FOLLOWING OUR SPEAKERS TODAY WE
WILL HAVE A BRIEF Q AND A.
PLEASE DO TRY AND RESTRICT YOUR
QUESTIONS IN THE FIRST HALF OF
THE Q AND A TO VACCINE AND
VACCINE RELATED QUESTIONS.
AFTERWARDS TIME PERMITTED WE
WILL CIRCLE BACK BECAUSE THERE
ARE CERTAINLY OTHER THINGS TO
ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT TODAY.
AND WITH THAT I AM GOING TO HAND
IT RIGHT OVER TO MAYOR JENNY
DURKAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ANTHONY.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING
HERE.
THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR OUR
FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE FOR THE
NEW YEAR AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN
A REMARKABLE NEWS FILLED YEAR.
WITH THE UNPRECEDENTED EVENTS IN
OUR NATION'S CAPITOL LAST WEEK,
TOGETHER WITH STILL JUST THE
RAGING DISEASE OF COVID, IT IS
REALLY A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TO
TALK ABOUT SOME GOOD NEWS.
WE KNOW THAT SEATTLE'S ROAD TO
RECOVERY STARTS WITH
VACCINATIONS.
AND OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS
VACCINATIONS HAVE STARTED IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
IN ORDER TO GET BACK TO SOME
KIND OF NORMAL LIFE WE HAVE TO
HAVE VACCINATIONS.
TO OPEN OUR ECONOMY, TO BE ABLE
TO GET TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS, TO
DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN PREVENTED THE LAST
YEAR.
UM, AND THERE IS NO DENYING THAT
2020 WAS JUST AN INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT YEAR.
WE WERE FIRST IN THE SHOOT FOR
THE COVID-19 AND THEN WITH THE
ECONOMIC DEVASTATION THAT
FOLLOWED WE HAD THE UP RISING
AND CIVIL RECKONINGS RELATED TO
GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH.
OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSE TO
COVID-19 IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
HAS SAVED HUNDREDS IF NOT
THOUSANDS OF LIVES.
BUT STILL TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE
GOTTEN SICK, TOO MANY PEOPLE
HAVE LOST THEIR JOB.
WE KNOW THAT TO BEND THE CURVE
TRULY, TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE
WE WE CAN GET BACK TO SOME
NORMALITY WE HAVE TO GET
VACCINATED AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE TO GET THOSE SHOTS OUT
OF REFRIGERATORS AND INTO
PEOPLE'S ARMS.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN
WASHINGTON STATE SO MANY PEOPLE
HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.
SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR
BUSINESSES.
IN SEATTLE OVER 600 BUSINESSES
HAVE CLOSED THEIR DOOR FOR GOOD.
EACH OF THOSE REPRESENTING
DREAMS OF THE PEOPLE WHO STARTED
THOSE BUSINESSES.
AND THE EMPLOYMENT AND
LIVELIHOODS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
WORK IN THOSE BUSINESSES.
MORE THAN 375,000 PEOPLE HAVE
LOST THEIR LIVES IN OUR COUNTRY
TO COVID-19.
375,000 PEOPLE.
AND THE BURDEN OF THIS PANDEMIC
HAS FALLEN DISPROPORTIONATELY ON
OUR COMMUNITY'S COLOR.
OUR BLACK COMMUNITY, OUR LATINO
COME THEY AND OTHERS.
IT IS NOT JUST THE HEALTH
CONSEQUENCES BUT THE ECONOMIC
ONES AS WELL.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS COVID-19
PANDEMIC HAS LAID BARE THE
DISPROPORTIONED AND INEQUALITIES
THAT EXIST IN ALL OF OUR
SYSTEMS.
WE HAVE ALL SUFFERED.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET
TOGETHER WITH FAMILY OR HUG OUR
LOVED ONES.
IF YOU ARE PARENTS, YOUR KIDS
YOU HOME SCHOOLING.
YOUR JOB HAS BEEN DIFFERENT IF
YOU ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE
A JOB.
EVERYTHING ABOUT OUR LIVES HAVE
CHANGED IN THE LAST YEAR.
DURING THIS TIME IN PARTICULARLY
I WANT TO TAKE A NOTE OF THE
MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF
THIS THAT EXIST THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE, THROUGHOUT OUR STATE.
THE ISOLATION, THE DEVASTATION
OF LIVES HAS REALLY LED TO
ANOTHER CRISIS OF THE MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS.
AMONG ALL THESE DIFFICULTIES, IT
IS 2021 WILL BE BETTER THAN 20
BECAUSE HOPE IS ON THE HORIZON.
WE HAVE A VACCINATION.
FOR THAT VACCINATION TO GIVE US
TRUE HOPE AND NOT JUST THE
GLIMMER OF HOPE WE HAVE TO GET
VACCINATIONS INTO PEOPLE'S ARMS.
WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO THIS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
COUNTY, PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE
STATE OVER THE LAST MONTHS TO
SEE HOW THE CITY OF SEATTLE CAN
STEP UP AND HELP ON THE
VACCINATION PROCESS BECAUSE IT
HAS TO BE AN ALL HANDS ON DECK
EFFORT.
I AM VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE
TODAY THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH HAS APPROVED THE CITY
OF SEATTLE TO BE A COVID-19
VACCINE DISTRIBUTOR.
THIS WAS A STEP THAT WAS
NECESSARY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO
SET UP OUR OWN SYSTEMS FOR
VACCINATING PEOPLE AND THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL
IMMEDIATELY LAUNCH BUILDING OFF
ITS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE
TESTINGPROGRAMS WILL LAUNCH TWO
MOBILE VACCINATION TEAMS.
THEY WILL START -- WE WILL START
GETTING OUR VACCINE AND START
DISTRIBUTING IT AS SOON AS
THURSDAY OF THIS WEEK.
SEATTLE FIRE WILL FIRST
VACCINATE RESIDENTS AND WORKERS
OF ADULT FAMILY HOMES AND WILL
FOCUS ON PROVIDERS WHO ARE --
ARE NOT BEING SERVED BY THE
FEDERAL PROGRAMS THROUGH THE TWO
PHARMACIES CVS AND WALGREENS.
WE REALLY ARE GOING TO DIRECT
OUR EFFORTS TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO
CANNOT GET THE VACCINATIONS IN
OTHER WAYS.
WE HAVE TO CLOSE GAPS AND WE
HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS
DIFFERENTLY.
WITH ENOUGH SUPPLY IN OUR TWO
MOBILE TEAMS, WE THINK IN TWO
WEEKS TIME WE CAN PROVIDE EVERY
ADULT FAMILY HOME IN SEATTLE NOT
SERVED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WITH A COVID-19 VACCINATION.
AND WITH ENOUGH SUPPLY, WITH
ENOUGH SUPPLY BY THE END OF
FEBRUARY WE WILL HAVE
ADMINISTERED BOTH DOSES TO
NEARLY 1,000 VULNERABLE HEALTH
CARE WORKERS, OLDER AADULTS AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN
THESE ADULT FAMILY HOMES.
IT WILL BE A REMARKABLE UNDER
TAKING.
IN THE TIME BETWEEN THAT FIRST
DOSE AND THAT SECOND DOSE, WE
PLAN TO EXTEND OUR MOBILE TEAMS
TO PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS
AND PROVIDERS WHO SERVE OLDER
ADULTS THOSE WHO ARE AT MOST
RISK OF DEATH WHO MAY BE UNABLE
TO GET THE VACCINES THROUGH
TRADITIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS.
WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE
POSSIBILITY OF LAUNCHING OUR OWN
MASS VACCINATION SITES SIMILAR
TO WHAT WE HAVE DONE ON THE MASS
TESTING SITES.
AS VACCINES BECOME MORE WIDELY
AVAILABLE, SUPPLY IS GOING TO
DRIVE EVERYTHING.
BUT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW THAT WE
HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SUPPLY
AT THE STATE AND WE HAVE TO BE A
FULL PARTNER IN N HELPING GET
THOSE VACCINATIONS INTO THE ARMS
OF THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THEM
MOST.
WE NEED TO VACCINATE IN ORDER TO
GET TO THE PLACE OF NORMALCY.
EVERYONE SAID WHEN WILL WE BE
FINISHED WITH THIS?
UNFORTUNATELY IT IS -- IT IS AN
UNDER TAKING THAT OUR COUNTRY
HAS NEVER DONE BEFORE.
NOT ON THIS SCALE AND OUR STATE
HASN'T EITHER.
IT -- WE NEED AT LEAST 70% OF
THE U.S. POPULATION OR LOCAL
POPULATIONS TO HAVE SOME KIND OF
IMMUNITY BEFORE WE CAN RETURN TO
A SENSE OF NORMALCY.
THAT MEANS IN KING COUNTY ABOUT
1.26 MILLION ADULTS.
SO 1.3 MILLION ADULTS LETS CALL
IT NEED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF
IMMUNITY.
YOU ONLY GET IT ONE OF TWO WAYS.
YOU EITHER GET SICK AND RECOVER
OR YOU GET VACCINATED.
SO WE EXPECT THAT WE HAVE TO
GIVE ABOUT 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE
VACCINATIONS IN KING COUNTY.
I'M NOT -- THAT IS US TOGETHER.
THE STATE, THE COUNTY, OUR
HEALTH CARE PROCEDURES --
PROVIDERS AND
PARTNERS.
