Director John Diaz honors DAJD employees who are on active duty
DAJD Director John Diaz was inspired to speak out to acknowledge not only DAJD’s five employees who will be deployed over the holidays, but all County employees who currently serve in the National Guard or Reserve, and their families who support them.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with free rides on King County Metro
King County Metro will help riders safely usher in 2020 with free bus rides from 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve through 4 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Free rides on Metro service are sponsored in part by Seattle Center, which draws thousands of people for New Year’s Eve festivities. In addition to Metro buses, rides are also free on Via to Transit Southeast Seattle, DART, Seattle Streetcar, Community Van, Community Ride, and Access paratransit. “There’s no better night to leave your car at home than New Year’s Eve, and with free… Read More
Pet of the Week: Jojo
Jojo is a 1 year-old, brown, female, Doberman Pinscher mix (A601685). Her personality color is RED, meaning she is a spirited dog with a fun-loving personality. Jojo can be very hyper and is still working on her manners, so she would do best with a family who is willing to work with her and help her become the best dog she can be! Jojo is a very friendly girl who loves to play. Read more and view all available pets at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet.
Reduced Link service for 10 weeks from Jan. 4 – March 15
From Jan. 4 to March 15, Sound Transit is building new tracks that connect downtown Seattle to the Eastside. When open in 2023, East Link trains will serve 19 stations from Northgate to Redmond, including 10 new stations in Judkins Park, Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond. Trains will continue running during heavy construction, but there will be reduced service for 10 weeks. Here are the basics: Trains will run every 12 minutes, every day of the week All trains will have four cars Riders traveling through Pioneer Square Station will change trains on a… Read More
What’s happened to traffic since SR 99 tunnel tolling started
Crossposted from Metro Matters One month after tolling began in the State Route 99 tunnel, we’re getting our first few weeks of traffic data. While it’s still early, SR 99 tunnel usage remains high and exceeds forecasts. Traffic volumes were within normal ranges on I-5 and ridership on King County Metro Transit remained consistent. Initial information from Seattle-area transportation partner agencies reflects weekday data between Nov. 12 and Nov. 22. (Thanksgiving week was excluded as it is an unusual travel week). Traffic patterns vary and we expect they will continue to change as… Read More
Pet of the week: Taser
Taser is an 8 year-old, male, brown tabby, shorthair cat (A074252). His personality color is BLUE, meaning he is a gentle and loving cat who likes to take things slow. He might need some time to warm up to new people and new environments. Once he feels comfortable with you, he will really come out of his shell! Taser likes being petted on his head and neck. He can be sensitive further down his back, but don’t let that fool you: this affectionate boy just loves being petted. Read more and view… Read More
Honoring King County’s active duty employees
King County supports and thanks all who have served in the military or are currently serving in the Guard or Reserve. It is important for employers to value their military personnel and support them to take leave for military operations, while allowing for them to stay gainfully employed. To highlight this, we have profiled a King County employee who is also currently serving in the Reserve. Elizabeth Inglese, a Visual Designer with King County’s Department of Information Technology (KCIT), shares her experience while serving as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Marine… Read More
Making diversion programs more culturally responsive
Crossposted from Zero Youth Detention Community Accountability Boards (“CABs”) have served as a diversion program – or alternative to the formal court process – for first-time juvenile misdemeanor cases in King County since 1959. CABs are made up of trained community volunteers who hear juvenile cases and devise a tailored plan of accountability for each young person. Read more from Zero Youth Detention
How we use data to combat racial disparities in homeless housing
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Over the past year, the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) has partnered with C4 Innovations to analyze the racial equity impact of homeless housing prioritization tools used across the country. C4’s report, published in October 2019, found that one of the most commonly used tools – the Vulnerability Index – Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool or VI-SPDAT – results in higher average vulnerability scores for white people compared to people of color. Their conclusions reinforce DCHS evaluators’ ongoing efforts to understand and improve coordinated entry prioritization. Read more… Read More
2020 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, Jan. 16
Community members and King County employees are invited to join in honoring our nation’s foremost human rights leader and King County’s namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme for the 2020 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is “Yes, we are on the move and no wave of racism can stop us. We are on the move now.” They keynote address will be given by john a. powell, Director, Othering & Belonging Institute, University of California, Berkeley. The program also includes music and spoken word. Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, noon to 1 p.m.,… Read More
Employee News 