Social Media Spotlight: Have a say at KC Metro Facebook
Learn more and get involved in Metro’s plans for the future and the current projects underway. for more information about King County Metro, please visit www.kingcounty.gov/metro.
Follow Have a say at KC Metro on Facebook today.
Click here to view all King County social media pages.
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Tech Tip: King County Information Technology alerts employees to two new security flaws
King County Information Technology is managing two new security flaws that you may have seen or heard about in the last several days. “Meltdown” and “Spectre” could allow hackers to lift passwords, photos, documents and other data from smartphones and PCs. These flaws affect most computers, laptops, smartphones, and servers.
All major tech companies are aware and managing the problem.
Microsoft and Apple have both released patches for PCs, iOS, Macs and Apple TV. Cell carriers will deploy patches to smartphones. KCIT is currently deploying patches to all King County devices. King County employees can protect their personal devices by downloading patches which have been deployed in the last 48 hours.
As always, if you see something unusual on a work device, shut down your computer and contact the HelpDesk immediately at 20-.263-HELP (4357).
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Kudos! Rider appreciates starting off the new year with helpful, positive Metro operator
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King County is updating its 20-year plan for how to manage garbage and recycling – tell us what you think
King County, together with its 37 partner cities, has developed a long-term plan that presents strategies for managing waste. Public review and comment is now being sought on the draft Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan (draft plan) and draft Environmental Impact Statement (draft EIS). Public comments on these two far-reaching documents will inform policy maker decisions on how garbage and recycling is managed in King County for the next six to 20 years.
The public can make their voices heard by completing an online survey, sending an email to the Solid Waste Division, or by attending an upcoming open house.
Visit www.kingcounty.gov/solid-waste-comp-plan to learn more about the draft plan and draft EIS, take the survey, and find out details about the upcoming open houses.
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Chinook Emergency Preparedness Fair draws a big crowd
Shared from the DCHS Touching Base Newsletter
DCHS’s Safety and Emergency Management Committee and King County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) teamed up to bring an Emergency Preparedness Fair to Chinook on Nov. 30, 2017.
The fair was a big hit, drawing more than 160 King County staff during the two-hour period. Attendees had the opportunity to get resources and learn from seven exhibitors:
- King County OEM
- Public Health
- FMD Security
- DNRP’s Flood Warning Center
- Safety and Claims Management
- Puget Sound Energy
- Supply vendor American Preparedness
All exhibitors received a lot of traffic and engagement from attendees, who were appreciative of the resources (and swag!) offered. Attendees also had the opportunity to buy emergency supplies from supply vendor American Preparedness, as well as enter a drawing to win raffle prizes.
The Chinook Emergency Preparedness Fair was brought to you in part by DCHS’s Safety and Emergency Management Committee!
View more photos of this event on SharePoint.
To learn more about what DCHS is doing in our community, read the most recent issue of the Touching Base Newsletter (on SharePoint).
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Video of Executive Dow Constantine at King County’s 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
King County Executive Dow Constantine delivers the keynote address during King County’s 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at The Sanctuary in downtown Seattle. Click here to read a full transcript of the Executive’s prepared remarks.
View the entire King County 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration below.
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Construction on Water Taxi’s future home hits milestone, on track for fall 2018 completion
Crossposted from the Captain’s Blog
This year will be a big one for King County Water Taxi as we inch closer toward operating out of a new, weather-protected facility on the Seattle waterfront.
But first things first – we need to build it.
Our contractor reached a milestone last month when they installed the final pile under our future passenger-only ferry terminal on the south end of Colman Dock (check out these photos of the work).
While the Washington State Department of Transportation will continue installing piles under other portions of Colman Dock as part of its five-year renovation of the state’s busiest terminal, we can begin preparing the site and building the structure for the passenger-only ferry terminal.
Read more at the Captain’s Blog
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Executive Constantine names Casey Sixkiller as Chief Operating Officer
In naming Casey Sixkiller to his senior leadership team, King County Executive Dow Constantine added an experienced leader and public policy expert with strong ties across the region. Sixkiller is founder and managing partner of his own public affairs firm in Washington, D.C.
