We must act now to end gun violence

Dear fellow King County employee, On February 14 – Valentine’s Day – 14 children and three adults in Parkland, Florida, lost their lives in a manner that has become all too familiar in America: a senseless school shooting.  This horrifying event is another tragic reminder that we must act to end the epidemic of gun violence that has engulfed our nation, to stand up for those who have had their lives brutally taken, and to fight to keep our children and public places safe. Last month I testified in Olympia for two… Read More

Op-ed: Our antiquated tax system can be changed and made fair for all

In a joint Seattle Times op-ed with King County Assessor John Wilson, Executive Constantine calls on the Legislature to create a fairer tax system. Here is an excerpt:  “Hiking property taxes in Democratic King County was the former Republican state Senate majority’s parting gift — a neat solution to addressing the Supreme Court’s order to better fund schools statewide. While next year the taxes may actually decrease in other areas of the state, higher property values in King County mean that won’t be the case for most of our region’s homeowners. But,… Read More

We need a fair tax system 

Executive Constantine lays out his vision for a fair, simple, stable tax system In a democracy, where the people are the sovereign, we collectively choose to raise the funds to collectively do things together that we can’t do alone. And together with our neighbors we decide whether to raise the funds to educate our children or to pave our roads or to keep our communities safe. I think we can all agree on this point. Taxes should be fair. Now, what is fair depends on where you stand, obviously, but I would… Read More

Celebrating Black History Month in King County for 2018

King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed February to be Black History Month in King County. “Black History Month is celebrated every February in recognition of achievements by Black Americans and all people of African descent in the United States,” Executive Constantine said in his Proclamation. “I urge all County residents to join in this observance.” You can read the Executive’s full proclamation below.

Count Us In volunteers hit the streets for annual homeless count 

King County Executive Dow Constantine joined close to 1,000 volunteers in the early hours of Friday, Jan. 26, for the 2018 Count Us In to better understand how many people in our community are experiencing homelessness and how we can better serve their needs. Watch him speak about the importance of the 2018 Count Us In event and how we can combat homelessness within King County in the video below.

From the Hip: Christie True, Director, Department of Natural Resources and Parks

  Let’s get growing: One million trees by 2020 As someone who has lived her whole life in the Evergreen State, I have always had a strong affinity for the trees that define our landscape and so much of our lives. As a kid I remember being amazed that you could determine the age of a tree by counting its rings. As a college student learning about our Native American history and the first settlers, I was struck by photographs of enormous Douglas firs that grew right up to the edge of… Read More

Enhancing service delivery in unincorporated King County

Dear fellow King County employee, Today I am announcing a proposal to create a new Department of Local Services that would enable us to provide more effective services to the 250,000 people who live in unincorporated communities in King County. Serving the people of this incredibly vast and diverse area is challenging, with its mosaic of rural communities, urban neighborhoods, farmland and forests, islands and mountains. Our employees work hard every day to deliver the services that residents rely on, even as General Fund revenues struggle to keep up with population growth… Read More

Executive Constantine releases statement on passing of Gov. Spellman 

King County Executive Constantine released the following statement on the passing of Gov. Spellman, who served as King County Executive from 1969 to 1981.  Executive Spellman ushered in the modern era in King County. In his twelve years as our first Executive, John Spellman led the transformation of King County into a strong regional government. He drove the construction of the Kingdome that brought us the Mariners and Seahawks. Gov. Spellman was an effective public servant who throughout his career led with honor and grace.  I invited him to attend my State… Read More

Video of Executive Dow Constantine at King County’s 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

King County Executive Dow Constantine delivers the keynote address during King County’s 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at The Sanctuary in downtown Seattle. Click here to read a full transcript of the Executive’s prepared remarks.   View the entire King County 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration below.

Thank you for another year of remarkable achievements 

Dear fellow King County employee, As 2017 winds down and we prepare to celebrate the start of 2018, I want to thank you for another year of dedicated service to the people of King County. Thanks to your talent, creativity and hard work we were able to deliver even more effective services, identify new solutions, and build more welcoming communities for all of our residents. We have put together a slideshow of 17 accomplishments in 2017, all of which bring us closer to being a truly just, inclusive and prosperous community. We achieved… Read More