Local News
Johns
continued from page 1
quent offense. The measure would also
direct the revenue from these penalties to
local jurisdictions to help pay for increased
enforcement and prevention measures.
“This legislation sends a firm message to
those abusing women and children through
prostitution that Washington State will not
put up with their criminal behavior any
longer. It is meant to be a deterrent for such
crimes,” said Parker (R-Spokane). “Those
who are caught promoting prostitution will
pay more, and this money will be used to
help victims transition away from the unfor-
tunate situations they find themselves in.”
Both bills now head to the Senate for fur-
ther consideration.
‘Those who are caught
promoting prostitution
will pay more, and this
money will be used to
help victims’
Reps. Tina Orwall and Kevin Parker discussing legislation.
Elders
continued from page 1
Seattle City Council member Nick Licata
attended and spoke at the event. He shared
a personal story of his stepson who receives
care and noted, “What happens when we
become too old to take care of him? What
does his future look like?” He urged the
crowd to contact City Council members in
support of the city council resolution and
stressed that this is a “social crisis that
we’re facing.”
Seattle City Council member Mike
O’Brien also attended the event, as well as
representatives from Senator Murray’s
office, Senator Cantwell’s office and Con-
gressman Jim McDermott’s office.
As America’s ‘age wave’ begins this year—with
one American turning 65 every eight seconds—
transforming long-term care will become even
more urgent
The event also featured personal stories by
older adults, home care and domestic work-
ers, and family members about the current
Care Crisis facing Seattle. It was an oppor-
tunity for people to connect across racial,
ethnic
and
generational
lines.
Kassandra Gonzalez, a domestic worker
and volunteer at Casa Latina shared her
story and struggles at the event. As a
domestic worker, Kassandra feels she’s dis-
criminated against because domestic work-
ers are excluded from labor protections and
lack access to health care. Many domestic
workers are either doing housekeeping
work, or working as care givers without
legal documentation and without a pathway
to citizenship. “It will be like a dream come
true to have legal rights like every other
worker in the country,” Kassandra said at
the Care Congress.
Awareness
continued from page 1
behavior puts them at greater risk for HIV
should get tested once a year or more fre-
quently. For testing locations in King Coun-
ty, call 206-296-4649 or go to
www.kingcounty.gov/health/hiv.
HIV is an entirely preventable disease. To
do this we need to be aware. We need to get
The CDC
recommends that
everyone age 13-64
who is sexually active
should test for HIV at
least once
involved. And we need to get tested!
The National Black HIV/AIDS Aware-
ness Day event was presented by Center for
Multicultural Health, HIV Vaccine Trials
Unit, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Mount Zion
Baptist Church, Neighborhood House/Pro-
ject HANDLE, People of Color Against
AIDS Network, and Public Health – Seattle
& King County.
Rev. Dr. Linda Smith, Pastor of the Church of Mary Magdalene, getting tested for HIV at Mount Zion Baptist Church.
February 15, 2012 The Seattle Skanner Page 3