>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, A BEAUTIFUL
DAY IN SEATTLE.
A NUMBER OF EXCITING THINGS WE
CAN ANNOUNCE TODAY, NUMBER ONE,
MANY OF YOU WERE HERE WHEN WE
OPENED THIS FACILITY AND IT WAS
PRETTY DIRE BECAUSE WE HAD SO
FEW DOSES OF VACCINE BUT KIND
OF LIKE FIELD OF DREAMS WE KNEW
IF WE BUILD IT AND WERE
PERSISTENT AND HAD THE RIGHT
ADVOCATES IT WOULD COME, I WANT
TO THANK YOU MR. SECRETARY FOR
HHS GIVING DIRECT DOSAGES SO
THAT MADE OUR SURGE MORE
POSSIBLE.
I WANT TO THANK THE
CONGRESSWOMAN FOR HER UNFAILING
AND SUCH HIGH-ENERGY ADVOCACY
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND THE
REST OF HER DISTRICT
PARTICULARLY THROUGHOUT THIS
PANDEMIC WHICH WAS ONLY
POSSIBLE WITH HER HELP AND
PATTY MURRAY'S HELP AND ALSO
FOR BEING A STALLWORTH PARTNER.
WE ARE A REALLY EXCITING
THRESHOLD OVER 60% OF SEATTLE
RESIDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINES
HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FIRST DOSE
AT LEAST THAT IS A GREAT
THRESHOLD.
WHEN WE OPENED OUR FACILITY I
SAID I WANTED TO BE THE FIRST
CITY IN AMERICA TO GET FULLY
VACCINATED AND GET 70% OF
PEOPLE ELIGIBLE, WE ARE SO
CLOSE.
THERE IS ONLY ONE CITY WE KNOW
AHEAD OF US AND THAT IS SAN
FRANCISCO.
IF THERE IS NO OTHER REASON TO
GET YOUR VACCINATION, GET YOUR
VACCINATION SO WE CAN BEAT SAN
FRANCISCO.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT OUR VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION HAS BEEN ONE OF
THE MOST EQUITABLE IN THE NATION
AND YOU HEAR FROM OUR GREAT
PARTNERS IN THAT AND THE REASON
WHY WE ARE SUCCESSFUL'S BECAUSE
OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION
MAKING SURE TO ADVOCATE FOR
COMMUNITIES AND HAVE BEEN THERE
TO SUPPORT US IN GETTING PEOPLE
VACCINATED AND WE CONTINUE TO BE
ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE
NATION TO MAKE SURE A
DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF
VACCINES ARE GOING INTO BLACK
AND BROWN ARMS BECAUSE WE'RE
INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING SURE
THE VACCINES ARE GOING TO THOSE
MOST AT RISK AND MOST EXCLUDED
FROM THE SYSTEM.
WE STILL HAVE LOCKUPS, AT
RAINIER BEACH THERE IS NO MORE
BEAUTIFL VACCINATION SPOT IN
THE COUNTRY.
IF YOU ARE 60 OR OLDER YOU CAN
WALK UP WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT
AND GIVE VACCINATED.
IF YOU BRING THE PERSON 60 AND
OLDER AND YOU HAVE NOT BEEN
VACCINATED THEN YOU CAN GIVE
VACCINATED.
WE'RE TRYING TO EXTEND EVENING
HOURS AT A FEW LOCATIONS IN
WEST SEATTLE BECAUSE WE KNOW
THERE WERE PEOPLE WORKING
DURING THE DAY AND CANNOT GET
TO ONE OF OUR SITES SO WE WANT
TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.
I CANNOT TALK ABOUT VACCINATIONS
WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THAT HAVE BEEN SO REMARKABLE
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE
PANDEMIC, FOR SETTING UP A
TESTING PROGRAM BUT THEN GOING
TO SENIOR ADULT HOMES, GOING TO
LOW INCOME HOMES, SETTING UP
SITES AND SO A PARTICULAR THANK
YOU TO YOUR WORK AND ALL THE
WORK OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO GET
EVERYONE VACCINATED WILL BE
INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE ABOUT
HOW WE DO IT NOT DISTORTING
WITH COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS GOING TO RACES
WHERE PEOPLE ARE.
THIS WEEKEND IF YOU'RE GOING TO
THE SOUNDERS GAME AND YOU HAVE
NOT BEEN VACCINATED WE WILL
HAVE WALK-UP VACCINATIONS AT
THE SOUNDER GAMES, BRING YOUR ID
AND WE WILL TRY EVERYTHING WE
CAN. SO WITH THAT I WANT TO
THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE,
THE SECRETARY FOR ALL HIS
EFFORTS, CONGRATULATE HIM ON
HIS WORK.
WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE SOMEONE IN
THAT ROLE WHO IS NOT JUST AN
EXCEPTIONAL LEADER BUT
UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THAT
FACE CITIES SO, WE KNOW WE WILL
HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP
THROUGHOUT THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO THE CHIEF, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
FIRE CHIEF OF THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR
FOR HER ONGOING LEADERSHIP
DURING THIS PANDEMIC IT HAS
MADE A DIFFERENCE AND I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK FIREFIGHTERS,
BOOTS ON THE GROUND EVERYTHING
WITH A SERVING THE COMMUNITY.
JUNE 5th OF 2020 WE OPENED THE
FIRST TESTING SITE NOW WE HAVE
FOUR WE ARE OPERATING, OVER
735,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TESTED
AT THE TESTING SITES AND SINCE
JANUARY 14th SEATTLE
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN DOING
VACCINATIONS AND TO DATE OVER
88,000 HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
WE HAVE DONE THE HARD WORK
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
MOBILE VACCINATION TEAMS
WORKING SOME OF YOU SAW PICTURES
WHEN THEY WERE OUT IN THE SNOW,
THEY VISITED OVER 220 DIFFERENT
LOCATIONS DELIVERING THE
VACCINATIONS.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED WE WILL
BE DOING A COUPLE THINGS, NEXT
WEEK TUESDAY MAY 4th THIS SITE
IS GOING TO BE OPEN UNTIL 7:30
IN THE EVENING TRYING TO GET
FOLKS WHO WORKED DURING THE
DAY.
