Dear Friends,
Last week, Governor Inslee issued updated guidance for agritourism and the agriculture industry, both allowing for additional activities to take place, and ensuring that the health of our agricultural workers is prioritized.
The updated guidance builds on a previous proclamation that focused on food and farmworker health. The new guidance specifies who can monitor workers during isolation, and ensures that licensed health professionals are in charge of monitoring these essential workers.
Additionally, the guidance allows for the following activities:
- Animal Viewing
- Hay/Wagon/Train Rides
- Children’s Play Equipment/Games
- Private Firepit/Bonfires
Read the full updated guidance here.
It’s incredibly important that we continue to do our part in supporting the people and the businesses who work tirelessly to put food on our tables. I’m grateful to Governor Inslee, and t everyone who has worked so hard to ensure that this is done in a safe, responsible way.
Keep reading for more on this Fantastic Friday.
“Stay Safe, Stay Healthy”
Rep. Debra Lekanoff
Trivia!
While the first Labor Day celebration was held in 1882 in New York, which state was the first one to pass a law making Labor Day a holiday in 1887?
Happy Labor Day!
Most years, Labor Day acts as a way to acknowledge the end of the summer, a chance to get together with our loved ones and neighbors to celebrate outside and thank all of the hard workers who have done so much for our communities, and for our country.
This year, much of that remains true! While we have to continue practicing social distancing, wear our face masks, and do everything we can to slow the spread of COVID-19, the same spirit of Labor Day shines through.
Thank you, Trevor, for your support! And for putting up my yard signs!
Thank you to Trevor Smith and everyone over at LiUNA for always standing by my side and supporting me – in this campaign and the last. Thank you to IAM Local 751, the American Federation of Teachers, the Washington State Nurses Association, and all of the other labor groups and unions that have endorsed my campaign!
I will always work on your behalf, doing everything in my power to help keep jobs secure and strengthen workers’ rights. Thank you for always keeping our communities going and growing.
Making Sure No One Goes Hungry
While we see our economy and businesses reopening, job numbers rising while unemployment falls, there are still so many who feel the devastating effects that COVID-19 has had across the country.
Right here in the 40th, there are countless people who continue to struggle as a result of the pandemic. It is my firm belief that we must take care of one another, our community has to look out for every single member, and we have to make sure that nobody goes hungry.
Our foodbanks have seen an incredible increase in demand – they’ve gone from serving a couple hundred meals a week to serving thousands. We have to better engage and communicate with local leaders to provide food and funding to these important food banks, we have to remove legislative barriers to provide for them, and we have to engage with the public to let everyone know how important volunteers are.
Click the links below to learn more about how you can support our foodbanks – donations go a long way. If you are able, I would urge you to consider volunteering in support of these institutions.
There are some great strides that have been made to provide food to Washingtonians, and in particular our students. As we discussed last week, Governor Inslee issued a proclamation guiding school districts on how they can utilize their school buses to deliver meals to children. For many children, these are the most important meals of their days.
Together we will make sure that nobody goes hungry, and I will continue working on behalf of all Washingtonians to ensure that there is enough food on every table.
Washington Listens
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on all of us, adding stress and uncertainty to our lives that we have never had to confront before. It’s easy to feel weighed down by everything happening in the world right now, but it can be difficult to ask for help. Thankfully, there’s a new service that can connect you to the right people in your community.
Washington Listens is a new, anonymous service that connects you to a live support specialist. The specialist receive basic training and are not mental health experts themselves, but they will be able to direct you to local resources that can provide the help and assistance that you need.
The program is completely anonymous, and no identifying information is maintained. For more information, click here or call 1-833-681-0211.
Make Sure You Are Heard
There are still a few weeks left for you to fill out the Census and make sure that you and your family are counted! We only do this enumeration once every ten years, and it is so very important that everyone fills it out. The number of people living in each state helps decide Congressional Representatives, how funding is allocated, and so much more.
Click here to fill out the 2020 Census.
This November will be one of the most consequential elections of our lifetimes. So much is at stake, and voting is the most direct way that you can influence our country. Unfortunately, so many people don’t cast their ballots every election – and I don’t want that to include you! Please register to vote, and vote as soon as you get your ballot!
Click here to check your voter registration status.
Digital Equity Initiative
Earlier this week, the Seattle Seahawks, Microsoft, Puget Sound Energy, and a group of philanthropic organizations, state agencies, and representatives of Indigenous communities launched the Digital Equity Initiative. The initiative is aimed at responding to the urgent needs for children and families struggling with digital access.
As work and school continue to be remote as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for high speed internet access has never been greater. Our students and families should not be held back based on a lack of access to something that has become so vital to our every day lives.
Utilities play a vital role in the infrastructure of our communities. They are the neighbors behind the scenes who work hard to get the job done so we all can have a brighter and better future. During this time of a pandemic, we value our utilities, businesses and industry for providing services that help our communities survive.
Endorsement Shoutouts!
It has been an honor to recieve the endorsement of so many incredible and dedicated individuals and groups, and I’m so excited to add another tremendous organization to the list! Keep an eye out this Monday – Labor Day! – for a very special endorsement announcement.
Rep. Lekanoff and Martha Kongsgaard in 2019
Thank you so much to Martha Kongsgaard, Tim Ballew III and Robert Glorioso, and Lisa Janick, for endorsing my campaign! Your support means so much to me, and I’m thrilled to have you beside me for my first reelection campaign!
Rep. Lekanoff and Lisa Janicki in 2018
Individual endorsements are an incredibly important part of my campaign. You can put your name next to mine and support my re-election by heading over to my website and filling out this form.
Rep. Lekanoff with Tim Ballew III and Robert Glorioso in 2019
These endorsements mean so much to me – they show that this is a campaign focused on people, and I would be honored to have your name added along with mine.
Trivia Answer!
Our neighbors to the south, Oregon, were the first state to pass a law making Labor Day a holiday.