How did COVID-19 impact people living with disabilities?
Cross-posted from Public Health Insider The COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to slow its spread brought a number of social, economic and overall health impacts for communities throughout King County. Public Health – Seattle & King County, in partnership with the Disability Empowerment Center and Lifelong Aging And Disabilities Services, interviewed and listened to local people from disability communities to shed light on how these impacts were experienced by people living with disabilities in King County. Read more.
Boost your protection against COVID-19! Get your updated booster at King County Roads Maintenance Headquarters in Renton on Oct. 28
King County Roads Services Division, Department of Local Services, is partnering with Discovery Health to host a COVID-19 booster clinic for all employees and their family members ages 12 and older. Appointments to receive the vaccine are strongly recommended. The updated Pfizer booster will be available for those 12 and older and the updated Moderna booster will be available for those 18 and older. View a flyer for the clinic here. Capacity at the Oct. 28 clinic is limited, so registration for an appointment is strongly encouraged. Please register below: Oct. 28… Read More
Metro’s on-demand ridership Ride Pingo wins national award
Cross-posted from Metro Matters King County Metro’s Ride Pingo to Transit, an on-demand service in Kent, is receiving national acclaim as winner of the Innovation Solutions Award. Presented by trade industry publication METRO Magazine, the honor recognizes the success of the app-based service in providing connections to job centers for residents, especially those working nightshifts and swing shifts. Read more.
Executive Constantine and Mayor Harrell announce new agreement on City Hall Park
King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a new agreement regarding the future of City Hall Park that will result in the City retaining ownership and developing a plan to safely activate the park and fountain area in Prefontaine Park. The new agreement will include the City of Seattle increasing activation, security, and a visible presence in the park following an expected vote by the City Council to pass the mayor’s proposed budget, which includes $2.8 million dedicated to the park. The City and County previously agreed to… Read More
7 Mental Health Benefits of Volunteering
The Annual Giving Drive is underway and King County employees have until Nov. 18 to fundraise for causes they are passionate about. But did you know that you can give back all year? You can use up to three sick days per calendar year to volunteer at a nonprofit in the Employee Giving Program. Besides providing necessary support to an organization, volunteering for a cause you are passionate about can improve your own mental health and help you feel good. Read through the 7 Mental Health Benefits of Volunteering, including stress reduction, confidence building, and preventing… Read More
Executive announces new actions to rapidly reduce countywide greenhouse gas emissions
King County Executive Dow Constantine’s proposed budget includes actions to decrease countywide greenhouse gas emissions at a faster pace as an analysis of the Puget Sound region shows an urgent need for collective action to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. A first-of-its-kind analysis led by King County found that greenhouse gas emissions per person have decreased as the result of more energy efficient vehicles and buildings, but total emissions have increased as the population has grown. Read more.
King County Affinity Group celebrates National LGBTQ+ History Month by highlighting activist Heather Purser
This week, for National LGBTQ+ History Month, the LGBTQ+ Affinity Group celebrates Heather Purser. Purser is a Suquamish activist that successfully advocated for her tribe to legally recognize same-sex marriages in 2011, before they were recognized in Washington. Learn more about Purser and other LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history by visiting this calendar celebrating LGBTQ+ History. If you are interested in getting connected to the LGBTQ+ community at King County, consider reaching out to the LGBTQ+ Affinity Group at LGBTQ@kingcounty.gov. Learn more about King County Affinity groups at www.kingcounty.gov/AffinityGroups.
Get emergency alerts with KCInform
During an emergency having timely information on what is happening is critical. King County employees can sign-up for KCInform, the employee alert and warning system, to receive information about infrastructure disruptions, facility impacts, changes in your department’s business operations, and other critical impacts. Your King County desk phone and @kingcounty.gov email are already in the system. It is important to register your County-issued cell phone (if applicable) and personal cell phone and email address to ensure you receive time-sensitive messages. This service is free and your personal contact information is secure and protected. On… Read More
Commute Trip Reduction Survey begins Oct. 17
On October 17, the Commute Trip Reduction survey will be distributed to all County worksites with over 100 employees. The Washington State Commute Trip Reduction law requires these surveys of employers every two years. When you complete the confidential survey, you will have a chance to win prizes provided by the King County Employee Transportation Program and Commute Seattle. The survey results assist the state and county to design and implement transportation programs that address the diverse needs of employees, while also working to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and decrease… Read More
Disability Rights Washington’s Week Without Driving Challenge
The annual Disability Rights Washington’s Week Without Driving Challenge was recently held across the state, and numerous King County employees, Councilmembers, and residents participated in the event. The challenge encourages those who normally drive to spend a full week using alternative modes of transportation to experience what it’s like for non-drivers to access our community, especially those with disabilities. Read more here and watch the video below.
Employee News 