Considering buying a home?
Homestreet Bank offers King County employees a variety of free home buying seminars at Homestreet Bank each month to help demystify the home buying and financing process. In addition, they offer free on-site seminars on a range of topics—from refinancing and remodeling to budgeting and buying your first (or second!) home—in the Chinook Building and King Street Center. For more information and to sign up for a seminar, go to homestreet.com/KingCO and scroll to Upcoming Events.
Director Taniguchi honored for his advocacy of the leadership of women in transportation
Crossposted from Inside Transportation From the time he joined King County in 1983, Harold Taniguchi has always made it a point to surround himself with leaders dedicated to excellence — and in particular with professional women who, in his words, felt “free to speak their minds and were not intimidated by anyone else’s position.” Over his expansive 35-year career, Taniguchi has built a reputation as a leader who supports the professional development of his employees and advances people based on merit and talent. As director of the King County Department of Transportation,… Read More
Code changes strengthen emergency management in King County
King County Council has passed a series of ordinances, strengthening the role and responsibilities of emergency management within King County government. One bill designates Office of Emergency Management Director Walt Hubbard as the lead authority for emergency planning, response, and recovery for King County government, as required under RCW 38.52. This represents a transfer of title and authorities previously assigned to the Director of the Department of Executive Services. Another ordinance codifies our Emergency Management Coordinating Committee (EMCC), charging the group with specific roles and responsibilities for interdepartmental coordination of emergency preparedness matters. The EMCC… Read More
Golden anniversary: King County Metro operator marks 50 years working full-time
Crosposted from Metro Matters John Helm never thought he’d have lasted this long, in the same job, the same city. But given the chance to fulfill his childhood dream, he said retirement surely could wait. Helm reached his amazing milestone Wednesday, March 7, which was 50 years to the day since he first became a bus driver for the Seattle Transit System, a predecessor to METRO and King County Metro. Over modest pizza and cake, surrounded by longtime friends, colleagues and family, John took it all in, a little shy at the… Read More
King County scorecard on legislative session: Progress made on key priorities
King County’s legislative agenda was focused on five priorities: reforming the state’s tax system, protecting Public Health – Seattle & King County’s ability to respond to communicable disease outbreaks, reforming juvenile justice, stabilizing the community behavioral health system, and addressing local roads and bridges. The Legislature took meaningful action on most of these fronts. “In a short session, the Legislature made much progress on issues that have long languished in Olympia,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “For the residents of King County, that means more property tax relief, and more access… Read More
DCHS shares evaluation work at J-PAL convening in Santa Clara, CA
Shared from the DCHS Touching Base Newsletter Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) Deputy Director Josephine Wong, June Lee, DCHS Chief, Performance Measurement and Evaluation, and Abby Schachter, Homeless Housing and Services Evaluator attended the J-PAL (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab) State and Local Innovation Initiative Convening in Santa Clara, CA on Feb. 15-16. They joined other J-PAL grantees, researchers, philanthropy and government officials to share work and learn how other communities have partnered with researchers to conduct evaluations and broker cross-sector data sharing agreements to support evidence-informed decision-making. DCHS received a J-PAL planning… Read More
Bloodworks Northwest is holding an Apheresis and Whole Blood Drive, March 16
On Friday, March 16 Bloodworks Northwest is hosting a blood and apheresis drive on the first floor of the Chinook Building, Room 123. The blood drive is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed between 11 to 11:45 a.m. To donate whole blood: Make an appointment, click here or call 1-800-398-7888. To donate platelets: Make an appointment, click here or call 1-800-398-7888. To donate plasma: Please call 1-800-398-7888. (Only AB donors can donate plasma). For more information visit www.BloodworksNW.org/drives (Sponsor Code: 6500). Give Blood, it was meant to circulate!
Perfect timing, adopt this Cutie Pie on Pi Day
Regional Animal Services of King County is helping pets find their forever homes… like Pie! Find out more about RASKC’s work and their adoptable pets here. To learn more about Pie and how much he loves to cuddle, click here.
Featured Job: Veteran Fellow
Closing date/time: Continuous Salary: $16.60 – $30.03 Hourly Location: King County Administration Building – 500 4th Ave, Seattle Job type: Veteran Fellowship Division: Department of Executive Services – Human Resources Division Summary: King County is taking public service to a new level and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. King County as an organization has 40+ lines of business, 13,000+ employees and a $9+ billion biennial budget. Working here gives you a chance to have fun and make an impact in your community. Together, we’re innovating government in ways that give you the opportunity to use your talents, develop… Read More
Public Health Call Center employees connect public to programs and peace of mind
Creating a healthy community is no easy task. It takes dedication, a commitment to serve, and in the case of employees at King County Public Health’s Connect 2 Care, an almost encyclopedic knowledge of current public health services, programs and nationwide concerns. Connect 2 Care is a call center staffed by 9 people that will respond to about 1,200 calls a week, spending on average four and a half minutes on each call. This time includes speaking to community members, typing up notes and other follow-up work. The busiest times of the… Read More
Employee News 