WILL TEST THAT OUT AND OUR WEST
SEATTLE SITE WEDNESDAY MAY 5th
WILL BE OPEN UNTIL 7:30 IN THE
EVENING.
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE THE MAYOR MENTIONED NEW
PROGRAMS, IF YOU ARE 60 OR
OLDER YOU CAN WALK UP AND WE
WILL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET
YOU VACCINATED.
IF YOU'RE 16 OR AND YOU BRING
SOMEONE 60 OR OLDER NO
APPOINTMENT NEEDED.
WE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU THERE
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED WE ARE
GETTING CREATIVE, WE WILL BE AT
THE SOUNDERS GAME TRYING TO GET
THE WIN BUT FIREFIGHTERS WILL
BE BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN
SEPARATE LOCATIONS READY TO
VACCINATE PEOPLE IN THAT SPACE
SO WE'RE TRYING TO MEET PEOPLE
WHERE THEY ARE TO DELIVER
VACCINATIONS IN A EQUITABLE WAY
AND GET THE COMMUNITY REOPENED.
WE'RE GETTING REALLY CLOSE, WE
ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHERE
WE ARE GOING.
NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP
EXECUTIVE CONSTANTINE TO
ADDRESS THE GROUP.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU CHIEF AND THANK YOU
TO EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE
TODAY.
ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE
SECRETARY FOR BEING HERE AS
WELL.
AND FOR GETTING A CHANCE TO SEE
UP CLOSE WHAT A COORDINATED
HOLD OF COMMUNITY RESPONSE
LOOKS LIKE.
THE PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS KING
COUNTY, PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN
CITIES, BETWEEN FIRST
RESPONDERS, BETWEEN PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE HEALTH SYSTEMS HAVE
BEEN REMARKABLE.
WE HAVE OVERLY BEEN PULLING
TOGETHER TO WORK TOGETHER TO
DEFEAT THIS PANDEMIC.
BECAUSE WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER
WE ARE MAKING REMARKABLE
PROGRESS.
THIS WEEK WE CROSSED A COUPLE
MILESTONES AND I WANT TO TELL
YOU ABOUT THEM COUNTYWIDE.
FOR THE FIRST TIME WE RECEIVED
MORE THAN 200,000 DOSES OF
VACCINE IN THE COUNTY, MORE
THAN DOUBLE WHAT WE HAD BEEN
GETTING IN MID-MARCH.
WITH THOSE NEW DOSES AND OUR
PROGRESS MORE THAN HALF OF THE
PEOPLE OF KING COUNTY NOT JUST
ADULTS MORE THAN HALF OF THE
ENTIRE POPULATION OF KING COUNTY
WHEN YOU COUNT IT ALL TOGETHER
HAS HAD ONE DOSE OF VACCINE AND
MORE THAN 40% OF PEOPLE 750,000
OF THOSE ELIGIBLE ARE FULLY
VACCINATED.
REMARKABLE PROGRESS WOULD NOT
HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION.
THIS HAS BEEN LIKE NIGHT AND
DAY HAVING LIVED THROUGH ONE
YEAR OF THIS TRYING TO LEAD
THIS JURISDICTION THROUGH A
YEAR OF THIS WITHOUT A LOT OF
HELP COMING FROM THE WHITE
HOUSE WITHOUT A ROADMAP.
TO HAVE A STRONG FEDERAL PARTNER
HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
I WANT TO THANK THE SECRETARY
AGAIN ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE IN
KING COUNTY FOR SUPPORTING OUR
EFFORTS.
THAT INCREDIBLE EFFORT
HAPPENING IN SEATTLE AND IN
CLINICS ACROSS KING COUNTY IS
REALLY THE PRODUCT OF AN ENTIRE
COMMUNITY DECIDING WE ARE GOING
TO GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, AT THE FAR
OTHER END OF THE COUNTY TO THE
NORTH WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN WITH
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON A
CLINIC IN SHORELINE TO SERVE
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NORTHERN
TIER OF KING COUNTY.
EARLIER TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC
HEALTH CLINICS ON THE EAST SIDE
AND SOUTH KING COUNTY WE WERE
ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE VACCINES
BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF DOSES WE ARE GETTING
TO EVERY SINGLE PROVIDER IN THE
COUNTY THAT HAS REQUESTED THEM.
LARGE PROVIDERS AT MASS
VACCINATION SITES AND ALSO
SMALL PHARMACIES AND INDIVIDUAL
HEALTH PROVIDERS WHO HAVE
CONSTITUENTS THEY CAN BRING IN
TO GET VACCINATED.
PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE NOT BEEN
CONNECTED TO OTHER SYSTEMS.
IT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT
THAN IT IS NOW TO GET TO CLINIC.
YOU HAVE HEARD ME OVER THE LAST
FEW WEEKS AND YOU'LL HEAR AGAIN
AND AGAIN IN THE COMING DAYS.
THIS IS A RACE BETWEEN THE
VACCINE AND THE VIRUS.
RIGHT NOW THE VIRUS IS CATCHING
UP.
WE ARE HAVING GREAT SUCCESS
GETTING SHOTS IN ARMS AT THE
NEW VARIANTS ARE CONTAGIOUS AND
THEY HAVE MORE SEVERE IMPACTS.
SO THE NUMBER OF INFECTIONS IS
GOING UP EVEN THOUGH THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE VACCINATED IS GOING
UP THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
HOSPITALIZED PARTICULARLY 16 TO
34 IS INCREASING.
I WOULD REMIND EVERYONE WHAT WE
HAVE BEEN TELLING YOU, PLEASE
WEAR A MASK DO NOT BE COOPED UP
WITH THOSE YOU DON'T LIVE WITH
AND PLEASE STAY HOME IF YOU'RE
SICK.
MOST IMPORTANT NOW, GET TO A
CLINIC AND GET YOUR SHOT.
