Executive Zahilay announces $15 million grant for crisis intervention training, gun violence prevention, and other community safety initiatives
Recently, Executive Girmay Zahilay announced that King County received a $15 million grant from the state Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) Public Safety Funding Program ESHB 2015 to support local public safety initiatives, including crisis intervention training for law enforcement and corrections officers, enhanced behavioral health responder options, and community gun violence prevention programs. “With the heartbreaking tragedy at Seattle Center, we must double down on our efforts to interrupt cycles of violence, strengthen community safety, and ensure people get the right support when they need it,” said Executive Zahilay. Read more.
King County Metro announces major service expansion across King County
Crossposted from Metro Matters Starting Aug. 29, riders across King County will see one of King County Metro’s largest service expansions in recent years, including nine new bus routes and more than 3,000 additional bus trips each week. In response to feedback from riders, Metro is boosting frequency and expanding service earlier in the morning, later in the evening and on weekends, making transit more convenient, reliable and better connected to the region’s expanding Link light rail network. The most significant improvements are in South King County, where Metro is making major investments to improve all-day and weekend service while strengthening connections to new Sound Transit Link light rail stations. Additional service improvements also are planned on dozens of routes serving North King… Read More
Executive Zahilay joins summer gathering for kokanee salmon recovery partners amid hopeful signs of progress
Crossposted from Field Notes King County Executive Girmay Zahilay kicked off a summer gathering of the Lake Sammamish Kokanee Work Group amid hopeful signs of a sustainable recovery for a native salmon species that is important to the region’s history and habitat. Hosted at the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe’s new Harvest Kitchen in Snoqualmie, the partners provided an update on actions they have taken in recent years to ensure the survival of the freshwater kokanee and previewed actions they will take next. The gathering occurred 18 months after King County biologists reported a surge in the number… Read More
Make this weekend a voting weekend!
Vote Centers across the county are open this weekend, and Elections staff are ready to help you register, get a replacement ballot, and answer any questions you need answered in order to make your voice heard. Vote Center locations and hours are available at kce.wiki/VoteCenter If you do spend time voting this weekend tag us in your photos @kcelections on Instagram, Bluesky, or even LinkedIn! For more information about King County Elections visit kingcounty.gov/Elections.
Sign up for ballot alerts!
Visit kce.wiki/BallotAlert to receive a text or email when King County Elections (KCE) has received your ballot back at Elections Headquarters, and when your signature has been verified. KCE will also send you a reminder to vote before Election Day, and an alert if there’s any issue with your signature. Ballot alerts are the best way to track your ballot through every part of the process. Sign up today at kce.wiki/BallotAlert. For more information about King County Elections visit kingcounty.gov/Elections.
July is Disability Pride Month – The voices of lived experiences, part four
To celebrate Disability Pride month, the King County Disability Equity Network (KCDEN) gathered reflections from employees living with hidden and visible disabilities about how their disabilities are an asset in the workplace, and how those attributes allow them to effectively serve King County residents. In part four of a multi-part series, KCDEN is sharing these first-person experiences to highlight the contributions of employees with disabilities. Because disability status is often stigmatized, the thoughts are shared anonymously and have been edited for brevity and clarity. “My disability is an asset at work because it set me… Read More
Bridging the gap between incarceration and community life: Portraits of Public Health
Crossposted from Public Health Insider A disproportionate number of people in jails and prisons have chronic medical or behavioral health conditions. When people leave jail, it’s a unique moment to connect them to services in the community that they may not have known about before. A team of social workers at Public Health – Seattle & King County works with people who will be released from jail to link them to vital services, ensuring people receive the care, medications and support they need to make a smooth transition from incarceration to the… Read More
A message following the July 26 tragedy at Seattle Center from Executive Zahilay
Team, Like many of you, I am heartbroken by the shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle Sunday night. As someone who grew up in this community, I know what the Bite means to our communities. The Bite has long been one of Seattle’s signature summer traditions, bringing people together to enjoy time with family and friends. To see violence at a place that brings so many people together is heartbreaking and unacceptable. My heart continues to be with the victims and their loved ones, those who were senselessly injured, Seattle Center employees and vendors, and… Read More
Plan to be heard
Do you have a vote plan? Research shows that voters who make a plan to vote are more likely to follow through and make their voices heard. Take a moment today to consider things like where you’ll vote, what pen you’ll use (pro tip: any color is fine!), and what resources you’ll use to research your choices. Visit kce.wiki/VotePlan to download a Vote Plan template. If your Vote Plan includes using a drop box, you’ll be glad to know there are now more than 90 official ballot drop boxes around the county, including brand new… Read More
July is Disability Pride Month – The voices of lived experiences, part three
To celebrate Disability Pride month, the King County Disability Equity Network (KCDEN) gathered reflections from employees living with hidden and visible disabilities about how their disabilities are an asset in the workplace, and how those attributes allow them to effectively serve King County residents. In part three of a multi-part series, KCDEN is sharing these first-person experiences to highlight the contributions of employees with disabilities. Because disability status is often stigmatized, the thoughts are shared anonymously and have been edited for brevity and clarity. ‘My disability is an asset at work because it allows me… Read More
