Celebrating you during Public Service Recognition Week
This week we celebrate your work and the work of every public servant during Public Service Recognition Week, May 1 – 7, 2022.
We all come to public service from different places, bringing with us our unique perspectives, experiences, and skills. The work we do varies tremendously, but we are united by a desire to serve our community and make things better for the people who live here today, and for those who will follow.
This has never been more evident than during the COVID-19 pandemic. When our region was the first in the country to experience a COVID-19 outbreak, we showed what we can achieve when we listen to experts, base decisions on science, and unite our efforts to achieve a shared goal. We adjusted the way we delivered services – in-person and remotely – to ensure that people could access the support they needed while slowing the spread of COVID-19.
Together, we saved thousands of lives because collectively, were willing to do the simple, sensible things to protect ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and folks we didn’t even know. Because we cared about more than ourselves and worked together. That’s the power of public service.
And the pandemic hasn’t stopped us from doing the work we all came to King County to do. We’ve continued to deliver on our priorities for the people of this region and we will keep on delivering.
Thank you for everything that you do for the people of King County. I am proud to lead this County and proud to be your colleague in public service.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine, King County Executive
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Forty-five-year sentence for gunman who injured Metro employee Eric Stark
Cross-posted from Metro Matters
On April 22, a judge handed down a 45-year prison sentence to the gunman who killed two people and shot and injured two others, including Metro employee Eric Stark when he was driving a bus in Lake City.
Despite his gunshot wound, Eric backed his bus out of the area safely to protect the passengers onboard. Eric’s bravery and heroic actions saved the lives of his riders. Read more here.
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Administrative Professionals receive special recognition
The Administrative Professionals Recognition Day event held on Wednesday, April 27 was a huge success, celebrating these essential contributors who are Simply the Best at keeping King County running smoothly and efficiently on many levels.
View the full celebration on the AP Stream Channel and take the opportunity to recognize an administrative professional here. For more information about the Administrative Professionals Program, visit www.kingcounty.gov/administrativeprofessionals.
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What does Medium COVID-19 level mean for you? Latest data and steps to take with cases rising
Cross-posted from Public Health Insider
Based on Public Health’s latest data from Monday, April 25, our rate of cases now puts King County into the Medium COVID-19 Community Level as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): over 200 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day period.
To decrease risk over time, it’s critical to continue to focus on sustainable, long-term strategies. Click here to read more of this post and watch a video on how to reduce risk.
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Green River restoration project completed
King County Executive Dow Constantine recently congratulated staff and partners for completing a major restoration project along the Green River that has improved fish and wildlife habitat while protecting nearby farmland, homes, and roads from flooding and erosion.
The successful project near Auburn replaced the degraded Lones Levee, which was built in the 1960s, with a modern, integrated design that restores a critical section of the Green River to its natural state. View the video below and read the full story here.
Featured image courtesy of Eli Brownwell, King County Parks.
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FTA recognizes King County Metro with Most Equitable and Most Transformative awards
Cross-posted from the Federal Transportation Association Earth Day media release
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration recently recognized the exemplary efforts of 10 transit agencies across the nation to combat climate change through its Sustainable Transit for a Healthy Planet initiative.
Because of the dedication and hard work of its employees, King County Metro was recognized with the Most Equitable and Most Transformative awards. Read the full announcement here.
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Take a tour of land conservation successes in the Green-Duwamish Watershed
Protecting greenspace in urban communities is a significant challenge. The land is expensive to buy and it is more difficult to restore ecological functions in industrial river corridors than in less impacted ecosystems.
But for the Land Conservation Initiative – a regional partnership to protect the last, best 65,000 acres of the highest conservation value open space before they are lost forever – providing more equitable access to the outdoors and improving habitat for some of the most productive salmon runs in the state are calls to action. View the video below and click here to read about these various projects.
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Celebrating King County’s Administrative Professionals
Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 27 is Administrative Professionals Recognition Day, an opportunity to recognize and celebrate King County’s hard-working Administrative Professionals.
Administrative Professionals are the backbone of County operations. Many operate behind the scenes to make sure customers get access to the services they rely on and employees can do their best work for our community.
Whitney Abrams, King County’s Chief People Officer and Executive Sponsor of the Administrative Professionals Development and Recognition Program, said that she is looking forward to celebrating the achievements and contributions of Administrative Professionals.
“I see the impact of their remarkable work each and every day, and I am grateful they have brought their talents to King County,” Abrams said. “They help all of us be more effective in our work, and I look forward to celebrating them on this special day.”
The King County Administrative Professional Advisory Committee is hosting a celebratory virtual event for Administrative Professionals Recognition Day on Wednesday, April 27 at noon. The keynote speaker will be Anita Whitfield, Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer. All employees are welcome to attend and support King County’s Administrative Professionals. Find out more.
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Get free at-home COVID-19 tests
With COVID-19 cases slowly but steadily rising in our region over the past month, now is a good time to check your family’s supply of at-home rapid COVID-19 tests. It’s important to test if you have symptoms and before indoor group gatherings—especially if high-risk people are going to be present. If it’s time to restock, check out the following convenient options to get additional free test kits:
- Order at-home tests from the federal government at Covid.gov/tests. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to have two sets of four free at-home tests delivered without shipping fees. If you already ordered your first set, you can order a second one today.
- Order self-tests from Washington state at Sayyescovidhometest.org. Eligible households can place an order each calendar month for one kit of five free self-tests.
- Kaiser Permanente members can learn about additional free test options at COVID-19 testing information. You can order home-delivered tests at no cost, pick up tests at participating retail pharmacies or Kaiser clinics, or purchase tests and submit a claim for reimbursement. Your plan will cover up to eight at-home COVID-19 tests within a 30-day period for each person covered under your plan. You’ll be reimbursed up to $12 per test.
- Regence BlueShield members can use their CVS Caremark® card to order self-tests delivered to your home at CVS Home Covid Tests (shipping fees apply), pick up tests at participating retail pharmacies, or purchase tests and submit a claim to CVS for reimbursement. Your plan will cover up to eight at-home COVID-19 tests within a 30-day period for each person covered under your plan. You’ll be reimbursed up to $12 per test.
To learn more about self-tests–including what to do if your test is positive—visit COVID-19 self-testing.
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King County Superior Court receives technology award for outfitting courtrooms with video
Cross-posted from the King County Superior Court blog
While many courts across the country remained closed during early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote courtroom technology enabled King County Superior Court hold trials. From July 2020 to March 2021, Superior Court held more than 600 trials, including over 100 jury trials, and thousands of hearings.
Superior Court received the Technology Achievement Award in the Connected Government Category for “the successful delivery of a new, modern video system for 48 trial courtrooms to allow remote jury selection, participation, and witnesses for civil trials.” Click here to read the full announcement.
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