THAT KIND OF UNDER TAKING HAS
NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE WHY IS
WHY THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS SO
HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH KING
COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, THE STATE,
OUR OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
AROUND THE COUNTY.
IT HAS TO BE AN ALL HANDS ON
DECK EFFORT.
WE NEED EVERYONE FROM GOVERNMENT
TO HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS TO
PHILANTHROPY, TO BUSINESS, TO
EVERYDAY SEATTLE PEOPLE
COMMITTED TO GETTING VACCINATED.
IF YOU HAVE A -- FAMILY MEMBER
WHO ELIGIBLE BUT RELUCTANT, GIVE
THEM THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO
GET VACCINATED.
OR HAVE THAT COMPASSIONATE
CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE WHO
MAY NOT TRUST VACCINATIONS OR
TOO SCARED OR DOESN'T WANT TO GO
TO THE DOCTOR OR DOESN'T HAVE
ACCESS TO A DOCTOR.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE FACTUAL INFORMATION AND THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE
GETTING ACCESS TO THIS VACCINE
BECAUSE UNTIL WE REACH THOSE
IMMUNITY LEVELS, WE CANNOT LET
UP ON OUR PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORTS.
I WANT TO SAY THAT AGAIN.
I KNOW PEOPLE ARE EXHAUSTED AND
DEPLETED.
2020 WAS SO HARD AT EVERY LEVEL.
YOU SAW PEOPLE KIND OF GIVE UP
AND RELAX.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THE MAYOR
IN LOS ANGELES.
THEY THINK THE NUMBER ONE DRIVER
TO THE COVID CRISIS THEY HAVE
RIGHT NOW WHERE ALL THEIR
HOSPITALS ARE IN DANGER OF BEING
OVER RUN IS PEOPLE GOT TIRED OF
TAKING ALL THE STEPS THEY NEEDED
TO TAKE.
SMALL GATHERINGS AND GROUP
GATHERINGS AND THE LIKE.
SO WE STILL HAVE TO WEAR YOUR
MASK.
YOU STILL CANNOT GATHER WITH
PEOPLE AND WASH YOUR HANDS AND
KEEP YOUR PHYSICAL DISTANCE.
IT IS VERY HARD.
IF WE WANT TO GET OUT OF THIS,
IF WE WANT TO COME TOGETHER AS A
COMMUNITY AGAIN, REALLY
VACCINATIONS ARE GOING TO BE THE
KEY.
THEY GIVE US THE HOPE WE NEED
BUT ITS GOING TO BE A MONUMENTAL
UNDER TAKING.
I WANT TO THANK THE FRED HUTCH
AND OTHERS.
WE HAVE REALLY A REMARKABLE
NETWORK OF PEOPLE IN THIS CITY
FROM HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO
SCIENTISTS TO PHILANTHROPISTS
WHO HAVE DOVE INTO REALLY SOLVE
THIS ISSUE AND BRING US
TOGETHER.
YOU WILL HEAR FROM MICHELLE,
FROM THE FRED HUTCH WHO HAS BEEN
A EADING VOICE ON THIS ON HOW
WE GET EQUITY IN VACCINATIONS
AND THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT.
SO THANKFUL TO HAVE THE FRED
HUTCH AS A PARTNER THROUGHOUT
THIS.
I ALSO -- YOU WILL BE HEARING
FROM OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT CHIEF
AND HIS LEADERSHIP AND BRYAN
WALLACE WHO WAS HERE IF WE NEED
HIM FOR ANSWERING QUESTIONS.
WE STARTED THE PROCESS OF
TESTING IN OUR -- FOR OUR CITY
FACILITIES.
WE SAW THAT -- THE SYSTEMS IN
PLACE JUST DID NOT HAVE THE
CAPACITY TO DO WHAT WE WAS
NEEDED TO BE DONE.
AND SO WE STOOD UP OUR OWN
TESTING SYSTEMS AND THEY HAVE
BEEN REMARK BY SUCCESSFUL.
THEY ARE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY
SEATTLE STILL HAS ONE OF THE
LOWEST INCIDENTS OF COVID AND
HOSPITALIZATIONS OF ANY MAJOR
CITY IN AMERICA.
THOUSAND WE WANT TO DO OUR PART
IN VACCINATIONS TOO.
I WILL TURN IT OTHER -- OVER TO
THE
CHIEF WHO WILL GIVE SOME
REMARKS.
WE WILL TAKE QUESTIONS ASK
ANSWERS AT THE END.
THANK YOU ALL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MAYOR, I WANT TO START OFF BY
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND YOUR ON GOING SUPPORT.
NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE
WITHOUT YOUR GUIDANCE AND
LEADERSHIP.
COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU AND ALL
THE MEMBERS FOR YOUR ON GOING
SUPPORT.
AND OUR ENTIRE TEAM WHO HAS BEEN
ON THE TIP OF THE SPHERE WITH
THIS -- AND OUR ENTIRE TEAM TO
JUST MANY LAYERS OF MAKING ALL
THIS GO.
THE MAYOR SPOKE TO THE TESTING
AND HAS HAS BEEN REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR US.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE AS OF
JANUARY 9TH WE HAD TESTED OVER
556,000 PEOPLE HERE IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE AND OUR FOUR TESTING
SITES.
OUR CONTACT TEAM HAD CONTACTED
PERSONALLY OVER 20,000 PEOPLE.
SO REALLY SIGNIFICANT
ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
SO ON JANUARY 9TH THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED
APPROVAL FROM THE WASHINGTON
STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO
ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT'S
FIREFIGHTER, EMTs AND
FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS TO BEGIN
ADMINISTERING THE VACCINE.
SEATTLE FIRE IS THE FIRST EMS
AGENCY IN THE STATE THAT HAS
BEEN APPROVED TO BE A VACCINE
ADMINISTRATOR.
WE HAVE TRANSITIONED OUR CORE
WORK BEFORE.
FOR OUR COMMUNITY COVID-19
TESTING SITES AND ARE REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING OUR
COMMUNITY IN THIS NEW CAPACITY.
AS A FIRE DEPARTMENT WE ARE
TRULY HERE TO SERVE.
WE KNOW WE MUST STEP UP TO HELP
WHEN ITS NEEDED THE MOST.
NOW IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES.
THE DEPARTMENT WILL FOLLOW
PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE FOR
DELIVERING VACCINATIONS AND WILL
FIRST FOCUS ON SERVING THOSE
IDENTIFIED IN GROUP 1A.
THE FIRST ALLOCATION WILL HELP
FILL GAPS IN SOME OF THE LONG
TERM CARE FACILITIES THAT HAVE
NOT YET RECEIVED THEIR
VACCINATION THROUGH THE FEDERAL
PROGRAM.
THE CITY HAS IDENTIFIED
APPROXIMATELY 100 ADULT FAMILY
HOMES WHOSE RESIDENTS AND STAFF
MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR
RECEIVING THE VACCINE.
THAT IS WHAT WE WERE FIRST FOCUS
OUR EFFORTS.
THE ADULT FAMILY HOMES WHICH ARE
CONGREGATE LIVING FACILITIES,
EACH HAVE AN AVERAGE OF 8 TO 10
RESIDENTS AND STAFF.
WE WILL VACCINATE BOTH RESIDENTS
AND STAFF MEMBERS AT THESE
HOMES.
TO KICK START OUR EFFORTS, WE
HAVE DEVELOPED A PILOT PROGRAM
CALLED MOBILE VACCINATION TEAMS
WHICH WILL DEPLOY TO THESE
FACILITIES TO PROVIDE THE FIRST
DOSE OF THE VACCINATION.
THE PROGRAM IS MODELLED AFTER
OUR PREVIOUS MODEL ASSESSMENT
TEAM'S PROGRAM WHERE
FIREFIGHTERS, EMTs AND
PARAMEDICS DEPLOY TO LONG TERM
CARE FACILITIES TO CONDUCT
COVID-19 TESTING ON RESIDENTS
AND STAFF.
EACH MOBILE VACCINATION TEAM IS
STAFFED WITH ONE FIREFIGHTER,
EMT OR FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC AND
TWO CIVILIAN REGISTRATION
TECH'S.
THE EMT OR PARAMEDIC WILL GIVE
THE SHOT WHILE THE REGISTRATION
TECH'S WILL VERIFY IDENTITY AND
COLLECT INFORMATION FOR THE
STATE VACCINE TRACKING SYSTEM.
AT THIS TIME WE THINK WE WILL BE
ABLE TO VACCINATE UPWARDS OF 100
PEOPLE PER DAY WITH TWO MOBILE
VACCINATION TEAMS OPERATING IN
THE CITY.
THE TEAMS EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO
VISIT APPROXIMATELY 10
FACILITIES PER DAY.
THE VACCINATIONS WILL IDEALLY
OCCUR IN AN OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT
UNDERNEATH A TENT OR A COVERED
AREA.
THE SECOND DOSE OF THE
VACCINATION WILL ALSO BE
SCHEDULED AT THE TIME THE FIRST
DOSE IS GIVEN.
FOR THE MODERNA VACCINE FOR
EXAMPLE THAT IS 28 DAYS LATER.
THE CITY IS FOLLOWING THE SAME
MODEL FOR COMMUNITY TESTING
SITES.
WHERE INSURANCE OR MEDICARE WILL
BE BILLED FOR THE COST OF GIVING
THE SHOT.
