Metro deepens its commitment to a safe and welcoming rider experience
On February 27, 2024, King County Metro welcomed the newest division to the agency, the Safety Security and Quality Assurance division (SSQA). Safety has always been a priority at Metro but that scope has increased dramatically throughout the years. To understand what community’s priorities are related to safety Metro conducted community engagement, gathered feedback on fare enforcement, centered youth voices, and more. To operationalize community feedback and uphold the values of safety and equity, the SSQA section transitioned into a division. “Creating this division is a bold move to elevate Metro’s values… Read More
Deputies’ actions come to the aid of a mother and children in need
The work at King County is guided by our True North and values. We do this to make King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. Our values define the way we act, what’s important to us, and our expectations for ourselves and one another. King county employees not only embody these values in their day-to-day work but when their efforts directly create a positive impact on community members, it merits acknowledgment. On the night of November 3rd, Deputy Clark “Trey” Matthews, Deputy Seth Grant, and Sergeant Hiram Grijalva responded… Read More
Thanking our local veterans for their service
Dear fellow King County employee, For more than a century, our nation has dedicated November 11 as the day to recognize the brave members of our country’s armed forces, past and present. They placed their own lives at risk to defend freedom here at home and around the world. Veterans Day is our opportunity to honor and thank them for their service. King County is home to some 115,000 veterans of all ages. Almost 1,200 of our King County colleagues are veterans, working alongside us in every department and every branch of… Read More
Annual Giving Drive: Reasons 15 – 22 to give
We are in the fifth week of the Employee Giving Program’s (EGP) Annual Giving Drive and are making great progress. King County has a strong history of supporting and uplifting arts, culture, and humanities that reflect creativity, shared history, and diversity of perspectives. There is a plethora of organizations that create spaces and places that build cultural wealth, connect across differences, and tell stories of vibrant communities. We’ve highlighted a few EGP organizations that are pillars in King County that specialize in arts, culture, and humanities, including a shout to Bob Ross… Read More
County supported businesses still thriving
Many small businesses and restaurants struggled to stay open and some unfortunately shuttered during the lockdown and restriction period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Small and locally-owned restaurants are the essence of local communities, fostering growth, providing jobs, and contributing to the unique character of their neighborhoods. King County Local Services responded during the pandemic by offering relief funding to numerous small businesses in the county. We were pleased to see that four of the seven restaurants recommended in this recent Seattle Times article received COVID-19 relief funding from King County. It’s rewarding… Read More
Energizing! the Future
Did you know that building and facility energy use is the region’s second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, which represents nearly half of King County carbon emissions? The continual increase in greenhouse gas emissions is a key driver of the ongoing climate crisis. The need for sustainable, regenerative, and resilient building practices is critical to curbing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering a climate-friendly future. Additionally, climate change often disproportionately impacts frontline communities – communities that face historic and current inequities and have limited resources to adapt, often cited as environmental justice… Read More
Going all the places: Celebrating the first year of the Free Youth Transit Pass at Metro
Crossposted from Metro Matters With free fare for those 18 and under, youth have unlocked the freedom to Go All the Places, and Do All the Things! We’re proud to share with you the positive response from youth and community, one year into Free Youth Transit Pass. Youth can ride for free by using a Youth ORCA card, showing a student ID, or just getting on board on transit systems across the region. Read more.
King County receives federal grant to improve re-entry services for people being released from jail
The U.S. Department of Justice recently awarded the Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget’s Criminal Legal section a $1 million grant to contract for virtual re-entry services for people being released from King County jail and people returning to King County after being release from Washington State prisons. PSB’s Criminal Legal section will use the funding to procure and implement an electronic, 24/7/365 substance-use disorder (SUD) recovery system that offers immediate and interim SUD interventions specifically designed to address the unique needs of people involved in the criminal legal system. Interventions will include evidence… Read More
Fall 2023 natural disasters: How can you help
On Sept. 8, 2023, a shallow magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck near the town of Oukaïmedene in western Morocco. It was the largest earthquake to strike the area in a century. Sadly, thousands of people lost their lives, more injured, and the area suffered massive infrastructure damage. Survivors are receiving intensive medical care, and families need food, water, shelter, and help reuniting with loved ones. Not too long after, catastrophic flooding struck eastern Libya on Sept. 10 and 11, 2023, because of heavy rains from Storm Daniel. Additionally, the storm caused major damage to infrastructure,… Read More
Maui fires – Support disaster relief during the Annual Giving Drive
Crossposted from KC Employee Giving During the first week of August, wildfires erupted in Maui. Spurred on by dangerous winds from Hurricane Dora, the fire spread quickly, wracking devastation across the island. The resulting fires became the most devastating natural disaster the state of Hawai’i has ever seen, with a death toll of over a hundred people, thousands of homes destroyed, and the almost-complete destruction of the historic town of Lāhainā. Communities across the world mobilized in response to this crisis, from the national level down to the small, hardworking nonprofits. While… Read More
Employee News 