to hike, mountain bike, ski, and snowshoe. Get your dose of wilderness without having to drive over any mountain passes! Ready to get outside, but don’t live near Mica Peak? Click here to find an outdoor recreation area close to you. Want to help improve access to outdoor recreation across WA? Make a year- end gift to support WA's great outdoors. Every community in WA deserves to have a place like Mica Peak close to home. Together, we can make that a reality! Will you help improve access to outdoor recreation by making a generous gift today? Copyright © 2020 Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to Coalition emails or are a member of one of our partner organizations. Our mailing address is: Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition 1402 3rd Ave, Suite 714 Seattle, Wa 98101 Add us to your address book Photo Credit: RCO's PRISM Database Want to change how you receive these emails? Make a Gift Today You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list From:Elisabeth Rotchford To:jeffbocc Subject:Better Inclusivity and Access for covid testing- Date:Tuesday, December 29, 2020 7:39:41 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear County Commissioners, Thank you for your service in serving Jefferson County and working through this very challenging time. There was a recent letter to the Editor in the Leader which I had submitted twice and contacted the editor about; hence the publishing in the following paper. In the letter I asked why we don't have easier and cheaper testing available in Port Townsend and Jefferson County, when other counties in Washington State are making it much simpler and free to receive testing. My husband, Kimber Rotchford, a longtime, local physician, made this suggestion to the Public Health Dept. at the beginning of the pandemic and was strongly criticized, when it has been proven, even now, to be the best way to rein in and follow the spread. We are being side-tracked by the glitz of the vaccine, when most of us won't receive it for many months, and the pandemic continues spreading. In our county, we continue to have more cases, and from my experience of trying to talk to someone in Public Health, or the hospital, there is nothing being done to allow for more inclusive access to testing. The cost, stigma, need for symptoms, and having to be referred, keeps people from being tested. Are there any ideas being considered at this point? Is this a case of local politics getting in the way of the greater good? Again, thank you for all of your good work with our community, and I wish you and your families all of the best in the coming year. Sincerely, Elisabeth Rotchford 360-38504198 From:Erin Reading To:James Kennedy; citycouncil@cityofpt.us; jeffbocc Subject:Re: Further thoughts on decriminalization Date:Tuesday, December 29, 2020 6:37:16 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy, City Councilmembers, and County Commissioners, City Councilmembers and County Commissioners, I invite you to read this email thread between Mr. Kennedy and me as I think it will be beneficial to your discussions on decriminalization of entheogens to hear both of our perspectives. Mr. Kennedy, thank you for taking the time to respond to my last email. I have to say that I just watched the police body cam video of the arrest and I cannot begin to tell you how upsetting this case is to me. It is a fantastic example of exactly why entheogens should be decriminalized and why this needs to happen NOW. That said, I appreciate your desire to help Annie if opiate addiction issues become apparent and if so, I hope you find a way to make sure that treatment is not accompanied by a criminal record for such a non-violent public health issue. (Ideally, we will soon have treatment centers that include sessions with entheogens to help with addiction.) It sounds like you understand that entheogens are extremely low risk (though I’m not yet clear that you understand why they should never have been criminalized, the harm said criminalization has caused, and the healing it has prevented) and that pursuing cases concerning entheogens is already low priority for you. So again, I repeat my request that you dismiss the charge for possession of psilocybin and focus your case on the opiate charge alone since that is where your concern lies. I'm not sure why you are discussing operating a car since Annie is not being charged with a DUI. I completely agree that anyone who has taken a large dose of entheogens or opiates should not be driving, but this seems irrelevant to this case and a separate issue altogether. Having been immersed in this field of study for over 15 years, I am happy to provide reputable research, historical context, and sound arguments that clearly point to decriminalization of entheogens as the right thing to do. I ask that you base your decision on this evidence, not merely on popularity or worrying about upsetting people. I also suspect you would struggle to find local constituents who have truly researched this subject and still object to the decriminalization of entheogens. Oakland’s decision was widely supported, received