THE VACCINE ITSELF IS SUPPLIED
AT NO CHARGE BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
IF YOU ARE UNINSURED, THE U-DUB
WILL BILL THE HEALTH RESOURCES
AND SERVICE ADMINISTRATIONS
GRANT FOR THE COST OF THE SHOT.
WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS
AT U-DUB MEDICINE, PUBLIC HEALTH
SEATTLE KING COUNTY AND
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
TO GET AS MUCH VACCINE AS WE CAN
FOR THIS PILOT UNTIL WE HAVE A
BASED ON A VACCINE SUPPLY, WE
EXPECT TO VACCINATE EVERY ADULT
FAMILY HOME IN SEATTLE NOT
SERVED BY THE FEDERAL PROGRAM BY
JANUARY 24TH WITH THE SECOND
DOSE PROVIDED AT EACH HOME BY
FEBRUARY 21ST.
AT THIS TIME WE KNOW THE FIRST
ALLOCATION WILL BE THE MODERNA
VACCINE.
AS LONG AS WE RECEIVE MORE
SUPPLY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HELP
FILL GAPS AS WE MOVE INTO THE
NEXT PHASE OF THE VACCINATIONS
OF PHASE 1B.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO
FUTURE PARTNERSHIPS TO EXPAND
OUR CAPACITY OF VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION.
THE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO BE
EVALUATED AS LESSONS ARE LEARNED
ALONG THE WAY.
AS YOUR FIRE CHIEF I KNOW HOW
CRITICAL VACCINATING OUR
COMMUNITY IS, FORGETTING THROUGH
THIS PANDEMIC.
I PLAN TO GET VACCINATED AS SOON
AS I AM ELIGIBLE.
I HOPE EACH OF YOU WILL DO THE
SAME.
UNTIL THEN I WILL CONTINUE TO
WEAR MY MASK AND WASH MY HANDS
AND MAKE SURE I MAINTAIN
PHYSICAL DISTANCE.
WE CAN ALL SAVE LIVES TOGETHER.
WE CAN END THIS.
NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE
YOU TO DR.
DR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UH -- REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU MAY YOUR DURKAN FOR IN
MAYOR FOR
INVITING ME TO THIS IMPORTANT
PANEL.
OVER THE PAST YEAR WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING TO ENSURE THAT
COMMUNITIES HAVE THE RESOURCES
THEY NEED TO MAKE INFORMED
DECISIONS ABOUT PARTICIPATION IN
THE COVID VACCINE CLINICAL
TRIALS TO ENSURE DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION ACROSS ALL OF THE NIH
FUNDED COVID TRIALS.
WE HAVE ALSO FOCUSSED ON
ENSURING THAT QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE VACCINE ARE ANSWERED IN A
COME PREHENCE BELIEVE AND
RESPECTFUL WAY AND THAT
INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO
ADDRESS MANY OF THE CONCERNS AND
THE UNCERTAINTY THAT INDIVIDUALS
HAVE WITH REGARD TO COVID AND
COVID VACCINES.
IN OUR EFFORTS WE HAVE CENTERED
ON BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE
OF COLORED COMMUNITIES BECAUSE
OF THE DISPROPORTIONATE COVID
BURDEN THAN THESE COMMUNITIES
ARE FACED WITH.
ACROSS THE U.S. SEE THAT LATIN
X, HISPANIC, LATINO, LATINA,
BLACK, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, NATIVE,
INDIGENOUS, ASIAN AND PACIFIC
ISLANDER COMMUNITIES ARE
INCREDIBLY DISPROPORTIONATELY
BURDENED BY COVID-19.
AND MUCH OF WHAT WE SEE IN THE
DATA IS MOST LIKELY UNDER
REPRESENTING THE EXTENT OF THOSE
DISPARITIES BECAUSE MANY OF THE
CASES AND THE HOSPITALIZATIONS
THAT WE SEE DO NOT HAVE RACE AND
ETHNICITY DATA.
WE KNOW THAT ITS INCREDIBLY POOR
WANT THAT INDIVIDUALS UNDERSTAND
THAT WE HAVE LONG STANDING
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INWIT
EQUITIES THAT HAVE LED TO OUR
CURRENT DISPARITIES.
WE KNOW BLACK, LATINO AND PEOPLE
OF COLOR ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO
BE EXPOSED TO COVID BECAUSE THEY
ARE IN OCCUPATIONAL SITUATIONS
WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE THE
PRIVILEGE TO WORK FROM HOME.
MANY INDIVIDUALS LIVE IN
MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS
WHICH PLACE OUR ELDERS AT
GREATER RISK OF EXPOSURE BECAUSE
OF INDIVIDUALS IN AND OUT OF THE
HOMES AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT
STRESS AND PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS CAN EXACERBATE COVID
DISEASE RESULTING IN SEVERE
DISEASE, HOSPITAL #15IGS AND
EVEN DEATH.
SO IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
THAT ANY VACCINE EFFORTS ARE --
EQUITABLE AND DISTRIBUTED
THROUGHOUT BLACK INDIGENOUS AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITIES.
AND WE NOW HAVE AN INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT TOOL TO REDUCE THE
IMPACT OF COVID IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THAT IS THE VACCINE.
THE VACCINE ITSELF WILL NOT HAVE
ANY IMPACT ON THESE INEQUITIES
AND THE DISPARITIES WE SEE IN
OUR COMMUNITIES.
IT REALLY WILL MEAN THAT WE TAKE
UP THIS TOOL THAT IS VACCINATION
AND ENSURE WE ARE GETTING
VACCINATED TO PROTECT THE HEALTH
AND WELL BEING OF OUR
COMMUNITIES, OUR FAMILIES AND
OURSELVES.
WE OVER THE PAST YEAR HAVE
REALLY FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT
ALL OF THE TRIALS HAVE INCLUDED
PARTICIPANTS THAT REPRESENT THE
DIVERSITY OF THIS COUNTRY.
WE HAVE ORGANIZED EXPERT
PANELISTS WHICH ARE COMPRISED OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO NOT ONLY
REPRESENT PRIORITY COMMUNITIES
BUT HAVE SPENT THEIR CAREERS
WORKING WITH AND WITHIN THESE
COMMUNITIES.
EACH OF THESE EXPERT PANELS HAS
REVIEWED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE
PROTOCOLS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH
THE NIH OPERATIONAL WARP SPEED
PROGRAM AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED
REPORTS WITH REGARD TO
CONSIDERATIONS THAT NEED TO BE
TAKEN TO ENSURE INCLUSION AND
DIVERSITY OF COMMUNITIES AND I'M
REALLY PROUD TO SAY THAT THE
EFFORTS HAVE RESULTED IN -- A
PARTICIPATION ACROSS OUR TRIALS
THAT REPRESENT THE COMPOSITION
OF COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S.
AND THAT IS REALLY AN INCREDIBLE
STATEMENT BECAUSE THAT HAS
LASHLLY NOT BEEN THE CASE ACROSS
ALL CLINICAL TRIALS.
IF YOU WALK INTO A PHARMACY AND
YOU SEE ALL OF THE MEDICATIONS,
YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ACROSS
MEDICATIONS AND WE CAN SAY THAT
FOR THESE VACCINES.
SO NOW WE HAVE THESE INCREDIBLE
TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL.
IT IS CRITICAL IF WE ARE GOING
TO SEE ANY DECREASE IN
DISPARITIES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS
AND THE -- INEQUITABLE BURDEN
THAN COMMUNITIES ARE FACED WITH
REGARD TO DEATH.
WE NEED BE VACCINATED.
AND ITS REALLY IMPORTANT AS
EVERYONE ELSE BEFORE ME HAS
STATED THAT WE CONTINUE TO WEAR
OUR MASKS, PRACTICE PHYSICAL
DISTANCING AND AVOID LARGE
GATHERINGS BECAUSE THERE IS
STILL MORE THAT WE NEED TO FIND
OUT WITH THE VACCINES.
AND AS DATA BECOME AVAILABLE WE
ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE INCLUDE
THAT IN THE -- INFORMATION THAT
WE ARE DESEMINATING.
ALL OF THE LATEST DATA ARE
AVAILABLE THERE ONLINE,
INFORMATION IS MADE AVAILABLE IN
ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH AS IT
BECOMES AVAILABLE AND THERE IS
ALSO A TOLL FREE NUMBER THERE
THAT YOU CAN CALL AND TALK TO
SOMEONE TO GET INFORMATION AND
ANSWER -- HAVE ANY OF YOUR
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
REALLY APPRECIATE BEING INVITED
TO THIS PANEL.
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS LATER.
I TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER
LISA.
THANK YOU.
>> LETS SEE HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM NOT NEEDED.
EXCELLENT.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
NEW PLATFORM HERE.
THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING ME -- IN
THIS EVENT TODAY.
I -- I JUST NOTED IN LISTENING
TO THE CHIEF -- THE EXCITEMENT
IN HIS VOICE -- THE CHIEF IS --
VERY -- UM -- GIVES A VERY --
COOL DELIVERY BUT I COULD HEAR
UNDERNEATH A LOT OF EXCITEMENT.
THERE IS GOOD REASON FOR THAT
EXCITEMENT.
