Renton Mayor Publishes Weekly Newsletter

Press release from the City of Renton:

August 22, 2020

It's easy to forget the 2020 Census is underway. If you've responded, thank you! If you have not, why wait? Click the image to start the process. Make sure Renton Counts!

Mayor's Newsletter

In my weekly newsletter I cover all that is happening in Renton, including the most current COVID-19 updates and information from state and federal officials and agencies.

• Use the language button above to translate
• Subscribe

COVID-19 Resources

The city has compiled resources from several city, county, state and federal entities into a comprehensive COVID-19 page.

• City COVID-19 information

Issue: 58 / Friday, August 21, 2020

The Renton Senior Activity Center is continuing to connect with our seniors through a lunch program, parades and regular calls and online meetings.

Honoring our seniors on National Senior Citizens Day

Today is National Senior Citizens Day. It's the annual reminder of what we do every day in Renton: commit ourselves to our older populations by honoring their contributions and engaging in their lives.

In honor of today, Community Services staff from the center and others held a second "Senior Parade of Positivity" through three senior-care facilities. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, the staff was greeted enthusiastically by the seniors. They passed out gifts and made sure the seniors knew how much they were missed.

Seniors need our friendship more than ever. The closure of the senior activity center due to COVID-19 has taken away their hub for activities and community. Our Community Services staff have done their best to keep in contact with the seniors. They've distributed over 11,000 lunches and connected with phone calls, online meetings and a monthly newsletter full of information.

The center is also losing Debbie Little, who is retiring at the end of the month. For the past 30+ of her 40 years with the city, she has been guiding programs and activities at the center, making it an extraordinary place. The center is also losing Lisa McMartin and Lisa Wivag, who have an additional 40 years with the city. Thank you Debbie, Lisa, and Lisa for your combined 80 years with the city and our best wishes for happy and healthy retirements.

Information System update

Access to some of our information systems is currently limited as a result of a cybersecurity incident we discovered on August 19. We have launched an investigation of the incident with the assistance of a cybersecurity firm.

While some communications systems are down, I want to assure you that critical operations such as public safety and utility systems are functioning. We are working diligently to bring our systems back online, and you can get a list of currently available city services at rentonwa.gov/security. We appreciate your patience as we work through this incident.

Renton Census Countdown Day 2020

Don't forget we're celebrating Renton Census Countdown 2020 Day on Saturday, August 22. The day consists of three events designed to get a more accurate count of residents in undercounted areas of Renton.

If you haven’t filled out your form, join us from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Benson Hill Fred Meyer (17801 108th Ave. SE), 200 Mill Building (200 Mill Ave. S) downtown and Fire Station 12 (1210 Jefferson Ave. NE) in the Sunset area.

These drive-through events will feature multilingual census ambassadors equipped with iPads to help submit your responses. We also have a $10 gift certificate as a thank you for submitting your form, and Renton Chamber of Commerce is providing discount coupons to downtown Renton businesses. If that's not enough incentive, we'll also have free ice cream treats and officers from Renton Police Department and Renton Regional Fire Authority. It should be a fun time that will ultimately benefit all of us.

Archives

Read back issues of the Mayor's Newsletter.

Also new in this edition

Statewide requirement to wear face coverings

Public Health - Seattle King County COVID-19 Dashboard

• August 20 - King County dedicates $41 million to COVID-19 related rental assistance and eviction prevention
• August 20 - Governor issues guidance for museums, bowling and agritourism; updates guidance for outdoor recreation
• August 19 - Governor issues proclamation requiring agricultural worker testing
• August 18 - King County awards COVID-19 relief grants to regional science organizations, arts and culture, and independent live music venues

Items of Interest or with deadlines

• August 13 - Governor issues proclamation for Washington COVID-19 Food Production Paid Leave Program
• August 13 - King County executive submits $87 million emergency COVID-19 budget for drive-through testing in South King County, housing, and childcare
• August 12: Funds to Connect 60,000 Students to Online Learning Released (OSPI)
• August 6: City will waive late fees and penalties and will not shut off water service, in accordance with the governor's Proclamation 20-23.7, until the termination of the COVID-19 State of Emergency or after October 15, 2020, whichever comes first (July 31, 2020)
• Puget Sound Energy has additional dollars available in its COVID and other bill assistance programs (deadline is September 1)
• PSE Foundation launches new competitive grants to aid in response and recovery of COVID-19 pandemic (deadlines are August 31 and October 1)
• July 28 - Governor presses "pause" in phased re-opening
• July 28 - Washington State Department of Health launches CORONA Survey
• July 24 - Governor extends moratorium on evictions through Oct. 15

COVID-19 Resources

• City COVID-19 information

This press release was produced by the City of Renton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.