Thread by @CMLGonzalez

**NOTICE**Given the current public health #COVIDー19 crisis, I have made the difficult decision to end my 12-week maternity leave early and return to work effective this Thursday, March 19, 2020.  On that date, I will fully resume my Council President duties.

@CMTMosqueda will continue to serve as Council President Pro Tem through Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

Over the past several weeks, the circumstances have required me to engage more and more while on my maternity leave.  I am immensely grateful to Councilmembers @Lisa_Herbold, Debora Juarez (@D5Juarez) and @CMTMosqueda for their service as Pro Tems while I am on maternity leave.

A special thank you goes to @CMTMosqueda, who has spent much of her Pro Tem assignment dealing with the the impacts of this pandemic on the operations of the Legislative Department and our City’s response to the pandemic; all while juggling new motherhood.

I also want to thank my rockstar staff aka #TeamLorena—Brianna, Cody and Vy—for all the work they've done to continue serving the Legislative Department and the people of Seattle while I have been focusing on healing and bonding with my daughter Nadia, who is now 9 weeks old.

@SeattleCouncil’s staff — from technology, to communications, analysts, administrative and aides — have all done a phenomenal job adapting to and complying with #SocialDistancing recommendations while fulfilling their ongoing work demands.

While it is difficult to end my maternity leave early, I’m excited to transition back into full-time work to work with my @SeattleCouncil colleagues, @MayorJenny and our state and regional partners on the #COVIDー19 response and non-#COVIDー19 work that demands our attention.