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
Public Health program provides education for caregivers, opportunities to succeed for children
Promoting the health and development of children, families and child care staff is a priority for King County. Multiple programs are dedicated to healthy and safe environments for children to ensure their education and well-being. One standout program is the Child Care Health Program within Public Health. The program includes a team of public health nurses, a dietician, mental health consultants and a community health worker who delivers Child Care Health Consultations (CCHC) to child care providers throughout the community. This team has been providing these CCHC services in King County for over 30 years. “In my work I can… Read More
Interview with Titus Chembukha, Data Resource Quality Specialist
Shared from the DCHS Touching Base Newsletter What do you do in the Department of Community and Human Services? I am the Data Resource Quality Specialist for DCHS. I work with a range of internal and external stakeholders to improve the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) data resources and lead division efforts to increase the value of mental health, substance use disorder and prevention services data to end users. I provide technical expertise on all aspects of data resources to the department, division and contracted providers. I develop reports for analysis,… Read More
Published author, scientist, and volunteer: DNRP employee does it all
Water and Land Resource Division (WLRD) Ecologist Laura Hartema makes her debut as a published author after transforming her fading journal entries into a book, Bering Sea Strong: How I Found Solid Ground on Open Ocean. Laura’s journal entries from her time aboard a Bering Sea catcher-processor vessel manifested into a book that shares how she used her at-sea experience to find solace from her past and harness the strength to pursue a rewarding career and a better life. “I started the book years after I returned from sea; I didn’t know… Read More
Kudos! Wastewater Treatment Division highlighted in recent articles for its accomplishments!
The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) was recently featured in three local news articles. The Renton Reporter shared a press release on Puget Sound Energy’s $894,000 grant to fund a pump replacement project at South Plant. Read more here. The Daily Journal of Commerce did an article on the Barton Roadside Rain Garden project in West Seattle and the 2018 ACEC Engineering Excellence Award it earned. Read more here. Suzanne Potts, a Laboratory Specialist at South Plant, was featured in a profile piece in Treatment Plant Operator magazine. Read more here. Kudos to WTD and its employees for their accomplishments… Read More
Film from King County Sheriff’s Bundy investigation files digitized for major network documentary
In January, the King County Archives provided material for use in a new major network documentary about serial killer Ted Bundy. Among the King County Sheriff’s Office investigation files are three reels of 16mm film taken using a home movie camera. The Archives received assistance from colleagues at the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections to digitize these films. The films are of a Rainier Brewery picnic at Lake Sammamish July 14, 1974, on the day that Bundy abducted two woman from the beach in broad daylight. The first film shows the… Read More
Mindfulness 2018 class schedule now available
Crossposted from Healthy Incentives The 2018 schedule for the popular Mindfulness classes is now available. King County is offering Mindfulness classes through Mindfulness Northwest. The classes support and provide relevant information to employees working to reduce stress and improve well-being. What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is the simple yet powerful ability of the mind to attend more fully to the present moment’s experience. Cultivating mindfulness results in many benefits for mental and physical health, well-being, and happiness. Mindfulness works at the interface between the mind and our experience of our life. Read more… Read More
Use SeeClickFix to report maintenance issues in our parks!
Crossposted from King County Parks Plog See a construction issue, a downed tree, or graffiti in our parks? Let us know! King County Parks uses SeeClickFix to track maintenance issues in our parks and we want to hear from you. The process is very easy so just follow these three simple steps: See: With 200 parks, 175 miles of trails and 28,000 acres of open space we’ve got a lot to take care of. Snap a picture of a maintenance issues you see in our parks like a broken bridge or litter. Click: Report the issue… Read More
Metro explores new ways to provide mobility
Crossposted from Metro Matters Not everyone who needs transit lives near a bus stop. And not every area has the right mix of infrastructure and housing to support traditional bus service. So Metro is exploring several new ways to connect more people to transit and improve mobility options for customers who need them. Metro recently launched the Des Moines Community Shuttle/Route 635, in partnership with the City of Des Moines, to connect workers commuting to Des Moines with the Angle Lake light rail station. It is one of the ways Metro is working… Read More
Social Media Spotlight: King County Assessor John Wilson Facebook
King County Assessor John Wilson was elected on November 4, 2015, and assumed office on January 1, 2016. The Assessments department strives to deliver excellent customer service, accountability, fair and equitable valuation Follow the Assessor Wilson on Facebook today. Click here to view all King County social media pages.
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