Scenes from the late 1980s: Looking back at the construction of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel
Crossposted from Bytes and Boxes On March 23, the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel (DSTT) converted to Link light rail trains only, and bus service was moved to surface streets. At the Archives, we’re reminiscing over these photographs of its construction, showing a glimpse of 1980s Seattle and the people who built the tunnel. The photos below come from Series 1844: Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel project files and Series 1147: Office of Information Resource Management Printing and Graphic Arts photographs. Ask an archivist if you have any questions about any of these photographs or the other transit-related records held… Read More
Executive Constantine discusses new labor agreement, importance of strong partnerships in article
King County Executive Dow Constantine signed a new two-year Total Compensation Agreement this week with leaders of the King County Coalition of Unions representing nearly half of the County’s 14,000 employees, and penned an op-ed article in the Washington State Labor Council’s TheStand.org publication about the agreement. In the article the Executive talks about significance of the agreement, its key elements, and the importance of King County’s strong relationship with labor. “I appreciate the value that unions bring to their members and to the broader community,” Executive Constantine wrote. “Our employees are the backbone… Read More
Employee Transportation Program makes it easy to get around
King County employees are saving time and money while reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions by making the most of their Employee Transportation Program benefits. In January 2019 alone, almost 7,300 employees used public transit at least once, saving money on gas, parking costs, and wear-and-tear on their personal vehicles. Last year King County employees took more than 2.2 million transit trips across 12 transit services, saving $3.5 million in fares. “Over time, the Employee Transportation Program has been adding more services so County employees have even more choices to commute to work,… Read More
Professional development program encourages employee success and workplace development
The Professional Development Scholarship Fund is a new opportunity for employees to learn new skills and further their careers. It comes as part of the Investing In YOU initiative, and in collaboration with the King County Coalition of Unions, sets aside available funds for employees who have applied to take training that occurs in 2019. A one-year pilot program, the scholarship fund comes as a direct result of the annual employee engagement survey. From the 2017 survey, it was noted that employees are passionate about their career growth, and actively seeking ways… Read More
Youth engagement program provides resources and voice to Latinx students
King County is committed to being a place where every person can succeed and fulfil their potential. It is important to further work being done that allows every community here to thrive and have the opportunities it deserves. A current program in the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), through the Employment and Education Resources (EER) division, seeks to do this for underserved Latinx youth. The King County Reengagement System, working closely with the Road Map Project, coordinates with local partners to reduce education and employment disparities faced by youth and… Read More
County Council condemns intolerance, supports religious freedom
They are your co-workers, friends and neighbors. They serve in the military, are in law enforcement and work in King County government. They are Muslims, a faith with over 1-billion worshipers, and they are increasingly under attack. Responding to the growing acts of religious intolerance not only in King County, but around the world, the Metropolitan King County Council condemned acts of violence against those exercising their constitutionally protected right to worship. The proclamation recognizes the killing of 50 worshipers inside two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on March 15 by a… Read More
Behind the Robe: Chief Criminal Judge Sean O’Donnell
Crossposted from Superior Court’s podcast series. Not only is he the tallest judge in Washington, he used to be a speech writer at Boeing. Now he presides over the busiest courtroom in Washington State. Every day, sometimes every five minutes, he makes custody and release decisions that impact defendants and our community. Judge Sean O’Donnell’s story.
Pet of the Week: Kona
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Kona is a 3 ½ year-old, female, black and white, domestic shorthair cat (A527477). Her personality color is RED, meaning she is fun-loving and very spirited! Kona’s previous family described her as adventurous and playful. She may need a little time to warm up to new people, but once she does she is a big sweetheart! Read more from Tails from RASKC
Training Spotlight: Grammar Refresh and Lominger Competency and Skill Assessment
Grammar Refresh, April 10: Confused about grammar and punctuation? This fun, hands-on class will help you master the latest rules, avoid common errors, and write with confidence. We’ll cover apostrophes, verb tense, word usage, subject/verb agreement, commas/semicolons, style guides, how to avoid the 10 most common grammar and punctuation mistakes, and more. Register and learn more. Lominger Competency and Skill Assessment, July 17: During this class, you will have the opportunity to evaluate your professional skills and generate a list of self-identified competencies that reflect your towering strengths and challenges. Next, based upon the next job… Read More