little opposition, and very positive media coverage. And if you do receive any opposition, I would be delighted to listen, share information, and engage in dialogue with those who have different perspectives than my own. Thank you again for your participation in this conversation. Sincerely, Erin Reading On Mon, Dec 28, 2020 at 9:21 AM James Kennedy <JKennedy@co.jefferson.wa.us> wrote: Ms. Reading, You responded to my response before I had a chance to send it to you. Please understand, that I do not choose to prosecute or not prosecute crimes based on any personal animus that I might have with respect to the subject matter. Nor do I make prosecution choices based on what is popular. Like nearly every prosecutor in this state, and perhaps country, I know that the choices I makes will make certain people unhappy – always. Whether it’s one side of the issue or the other, someone will always be displeased with the work of the prosecutor. It is part and parcel of the job; an unfortunate, but largely unavoidable aspect of the job. I do not need to be convinced that psilocybin is comparatively harmless to other drugs including alcohol. The fact that law enforcement does not actively seek to enforce and ferret out psilocybin use should tell you everything you need to know about where it falls on our list of priorities. However, suffice it to say, that any drugs, including psilocybin, can be dangerous when mixed with the operation of an automobile. My interest is not a heavy handed punishment, as it seldom is with drug offenses, but treatment. Maybe this individual does not need treatment, I don’t know, however the presence of opioids would suggest “yes” to me. But I am not going to forgo my opportunity to provide it before I find out. Because this case is still pending though, its conclusion has yet to pass and it is the conclusion that I would prefer to be judged upon, not the fact that it is pending – that is if I get a such a say in the matter. Respectfully, James M. Kennedy Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney / Coroner Phone 360-385-9180 Fax 360-385-0073 Email jkennedy@co.jefferson.wa.us From: Erin Reading <erin.b.reading@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, December 28, 2020 8:36 AM To: James Kennedy <JKennedy@co.jefferson.wa.us> Subject: Further thoughts on decriminalization CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy, I wanted to write again and give some context to my previous email, which was coming from a place of frustration after hearing you say something is not possible when it in fact has been accomplished in several other places in this country. I've been so inspired by other cities and officials recognizing what needed to change and then finding a way to make it happen locally, especially after so many years of complicity. And I have so much hope for this city and county, as we have such progressive (not in the political sense, just in the sense of leading the way) officials and I believe our county has more support per capita for decriminalizing entheogens than the other cities that have done so. I wish we had resolved this issue before Covid began, and before there was a situation involving an actual human's future that made us feel in opposition to you. We want for all of us to be on the same side, working together to decriminalize entheogens in a way that works for everyone. We want to help make it easier for police and prosecutors to focus on real problems in our community, not investing energy or money enforcing laws that actually cause harm and prevent healing. We believe that passing this resolution will support prosecutors and police in being more effective public servants. I want to be clear that laws criminalizing entheogens should never have been passed in the first place. These laws were never in anyone's best interest except those who wanted to have a way to arrest political protesters and prevent people from having cognitive freedom. I think it is important to look at this history of how and why entheogens were criminalized. It was not based on facts or evidence. There was already substantial evidence that these substances helped with addiction and were not addictive (most stop working if you use them too much and the others are not recreationally enjoyable). They had been used medicinally and therapeutically for years. So their placement on Schedule 1 is clearly absurd, not based in reality, and revealing of the real motivations behind the scheduling. That anyone would get a felony (or be punished whatsoever) for connecting to nature, enhancing their creativity, easing depression, or cultivating spirituality through these plants and fungi - or even to simply enjoy themselves or connect with friends - is horrific. Psychedelics are remarkably non-harmful. We recognize they are not for everyone and certain individuals do best with support before, during, and after the experience. We strongly believe that education on how to use them responsibly, providing safe and supportive places for their exploration, and making entheogens accessible to those who would benefit most from them is the way to