THE VIRUS IN AMERICA THE FIRST
OUTBREAK STARTED IN KING COUNTY
AT A KIRKLAND NURSING HOME.
WE WERE HIT FIRST WITH THE
COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER
LISTENING TO SCIENCE AND WE
SUCCESSFULLY WENT FROM BEING
THE EPICENTER OF THE OUTBREAK
TO HAVING THE LOWEST RATE OF
INFECTION AND DEATH OF ANY
MAJOR JURISDICTION IN THE
COUNTRY.
IT IS SOMETHING THEY CAN TRULY
BE CREDITED TO ALL THE PEOPLE
OF KING COUNTY.
WE KNOW HOW TO BEAT THE VIRUS
AND WITH INCREDIBLE VACCINES WE
HAVE A GOOD TOOL TO DO THAT BUT
IT IS ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US
TO DO OUR PART NOBODY ELSE CAN
GET YOUR VACCINE FOR YOU.
YOU HAVE GOT TO STEP UP AND
THAT'S WHY AM PLEASED TO
ANNOUNCE TODAY MASS VACCINATION
CLINICS IN AUBURN AND CAN TWO
ARE AVAILABLE FOR WALK-UP
APPOINTMENTS.
IF YOU NEED TO GO GET A SHOT IF
YOU HAVE SOME TIME IF YOU HAVE
úNOT MADE AN APPOINTMENT WE ARE
SETTING ASIDE 1000 SHOTS AT
EACH ONE OF THOSE CLINICS SO GO
AND GET THOSE SHOTS.
IT WILL HELP US BRING A CLOSE
TO THE END OF THIS PANDEMIC.
LET'S ALL DO OUR PART AND WIN
THIS ONE FOR KING COUNTY.
NOW SPEAKING OF THE PROVIDERS
HELPING GET THE SHOTS OUT, AND
OF OUR STRONG PARTNERS HAS BEEN
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
HEALTH SERVICES AND I WOULD
LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE CEO OF
THE ORGANIZATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNTY
EXECUTIVE. I AM SO USED TO BEING
WITH A MASK THAT IT'S HARD FOR
ME TO THINK WITHOUT IT.
THANK YOU TO SECRETARY AND THE
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER
PRAMILA JAYAPAL I AM HONORED TO
BE HERE WITH YOU.
YOU HAVE YOUR VACCINE MORE YOUR
TEAM RIGHT HERE.
SO PROUD TO BE YOUR.
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH
SERVICES IS A FEDERALLY
QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER
PROVIDING AFFORDABLE QUALITY
MEDICAL, DENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH SERVICES TO EVERYONE
REGARDLESS OF STATUS.
PATIENTS ARE PREDOMINANTLY LOW
INCOME FROM COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
AND WE PROVIDE THEM WITH
WRAPAROUND SERVICE THAT HELPS
THEM WITH THEIR HOUSING, WITH
THEIR FOOD, WITH THEIR
EDUCATION ACCESS AND ANYTHING
ELSE THEY WOULD NEED TO MAKE
THEIR LIFE BETTER.
INTERESTING THAT THE EXECUTIVE
REFERRED TO THE FIRST COVID-19
POSITIVE CASE THAT WE HAD HERE
IN KING COUNTY WHICH WAS
ASSOCIATED WITH A NURSING HOME
IN KIRKLAND.
THE FIRST HEALTH CENTER IN THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY AMONG OVER 1400
HEALTH CENTERS TO HAVE ITS
FIRST POSITIVE CASE AND THE
CASE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT
NURSING HOME.
THE EPICENTER FOR NOT JUST OUR
STATE BUT THE COUNTRY FOR
SEVERAL MONTHS.
IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT IN THOSE
DAYS BECAUSE THERE WAS VERY
LITTLE GUIDANCE AND WE ARE SO
FORTUNATE WE HAVE TOP-FLIGHT
STAFF, TOP-FLIGHT PROVIDERS WHO
FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON
AND MADE SURE THAT OUR STAFF
HAD APPROPRIATE PPE AND SINCE
THEN OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTER HAS PIVOTED REPEATEDLY
TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CARE FOR
OUR COMMUNITY AGAINST COVID-19.
WE RAMPED UP DRIVE-UP TESTING.
WE PROVIDED CARE TO THOSE WHO
ARE NOT COVID POSITIVE OR EVEN
THOSE COVID POSITIVE BUT
RECOVERING FROM HOME WITH HELEN
TELEHEALTH AND TELEPHONE.
WE PROVIDED FOOD, WE DELIVERED
MEDICATION, OTHER LIFE
ESSENTIALS TO PATIENTS, THEIR
FAMILIES AND OTHER COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO BE PART OF THE
SOLUTION.
PART OF THE FRONTLINE AGAINST
COVID AND TODAY WE ARE VERY
ACTIVE WITH VACCINATING.
IN JANUARY THIS YEAR ICHS WAS A
FIERCE ADVOCATE TO MAKE SURE
VACCINES WERE AVAILABLE.
WHERE VACCINES WERE AVAILABLE
TO OUR COMMUNITIES WHICH WERE
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED.
I HATE TO ADMIT IT BUT A COUPLE
ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE GOT A
LOT OF PESTERING CALLS FROM ME
BUT WE WERE BETTER FOR IT
BECAUSE WE STARTED TO GET
SUPPLY.
WHAT REALLY HELPED OUT ICHS
AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE IS
THE SECRETARY AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES STARTED TO SEND
DEDICATED VACCINES DIRECT FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ICHS
WAS ONE OF THE FIRST 25 IN THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY THAT RECEIVED
THOSE DOSES SPECIFICALLY TO
ADDRESS THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO
ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS,
THE COMMUNITY'S MOST
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED,
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
WE ARE WORKING HARD AND FAST TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE VACCINATING
PEOPLE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE A COUPLE DIFFERENT
STRATEGIES PEERS WE HAVE CLINIC
BASED VACCINATION SITES IN
HOLLY PARK, CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT,
BELLEVUE AND SHORELINE.