THIS IS REALLY -- AN IMPORTANT
STEP IN -- RAPIDLY VACCINATING
VULNERABLE SEATTLE RESIDENTS
SPECIFICALLY AND ESPECIALLY IN A
CONTINUED ABSENCE OF FEDERAL
LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MAYOR
DURKAN AND THANK YOU TO THE CITY
FAMILY AS WELL AS THE MEDICAL
COMMUNITY IN SHOWING TRUE
LEADERSHIP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST
THE CORONAVIRUS RIGHT FROM THE
START.
EARLY ON WE STOOD UP CITY RUN
COVID TESTING SITES.
FIRST WE STARTED THESE SITES FOR
TESTING FIRST RESPONDERS.
I REMEMBER AT SOME POINT I
REQUESTED EXPANSION FROM TESTING
JUST FIRST RESPONDERS BUT TO
INCLUDE ALSO HUMAN SERVICES
WORKERS WHICH THE CHIEF READILY
AGREED TO THAT EXPANSION TO THAT
POPULATION OF FOLKS.
AND THEN AFTER THAT -- THEY --
THE WISDOM UNDER THE CHIEF'S
LEADERSHIP AGAIN WAS TO EXPAND
TESTING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
BECAUSE THE NEED WAS SO CLEAR.
PARTICULARLY FOR VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS OF THE ELDERLY AS
WELL AS OUR BLACK, INDIGENOUS
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITIES
WHERE WE SAW DISPROPORTIONATE
RATES OF INFECTION AND I REALLY
WANT TO FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY
HEART THANK THE CHIEF AND
EVERYBODY ELSE INVOLVED FOR THE
VISION TO EXPAND THE CITY
TESTING FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
NOW WE CAN USE THIS HUMAN
INFRASTRUCTURE WE CREATED
THROUGH TESTING AS WELL AS NEW
CREATIVITY AND ADDITIONAL
DEDICATION MOVE FROM TESTING,
DELIVERING VACCINES BEGINNING
THIS WEDNESDAY.
AGAIN I KNOW IT HAS BEEN SAID
BUT I JUST -- I LOVE SAYING THIS
NUMBER.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS PROVIDED
MORE THAN 556,000 FREE TESTS FOR
SEATTLE RESIDENTS.
THANKS TO THE EXTRAORDINARY
EFFORTS OF NOT ONLY SEATTLE FIRE
BUT FROM COORDINATION WITH
EVERYBODY ELSE.
THIS WEEK WE -- FINALIZED A
PROCLAMATION SIGNED BY ALL
MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR TO DECLARE
JANUARY 11TH A DAY WE RECOGNIZE
THE UNPRECEDENTED AND UNWAVERING
EFFORTS.
AGAIN CREATIVITY AND COMMITMENT
AND DEDICATION DEMONSTRATED BY
ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING TOGETHER AND HAVE SURELY
SAVED COUNTLESS LIVES THIS OUR
COMMUNITY THAT WOULD HAVE
OTHERWISE BEEN LOST THIS YEAR
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THIS NEW EFFORT TO --
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
VACCINATIONS WILL ALSO SAVE
LIVES.
NOT JUST THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE
VACCINATION AND DIRECTLY BENEFIT
FROM IT'S PROTECTIONS BUT ALSO
KEEPING SAFE OUR HEALTH CARE
WORKERS AND THOSE WHOSE LIVES
DEPEND ON AVAILABLE HOSPITAL
BEDS.
OUR VACCINATION PROGRAM WILL
SEEK TO UNDO THE DISPARITY OF
INFECTIONS WE HAVE SEEN IN
BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITIES.
I WANT TO ALSO THANK KING COUNTY
EXECUTIVE, COUNCIL CHAIR AND
COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO
ANNOUNCED $7 MILLION TO CREATE
HIGH VOLUME COMMUNITY
VACCINATION SITES SO THAT AS
MANY RESIDENTS AS POSSIBLE WILL
BE QUICKLY EFFECTIVELY
EFFICIENTLY AND EQUITABLY
VACCINATED.
IT IS IMPERATIVE WE TACKLE THIS
ISSUE AS A REGION.
WE CANNOT ACT ALONE.
WE NEED TO REMAIN VIGILANT IN
WEARING MASKS AND SOCIAL
DISTANCING.
WE KNOW WE CAN DO THIS BECAUSE
SEATTLE HAS AMONG THE LOWEST
RATES OF CORONAVIRUS IN THE
NATION.
WITH THIS NEW VACCINATION ROLL
OUT SEATTLE CONTINUES TO LEAD
THE WAY IN FIGHTING CORONAVIRUS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
ALLOWING ME TO PARTICIPATE WITH
YOU IN DELIVERING THIS REALLY,
REALLY EXCITING NEWS.
TURN IT BACK TO MAYOR DURKAN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
I THINK WE WILL DO QUESTION AND
ANSWER.
I WILL TURN IT TO ANTHONY TO DO
IT.
I WANT TO REITERATE BEFORE WE DO
THAT, WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS
SOMEWHERE A PORTION OF THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE GREAT SUCCESS THE CITY OF
SEATTLE HAS HAD ON TESTING.
ALMOST 600,000 TESTS, 560,000
TESTS THAT THE CITY OF SEATTLE
HAS DONE.
WE REPRESENT ALMOST 20% OF THE
TESTS STATEWIDE.
WE DID IT BECAUSE WE SAW THE
NEED.
WE SAW THE NEED.
WE WERE ABLE TO RESOURCE THE
TEST KITS OURSELVES.
WE GOT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT UP
AND READY TO DO IT.
WE ARE HOPING WE CAN HAVE A
SIMILAR SUCCESS IN HELPING
VACCINATIONS HERE.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT BACK TO
YOU TO START THE QUESTION AND
ANSWER FROM THE PRESS.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND FOR TODAY'S Q AND A ONCE
AGAIN I MENTION THIS AT THE TOP.
IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT
VACCINATIONS PLEASE WE WILL PUT
THOSE AT THE FRONT.
THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT
ANYTHING ELSE THAT MAY BE
HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY OF
WHICH THERE IS PLENTY, PLEASE
SAVE THOSE QUESTIONS FOR AFTER
WE ARE FINISHED WITH OUR
VACCINATION PORTION WYOMING --
PORTION.
OUR FIRST QUESTION WILL COME
FROM NICKI FOLLOWED BY PATRICK.
NICKI, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO MY QUESTION TODAY IS, WILL WE
SEE A PRIORITIZATION OF ADULT
FACILITIES IN THE SOUTH END?
>> SO I WILL LET -- SO THE
FACILITIES THAT WE WILL BE DOING
TESTING IS ALL THE THE FAMILY
HOMES AND WE ARE MAPPING OUT
THOSE MOST VULNERABLE.
IT WILL GIVE IT TO THE CHIEF IN
TERMS OF WHAT THE PRIORITY WILL
BE.
WE HOPE WITHIN TWO WEEKS TO GET
ALL OF THOSE DONE.
I WILL -- I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I
MEET ON A WEEKLY BASIS WITH KING
COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND PATTY AND
JEFF TO TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR --
OUR APPROACH IS COUNTY WIDE.
THERE WILL BE AN EMPHASIS ON
GETTING VACCINATIONS TO THE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST
VULNERABLE.
WE KNOW THAT THAT IS
DISPROPORTIONATELY THE
COMMUNITIES.
SO WE HAVE FROM TESTING THROUGH
VACCINATION HAVE BEEN REALLY
TARGETING WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH
THAT BOTH THROUGH COMMUNITY MESS
EDGERS WORKS WORKING WITH
COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO KNOW WHO THE HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS AND WHERE THOSE SENIOR
HOMES ARE.
IT WILL REMAIN A PRIORITY.
THINK YOU ALSO SAW FOR EXAMPLE
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON FOR
EXAMPLE IN ITS FIRST TIER OF --
WHO IS ELIGIBLE IN 1B INCLUDED
ANYONE WHO IS 50 AND OLDER WHO
LIVES IN A MULTI-GENERATIONAL
HOUSEHOLD.
THAT IS BECAUSE WE SAW CLEARLY
FROM THE DATA THAT A LOT OF OUR
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR DO LIVE IN
MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS.
THEY MAY NOT REACH THE SENIOR
LEVEL OF 65 OR 70 AND OLDER BUT
BECAUSE OF THOSE AND BECAUSE THE
OCCUPATIONS THEY OR OTHER
MEMBERS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD HAVE,
THEIR HEALTH INDICATORS HAVE
BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE.
WE WILL MAKE EFFORTS TO DO THAT.
CHIEF, DO YOU WANT TO ADD
ANYTHING TO THAT?
>> UH, NO, MAYOR.
I THINK YOU COVERED IT.
BUT ACTING CAPTAIN WALLACE MAY
WANT TO ADD TO IT.
I KNOW OUR TEAM SPENT A GREAT
DEAL OF TIME MAPPING THE
LOCATIONS.
OUR PLAN IS ON GETTING TO ALL
100 IN A PRETTY SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME.
YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT?
>> I CAN ADD TO THAT CHIEF.
SO THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES WE
ARE PRIORITIZING THE ADULT
FAMILY HOMES IN THE SOUTH END OF
TOWN.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DATA.
WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO
EVERYTHING THEY HAVE HIGHLIGHTED
ABOUT THE INEQUITIES SO WE WILL
BEGIN THERE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MAYOR,
CHIEF AND LIEUTENANT.
OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLLOW UP.
