Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Like many parents of young children, I cannot express the feeling of relief when the CDC approved the Pfizer vaccine for children 5-11 years old – and when my son George received his first dose this weekend!
But our work is far from over. Not everyone is able to access the vaccine because of pre-existing medical conditions, and many Washington children are still too young to receive it, including my 2-year-old daughter Eleanor. Their future is the hands of those of us who are eligible for the vaccine right now. We have the power to end this crisis once and for all, but it will take each and every one of us to do it.
For more information about vaccine clinics for Seattle Public School students, visit: https://www.seattleschools.org/news/vaccine-clinic/.
If you need help finding a vaccine clinic nearest you, visit: vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov.
The fight against toxic “forever chemicals”
Washington state has been a leader in the fight against PFAS or toxic “forever chemicals” found in many common household products since the 1950s, including non-stick cookware, water repellent clothing, stain resistant fabrics, firefighting foams, and cosmetics. Since these chemicals do not break down over time, they begin to accumulate in groundwater, soil, wildlife, and even our own bodies. While the long-term health effects of these toxic chemicals are still being investigated, initial studies have been linked to increased risks of kidney and testicular cancer, high cholesterol levels, increased risk of high blood pressure in pregnant women, decreased infant birth weight, and more.
That’s why I was alarmed to learn about a recent study that found significant levels of PFAS chemicals in the breastmilk of Puget Sound mothers. This is unacceptable.
Every family has a right to live in communities free from harmful contamination and toxic chemicals. That’s why I’m working on legislation to close loopholes in Washington’s groundbreaking Safer Products Act to allow the Department of Ecology to urgently eliminate these harmful chemicals from our communities.
Resources for rental assistance
While Governor Inslee’s statewide eviction moratorium expired on Oct. 31, it is more important than ever that information about rental assistance and legal help, including eviction resolution programs, and our state’s first in-the-nation legal counsel program for low-income tenants is made widely available.
For more information about the resources and services available to local tenants and landlords, visit the Washington State Department of Commerce’s website by clicking here.
Please know that I am closely monitoring the disparate impact the COVID-19 housing crisis has had on BIPOC communities and stand ready to take action if necessary. I remain hopeful that these policy changes and robust funding streams will keep people housed and avert the crisis that we have been trying to prevent since the beginning of the pandemic. Do not hesitate to reach out to my office if I can be of any help.
Small business stabilization grants now open
The Seattle Small Business Stabilization Fund is accepting new grant applications to support local small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible small businesses can use these funds to help with operational expenses like rent, wages, equipment, and more. The deadline to apply is Nov. 14 at 11:59 p.m. If you’re a small business owner in need of some additional support, don’t miss out on this opportunity. Apply today by clicking here.
It is an honor to represent you in Olympia. Please don’t hesitate to reach out anytime at liz.berry@leg.wa.gov. For more frequent updates, I invite you to follow my legislative Facebook page.
Best wishes,
Rep. Liz Berry