WE ALSO HAVE COMMUNITY POP-UP
SITES WITH PARTNERS SO THAT WE
CAN GET OUT AND MAKE SURE NO
ONE IS FALLING THROUGH THE
CRACKS.
WE HAVE HAD PARTNERS LIKE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS
SUCH AS WISTERIA MANOR.
FAITH-BASED GROUPS LIKE THE
BUDDHIST TEMPLE, THE MUSLIM
COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION AND THE EVANGELICAL
CHINESE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY
GROUPS. LANGUAGE, THE INTERNET
AND CONVENIENCE. BECAME
BARRIERS OF THE PAST AND AS YOU
HEARD TODAY, WE ARE MOBILITY
WITH THE MOBILITY OF VACCINE
WARRIORS WE ARE MAKING SURE
ACCESSIBILITY TO ALL IS
POSSIBLE.
SO FAR ICHS HAS VACCINATED
OVER 22,000 PEOPLE AGAINST
COVID-19.
WE HAVE EDUCATED COMMUNITIES
ABOUT VACCINE SAFETY AND WE ARE
MOBILIZED TO ADDRESS VACCINE
HESITATION MORE AND MORE AND WE
HAVE CONDUCTED OVER 85,000 TESTS
AND WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CARE
NOT JUST TO THOSE WHO ARE
CONCERNED WERE AFFECTED BY COVID
BUT ALSO TO ALL OF OUR PATIENTS
WHO HAVE AS DETERIORATED.
WHETHER IT IS MEDICAL, DENTAL
OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BECAUSE OF
COVID-19.
SO TO THOSE WHO ARE STILL
WAITING, TO THOSE WHO WANT TO
SEE HOW THIS IS GOING, WE URGE
YOU TO GET VACCINATED.
THERE ARE ENOUGH SUPPLIES TO
VACCINATE THOSE PEOPLE WHO WANT
TO GET VACCINATED AND IF YOU
HAVE BEEN VACCINATED I URGE YOU
TO GET FIVE OTHER PEOPLE TO GET
VACCINATED.
THREE VACCINE BRANDS ARE
READILY AVAILABLE.
AMERICANS WANT CHOICES ALL THE
TIME, NOW YOU HAVE FLAVORS.
THREE DIFFERENT VACCINES.
YOU CAN NO LONGER SAY THAT IT
IS INCONVENIENT BECAUSE NOT
ONLY CAN YOU GET IT TO THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, THROUGH MASS
VACCINATION SITES, THROUGH
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND
HOSPITALS, YOU CAN GO TO YOUR
GROCERY STORE.
YOU CAN GO TO YOUR DRUGSTORE.
LOCATION OPTIONS ARE ALWAYS
AROUND AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED
IN FINDING OUT WHERE THEY ARE,
A LITTLE PLUG FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
SEATTLE.GOV AND OF COURSE ICHS
ONLINE FOR VACCINATIONS. FOR A
MORE INTIMATE EXPERIENCE THAN A
MASS VACCINE SITE.
AGAIN THIS IS A RACE AGAINST
COVID AND ITS VARIANCE SO WE
NEED TO WIN THE RACE.
ONE THING FOR SURE, HEALTHCARE
IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE
TO INTRODUCE SOMEONE WHO IS
FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF US HAS ACCESS TO
HEALTHCARE.
SO I INTRODUCE TO YOU MY
CONGRESSWOMAN, CONGRESSWOMAN
PRAMILA JAYAPAL
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
INCREDIBLE WORK YOU HAVE ALWAYS
DONE.
I'M SO PROUD OF OUR COMMUNITY
HEALTH CENTERS BECAUSE THESE
ARE THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE
KNOW AND TRUST THE FOLKS AT THE
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.
THEY KNOW THEY CAN GO AND THEY
WILL BE PROVIDED WITH
CULTURALLY RELEVANT APPROPRIATE
INFORMATION AND EVERYTHING THEY
NEED TO MAKE THEM FEEL AT HOME.
SO I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU.
NOT SURPRISED YOU WERE ONE OF
THE FIRST 25.
LET ME START BY SAYING MR.
SECRETARY IT IS A PLEASURE AND
PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME YOU TO
SEATTLE.
YOU'RE STANDING NOW AND WHAT IS
THE MOST DIVERSE ZIP CODE IN
THE COUNTRY.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE
, BECAUSE YOU HAVE SPENT YOUR
LIFE FIGHTING FOR DIVERSE
COMMUNITIES AND WE ARE SO PROUD
TO HAVE YOU AS OUR SECRETARY
AND WE KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO
INCREDIBLE THINGS FOR US.
MAYOR I HAVE TOLD YOU THIS
PRIVATELY AND I WILL SAY
PUBLICLY I AM SO PROUD OF YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS COVID-19
RESPONSE.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET TESTING FAR
EARLIER THAN SO MANY OTHER
CITIES, WE HAD A FRIENDLY
COMPETITION WITH OREGON AND I
HAD TO TELL MY SISTER TO COME
TO VANCOUVER TO GET HER TEST
BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT GET IT IN
OREGON.
YOU HAVE REALLY DONE A
PHENOMENAL JOB AND I HAVE BEEN
THROUGH THE SITES AND I'M SO
GRATEFUL TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
TO ALL THE INDIVIDUALS HELPING
TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR US.
IT HAS BEEN REMARKABLE TO WATCH
AND I'M GRATEFUL.
EXECUTIVE CONSTANTINE WE LIVE
IN A STATE WHERE WE HAVE A
PHENOMENAL GOVERNOR, WE HAVE A
PHENOMENAL EXECUTIVE AND MAYOR
WE HAVE A PHENOMENAL PUBLIC
HEALTH SERVICE, IN SPITE OF
THIS INVESTMENT FROM THE
GOVERNMENT OVER THE YEARS BUT
NOT NOW BUT BEFORE, WE HAVE
CONTINUED TO INVEST IN PUBLIC
HEALTH SERVICES AND KING COUNTY
SEATTLE PUBLIC HEALTH IS A
REMARKABLE EXAMPLE OF THAT.