truly be of service to this community. I, too, once believed psychedelics were drugs, in the same category as heroin and meth. I was a product of the DARE program and had not even tried cannabis by the time I was 20. Luckily, I was a philosophy major and another student questioned my beliefs and gave me some books to read. It took me a year to de-propagandize myself and then to have the courage to enter into psychedelic realms. Once in the experience, I was blown away by the fact that these experiences were illegal. I had connected to realms within myself and in the world that I had no idea even existed. And since that initial experience, I have had an immense amount of healing from these plants and fungi. I am grateful that there are already a few legal contexts in which to take these medicines, but I strongly believe they should be accessible to all adults. Furthermore, decriminalization must happen before full legalization so that these plants are not regulated or commodified. People have the basic right to access nature and explore their own consciousness as a fundamental freedom. I do appreciate your emphasis on sending people to treatment instead of to jail. And if it becomes clear in the case that Annie truly needs treatment for addiction and you find a way to get her treatment for that without criminalizing her (since addiction is primarily a social and health issue), then you have my support in that. However, people using entheogens do not need treatment. In fact, the entheogens they possess may be part of their treatment for addiction, depression, anxiety, etc. Enthegeogens also may be the way they connect spiritually, deepen their creativity, explore their psychology, and/or simply recreate (which often leads to a healthy re-creation of one's self even if not intentional). People using or in possession of entheogens should not land in the criminal system. These plants and fungi have been responsibly used by almost every other culture except modern western culture and it is remarkably insulting to demonize and criminalize them when they simply do not fit into the mold of our capitalistic and materialistic society. We need the help of these plants and fungi now more than ever. So, I ask that you drop the charge for Annie's possession of psilocybin mushrooms and support our resolution to decriminalize entheogens. I sincerely hope you are willing to work with us on this. We are not trying to be antagonistic on this issue, we just care about our world and this community in particular and passionately wish for us to work together to find a way to decriminalize entheogens (and in a way that does it through funding, not through you or police directly breaking your oath). I am happy to connect you to officials in Oakland to learn more about how this can be achieved. This is a topic very near and dear to my heart, so you may be hearing more from me as this situation continues to percolate in this community. We are also happy to meet in person or have a phone conversation. We request your support in making this community healthy, safer, and more vibrant. Let's lead the way forward together. Thank you, Erin Reading ***Email may be considered a public record subject to public disclosure under RCW 42.56*** From:Erin Reading To:jeffbocc Subject:Police Cam video Date:Tuesday, December 29, 2020 6:12:12 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Dear County Commissioners, I just watched the police body cam video for the entheogen case, and would like to ask that you all watch it. It is very telling about how our police actually act when they encounter entheogens. It also reveals their complete lack of information about them. At one point in the video, the policeman looks psilocybin up on his computer and realizes it is Schedule 1, then tells another officer that it therefore has a high potential for abuse. Watching this video made me want to rip my hair out and I feel like it is essential watching to understand why decriminalization of entheogens is so crucial right now. Thank you! Warmly, Erin B From:Garner, Susan C -FS Subject:Salal Sale News Release Date:Tuesday, December 29, 2020 6:07:49 PM Attachments:image003.png image004.png image008.png salal sale,21.pdf 173324_salal sale21_SPA.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Good afternoon, Please give this news release wide distribution. The news release is here both in English and Spanish. Thank you. Salal Permit Sale Day January 6, 2021 Olympia, WA – Permits for salal harvest on the Olympic National Forest will be sold on January 6, 2021 at two Forest Service offices. Salal (Gaultheria shallon) is an understory shrub commonly used in the floral industry. It grows in dense thickets throughout western Washington and Oregon. Offices in Forks and Quilcene will begin selling permits on the 6th of January, beginning at 9:00 am and 10:00 am in Quinault. A maximum of one-hundred permits will be issued across the Forest. Fifty permits will be offered from the Quilcene office for harvest areas located within Mason County and the east side of Clallam and Jefferson Counties. Twenty-five permits will be offered