Pinwheels of Hope: Advocating for Children in King County
In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Dependency CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) proudly completed pinwheel installations at both the Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center (CCFJC) and the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC). Each pinwheel represents a child in King County currently in need of a CASA, serving as a powerful visual reminder of the impact our advocacy can have. The CASA signage, complete with a QR code, invites anyone interested to learn more about the program to get involved. With 380 children in active dependency cases needing CASA volunteers, we encourage you to visit the display, scan the QR code, or share the display with your networks to help spread the word. The installations will be displayed through May 5, 2025.
The mission of the Dependency CASA Program is to recruit, train and support community volunteers to represent the best interest of children, alleged to be abused and neglected, that are involved in Dependency proceedings. As part of King County Superior Court, the Dependency CASA Program strives to provide high quality best interest advocacy for children who have experienced abuse or neglect and to promote their safety, permanence and well-being. The primary obligation of this representation is to independently investigate the circumstances of the children and to make recommendations to court with regard to visitation, placement, and services for the family. To learn more, visit kingcountycasa.org.
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Supervisor Spotlight: Highlighting those behind the scenes who keep us moving
Crossposted from Metro Matters
It takes a lot of people to keep a transit system running smoothly across 150 routes and over 300,000 boardings a day.
Bus drivers are the most visible part of any transit system, but there are people behind the scenes who are just as vital in the day-to-day operation of King County Metro.
Their responsibilities include training operators, planning the routes that run throughout the region, and literally being the “traffic controllers” who keep track of the buses on their daily runs.
They’re also the former bus drivers who use their knowledge to guide current drivers. Some were interested in transit from a young age and who put their backgrounds from other fields into good use.
And sometimes, they’re invisible co-pilots that help you get where you need to go when you ride with Metro.
We’d like to introduce you to the staff that help keep the wheels on the bus going “round and round” every day. Read more.
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How King County is making affordable housing more resilient and sustainable in the face of climate change
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections
Across Washington and here in King County, we’re seeing the devastating impacts of a changing climate on our communities, from wildfires to heat waves, ice storms, and polluted air. In response, we’re helping communities become more resilient by supporting affordable housing that withstands extreme weather events and environmental challenges.
“For us, creating affordable housing for everyone means that we’re not only providing homes to people who have been pushed out. We’re also mending the ties within and between communities that were severed by displacement and healing our environment through sustainable design and community planning that center the health of residents and our surrounding ecosystems,” said Sunaree Marshall, King County Housing and Community Development Division Director. “Lack of planning and funding for affordable housing and commercial space, paired with escalating real estate prices leads to displaced families and communities. When people are displaced, they typically move to less climate resilient locations – further from transit, community services, and cultural institutions.” Read more.
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King County and labor partners renew Master Community Workforce Agreement
King County, the Seattle Building and Construction Trades Council, and the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters have renewed a Master Community Workforce Agreement (MCWA) for another five years. First signed in 2020, the MCWA is a comprehensive pre-hire collective bargaining agreement that serves as a standard Project Labor Agreement. It sets basic terms and conditions of employment on the county’s public works construction projects.
The MCWA acts as the mechanism for implementing the county’s highly successful Priority Hire Program, which prioritizes local workers from economically distressed areas on construction projects.
“This agreement demonstrates our shared commitment to diversity, safety, and collective bargaining agreements in the construction industry,” said King County Executive Shannon Braddock. “The MCWA has been incredibly successful, creating thousands of living-wage jobs while diversifying and strengthening our local construction workforce.” Read more.
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Discounts available for Seattle Symphony “100 Years of Epic Film Scores”
Employees can take advantage of this discount to performances of some of the greatest film soundtracks of all time. The Seattle Symphony will perform music from such silver-screen classics as The Godfather, Lawrence of Arabia, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Avengers.
Tickets start at $40. Learn more and purchase tickets at seattlesymphony.org using promo code KINGSSO to unlock 15% off tickets and pay no handling fees. Pricing will adjust in your shopping cart. Limit 4 tickets per household.
- Friday, May 30 at 8 p.m.
- Saturday, May 31 at 8 p.m.
- Sunday, June 1 at 2 p.m.
See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
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King County Security Tips – “Google” yourself
With the rise of the digital age, it is difficult (if not impossible) to remain totally anonymous on the internet. Having an online presence and maintaining your social networks can be a wonderful and valuable tool, but sometimes we are unaware of how much personal information can be obtained about us over time.
When was the last time you typed your name or your email address in a web search like Google or Bing? You may be shocked at the results. You may find that old photos of yourself pop up, or an old user account from a forgotten social network or blog that is still associated with your name. You may even want to search for your work email, to make sure it has not been compromised and made available on the internet for the bad guys to find.
By searching and analyzing your online presence often, you can take steps to remove those things you may not want strangers to see. Like that embarrassing photo from college. You know the one I’m talking about.
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Report non-urgent public issues with the Find It, Fix It mobile app
It’s easy for residents and people working in Seattle, including King County employees, to report non-urgent public issues. The City of Seattle’s Find It, Fix It mobile app is a simple way to report an issue, track reports, and view service requests.
Examples of issues include a streetlight outage, clogged storm drain, graffiti, abandoned vehicles, illegal dumping, unauthorized encampment, and potholes.
If you see an issue that needs addressing near or on the way to a County workplace in Seattle, use the app to report it.
The app is not for reporting urgent matters or emergencies. However, the app does include phone numbers and links for reporting urgent matters to the City, Seattle City Light, Seattle Public Utilities, Street Repair and Maintenance, and other non-emergency criminal activity. In an emergency situation where you feel threatened or witness a serious event, you should always call 911 first.
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King County Metro’s 100% zero-emission bus base nears completion
Crossposted from Metro Matters
It’s the size of nine football fields, powered by clean electricity, and is getting ready to welcome the first battery-electric, zero-emission buses that will call it home.
A year after breaking ground, Tukwila Base, Metro’s first 100% electric bus base, is nearing completion and preparing to start testing the charging infrastructure that will power over 120 new battery-electric buses.
“As we celebrate Earth Day, Tukwila Base is one example of King County’s commitment to cutting pollution, taking climate action, and making our communities cleaner and healthier,” said King County Executive Shannon Braddock. “Powered by the hydroelectric energy of our region, this base is quickly becoming a national and international model for constructing a clean energy facility. The buses of tomorrow are arriving, and this base is ready for its role in reducing carbon emissions.” Read more.
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Recognizing heritage and history: Bus shelter photomurals celebrating King County’s Latino community
Crossposted from Metro Matters
A celebration of the beauty and identity of the Latino community can now be seen through photomurals in King County Metro bus shelters around the region. The murals are a partnership between Metro and Latino Northwest Communications.
The highlight of the April 19 community event in the University District was the unveiling of photos recognizing the Ballet Folklòrico Bailadores de Bronce and a performance from the group created by students at the University of Washington.
The new bus shelter photomurals highlight the diverse cultures throughout Latin America, from mariachis to dance to events such as the Fiestas Patrias Parade and the annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. Read more.
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Recognizing Arab American Heritage Month
Crossposted from Metro Matters
April is National Arab American Heritage Month—a time to honor the culture, heritage and contributions of Arab Americans, whose stories and experiences are deeply woven into the fabric of our nation.
Across the country, more than 3.5 million Americans trace their roots to 22 countries spanning the Middle East and North Africa. Arab Americans have long been part of the American story—pioneering advancements, leading with vision and enriching communities through service and innovation. Their dedication continues to inspire efforts toward greater access, opportunity and inclusion across industries, including public service and infrastructure development. Read more.
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