Popular transit service to the Issaquah Alps returns with locations in Seattle and more trailhead options
A popular public-private partnership that provides direct transit service to hiking destinations Issaquah Alps will return April 21 with expanded service from Seattle to more trailheads. On May 19, a second transit service to Mount Si and Mount Teneriffe near North Bend will start at Sound Transit’s Capitol Hill Link light rail station. Trailhead Direct – a successful pilot project that provides transit service to trailheads along the Interstate 90 corridor – returns April 21 with expanded service in Seattle to more hiking destinations. The public-private partnership between King County Metro Transit,… Read More
Executive Constantine appoints experienced tech executive to lead King County’s award-winning information technology team
After a nationwide search, Executive Constantine selected a former senior Amazon manager to lead King County’s Department of Information Technology, recognized last year as the Best IT County in the Nation. Tanya Hannah will lead the 450-person team that was selected as Best IT County in the Nation last year by the National Association of Counties. Hannah, who joined King County IT in June 2017 as Deputy Director, was selected after an extensive nationwide search in which more than 300 candidates applied. “Our award-winning team of IT professionals has established King County… Read More
King County Public Health now oversees juvenile justice to focus on healing
Crossposted from the KCYouthJustice blog By John Knicely, KIRO 7 News Juvenile justice now falls under the direction of King County Public Health. On Wednesday, King County Executive Dow Constantine unveiled plans that have been in the works since November. The idea is to focus on healing and rehabilitating the youth offender to have charges reduced or thrown out. Jahila Moody is a prime example of the desired outcome. “Summer of 2016, I had a felony and a misdemeanor,” Moody told KIRO 7. Now she’s a high school graduate working at the… Read More
Press conference held to announce prepaid postage request
Crossposted from the Election Connection blog On Wednesday, March 28, we held a press conference to share our proposal for prepaid postage with local media. The press conference featured our director Julie Wise, King County Executive Dow Constantine and Councilmember Rod Dembowski. “When I was elected, one of my commitments was to remove barriers to voting,” Julie said. “As we increase access with prepaid postage and ballot drop boxes, we’re beginning to see a real impact.” Our proposal builds on the successful work we did testing prepaid postage early last year. Our… Read More
Executive Constantine proclaims Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in King County
King County Executive Dow Constantine today proclaimed April 4, 2018, to be Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in King County: View the PDF document here.
In my own words: Our approach to juvenile justice reform
Dear fellow King County employee, As you know, the wellbeing of youth, including those involved in the justice system, is one of my major priorities. As we set the stage for significant announcements and changes in the year ahead, I’d like to share my thoughts on our approach to juvenile justice reform. Over the past year, I have articulated my vision of what the goal of zero youth detention means, and how to make it happen. Here are excerpts from three speeches so you can better understand my thinking and my values…. Read More
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.
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