>> SO DOES THIS ALSO -- DOES
THIS ONLY COVER STATE LICENSE
FACILITIES OR WILL IT ALSO
INCLUDE NONSTATE LICENSE
FACILITIES LIKE INDEPENDENT
LIVING AND CONTINUING CARE?
>> HI.
I THINK IT WILL COVER THE
LICENSE FACILITIES.
THAT IS HOW WE ARE TRACKING THEM
TO GET THE 100 FAST TILLS THAT
WE ARE STARTING WITH.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND JUST AS A QUICK NOTE TO --
FUTURE QUESTIONS, IF YOU HAVE A
SPECIFIC PERSON YOU WOULD LIKE
TO DIRECT YOUR QUESTION TO,
PLEASE NOTE THAT IN THE
QUESTION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE PATRICK
QUINN FOLLOWED BY ERIKA.
PATRICK, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> I THINK THIS QUESTION IS
MAINLY FOR THE MAYOR.
THIS PROGRAM SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL
BE USED TO FILL IN THE GAPS IN
VACCINATING MAYBE DHS HASN'T
BEEN ABLE TO GET TO YET.
CAN YOU OUTLINE WHAT IS NEXT --
WHAT POPULATIONS OF PEOPLE YOU
MAY FOCUS ON NEXT?
>> THE CITY HAS BEEN VERY
LIMITED IN THE ABILITY TO GET
VACCINATE WITH THE CERTIFICATION
WE GOT WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET A
DIRECT ALLOCATION.
WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE A STEADY
PIPELINE.
THIS ALMOST IS LIKE DEJA VU ALL
OVER AGAIN.
JUST IN THE EARLY DAYS OF
TESTING WE SAW WE DID NOT HAVE
THE TESTING KITS FOR SOMETIMES
THE RE-AGENT OR LAB CAPACITY.
WE WILL RELY ON THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE A STEADY
SOURCE.
I JOINED WITH A NUMBER OF MAYORS
THAT ARE TALKING TO THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE CAN TRY TO GET A PIPELINE OF
SUPPLIES OF THE VACCINE TO THE
CITIES THEMSELVES SO THAT WE CAN
PLAN AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT
OUR RESIDENTS CAN PLAN.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST STEP.
WE HOPE THAT IF WE CAN GET THAT
STEADY SUPPLY WE WILL STAND UP
MASS VACCINATION SITES SOMETIME
SIDE BY SIDE WITH OUR TESTING
SITES BUT USING THAT SAME MOD
AND HE WILL RESOURCES.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T
GET TO THAT 70% OF PEOPLE THAT
HAVE SOME KIND OF IMMUNITY
UNLESS WE CAN DO THIS ON A
REALLY LARGE SCALE.
>> PATRICK.
FOLLOW UP.
>> YOU MENTION THAT YOU WILL BE
DEPENDENT ON HOW MUCH VACCINE
YOU GET FROM DOH.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY WILL BE THE
SUPPLIER.
DO YOU FEAR THAT YOU WILL NOT
GET ENOUGH?
THAT THEY ARE LIMITED AND HOW
MUCH YOU CAN GET AND THUS THAT
WILL LIMIT HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU
CAN ACTUALLY GET THE VACCINE TO
AND HOW TO YOU GO AROUND THAT?
ARE THERE EFFORTS TO REACH OUT
TO U-DUB AND GET VACCINE FROM
THEM?
OR FROM OTHER OUTLETS TO
INCREASE THE BAND WIDTH OF WHO
YOU CAN VACCINATE?
>> ONE THING WE ARE TRYING TO
AVOID IS HAVING ANY KIND OF
HUNGER GAMES APPROACH LIKE WE
SAW IN THE EARLY DAYS OF COVID
WHERE YOU HAD STATE VERSUS
STATE, CITY VERSUS CITY TO TRY
TO GET PPE OR TESTING SUPPLIES.
RIGHT NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
CONTROLS THE VACCINATION.
WE ARE REALLY GOING TO PUT
PRESSURE ON THEM TO GIVE US THE
SUPPLY OF VACCINATION BUT ALSO
THE FUNDING.
SO WE CAN DO TESTING AT A SCALE
THAT IS NEEDED AND WE CAN MAKE
SURE WE GET TO THOSE COMMUNITIES
THAT HAVE BEEN
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AND
TO DO THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO
PARTNER WITH THE COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE CLOSEST TO
THE COMMUNITIES.
SO WE REALLY ARE GOING TO BE
RELYING ON THAT.
I -- I LIKE EVERYONE I'M WORRIED
BECAUSE THERE IS A WHOLE GLOBE
RIGHT NOW FIGHTING FOR THE SAME
SUPPLIES.
I'M PRETTY HOPEFUL THAT
RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE THAT WE
NEED TO DO THAT.
I WILL ADD ONE LAST THING IS
THERE IS OTHER VACCINATIONS IN
THE PIPELINE THAT ARE CLOSE TO
APPROVAL.
THAT WILL GIVE US SOME
ADDITIONAL CAPACITY IN ADDITION
TO PFIZER AND MODERNA.
I MEAN US, I MEAN -- THE --
UNITED STATES.
SO WHILE ITS IN SHORT SUPPLY
NOW, WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE
CHALLENGE HAS BEEN GETTING THE
SHOTS IN PEOPLE'S ARMS AND THAT
IS ONE REASON WE ARE STEPPING IN
THIS GAP.
WE SEE THOSE ADULT FAMILY HOMES
WITH THOSE VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS AND THERE WAS NO ONE
IN THE SYSTEM IN PLACE THAT WAS
THERE DESIGNATED TO MAKE SURE
THEY GOT THE VACCINATION THEY
NEED SO WE ARE STEPPING INTO
THAT BREACH FIRST.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS,
PATRICK.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME FROM
ERIKA FOLLOWED BY ANNA.
>> HI.
THIS QUESTION IS FOR THE MAYOR.
I UNDERSTAND THE -- THE PACING
OF THE COVID VACCINE BEGINS WITH
PEOPLE IN GROUP SETTING HEALTH
CARE FACILITIES.
I'M WONDERING ONCE WE GET TO THE
POINT WHERE -- WE ARE
VACCINATING PEOPLE WHO RELDERLY
OR WHO HAVE UNDERLYING
CONDITIONS, PEOPLE ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE
NOT -- NECESSARILY ALL IN ONE
PLACE PARTICULARLY UNSHELTERED
PEOPLE.
HOW IS THE CITY AND WHAT IS THE
CITY AND COUNTY GOING TO DO TO
ENSURE THAT -- VULNERABLE AND
ELDERLY FOLKS WHO ARE ALSO
HOMELESS ARE ABLE TO GET
VACCINES IN A TIMELY FASHION?
>> IT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
I THINK THAT -- THAT IS -- TOPIC
WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING A LOT
WITH THE COUNTY AND THE STATE.
AS YOU KNOW SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE
LIVE IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS.
SETTING UP SYSTEMS TO GET THEM
VACCINATED WILL BE EASIER THAN
SYSTEMS WE HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE LIVING UNSHELTERED.
SO WE ARE HAVING A LOT OF
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE
SURE WE STAND THOSE -- THAT
CAPABILITY UP WITH PUBLIC HEALTH
AND WITH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
PROVIDERS.
SO, THAT PHASE IS IN ROBUST
PLANNING RIGHT NOW AND -- LET US
GET BACK WITH SOME MORE
INFORMATION TO YOU ON THAT.
WE HAVE TO -- WE ARE HOPING IN
MANY OF THESE WAYS WE ARE SEEING
ANOTHER CITIES THAT -- THAT --
THE NUMBER ONE THING WE DO IS
MAKING SURE WE KNOW WHERE PEOPLE
ARE BECAUSE THESE ARE ALL TWO
DOSE VACCINES.
SO THAT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF
THE LOGISTIC THINGS THAT WILL BE
DIFFICULT IN THAT POPULATION.
>> ERIKA, FOLLOW UP.
>> YEAH, THANKS.
UM, 1,000 VACCINES BY THE END OF
FEBRUARY.
THAT SEEMS -- YOU KNOW -- LIKE A
SLOW PACE COMING FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE
STATE.
ARE YOU FRUSTRATED WITH THE PACE
OF DELIVERY AT ALL?
>> I AM.
I THINK EVERY AMERICAN IS.
UM -- WE FINALLY GOT THE VACCINE
THAT CAN PROVIDE HOPE ASK WE
JUST WANT TO GET IT IN ARMS AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AT THE SAME TIME I KNOW THAT
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN UNDER
TAKING LIKE THIS.
IT IS ONE REASON THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS NOT JUST STANDING UP
THIS CAPABILITY.
WE WANT THE CAPABILITY TO DO
MORE.
I THINK WE HAVE PROVEN WITH OUR
TESTING SITES THAT WE -- WE --
WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING.
WE KNOW HOW TO GET IT DONE AND
HOW TO GET IT DONE ON A LARGE
SCALE.
WE HAVE ALSO GAINED THE TRUST OF
AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS,
560,000 TESTS ADMINISTERED IN A
CITY THAT HAS A POPULATION OF
ROUGHLY 7 TO 800,000 PEOPLE.
IF YOU TAKE CHILDREN OUT OF THAT
IT MEANS MOST ADULTS IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE MAY HAVE GONE THROUGH
ONE OF OUR TESTING SITES.
