Tune in for the Executive Award for Community Resilience, September 11
On Friday, Sept. 11, King County Executive Constantine will present his 10th Executive Award for Community Resilience. The award is given each fall in recognition of outstanding efforts made by organizations to prepare for and respond to emergencies. As King County deals with two pandemics, COVID-19 and racial injustice, organizations across the region are stepping up. This award honors those who have done extraordinary things in the arena of preparedness and response, to make sure their community can weather any storm. View the award ceremony live tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. to watch… Read More
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Dear King County employee, September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and this year it comes at a particularly difficult time for many people in our community. A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report found that 1 in 4 people aged 18-24 has had suicidal thoughts in the month preceding the survey, which was conducted in June. Behind that statistic are people experiencing racism, worrying about their jobs, and feeling the pandemic’s threat to their health. It is clear, these unprecedented times are having profound impacts on the mental… Read More
Building a more resilient, sustainable, equitable King County: Executive Constantine announces regional strategy to confront climate change
King County Executive Dow Constantine today announced his proposal for the 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan, which includes cutting greenhouse gas emissions countywide in half by the end of the decade, a stronger focus on climate justice, and preparing the region for climate impacts. “Climate change is impacting King County today, deepening inequities and intensifying natural hazards – flooding, wildfires, extreme heat – that put people, our economy, and our environment at risk,” said Executive Constantine. “We surpassed many of our goals from the current Strategic Climate Action Plan by listening to… Read More
Taking a stand to end violence, racism, and death
Dear fellow King County employees, This week, our nation is once again convulsed by the police shooting of a Black man – this time Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. With the worldwide outrage and protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis earlier this year, people from all walks of life are demanding immediate, and meaningful change. The shooting of Jacob Blake again shows how far we still have to go, and the struggles that we must overcome, to make a fair, equitable and racially just society a reality…. Read More
Executive Constantine submits $87 million emergency COVID-19 budget for drive-through testing in South King County, housing, and childcare
King County Executive Dow Constantine has transmitted an emergency supplemental budget to the King County Council for the fourth time since the COVID-19 outbreak. The $87 million proposal includes funding for new test sites, housing, and arts organizations. The $87 million emergency supplemental budget provides funds for one-time investments to help in the health and economy recovery of King County. Included in the budget is $11 million for at least two drive-through/walk-up testing sites in South and East King County that can provide 500-1,000 tests per day. Public Health – Seattle &… Read More
King County and partners surpass goal of planting one million trees, achieving a major milestone for climate action one year early
King County Executive Dow Constantine today thanked the partners, volunteers, and employees who surpassed the goal to plant one million trees throughout the region nearly a year ahead of schedule, achieving a major milestone for the county’s Strategic Climate Action Plan. Executive Constantine in August will send the King County Council his proposal for the 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan, which will include a 3 Million Trees initiative that will maintain the accelerated pace for tree planting, protect forests and natural areas before they are lost forever, and prepare native forests for the impacts… Read More
Executive’s 2020 State of the County address
On Friday, July 24, King County Executive Dow Constantine released his annual State of the County address, in which he discussed King County’s historic challenges and changes, and announced new actions in human services, the criminal legal system, and the environment. His announcements included: Maintaining the nearly one-third reduction in adult detention we have achieved during the COVID-19 crisis, and beginning a phased closing of the King County Correctional Center after the pandemic. Proposed investments to help create safe and community-based solutions for the increasingly difficult youth cases that remain, fully converting… Read More
30 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Sunday, July 26, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which enshrined the civil rights of people with disabilities into law. King County Executive Dow Constantine filmed a short message to celebrate the milestone, which you can watch here, or below. We also put together a short video that highlights some of the County’s work to expand opportunities for people with disabilities, which you can watch here.
Extension of mandatory telecommuting through Jan. 8, 2021
Dear fellow King County employee, On Feb. 29, 2020, the nation’s first death from novel coronavirus was reported here in King County. Since then, we have had to radically change our way of life and the way we work to slow the spread of COVID-19. By maintaining social distancing, changing the way we deliver services, telecommuting wherever possible, implementing measures to keep front line staff safer, practicing good hygiene, and wearing cloth face masks, we have helped to slow the spread of the virus and save countless lives. However, we need to… Read More
2020 State of the County address
Dear fellow King County employee, Today I released my annual State of the County address – from my home in West Seattle. I discussed King County’s historic challenges and changes, and announced new actions in human services, the criminal legal system, and the environment. In my address, I announced that I intend to propose maintaining the nearly 1/3 reduction in adult detention we have achieved during the COVID-19 crisis, and beginning a phased closing of the King County Correctional Center after the pandemic. And, with youth detention numbers at record lows, I will… Read More
Employee News 