Executive Constantine names Rhonda Berry to lead Zero Youth Detention efforts
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced that Deputy Executive Rhonda Berry will lead inter-agency and community coordination and strategy to further reduce the number of youth in detention. “Rhonda is an effective leader able to bring people together,” said Constantine. “Her extensive experience working with all county and partner agencies that impact youth, her reputation for inclusion and effectiveness, and her established commitment to equity and social justice, will give us the best chance to make the vision of zero youth detention a reality. Her passion for youth and families led her to… Read More
DPD internship program brings on qualified, invested lawyers committed to County priorities
With the arrival of summer comes the annual onboarding of interns in workplaces across the country. While some internships may just be grabbing coffee and making copies, King County is proud to develop interns and employees for a career in public service. One notable example is within the Department of Public Defense (DPD). Across the four divisions, DPD has expanded a program to attract third-year law students locally and across the country with the idea that they will stay on as public defenders full time after graduation. Summer internships are full time… Read More
Planning pays off: Long awaited paramedic services proving successful for residents and employees
Since this past February, King County Medic One (KCM1) has provided ongoing, excellent paramedic services to the Vashon Island community. Long in coming, this new service delivers to residents the best in emergency response through a seamless transition from Vashon Island Fire and Rescue to KCM1. “For citizens of Vashon Island, the change will hardly be noticeable. If you call 911 and need paramedics, a medic unit will still arrive and provide excellent ALS (Advanced Life Support) care,” said Eric Timm, a Paramedic for KCM1. “The only difference is that the medic unit will be… Read More
Being prepared for the upcoming August 21 solar eclipse
As if heat and wildfire smoke weren’t enough to raise public concern, some are not aware of the dangers of looking at the August 21 solar eclipse without special protective eyewear. Please take a moment to read this important information about protecting your eyesight. Click here.
An interview with Councilmember Larry Gossett
By Jimmy’a (jih-MY-uh) Carter, a summer intern for the Executive’s Office Customer Service team. Jimmy’a, a 16 year old who will be a junior this fall at West Auburn High School, plans to attend a four-year college and get a degree in youth counseling. She joins us from the Bridge to Prosperity mentoring program. Last month, I was so excited to do an interview with King County Councilmember Larry Gossett because I had heard he has done good things for our community, and through his policies and activism he has had a huge impact on… Read More
Application period is now open for project funding from the ESJ Opportunity Fund
The Office of Equity and Social Justice (OESJ) is now accepting applications for the Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Opportunity Fund. The Opportunity Fund is a competitive process that provides resources to King County employees to develop and implement projects that work to advance equity and social justice and that complements the ESJ Strategic Plan. For the 2017-2018 biennium, there is a total of $100,000 in one-time funds available and grants ranging from $500 to $7,500 will be awarded to projects that the Funding Committee determines best meet the outlined criteria. For more information, read… Read More
Triple digits Thursday? Excessive heat expected this week
Crossposted from KC Emergency News The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for western Washington through 9 p.m. on Friday, August 4. Unusually hot weather will affect the region for the next few days, with record highs possible on Wednesday and Thursday. Many areas in King County could see temperatures of 100 degrees or more on Thursday. Waterfront and higher-elevation areas will only be slightly cooler, with temperatures there in the mid to upper 90s. Temperatures this high can be dangerous, especially for the very young, very old, and people with certain… Read More
King County Bureaufasts conquer 200-mile Ragnar Relay
The King County Bureaufasts, a 12-person King County employee running squad, completed the Reebok Ragnar Northwest Passage Relay July 14-15, spanning 200 miles of relay running from Blaine to Langley, WA. With some new faces on the team this year, the King County team shared two days of bonding, cheering, fatigue, and most importantly, a weekend in the Ragnar Bubble. The team trekked through some of the most breathtaking scenic views that the Pacific Northwest has to offer including Mount Baker and Olympic Mountain to Deception Pass and Puget Sound. Each member ran… Read More
Yesler Bridge Rehabilitation Project: Update, Terrace Street closure
Terrace Street next to the Yesler Building, and south of the Chinook Building, will be closed beginning today, Wednesday, July 26, and is scheduled to re-open the week of Monday, August 7. The south end of the alley between 5th Ave and 4th Ave, including the garage entrance and exit, will only be accessible from Jefferson Street. This closure is needed to accommodate demolition activities and concrete pours. The Yesler Way Bridge Rehabilitation Project, which will improve safety and reliability while preserving the bridge’s historical elements, will continue through fall of 2017. If you have any questions or would like to discuss… Read More
Federal Way Youth Action Team making a difference
See how the community in Federal Way is working together to help at risk kids. This video features local organizations, such as the HYPE Program, CHI Franciscan Health, and the Federal Way Boys & Girls Club as well as commentary from Jason Clark, Equity and Justice Advocate with King County Superior Court. Youth mentors are needed for this growing Federal Way community support network. Click here to learn more.
Employee News 