from Forks for the west-side of Clallam County. Twenty-five permits will be offered from Quinault for harvest areas within Grays Harbor County and the west side of Jefferson County. A lottery system will be used if the demand for permits exceeds the supply. Each permit will cost $150 and can be used for up to two months. A valid US Federal or State picture identification will be required at the time of purchase, and those buying the permits must be at least 18 years of age. Cash or checks will be accepted, but no credit cards or debit cards will be accepted. Please note: To ensure the safety of everyone during the COVID-19 pandemic it is expected that individuals will maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from others who are not from the same household. Please have a mask available to wear when it is difficult to maintain social distance. A mask will be required to enter any Forest Service office. Future salal dates for this season are pending and dependent on the safe practices of all. For additional information about salal permit sales, please contact Mark LaGioia at 360-765- 2215. For further information about the Olympic National Forest, go to our web page at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/olympic/home. Susan Garner Public Affairs Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region Olympic National Forest p: 360-956-2390 cell: 360-489-4456 susan.garner@usda.gov scgarner@fs.fed.us 1835 Black Lake Blvd, SW Olympia, WA 98512 www.fs.fed.us Caring for the land and serving people This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately. From:Boss, Ashley (DOR) To:Stacie Prada Cc:Philip Morley; Mark McCauley; jeffbocc; nmitchell@cityofpt.us; thillman@cityofpt.us; Sabrina Hathaway Subject:FW: Notification of Sales Tax Imposed Date:Tuesday, December 29, 2020 4:23:19 PM Attachments:12-21-2020_SalesTaxNotificationDOR_AffordableandSupportiveHousing.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Stacie, Thank you for providing Ordinance 11-1221-20. We have reviewed the documentation and will proceed with implementing the .001 Housing and Related Services sales and use tax component (RCW 82.14.530) with an effective date of April 1, 2021. You will see the majority of the new tax distribution in June 2021, with some rare exceptions in April and May (payments received prior to due date). Please contact me if you have any questions. Happy New Year, Ashley Boss Tax Administration Manager Washington State Department of Revenue Taxpayer Account Administration | PO Box 47476 | Olympia, WA 98504-7476 360/705-6072 |Fax 360/705-6174 | ashleyb@dor.wa.gov Working together to fund Washington’s future From: Stacie Prada <SPrada@co.jefferson.wa.us> Sent: Tuesday, December 29, 2020 9:59 AM To: Hicks, Jessica (DOR) <JessicaH@DOR.WA.GOV> Cc: Philip Morley <pmorley@co.jefferson.wa.us>; Mark McCauley <MMcCauley@co.jefferson.wa.us>; DOR Jefferson County Leg Authority <jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us>; Nora Mitchell (nmitchell@cityofpt.us) <nmitchell@cityofpt.us>; Tony Hillman (thillman@cityofpt.us) <thillman@cityofpt.us>; Sabrina Hathaway <SHathaway@co.jefferson.wa.us> Subject: Notification of Sales Tax Imposed This message has originated from an External Source. Please use caution when opening attachments, clicking links, or responding to this email. Contact your desktop support or IT security staff for assistance and to report suspicious messages. Good morning, Ashley, Please see attached for notification of sales tax imposed for Jefferson County. Hard copy will follow, but confirmation of receipt would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Stacie Prada Jefferson County Treasurer | PO Box 571 | Port Townsend, WA 98368 | (360) 385-9154 | www.co.jefferson.wa.us ***Email may be considered a public record subject to public disclosure under RCW 42.56*** From:David Sullivan To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Managing Difficult Public Meetings | Eviction Resolution Program | Social Equity in Cannabis Program Date:Wednesday, December 30, 2020 10:42:31 AM From: MRSC – Planning Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2020 10:42:27 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: David Sullivan Subject: Managing Difficult Public Meetings | Eviction Resolution Program | Social Equity in Cannabis Program CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. December 2020 From MRSC Strategies for Managing Difficult Public Meetings and Hearings By Byron Katsuyama This blog offers some steps you can take before, during, and after difficult public meetings and public hearings to make them less stressful and more productive for everyone. More from MRSC Insight Six-County Pilot Program to Help with Eviction Backlog By Leah LaCivita This blog covers the pilot Eviction Resolution Program, a court-based approach to resolve more eviction-related cases before a landlord has the need to file an unlawful detainer action. More from MRSC Insight Ask MRSC Does state law specify when school impact fees need to be collected for development activity? Who is required to comply with ADA regulations