A New Chapter in Recovery: King County Secures a Permanent Site for the SODO Sobering Center 

Crossposted from Cultivating Connections King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is taking a major step forward in our commitment to behavioral health and crisis response by securing a permanent location for a new sobering center in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood. Part of DCHS’ crisis services available to King County residents, this new center will provide a safe space for people to sleep off the effects of acute alcohol or drug intoxication or opiate overdose and is the result of years of planning and a concerted effort to engage the neighborhood community. Expected to… Read More

Pinwheels of Hope: Advocating for Children in King County

In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Dependency CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) proudly completed pinwheel installations at both the Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center (CCFJC) and the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC). Each pinwheel represents a child in King County currently in need of a CASA, serving as a powerful visual reminder of the impact our advocacy can have. The CASA signage, complete with a QR code, invites anyone interested to learn more about the program to get involved. With 380 children in active dependency cases needing CASA volunteers,… Read More

Supervisor Spotlight: Highlighting those behind the scenes who keep us moving

Crossposted from Metro Matters It takes a lot of people to keep a transit system running smoothly across 150 routes and over 300,000 boardings a day. Bus drivers are the most visible part of any transit system, but there are people behind the scenes who are just as vital in the day-to-day operation of King County Metro. Their responsibilities include training operators, planning the routes that run throughout the region, and literally being the “traffic controllers” who keep track of the buses on their daily runs. They’re also the former bus drivers… Read More

How King County is making affordable housing more resilient and sustainable in the face of climate change

Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Across Washington and here in King County, we’re seeing the devastating impacts of a changing climate on our communities, from wildfires to heat waves, ice storms, and polluted air. In response, we’re helping communities become more resilient by supporting affordable housing that withstands extreme weather events and environmental challenges. “For us, creating affordable housing for everyone means that we’re not only providing homes to people who have been pushed out. We’re also mending the ties within and between communities that were severed by displacement and healing our environment through sustainable design and community… Read More

King County and labor partners renew Master Community Workforce Agreement

King County, the Seattle Building and Construction Trades Council, and the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters have renewed a Master Community Workforce Agreement (MCWA) for another five years. First signed in 2020, the MCWA is a comprehensive pre-hire collective bargaining agreement that serves as a standard Project Labor Agreement. It sets basic terms and conditions of employment on the county’s public works construction projects. The MCWA acts as the mechanism for implementing the county’s highly successful Priority Hire Program, which prioritizes local workers from economically distressed areas on construction projects. “This… Read More

Discounts available for Seattle Symphony “100 Years of Epic Film Scores”

Employees can take advantage of this discount to performances of some of the greatest film soundtracks of all time. The Seattle Symphony will perform music from such silver-screen classics as The Godfather, Lawrence of Arabia, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Avengers. Tickets start at $40. Learn more and purchase tickets at seattlesymphony.org using promo code KINGSSO to unlock 15% off tickets and pay no handling fees. Pricing will adjust in your shopping cart. Limit 4 tickets per household. Friday, May 30 at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 31 at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 1 at 2 p.m…. Read More

King County Security Tips – “Google” yourself

With the rise of the digital age, it is difficult (if not impossible) to remain totally anonymous on the internet. Having an online presence and maintaining your social networks can be a wonderful and valuable tool, but sometimes we are unaware of how much personal information can be obtained about us over time. When was the last time you typed your name or your email address in a web search like Google or Bing? You may be shocked at the results. You may find that old photos of yourself pop up, or… Read More

Report non-urgent public issues with the Find It, Fix It mobile app 

It’s easy for residents and people working in Seattle, including King County employees, to report non-urgent public issues. The City of Seattle’s Find It, Fix It mobile app is a simple way to report an issue, track reports, and view service requests.  Examples of issues include a streetlight outage, clogged storm drain, graffiti, abandoned vehicles, illegal dumping, unauthorized encampment, and potholes.   If you see an issue that needs addressing near or on the way to a County workplace in Seattle, use the app to report it.   The app is not for reporting urgent… Read More

King County Metro’s 100% zero-emission bus base nears completion

Crossposted from Metro Matters It’s the size of nine football fields, powered by clean electricity, and is getting ready to welcome the first battery-electric, zero-emission buses that will call it home. A year after breaking ground, Tukwila Base, Metro’s first 100% electric bus base, is nearing completion and preparing to start testing the charging infrastructure that will power over 120 new battery-electric buses. “As we celebrate Earth Day, Tukwila Base is one example of King County’s commitment to cutting pollution, taking climate action, and making our communities cleaner and healthier,” said King County Executive… Read More

Recognizing heritage and history: Bus shelter photomurals celebrating King County’s Latino community

Crossposted from Metro Matters A celebration of the beauty and identity of the Latino community can now be seen through photomurals in King County Metro bus shelters around the region. The murals are a partnership between Metro and Latino Northwest Communications. The highlight of the April 19 community event in the University District was the unveiling of photos recognizing the Ballet Folklòrico Bailadores de Bronce and a performance from the group created by students at the University of Washington. The new bus shelter photomurals highlight the diverse cultures throughout Latin America, from… Read More