TO OUR WARRIORS ON THE FRONT
LINES AND WE WILL HEAR FROM TWO
MORE.
WE CANNOT BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR
REPRESENTING COMMUNITIES AND
FOR FIGHTING FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN BEAT THE
VIRUS WITHOUT NONPROFIT
PARTNERS, WITHOUT COMMUNITY
HEALTH CENTERS, WITHOUT ALL THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE PART AND PARCEL
OF HEALTHY COMMUNITIES COME IN
AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY NEED
TO DO.
YOU HEARD SEATTLE WAS HIT FIRST
AND HIT HARD.
I REMEMBER GOING TO TALK TO THE
SPEAKER WITH MY COLLEAGUE IN
THE NURSING HOME WAS IN HER
DISTRICT AND ADVOCATING HEART
FOR IMMEDIATE RESOURCES.
AT THAT TIME WE THOUGHT THIS
MAY BE JUST AN ISOLATED INCIDENT
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE
COUNTRY LEARNED FROM SEATTLE
AND LEARN FROM OUR REGION.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LOST LOVED ONES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LOST JOBS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LOST HOPE, FELT
LIKE A LONG DARK TUNNEL AND
TODAY WE ARE HERE IN THE LIGHT
AND WE ARE HERE IN THE LIGHT
BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A
CONCERTED EFFORT BY GOVERNMENT
TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE.
GOVERNMENT AT EVERY LEVEL
STARTING WITH THE PRESIDENT AND
STARTING WITH CONGRESS.
I AM SO PROUD TO TELL YOU THAT
WHEN WE PASS THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN ONE OF THE TOP
PRIORITIES IN THE RESCUE PLAN
AND THE $1.9 TRILLION PACKAGE
THE CONGRESS PASSED IN A
REMARKABLY QUICK AMOUNT OF TIME
AND THE SECRETARY KNOWS BECAUSE
HE SERVED IN CONGRESS AND HE
KNOWS THINGS ARE HARD TO MOVE
TO THE PROCESS BUT IN A RECORD
AMOUNT OF TIME WE PASSED THE
RESCUE PLAN PUTTING $20 BILLION
INTO VACCINES SO WE COULD GET
THE VACCINES OUT AND DISTRIBUTE
THEM.
THE PRESIDENT GOT TO WORK WITH
THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT AND
THE RESCUE PLAN PUT MONEY IN
PEOPLE'S POCKETS, SHOTS IN
ARMS, GOT KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL
AND MADE SURE PEOPLE COULD HAVE
HOPE AGAIN.
SMALL BUSINESSES COULD HAVE HELP
AND THIS IS ALL PART OF OUR
RECOVERY AND COMING BACK INTO
THE LIGHT.
IN THIS COUNTRY NOW WE HAVE PUT
OUT 200 MILLION SHOTS IN 100
DAYS.
200 MILLION SHOTS IN 100 DAYS.
PHENOMENAL.
PHENOMENAL ACHIEVEMENT AND THE
FOCUS ON EQUITY WHICH YOU ALL
HAVE KNOWN LEADING THE LARGEST
IMMIGRANT RIGHTS OFFICE,
ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS.
THAT WAS A BIG PART OF THE
EQUITY EFFORTS IN THE CITY THAT
THE MAYOR AND EXECUTIVE HAS
BEEN COMMITTED TO.
TO MAKE SURE COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR AND LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES NEW AND HAD ACCESS
SO AT LUMEN FIELD AT VARIOUS
SITES YOU WILL SEE DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES, THE ABILITY FOR
PEOPLE TO GET CULTURALLY
COMPETENT CARE AND THROUGH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT HAS
BEEN A VERY VERY IMPORTANT
PIECE.
SO WE ARE AT THE PRECIPICE OF
COMING OUT BUT WE ARE NOT OUT.
I CAME BACK RECENTLY FROM INDIA
WHERE MY PARENTS LIVE.
MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT I AM AN
IMMIGRANT. I CAME TO THE UNITED
STATES WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD
AND MY PARENTS LIVE IN INDIA.
BOTH OF MY PARENTS GOT COVID.
THEY HAD GOTTEN THERE FIRST
SHOT OF THE VACCINE FOR WEEKS
BEFORE AND IT PROBABLY SAVED
THEIR LIVES.
VACCINE SAVE LIVES.
THEY GOT COVID, THEY WERE IN
THE HOSPITAL IN THE ICU.
MY DAD HAD TO GET OXYGEN BUT
THEY ARE HOME AND RECUPERATING
AND I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE
TRUE IF THEY HAD NOT GOTTEN THE
FIRST SHOT OF THE VACCINE.
I REALLY DON'T THEY MAY NOT BE
HERE BUT FOR THAT BECAUSE THEY
ARE 80 AND 90 YEARS OLD.
ALL I CAN SAY TO YOU IS GET THE
SHOT AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN.
FOR MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN SAYING
YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP FOR
APPOINTMENTS, YOU HAVE TO WAIT
YOUR TURN, YOU HAVE TO WAIT
YOUR AGE GROUP THAT IS NOT THE
CASE ANYMORE BECAUSE WE ARE NOW
CREATING THE SUPPLY WE NEED SO
EVERY PERSON CAN GET A VACCINE.
IF YOU ARE CONCERNED WE WERE
JUST SPEAKING ABOUT THE FACT
THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT VACCINE
HESITATION IN COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
IT IS NOT ACTUALLY HESITATION
IT IS LARGELY LACK OF ACCESS
AND IT IS A HISTORICAL
UNDERSTANDING THAT COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT AND
NOT TO.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE NOW WE ARE
CHANGING THE NARRATIVE.
WE NEED EVERYBODY'S HELP TO GO
OUT AND GET VACCINATED AND TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE
SUNSHINE, THE LIGHT, THE WATER.