related to accessible facilities? Do the number of employees an agency has need to be over a certain amount? Have a question? Officials and employees Social Equity in Cannabis Program By Linda Gallagher This blog post offers an overview of E2SHB 2870, 2020 legislation creating a social equity in cannabis program for Washington State. More from MRSC Insight What Constitutes a Serial Meeting under the OPMA? By Oskar Rey This blog reviews what is considered a "serial" meeting under the Open Public Meetings Act and how governing bodies, now using a variety of communication options, can avoid violating the Act. More from MRSC Insight In-Person Public Meetings Put on Hold for Now By Jill Dvorkin This blog post reviews Proclamation 20-28.14, which extends and modifies the temporary rules governing open public meetings and ties the in-person meeting requirements to Proclamation 20-25 and the "business meetings" guidance for Miscellaneous Venues. More from MRSC Insight COVID-19 Resources for Local Governments We are continuously updating our COVID-19 content and collecting new sample documents to keep local governments informed during the current crisis. See our COVID-19 Resources page from eligible government agencies can use our free one-on-one inquiry service, Ask MRSC. Ask MRSC Upcoming Trainings Ethical Considerations for Local Government Officials and Staff - 2021 (Webinar) January 21, 11AM - 12 PM Cost: $35 | Credits: CLE, CML Learn more and register PRA and OPMA Case Law Update - 2021 (Webinar) January 26, 10 AM - 11 AM Cost: $35 | Credits: CLE, WAPRO, CML Learn more and register Making Your Job Easier with MRSC's Services (Webinar) February 11, 11 AM - 12 PM Cost: Free Learn more and register Facilitating Great Online Meetings (Webinar) February 24, 11 AM - 12 PM Cost: $35 | Credits: CML Learn more and register Missed a webinar? On-Demand Webinars are now available to view for a fee; credits are available for some. In Focus Incorporating Drones Into Planning Practice As technology continues to advance, drones and other autonomous aircraft present opportunities and challenges for planners. More from APA Blog Counties Address Pandemic Housing Needs Counties are tailoring housing stabilization and homeless services to stem the tide of home losses as eviction moratoriums end. More from NACo's County News Big, Open Data Offers New Tools for Transit-Oriented Development As big and open data becomes more accessible, planners have new tools to revalidate or reexamine existing planning principles concerning transit-oriented development. More from APA Blog What Makes a Community Livable? Few moments in history have made the importance of cities, towns and villages more clear than now, amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. More from NLC's Cities Speak The Affordable Housing Solution Hiding in Plain Sight This building type can easily be converted into new housing. And thanks to COVID-19, there’s an abundance of it. More from FastCompany Tackling the Legacy of Persistent Urban Inequality and Concentrated Poverty Over the past several years, the research literature pointing to the relationship between racial segregation, enduring concentrated poverty, and long-term socioeconomic inequalities in the United States has been rapidly growing. More from Brookings Washington News An Everett company’s tiny homeless shelters pop up in Portland, more cities across U.S. Olympia City Council passes comprehensive zoning reform ordinance Edmonds council: Home developers, put down those chainsaws! 'How will light rail affect Snohomish County neighborhoods? Thurston County’s housing crisis, by the numbers Seattle is testing a new model, moving people directly from encampments into hotels Kirkland publishes two-year report on equity, Welcoming Kirkland Initiative How the Port of Everett is preparing for a rising sea level National News Will San Francisco, New York and other big cities recover from COVID-19? What a post-vaccine city could look like Are people really moving out of cities due to the pandemic? How GIS is informing the smart cities of the future Some cities in America's heartland offer to pay remote workers for moving there Covid has spurred a bike boom, but most U.S. cities aren’t ready for it States try to rescue small businesses as US aid is snarled What will happen to cities in 2021 How 2020 Reshaped Our Cities Thank you to our generous sponsors Stay Informed MRSC publishes a number of e-newsletters related to local government issues. You can also keep up with us on social media. Manage your Subscription ‌ ‌ If you have questions or comments for the newsletter editor, please contact Byron Katsuyama, Public Policy & Management Consultant.MRSC.org MRSC | 2601 Fourth Avenue, Suite 800, Seattle, WA 98121 Unsubscribe dsullivan@co.jefferson.wa.us Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by it@mrsc.org Dear Kate, It’s almost the new year, which means the legislative session is right around the corner! When the legislature convenes on January 11, they’ll start making decisions that affect all of us. Over the summer and fall, we reached out to people all over