NOW WE WANT TO GET THEM TO OUR
VACCINATION SITES.
THE PRODUCT IS THE NUMBER ONE
THING WE NEED AND WE WILL GET
THE SYSTEMS IN PLACE AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH STATE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BUT THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO GET IT.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME
FROM ANNA FOLLOWED BY DEBORA.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH.
A QUESTION FOR CHIEF.
CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT WHY THE
ADULT FAMILY HOMES ARE THE
PLACES THAT THESE VACCINATIONS
ARE STARTING?
IN PARTICULAR, DID THEY REACH
OUT TO YOU?
DID YOU REACH OUT TO THEM?
HOW DID IT COME TO PASS THAT --
THIS SPECIFIC PARTNERSHIP WAS
FORMED?
>> SURE, I WILL START.
THIS IS THE CHIEF.
AS YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE STARTED
WALKING DOWN THE ROAD IN COVID
THE LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES
WERE PARTICULAR CONCERN BECAUSE
OF THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
INSIDE THE FACILITIES.
THE SAME MINDSET STILL EXISTS
TODAY.
THESE FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED THROUGH SEATTLE KING
COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DON'T
HAVE -- NECESSARY CONNECTIONS TO
CURE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE THE
VACCINE.
THAT IS WHY WE WILL START IN
THESE LOCATIONS.
>> ANNA, FOLLOW UP.
>> SORRY, I WAS MUTED.
UM, AND SO -- GETTING TO THE
MASS VACCINATION SITES, HOW
EXTENSIVE WOULD YOU ALL LIKE
THOSE PLACES TO BE?
LOOKING FORWARD, IF YOU HAD THE
SUPPLY, HOW MANY LOCATIONS
ACROSS SEATTLE?
HOW MANY PEOPLE A DAY ARE YOU
SHOOTING FOR?
>> MAYOR, YOU WERE MUTED.
>> THERE WE GO.
I WILL START WITH THAT.
WE WANT TO HAVE -- CITY OF
SEATTLE -- THIS WILL REQUIRE AN
UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF MASS
SITES.
WE KNOW THERE IS A NUMBER OF
PLACES THAT PEOPLE GO TO AS A
REGULAR -- THEY EITHER GO TO
THEIR DOCTORS OR HAVE ANOTHER
REASON TO GO TO A HEALTH CARE
PROVIDER.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR CREATIVE
PLACES WHERE PEOPLE WILL GATHER
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY THEN USE THOSE AS A
PLACE TO DO VACCINATIONS.
WE ARE TALKING TO SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS TO SEE IF WE CAN USE
PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES TO HAVE
ANOTHER ROUTE FOR PEOPLE TO GET
IN.
IT WILL REALLY HAVE TO BE AN ALL
HANDS ON DECK APPROACH WHERE
EVERYONE IS TAKING PART OF THE
POPULATION.
CITY OF SEATTLE WOULD LIKE TO DO
AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO COVER THOSE
PLACES WHERE WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE
NOT GOING TO GETTING ACCESS
BECAUSE -- THEY ARE NOT A HEALTH
CARE WORKER WORKING IN A
HOSPITAL OR A TEACHER WORKING IN
A SCHOOL.
WE KNOW WHO THOSE ARE.
THE COMMUNITIES WHO ARE ALREADY
BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED BY THIS DISEASE AND ITS
ECONOMIC FALL OUT.
THAT REQUIRES US TO GO IN AND
WORK WITH THOSE COMMUNITY HEALTH
PARTNERS T COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS AND TO GET THAT
LEVEL OF TRUST SO PEOPLE -- SO
THE REALLY THE LIMITING FACTOR
IS GOING TO BE SUPPLIES.
IF WE CAN GET THE SUPPLIES, THEN
IT IS MATH.
WE HAVE TO GET TO 1.3 MILLION
ADULTS IN KING COUNTY.
THEN WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO
THEM AGAIN.
SO THAT IS AN ENORMOUS UNDER
TAKING.
IT IS ONE THAT WILL REQUIRE A
LOT OF TRUST, A LOT OF OUTREACH.
IT WILL ALSO REQUIRE US TO GET
ACCESS TO VACCINES.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK
YOU ANNA.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME FROM
DEBORA FOLLOWED BY DAVID.
>> I DO WANT TO ASK THE MAYOR --
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.
I DO WANT TO ASK THE MAYOR A
QUESTION.
THAT IS WHERE WILL -- WELL TWO
QUESTIONS AND I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT ANOTHER TOPIC.
WHEN YOU GO BACK AROUND I HAVE
SOME OTHER QUESTIONS I WANT TO
ASK.
WHERE IS SEATTLE KING COUNTY IN
ALL OF THIS AND THE PUBLIC
HEALTH AND ALSO ARE YOU
CONSIDERING GIVING PEOPLE ONE
DOSE AND THEN HOPING YOU GET SO
YOU GIVE OUT ALL THE DOSES YOU
HAVE BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN AN
ISSUE IS ONE DOSE ENOUGH FOR --
PEOPLE TO AT LEAST HAVE THAT?
AND THEN WORK TO GET THE SUPPLY
RATCHETED UP SO THAT YOU CAN
GIVE A SECOND DOSE.
THEN I NEED A QUESTION TO THE
FIRE CHIEF AFTER THAT.
>> THANK YOU, DEBORA.
I WILL LET THE FIRE CHIEF FOLLOW
UP ON THIS.
WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ON THAT.
I TALKED TO SOME OF THE EXPERTS
TON NATIONAL LEVEL.
WE WILL FOLLOW PUBLIC HEALTH AND
CDC GUIDANCE RIGHT NOW.
THAT GUIDANCE IS YOU --
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
I THINK IT IS FOR THOSE PEOPLE
WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS.
RIGHT NOW WE WILL BE FOLLOWING
THE PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE WHICH
IS TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE --
>> HAVE NOTHING TO ADD TO THAT,
MAYOR.
>> DEBORA, FOLLOW UP.
>> YES.
CHIEF, I WANTED TO ASK, YOU SAID
YOU WILL TAKE THE VACCINE
YOURSELF.
WHEN TO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN
YOU MIGHT DO THAT?
>> WELL WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM
WORKING ON IT.
WHENEVER THEY -- LET ME KNOW I
CAN, I WILL BE IN LINE WITH THE
REST OF OUR FOLKS HERE.
WE ARE WORKING HARD ON GETTING
ALL OF US FRONT LINE FOLKS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE VACCINE.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE
RESPONDING TO THE 911 CALLS EACH
AND EVERYDAY SERVING
COMMUNITIES.
THAT IS OUR PRIMARY FOCUS.
WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THEM
HEALTHY.
WHEN MY TEAM WHO IS REALLY
ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS LET
MYSELF AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF
THE LEADERSHIP KNOW, WE WILL BE
IN LINE JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
I WILL LET YOU KNOW, DEBORA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DEBORA
AND THANK YOU, CHIEF.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME FROM
DAVID.
THEN WE WILL PIVOT OVER TO
NON-VACCINATION RELATED
QUESTIONS.
DAVID THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> SURE.
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT
CUTTING DAVID BUT -- I WILL GO
AHEAD.
UM, YOU -- YOU MENTION THAT THE
CITY GOT APPROVAL ON JANUARY 9TH
TO BE A VACCINE DISTRIBUTOR.
I AM WONDERING WHEN THE CITY
SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION.
SO HOW LONG THE PROCESS TOOK AND
WHAT WAS INVOLVED IN GETTING
APPROVED?
>> SURE.
I WILL START.
WE SUBMITTED THAT APPLICATION IN
LATE NOVEMBER AND ACTING
KATHERINE WALLACE WILL COVER
SOME OF THE DETAILS.
THERE WERE QUITE A FEW STEPS IN
GETTING APPROVAL.
>> ONE OF THE PRIMARY POINTS OF
THE APPLICATION WAS BEING ABLE
TO PROVE WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY
STORE AND KNEW HOW TO HANDLE
RACK SEEN.
WE HAD TO SET UP OUR SYSTEMS AND
SUBMIT THAT DATA TO DOH.
BASICALLY TURNOVER TO THEM A LOT
OF THE DETAILS OF OUR PLAN FOR
BEING ABLE TO BE A QUALIFIED
VACCINE PROVIDER PER CDC
GUIDELINES.
>> DAVID, FOLLOW UP.
>> UM, I AM GOOD.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
I SEE A HAND RAISED FROM KAYLA
FROM KING 5.
KAYLA, IS THIS QUESTION
VACCINATED RELATED?
>> YES.
UM, SO THE FEDERAL PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIALS ARE NOW RECOMMENDING
EVERYONE 65 AND UP BE GIVEN
ACCESS TO THE VACCINE.
DOES THIS FACTOR AT ALL INTO
WHAT COMES NEXT WITH THE CITY'S
PLAN FOR VACCINATIONS AND IN
PARTICULAR WITH THIS NEW MOBILE
UNIT?
>> UM, SURE.
THIS IS CHIEF.
I WILL START.
IT COULD.
RIGHT NOW OUR FOCUS IS FOLLOWING
SEATTLE KING COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH GUIDANCE AND WORKING
THROUGH THE ADULT FAMILY HOMES.
OUR GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND
THIS IN THE FUTURE.
WE WANT TO HELP COMMUNITY.