HOPE THAT WE HAVE THAT WE CAN
COME BACK AND CREATE THAT JUST
AND EQUITABLE FUTURE WE HAVE
BEEN FIGHTING FOR, FOR SO LONG.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THEIR
TREMENDOUS WORK YOU HAVE
ALREADY DONE TO HELP QUICKLY
GET OUR VACCINES TO US IN
SEATTLE AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE
HEALTHCARE A HUMAN RIGHT.
WITH THAT IT IS MY DEEP
PLEASURE AND PRIVILEGE TO
INTRODUCE A GOOD GOOD FRIEND
FROM MY DAYS OF IMMIGRANTS
RIGHTS ORGANIZING.
THE HOUSING AND I HAVE TO LOOK
AT YOUR TITLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE
A NEW TITLE SINCE I WORKED WITH
THE.
HOUSING AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AT ONE OF
THE MOST BELOVED COMMUNITY
CENTERS IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT
YOU ARE DOING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
REPRESENTATIVE. GOOD AFTERNOON,
ON BEHALF OF OUR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AND EVERYONE WE ARE
HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY WAS
SUCH A DISTINGUISHED GROUP OF
SPEAKERS.
THE CENTER FOR PEOPLE OF ALL
RACES HAS BEEN ONE OF THE
PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET
VACCINATED FOR COVID-19.
BECAUSE VACCINE POP-UPS ARE
HAPPENING WITH PARTNERS LIKE
THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
WITH THE CHIEF AND OTHER HEALTH
AND COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ICHS , WE
ARE HAPPY TO SHARE SO FAR WE
HAVE HELD 11 POP-UP VACCINE
EVENTS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO
HOLD VACCINE EVENTS TO ENSURE
EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THE MOST
VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF THE
VACCINE. HAVE ACCESS TO THE
SO FAR 1015 PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED
AT LEAST THE FIRST VACCINE SO
FAR. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING ABOUT
ONE POP-UP A WEEK AND NEXT WEEK
WE WILL HAVE TWO VACCINE EVENTS.
WE HAVE ALL SEEN HOW THE COVID-
19 PANDEMIC HAS LAID BARE
RACIAL DISPARITY, PEOPLE OF
COLOR AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES
HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY
AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC.
BY THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE
INFECTED AND BY THE ECONOMIC
IMPACT.
THE MOST RECENT KING COUNTY
DATA CONTINUES TO SHOW
PRONOUNCED RACIAL INEQUITIES
AMONG COVID-19 CASES,
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT
EVERYONE, THAT WE CONTINUE TO
REACH OUT AND MAKE SURE HE'S
VACCINE ARE GETTING TO
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
AS EVERYONE IN THE STATE BECAME
ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE ON
APRIL 15th IT CONTINUES TO BE
IMPORTANT THAT EQUITY CENTERED
VACCINE DISTRIBUTION IS A
PRIORITY AND A KEY PART OF THE
STRATEGY IS TO OVERCOME RACIAL
AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES TO
ENSURE VULNERABLE PEOPLE ARE
VACCINATED AND WE ALL OVERCOME
THE PANDEMIC TOGETHER.
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE OURS ARE TRUSTED PLACES
WHERE MANY PEOPLE FEEL MORE
COMFORTABLE TO GET THE VACCINE.
TRUSTED PROVIDERS ARE KEY TO
OVERCOMING THESE RACIAL AND
ECONOMIC DISPARITIES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY-
BASED POP-UPS BECAUSE WE KNOW
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT NEED
TO BE VACCINATED AND COMMUNITY-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS ARE PLAYING
AN IMPORTANT ROLE.
WE ALL MUST CONTINUE TO SHARE
THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING
VACCINATED.
IT IS ABOUT SAVING LIVES.
GETTING VACCINATED KEEPS
OURSELVES, OUR FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES SAFE AND HEALTHY.
IN CLOSING I WANT TO SHARE
ANYONE WHO WANTS AN APPOINTMENT
CAN GO TO THE CITY WEBSITE,
CALL THE CITY AND GET A
VACCINATION APPOINTMENT THIS
WEEK.
ALSO NEXT WEEK ON THE FOURTH
AND MAY 6th WE WILL HOLD
VACCINE EVENTS AS WELL.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE
SECRETARY, THE 25th SECRETARY
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES AND THE FIRST
LATINO TO HOLD THE OFFICE IN
THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED
STATES.
THE SECRETARY SERVED 12 TERMS
IN CONGRESS AS A MEMBER OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND
THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER THE
SECRETARY HAS MADE IT HIS
PRIORITY TO ENSURE THAT
AMERICANS HAVE ACCESS TO THE
AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE THAT THEY
NEED TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE FROM
HIS EARLY DAYS AS A LEGAL
ADVOCATE REPRESENTING
INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
TO HIS ROLE AS A ATTORNEY
GENERAL OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA.
WELCOME SECRETARY.
>> THANK YOU AND BEFORE I
SPEAK, KATHY I THINK WE WERE
GOING TO HAVE YOU SPEAK AS
WELL.
LET ME HAVE KATHY SAY SOME
WORDS AS WELL.
SHE IS HERE REPRESENTING
FATHERS AND SONS TOGETHER.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE WORK
SHE HAS DONE WITH HER
ORGANIZATION GETS THE TRIBUTE
THAT NEEDS AS WELL.
KATHY LET ME HAVE YOU SAY SOME
WORDS FIRST.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING
FATHERS AND SONS TOGETHER.
WE ARE OFTEN KNOWN BY FAST OUR
ACRONYM.
WELCOME SECRETARY.
TO RAINIER BEACH.
MY NAME IS KATHY WILMORE, MY
INCREDIBLE HUSBAND LARRY AND I
ARE THE COEXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
AND FOUNDERS OF FAST.
AND HAVE SERVED IN THIS
CAPACITY FOR 10 YEARS.
WE PURCHASED OUR HOME IN
RAINIER BEACH IN 1994 WE HAVE
RAISE OUR TWO AMAZING SONS
LAWRENCE AND LINCOLN.
RAINIER BEACH IS OUR HOME AND
COMMUNITY.