“I am thrilled to have Casey join our team. His background and experience will bring a new perspective to our senior leadership, and help us fulfill my agenda for an inclusive, equitable, and prosperous community,” said Executive Constantine. “As one of King County’s advisors in the other Washington, Casey provided insight and strategy on transportation, public health, and a variety of other issues. All of us look forward to having Casey back in Seattle to help us meet the needs of a rapidly changing region.”
Born and raised in Seattle, Sixkiller began his career as a legislative assistant to former Rep. Jim McDermott, handling transportation issues during the early years of Sound Transit’s efforts to build the initial segment.
Read more in the official press release.
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Reminder: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, January 11
King County employees are invited to attend the annual King County Martin Luther King Jr. event from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. this Thursday, January 11, 2018 at the Sanctuary, located at 811 5th Ave. in downtown Seattle.
Many employees in downtown Seattle work within walking distance of the event venue, and we encourage you to walk or take public transit. The building has an ADA accessible entrance on 5th Ave. and an attendant will be standing by to offer assistance to anyone who should require it. We encourage employees coming from outside downtown Seattle to look at transit and carpool options.
Fifty years after the assassination of Dr. King, we look forward to an afternoon of reflection and celebration of his legacy and what it means in King County today.
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is a County-sponsored event and King County directors, managers, and supervisors are encouraged to permit employees to participate, if possible. Read King County’s HR Bulletin regarding employee attendance at County-sponsored events for more information. Your attendance is of course voluntary.
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Spotlighting the Civil Rights Program during MLK celebration week
Fulfilling the dream of King County’s namesake is the focus of the office of Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) and its Civil Rights Program.
Matthew Butler is the Civil Rights Program manager here in Martin Luther King County. “Being the Civil Rights Program manager in the county named after our country’s most prominent Civil Rights leader is an honor that means a lot to me and that I take great pride in,” Matthew said.
The Civil Rights Program is one resource for County employees who feel they have been discriminated against based on race, gender, national origin, age, religion, sexual orientation or disability. The Program also investigates housing discrimination complaints from residents of unincorporated King County, and handles fair contracting and public accommodations cases.
Matthew practiced law as a prosecutor and defense attorney for 15 years prior to his current role leading the King County Civil Rights Program. He now resolves employment complaints and rules on whether unlawful employment practices have occurred under the King County Fair Employment Code.
“My current focus is on creating awareness about the Civil Rights Program so that employees know that there’s a person they can talk to about their workplace, and to be a resource where they can get information about their rights without having to file an actual employment complaint,” Matthew said. “Anyone is welcome to talk to me about employment issues, and those conversations are confidential.”
If a formal complaint is filed, a written response is required from the department, witness interviews are conducted and relevant evidence and documents are evaluated. After the investigation, Matthew issues his findings of fact and conclusions of law.
“Unlike some other investigations, Civil Rights cases are generally a more formal inquiry where I act as a neutral fact finder in the case,” Matthew said. “However, over the past year, the Civil Rights Program has placed a greater emphasis on trying to amicably resolve workplace issues, instead of just deciding which party wins or loses; some cases must come to a final ruling, but going forward, we are working to have more cases end in compromise because we believe that is better for the work environment in the long run.”
ESJ, spearheaded by Arun Sambataro, is also in the process of developing a model to provide guidance for employees and department leaders on how they can better engage in workplace conflict to enhance employment relationships.
“We all aspire to build work environments where employees are meeting their manager’s expectations and are happy at work,” Matthew said. “And that is what I strive to achieve here in our Civil Rights Program.”
For questions, contact Matthew Butler at Matthew.Butler@kingcounty.gov. To find out more about King County’s ESJ work click click here.
This year, the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration will take place on Thursday, January 11, 2018, from 1 – 2:30 p.m. at The Sanctuary, located at 811 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104.
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