IF WE ARE GIVEN THE VACCINATIONS
AND THE GUIDANCE WE ARE MORE
THAN HAPPY TO STEP INTO WHATEVER
PLACE THEY PUT US AT.
>> KAYLA FOLLOW UP.
>> I THINK THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
THANK YOU.
>> I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
THEIR PATIENCE.
WE ALSO HAVE ALLISON FROM KIRO7.
ALLISON, GO AHEAD.
>> THIS QUESTION IS FOR THE
CHIEF.
YOU TALKED --
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
THEY ARE STILL GOING TO NEED TO
BE HAVING TESTING IN THE CITY.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER USING ONE OF
OUR STADIUM AS A MASS
VACCINATION SITE?
>> SO, IT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
WE TALKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF
LOCATIONS WE MIGHT DO.
I THINK WE WILL ASSESS AT THE
TIME ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE
BEEN LOOKING AT HOW IS HOW WE
MIGHT CONVERT ONE OF OUR MASS
TESTING SITES TO BE A HYBRID
SITE.
WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL
DURING THIS VACCINATION PROCESS
THAT WE DON'T REPLICATE SOME OF
THE INEQUITIES WE HAVE SEEN
BEFORE AND SO THAT MEANS NUMBER
ONE GETTING TO COMMUNITIES SO
PEOPLE CAN TRUST IT.
GETTING TO COMMUNITIES WHERE
THERE MIGHT BE A RELATIONSHIP
WITH A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
THAT MEANS MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE THAT REGULAR COMMUNICATION
WITH AND DO THE EXTRA WORK WE
NEED TO DO TO GET TO OUR
COMMUNITIES.
SO THE LOCATION OF IT REALLY
WILL BE DATA DRIVEN AS WELL AS
FACILITY AND CAPABILITY.
AS YOU HAVE HEARD WE HAVE TO
HAVE REFRIGERATORS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE EVERYTHING STOOD
UP SO WE CAN DO IT SAFELY AS
WELL.
>> ALLISON.
FOLLOW UP.
>> HEY THERE.
JUST A FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
WE SEE THE REAL NEED IN THIS
SENSE --
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
DO YOU SEE ANOTHER GAP -- CAN
YOU SEE WHAT 1 NEXT ON YOUR
LIST?
ARE YOU STARTING TO PLAN FOR
WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS GOING TO
BE?
>> CHIEF, YOU WANT TO TACKLE
THAT?
>> SURE.
WE ARE PLANNING AND WORKING
THROUGH THE GUIDANCE THAT HAS
BEEN PROVIDED TO US BY SEATTLE
KING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND
THEY ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE
CDC GUIDANCE.
WE ARE PLANNING FOR THOSE.
IT WILL DEPEND ON A COUPLE OF
THINGS.
IT WILL DEPEND ON THE AMOUNT OF
ACT VACCINE THAT WE CAN GET OUR
HANDS ON TO START DEPLOYING AND
THE GUIDANCE WE ARE GIVEN.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE ARE READY TO
GO TO WORK AND HELP AND THAT IS
WHAT OUR PLAN IS TO DO.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHIEF.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THE
QUESTIONS TODAY.
AT THIS POINT WE WILL PIVOT AWAY
FROM VACCINE RELATED QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO THANK OUR CHIEF --
LIEUTENANT WALLACE AND DR. FOR
JOINING US TODAY AND INVITE THEM
IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO TO STEP
OFF THE CALL AS WE ANSWER
FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR
THEIR WORK.
IT HAS BEEN REMARKABLE WORK AND
IT IS NOT DONE YET.
THANKS FOR THE FUTURE WORK, TOO.
>> THANK EVERYONE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR.
OUR FIRST QUESTION FOR THIS
PORTION OF THE Q AND A WILL GO
TO DAVID.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> YEAH, HI, MAYOR.
IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT MIKE IS
NEITHER GOING TO APOLOGIZE NOR
RESIGN.
I AM CURIOUS ABOUT YOU THINK
NEXT STEP SHOULD BE TAKEN AND --
WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEANS FOR THE
CITY'S ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE A
NEW CONTRACT?
>> SO, DAVID, I THOUGHT HIS
COMMENTS AS I SAID AT THE TIME
WERE ABSOLUTELY INDEFENSIBLE.
AND REFLECT ADD PERSPECTIVE THAT
SHOWS NOT SOMEONE THAT IS NOT
WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE IN
FOOD FAITH TO REALLY LISTEN TO
WHAT WE NEED TO DO ON POLICE
REFORMS.
OBVIOUSLY THE UNION HAS THE
RIGHT TO CHOOSE THEIR
LEADERSHIP.
WE CAN'T DICTATE THAT AS A CITY
BUT THEY TO HAVE AN OBLIATION
TO THE COME TO THE TABLE IN GOOD
FAITH AND BARGAIN THOSE ISSUES
THAT WE KNOW NEED TO BE CHANGED.
MY PERSONAL OPINION IS I THINK
HIS COMMENTS AND EVEN THE
DEFENSE OF THOSE COMMENTS HAVE
SHOWN HE IS NOT THAT PERSON BUT
THAT IS A CHOICE FOR HIM
CHOOSING THEIR LEADERS.
WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE TABLE.
WE ARE GOING TO LOOK FOR THE
REFORMS WE THINK IS IMPORTANT
FOR THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE SOMEONE AT
THE TABLE WHO WILL BE A TRUE
PARTNER TO NEGOTIATE THOSE
THINGS IN GOOD FAITH.
>> DAVID, FOLLOW UP.
>> IF THE CITY CONCLUDES IT IS
NOT IN GOOD FAITH, IS THERE
ANYTHING -- COULD YOU BRING --
IS THERE ANY STEPS THAT COULD BE
TAKEN TO REMEDY THAT?
>> PROVING THAT SOMETHING IS NOT
DONE IN GOOD FAITH IS VERY
DIFFICULT AS YOU KNOW.
LOOK, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT ALL
OPTIONS THROUGH THE WORKING WITH
THE CITY COUNCIL SETTING THE
RIGHT PARAMETERS AND MAKING VERY
CLEAR IN THE ROOM THAT SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT WE THINK WE NEED
TO BARGAIN TO IMPROVE THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN, I THINK THAT -- THERE HAS
BEEN PRETTY UNIVERSAL
CONDEMNATION OF WHAT MIKE SAID
AND I AM -- I WOULD HAVE HOPED
HE UPON REFLECTION WOULD HAVE
REALIZED HE SHOULD NOT BE
REPRESENTING HIS MEMBERSHIP WITH
SUCH STATEMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, DAVID.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME FROM
PATRICK.
PATRICK, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> WE SAW YOUR TWEET LAST NIGHT.
WHAT IS YOUR LEVEL OF CONCERN AS
HER TWEET ASSERTS REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP POTENTIALLY NOT
FOLLOWING THE BASIC GOOD LINES
OUTLINED BY THE CDC AND NOT
WEARING MASKS MOVING FORWARD?
>> YOU KNOW, FIRST I WANT TO SAY
I HOPE SHE RECOVERS QUICKLY.
UM -- I THINK IT WAS -- WHEN WE
SAW THAT ASSAULT ON THE CHAMBER
AND THE ASSAULT ON OUR CAPITOL,
BY PEOPLE DETERMINED TO SET
ASIDE A -- LEGAL AND FAIR
ELECTION IN OUR DEMOCRATIC
PROCESS WE SAW JAYAPAL TRAPPED
IN THAT CHAMBER.
SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD HER OWN
MEDICAL CHALLENGE RECENTLY.
SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER A
SECOND BECAUSE HER OWN
COLLEAGUES WON'T TAKE THE BASIC
PRECAUTIONS THAT EVERYONE KNOWS
YOU NEED TO TAKE TO KEEP OTHER
PEOPLE SAFE.
IT IS JUST INEXCUSABLE.
IT IS TIME FOR PEOPLE TO QUIT
TREATING A HEALTH CRISIS LIKE A
POLITICAL ISSUE.
IT IS NOT.
WE ALL HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO
HELP OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR
COMMUNITIES, OUR FRIENDS AND ONE
OF THE WAYS YOU DO THAT IS YOU
WEAR A MASK.
YOU KEEP YOUR PHYSICAL DISTANCE,
YOUR WASH YOUR HANDS.
YOU TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS YOU
NEED TO TAKE.
I THINK IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT
PEOPLE SAW THAT AS SOMETHING
THAT COULD BE A POLITICAL
STATEMENT AND WAVE AWAY SOMEONE
WHO IS TRYING TO GIVE THEM
MASKS.
IT IS TIME FOR THAT KIND OF
ACTIVITY TO END.
WE WILL NOT BEAT COVID IF PEOPLE
KEEP TREATING IT LIKE A
POLITICAL ISSUE INSTEAD OF A
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
>> PATRICK, FOLLOW UP.
>> I'M GOOD.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
BRIEF PAUSE HERE TO SEE IF THERE
ARE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS IF
WOW WOULD --
YOU WOULD LIKE TO RAISE YOUR
HAND.
OKAY.
DEBORA HORN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
I'M TRYING TO GET BACK TO MY
ORIGINAL PAGE BUT I GUESS -- I
WILL HAVE TO GIVE UP ON SEEING
YOU AS YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION,
MAYOR.
NONETHELESS, I HAVE TO TWO
QUESTIONS.