AS THE PANDEMIC HAS DEVASTATED
OUR NATION OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN
SHAKEN.
FAST QUICKLY READJUSTED THE
PROGRAMMING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT
OUR COMMUNITY HOWEVER WE COULD.
WE RESPONDED TO THE FOOD
INSECURITIES BY PARTNERING WITH
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
SOUTHEAST YOUTH AND FAMILY
SERVICES, SAFEWAY AND ASCENDANT
TO PROVIDE WEEKLY FAMILY CARE
PACKAGES INCLUDING FOOD,
CLEANING SUPPLIES, BLEACH AND
THE INFAMOUS TOILET PAPER.
WE ALSO HOSTED A FUN EVENT WE
CALLED HOLIDAY AT THE BEACH, A
DRIVE-THROUGH TOY GIVEAWAY
WHERE WE GO SUPPLIES AND TRIED
TO SPREAD A LITTLE JOY AND
HAPPINESS WITH A DRIVE-THROUGH
SANTA.
SO, WHEN WE HEARD ABOUT THE
HIGH PREVALENCE OF COVID-19 IN
RAINIER BEACH AND HOW IT
AFFECTED OUR ELDERS WE RESPONDED
BECAUSE WE CARE.
WE KNEW WE HAD TO GET MEMBERS
OF THE COMMUNITY VACCINATED AND
PROTECTED.
WE SIGNED UP HUNDREDS TO GET
VACCINATED AND HAD A BLAST
HEARING FROM FAMILIES WHO
CALLED US AFTER RECEIVING THEIR
SHOTS. WE CONTINUED TO
ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY TO GET VACCINATED BY
VISITING SEATTLE.GOV AND
SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR
DURKAN AND HER TEAM, CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALE IS, KING
COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER, THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND
THE AMAZING SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP AND THE
RAINIER BEACH A BEAUTIFUL SAFE
PLACE FOR YOUTH INITIATIVE FOR
CONTINUED FOCUS ON SERVING OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO WANT TO THANK WONDERFUL
VOLUNTEERS.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ALL
THE CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE WHO
RESPONDED TO OUR CALL TO
ACTION.
THIS HAS DEFINITELY BEEN A
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
IMAGINE WHAT FATHERS AND SONS
TOGETHER COULD DO IF WE WERE
FULLY FUNDED.
IMAGINE THE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES WE COULD OFFER
LIKE THE FIRST FAST RESOURCE
AND OUTREACH CENTER OR FAST
ROCK.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING OUR
COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS TO
COME WITH YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY
THANKING THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE
FOR LETTING ME COME VISIT.
EVERY TIME I ASK ABOUT THE
REASONS FOR THE SUCCESS I END
UP GETTING THE SAME ANSWER.
THE SOURCE OF THE SUCCESS
ALWAYS POINTS TO ONE PLACE AND
ONE PERSON, MAYOR DURKAN.
EVERY TIME.
WHY ARE WE SUCCEEDING SO MUCH?
MAYOR DURKAN.
WHY HAVE WE HAD SUCH SUCCESS
GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED?
MAYOR DURKAN AND WORKING WITH
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE
CONSTANTINE I THINK IT IS A
DYNAMIC DUO THAT THE CITY AND
THE COUNTY ARE WORKING SO CLOSE
TOGETHER SO WE OWE THEM A GREAT
DEAL OF ATTITUDE.
CHIEF I WANT TO MENTION EVERY
TIME YOU FIND SOMEBODY BEING
SAVED OR SOMEONE BEING HELPED
SOMEHOW THERE IS A FIREFIGHTER
BEHIND IT AND SO MUCH SO THAT I
THINK THE CAPTAIN WAS TELLING
ME SHE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
PERMANENT ASSIGNMENT HERE TO
úTHIS PARTICULAR SITE. I THINK
SHE LIKES THE LAKE IN THE
BACKGROUND.
SO CAPTAIN WAS A GREAT TOUR
GUIDE AND I HAVE A FEELING THE
WORK SHE AND HER COLLEAGUES IN
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE DONE
HAS REALLY HELPED SAVE A LOT OF
LIVES.
IF YOU WILL COMMUNICATE TO THE
MEN AND WOMEN OF YOUR FIRE
DEPARTMENT, WE THANK YOU FOR
WHAT YOU DO.
YOU HAVE GOT THE WARRIORS HERE
ALTHOUGH THOSE ARE THE SAN
FRANCISCO WARRIORS.
BUT IT IS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO
SEE THIS TEAM IN ACTION.
TEAM SEATTLE HAS DONE
PHENOMENAL WORK FROM THE VERY
FIRST DAY THAT WE STARTED TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PANDEMIC
UNTIL TODAY.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT PRESIDENT
BIDEN AND THE ADMINISTRATION WE
WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY
OTHER THAN WE HAVE EARNED A
SPOT ON TEAM SEATTLE TO HELP
WITH THE VACCINATION OF THE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND MAKE THIS
HOME.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW,
WHATEVER IT IS.
IF YOU WANT US TO BLOCK, CATCH
OR PASS WE ARE READY.
WE WANT TO BE PART OF THIS
TEAM.
I SEND THE MESSAGE FROM
WASHINGTON D.C. BECAUSE THE
PRESIDENT IS SERIOUS, HE WAS
SERIOUS WITH THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN AND HERE'S WHERE WE
HAVE TO STOP FOR JUST A MOMENT
BECAUSE WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT
THIS AS IF IT IS A DONE DEAL,
THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WAS
FAR FROM A DONE DEAL, THE
PRESIDENT PUT REAL MUSCLE
BEHIND IT BUT HERE YOU HAVE TO
THANK YOUR REPRESENTATIVE.
FOR THE WORK SHE DID TO MAKE
SURE AT THE END OF THE DAY WE
HAD THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN
FOR ALL AMERICANS.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR THE WORK
YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES, MANY
OF MY FORMER COLLEAGUES DID BUT
IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU HAVE
REPRESENTATION WORKING SO HARD
FOR YOU.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHAT I
HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST ONE AND
HALF DAYS OF VISITING HERE IN
SEATTLE IS IMPRESSIVE.