the state to askabout the greatest housing challenges they, or their communities, were facing. Insurveys and in virtual listening sessions, we heard from hundreds of people aboutthe need for rent assistance, eviction prevention, and the enormous need forhousing that is affordable to the lowest-income households. We heard about thebarriers and challenges that are especially great for people with the lowestincomes, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, and people with disabilities. We’re bringing the legislature a set of priorities that will help address thoseneeds. Will you make a year-end gift to help make sure we’re strong enough tofight for housing justice in 2021? From:Kate Dean To:Julie Shannon Subject:FW: Help us fight for housing justice in 2021! Date:Wednesday, December 30, 2020 1:30:33 PM From: Rachael Myers, Housing Alliance Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2020 1:30:28 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Kate Dean Subject: Help us fight for housing justice in 2021! CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Donate now! 2021 Legislative Priorities -Increase and Preserve Affordable Homes: Invest $250 million to build andpreserve homes affordable to the lowest income people all across Washington. -Keep people in their homes and prevent an increase in homelessness: Passstatewide protections against discriminatory and arbitrary evictionsand reduce evictions based on nonpayment of rent with improved legalprotections. -Increase state resources to prevent and end homelessness: Significantly increase the state’s document recording fee to increase resources to prevent evictions and homelessness. -Protect against any cuts to affordable housing, homelessness, and humanservices programs by passing significant new progressive revenue. -Ban discrimination against renters based on a prior criminal record to reduce theimpact of systemic racism on housing stability. -Prevent foreclosures by increasing access to foreclosure counselors. -Require deeper affordability, tenant protections, and anti-displacement protections in any expansion of the multi-family tax exemption program. -Ensure Washington can continue to use federal Medicaid funds for servicesprovided in Permanent Supportive Housing (housing that serves people withdisabilities who have experienced long-term homelessness and need support toremain housed.) With your support, we can get this done and keep thousands of Washingtonresidents housed and healthy in 2021. Thank you for considering a gift today! In gratitude, ~rachael Rachael MyersExecutive Director P.S. If you’ve already made an end of year gift, thank you! If you haven’tand are able, please consider giving before the end of the day December31. Gifts to the Housing Alliance are tax-deductible, and even if you don’t itemize, the CARES Act allows you to deduct up to $300 contributed to a non-profit by December 31. Donate Washington Low Income Housing Alliance 100 West Harrison St. Seattle, Washington 98119 (206) 442-9455 info@wliha.org View this email in your web browser Unsubscribe From:Todd Oberlander To:jeffbocc; Pinky Mingo Subject:FW: Online Form Submittal: Feedback Date:Wednesday, December 30, 2020 3:55:36 PM Todd Oberlander Jefferson County Information Services 1820 Jefferson St. Port Townsend, WA 98368 (360) 385-9355 (360) 385-9195 fax The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule. – H. L. Mencken It is okay to print this email. Paper is a biodegradable, renewable, sustainable product made from trees. Growing and harvesting trees provides jobs for millions of men and women, and working forests are good for the environment, providing clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat, and carbon storage. When you don't need it anymore, be sure to put it in a bin designated for recycling and it will come back to us as new paper or cardboard or recycle it back in to the carbon cycle. From: noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2020 3:42 PM To: #MailGateway <#MailGateway@co.jefferson.wa.us> Subject: Online Form Submittal: Feedback CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Feedback What kind of comment would you like to send? Complaint What would you like to comment about? Environmental Health Other Field not completed. Comments Please, please work steadfastly to help deny the US Navy’s application to use WA St Parks property for “special operations” training. Why? The proposed activities will cause increased noise pollution and marine turbulence that will negatively impact all species currently living on and near State Parks properties. You have already heard complaints from Olympic Peninsula residents regarding Growler training activities emanating from the Whidbey Naval AIr Station. Why add to the frustration of residents? Why add to the environmental disturbances already caused by human activities? Happy New Year really? Or, different year, same old stuff? Name Patrick Muckleroy Email pmuckleroy@gmail.com Phone Number 970.209.4249 Please contact me as soon as possible regarding this matter. Yes Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.