A quick update on two key issues:

1.  Pierce County Council, in a marathon 6 plus hours meeting last night and despite more public support FOR the tax than I can remember seeing, did NOT adopt the one/tenth of one percent behavioral health tax.  I'll let someone else detail the outcome of the various amendments but as I understand it, consideration of the tax now depends on a plan for the use of the $13M or so expected to be collected per year.  After a Council agreed upon plan is presented, the Council can but it is not clear to me that it has to vote.  Thank you for your work on this issue.  Take a deep breath and get ready to begin anew. 

Governor Inslee's announcement 20-07 Coronavirus which stops events of 250 or more people in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties through the end of March and maybe longer - is attached.  

We are seeing the first local nonprofit organizational and program closings - on this list, in the media, on Facebook and likely other places.  I don't know if/how we should keep track of these.  

Tacoma Pierce County Health Dept is providing us with support through Emily Less.  Emily just sent out an invitation to join one/more of the advisory sub-committees of the new COVID19 Advisory Group.  Thanks to Al Ratcliffe for suggesting this last week and to Emily for following up.

Information and guidance are coming from multiple sources at all hours of the day and night.  As the virus spreads, the information and the responses increase.  As our understanding of the virus evolves, the guidance evolves.  Much of the guidance I see is labeled "Interim."  Keep an eye on dates so you can toss outdated versions.  And don't forget to date all of your own internal documents.  

Here are two media sources you may want to follow on one of their platforms.  

The News Tribune has suspended its paid subscription requirement for its digital reporting on COVID19.  If you have not done so, I encourage you to sign up.

The Seattle Times is reporting on the Seattle/King County/Washington State impact.  I don't know the subscription requirements.  

Here are links to recent stories in both papers:

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article241077196.html? 

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