ONE OF THEM IS ABOUT THE TWO
OFFICERS BEING INVESTIGATED BY
THE OFFICE OF POLICE
AACCOUNTABILITY BY THE N -- AT
THE REQUEST OF THE POLICE CHIEF.
THE INTERIM POLICE CHIEF.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
THE TWO OFFICERS WITH SEEN ON
SOCIAL MEDIA AND THAT IS HOW ONE
OF THEIR COWORKERS WAS ABLE TO
ALERT THE HIGHER UPS.
>> THANK YOU, DEBORA.
I THINK THE CHIEF TOOK THE RIGHT
STEPS.
I ALSO THINK THE OFFICER WHO SAW
THAT ON SOCIAL MEDIA TOOK THE
RIGHT STEPS.
AS THE CHIEF MADE CLEAR IT IS
OBVIOUSLY NOT AGAINST POLICY TO
PARTICIPATE IN A POLITICAL RALLY
OR FIRST AMENDMENT SPEECH ON
YOUR FREE TIME.
BUT IT WOULD BE AGAINST POLICY
IF THEY WERE AT ALL INVOLVED IN
THE INSURRECTION AND ASSAULT ON
THE CAPITOL WHICH INCLUDED
ASSAULTS ON OTHER POLICE
OFFICERS.
SO HIS REFERRAL TO OP LASHGS BE
DETERMINING WHETHER THERE WAS A
VIOLATION OF POLICY AND WHAT
THEIR EXACT ROLE WAS THERE.
I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT I THINK
THAT IT IS HELPFUL AND IT IS A
FOOD
A -- GOOD SIGN THAT A FELLOW
POLICE OFFICER BROUGHT IT TO
THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND.
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS
STARTING -- ADDITIONAL TRAINING
TO REALLY RE REINFORCE
THAT THEY HAVE A DUTY TO STEP
IN.
I THINK THIS IS A FOOD
INDICATION.
ALSO A REASON WHY THE TRAINING
THE CHIEF TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY
WILL GO FORWARD WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I JUST DO WANT TO GIVE CHIEF
DIAZ CREDIT FOR TAKING THOSE
STEPS AND MAKING IT VERY CLEAR
THAT WE WILL PROTECT FIRST
AMENDMENT SPEECH BUT IF THAT
FIRST AMENDMENT SPEECH WAS NOT
THAT, IF IT WAS NOT FIRST
AMENDMENT SPEECH AND INSTEAD
THEY WERE SOMEHOW INVOLVED IN
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, THAT HE WILL
TERMINATE THEM.
>> FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
MILLER PLAYFIELD AS YOU KNOW AND
I YOU DO KNOW THIS AS BAN PLACE
WHERE -- ALL KINDS OF SPORTS
ACTIVITIES INVOLVING KIDS HAVE
HAPPENED.
I'M JUST LEARNING THIS
TODAY.
IF YOU HAVE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO COME BY HERE OR
EVEN SEEN THINK OVER OUR
STORIES.
YOU WILL SEE IT DOES APPEAR
THERE IS A MUCH LARGER HOMAL
POPULATION OUTSIDE OF MILLER
PLAY FIELD THAN THERE WAS WHEN
KYLE ANDERSON PARK WAS FULLY
OCCUPIED.
I'M ASSUMING YOU KNOW THIS.
I'M ASSUMING IF YOU DON'T LET ME
KNOW.
WHAT CAN THE CITY DO?
HE IS SAYING SHE NOT HERE TO --
HE WANTS TO FIND HOUSING FOR THE
PEOPLE HERE.
>> THANK YOU, DEBORA, FOR THE
QUESTION.
AS YOU KNOW UNDER THE CDC
GUIDANCE, PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS AND WHO ARE LIVING
UNSHELTERED THE GUIDANCE WAS NOT
TO DISPLACE THEM UNLESS
NECESSARY.
WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF
HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT REMOVALS.
SINCE THE COVID CRISIS BEGAN
EACH ONE OF THOSE HAS HAD AND
REQUIRED UP FRONT FOR US A LOT
OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE, TO GET
THEM A PLACE INSIDE SAFELY THAT
THEY CAN BE.
UNFORTUNATELY A NUMBER OF PEOPLE
DON'T TAKE THAT OFFER SERVICES
FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
WE HAVE SEEN NOW NOT JUST AT
MILLER PLAY FIELD BUT IN PARKS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY THERE HAS
BEEN A GROWING NUMBER OF
ENCAMPMENTS.
SO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WORKING
WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS IS
REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT NOW
WHAT THE APPROACH IS AND WHICH
PARKS FIRST.
WE ARE VERY -- HAPPY THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL DID APPROVE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES BOTH FOR
OUTREACH BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY
FOR ADDITIONAL SHELTER SPACE SO
WE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY FOR
ABILITY 500 ADDITIONAL SHELTER
PLACES.
WE WILL HAVE MANY NEW UNITS
COMING ON LINE.
SO WE WILL FINALLY HAVE THE
CAPABILITY TO HAVE PLACES TO
BRING PEOPLE AND PLACES FOR
PEOPLE TO GO.
AND SO NOT JUST MILLER PLAY
FIELD BUT THOSE WE WILL BE
WORKING WITH OUR OUTREACH TEAMS
TO
GET PEOPLE THE SERVICES THEY
NEED, GET THEM OUT OF THE PARKS
AND RESTORE THE PARKS TO THE
COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ONE LAST
QUESTION AND THAT WILL BE DAVID.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU.
THE CITY SUPPORTED A FEDERAL
COURT'S RULING IN PHILADELPHIA
THAT ALLOWED A NON-PROFIT TO
OPEN A SAFE INJECTION SITE.
THAT RULING WAS JUST OVERTURNED
BY THE THIRD CIRCUIT COURT OF
APPEALS.
I'M WONDERING IF THIS NEW RULING
úIMPACTS SEATTLE'S PLANS TO PUT
OUT A CONTRACT WITH PUBLIC
HEALTH FOR SAFE INJECTION
RESOURCES AT EXISTING SOCIAL
SERVICE LOCATIONS
>> I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO
READ THE RULING YET BUT -- WE
WERE ANTICIPATING THAT THAT
MIGHT OCCUR.
WE ALSO HAD GOTTEN VERY STRONG
INDICATIONS FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT THAT SHOULD WE TRY TO
DO ANYTHING HERE THAT THEY WOULD
TRY TO -- SHUT IT DOWN AND SO --
CITY COUNCIL REPROGRAMMED THOSE
FUNDS WITH PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE ARE TRYING TO SEE RIGHT NOW
WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH CAN DO
WORKING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH TO
SEE HOW DO WE MOVE THOSE DOLLARS
TO HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE -- A
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUE,
PARTICULARLY SUBSTANCE ABUSE
DISORDER AND PROVIDE SUPPORT AND
TREATMENT FOR THEM.
SO WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
THAT LOOKS LIKE NOW.
THIS IS ANOTHER WRINKLE WE WILL
HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
>> DAVID, FOLLOW UP.
>> NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL
CONCLUDE TODAY'S PRESS
CONFERENCE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
JOINING US TODAY.
MAYOR IF YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING
THOUGHTS?
>> THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY
SINCE WE ARE NOT TALKING
VACCINES IS THAT WHAT WE SAW
LAST WEEK IN WASHINGTON D.C. IS
ABSOLUTELY UNPRECEDENTED.
WE AS A NATION AND A CITY CANNOT
LET IT BECOME A NEW NORMAL OR AN
OUTRAGE WE FORGET DAYS LATER.
THE PRESIDENT MADE CLEAR TODAY
HE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO REMORSE FOR
HIS ROLE IN THAT INSURRECTION.
IN FACT WHEN ASKED -- IN GIVEN
THE CHANCE BY THE PRESS TO DO
SO, HE NOT ONLY EXCUSED HIS
ACTIONS BUT AGAIN BLAMED SEATTLE
AND SAID THE REAL PROBLEM WAS
PORTLAND AND SEATTLE.
IT IS NOT NORMAL.
I SUPPORT OUR WHOLE DELL EGATION
WHO SAYS THE PRESIDENT NEEDS TO
STEP DOWN IMMEDIATELY.
I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ONE WORDS
FROM THE REPUBLICANS THAT IT IS
TIME FOR PEACE AND UNITY AND
THAT WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR
THIS.
THE SAME MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE
AND SENATE -- THE REPUBLICANS
THERE WHO SAY WE DON'T HAVE TIME
FOR AN IMPEACHMENT THOUGHT
NOTHING ABOUT RAMMING THROUGH A
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE BEFORE AN
ELECTION.
UM -- IN ORDER FOR THERE TO BE
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION THERE
FIRST HAS TO BE TRUTH.
PART OF TRUTH IS ACCOUNTABILITY.
I SUPPORT OUR DELEGATION IN
THEIR EFFORTS TO REMOVE THE
PRESIDENT.
I THINK WE NEED MOVE ON.
WE ALSO ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY
WITH -- A FEDERAL OFFICIALS AND
THE STATE TO MAKE SURE THAT AS
THE INAUGURATION COMES, THAT WE
DON'T SEE THE KINDS OF ARMED
INSURRECTION AND PROBLEMS HERE
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT HAVE
BEEN THREATENED THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HOPE EVERYONE HAS A BETTER 21
THAN WE DID 20.
TAKE CARE.