STILL HAVE WORK TO DO.
I HAVE SEEN HOW SOME OF THE
NUMBERS ARE CREEPING UP A
LITTLE BIT ON COVID AND THE
CASES AND WE WANT TO KEEP IT
DOWN.
SO THE MASK IS IMPORTANT,
PLEASE LET'S CONTINUE TO BE
SAFE NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES BUT
FOR FAMILIES, LOVED ONES,
NEIGHBORS.
PEOPLE WE CALL FRIENDS WE HAVE
AN OBLIGATION TO DO THIS FOR
EACH OTHER.
PLEASE, AS YOU HAVE JUST HEARD
FROM THIS TEAM, THE VACCINE IS
HERE.
YOU CAN GET RIGHT THROUGH.
WE NEED YOU TO COME THROUGH.
WE WILL BE PART OF THIS TEAM WE
ARE NOT DONE.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
UNDERSTANDS WE STILL HAVE
THINGS TO DO WITH YOU WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE SUPPLY IS THERE,
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE
AND WE WANT TO COORDINATE.
WILL MAKE SURE WE REACH OUT TO
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES THAT
SO OFTEN HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND.
IT IS TIME FOR EVERYONE NOT
JUST IN SEATTLE BUT ACROSS
AMERICA, WE ARE NOT GOING TO
MISS YOU JUST BECAUSE OF YOUR
ZIP CODE.
SO THE MESSAGE SHOULD GO OUT
LOUD AND CLEAR THE PRESIDENT IS
VERY SERIOUS AND IF YOU DID NOT
THINK HE WAS YOU SHOULD'VE
HEARD HIM LAST NIGHT BECAUSE WE
ARE NOT DONE.
IF WE CAN GET THIS AMERICAN
FAMILIES PLAN DONE WITH THE
AMERICAN JOBS PLAN THE WAY WE
GOT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN
DONE AND THAT'S WHERE WE LOOK
AT THE MUSCLE OF THE MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS WHO REPRESENT THIS
AREA TO GET THAT DONE I WILL
TELL YOU THAT WE WILL BRING
AMERICA FULLY BACK.
AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO PUT THIS
ON A PICTURE FRAME AND SAY
THOSE WERE THE DAYS.
THE KIDS AND GRANDKIDS WILL ASK
YOU WHAT IS THAT?
WE WILL BE ABLE TO SAY WE
TACKLED THAT, IT WAS CALLED
COVID-19 AND WE DID IT FOR ALL
AMERICANS BUT WE DID IT BECAUSE
WE HAVE A LEADER NAMED JOE
BIDEN WHO UNDERSTANDS AND WE DO
FOR AMERICA.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO,
WHAT A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH
YOU AND BE PART OF THIS TEAM.
>> THANK YOU MR. SECRETARY.
A GREAT THANK YOU BECAUSE THEY
AND THE OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS.
WE CANNOT BE HERE WITHOUT THEM.
I WILL TAKE A FEW QUESTIONS BUT
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE TWO THINGS.
ONE, I GOT THE MOST RECENT
NUMBERS.
WE ARE AT 67% OF SEATTLE
RESIDENTS WITH AT LEAST THEIR
FIRST VACCINATION.
LET'S PUSH THAT UP AND WE WILL
PUT YOU ON TEAM SEATTLE FOR THE
REST OF THE TERM.
I WAS ON CALL LAST NIGHT AFTER
THE SPEECH AND A REPORTER ASKED
WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE THE
ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT AND
THE SHORT ANSWER IS EVERYTHING.
LAST NIGHT STARTED WITH THANK
YOU MADAME SPEAKER AND MADAME
VICE PRESIDENT IT WAS AMAZING.
WE WILL TAKE A FEW QUESTIONS
FOR THE SECRETARY PREDOMINANTLY
OR ANY OF US WHO ARE UP HERE.
>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> THE QUESTION WAS HOW WILL WE
GET SUCCESS FOR THE PILOT
PROGRAMS? WE HAVE SET EXTRA
HOURS, THE POP-UP AT THE
SOUNDER GAME, WE WILL BE
GAUGING SUCCESS BY CAN WE GET
SHOTS INTO ARMS AND CAN WE DO
IT EQUITABLY AND QUICKLY?
I THOUGHT THE TIDE WOULD TURN
LATER IN MAY THAT WE WOULD HAVE
MORE SUPPLY BUT BECAUSE OF THE
ACTIONS OF THE PRESIDENT WE NOW
HAVE SUPPLY ENOUGH FOR ANYBODY
WHO WANTS TO GET VACCINATED.
THE SECRETARY HIMSELF PLAYED A
ROLE IN THAT AS DID THE
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SO THE
REAL TEST IS GETTING PEOPLE
VACCINATED.
AS EXECUTIVE CONSTANTINE SAID
THIS IS A RACE BETWEEN
VACCINATIONS AND THE VIRUS AND
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
VACCINATIONS WIN.
THEY ARE NOT JUST THE ROAD TO
REOPENING AND RECOVERY THEY ARE
ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN
FINALLY DO WHERE WE HAVE SOME
CONTROL BECAUSE FOR THE LAST
ONE AND HALF YEARS WE HAVE BEEN
AT THE PERIL OF THE VIRUS.
HAVING TO CHANGE THE DIALS
BECAUSE OF IT BUT NOW WE HAVE
CONTROL.
URGING EVERYONE GET VACCINATED
BUT WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO WEAR YOUR
MASK.
DO NOT HAVE LARGE GATHERINGS
AND KEEP DISTANCE.
IF YOU'RE 20 TO 35 YEARS OLD,
GET A GROUP REVIEW, SIGN UP AND
GO GET VACCINATED.
DO IT TOGETHER BECAUSE WE WOULD
RATHER SEE MANY MORE YOUTH
VACCINATED THAN THE NUMBERS
GETTING SICK.
THANK YOU MUCH EVERYBODY FOR
EVERYTHING.