Crossposted from Metro Matters More than a year after the launch of the ORCA LIFT reduced fare program, customers tell us they love their card. Now we have the data to support that feedback. We’ve just wrapped up our first survey of more than 400 ORCA LIFT customers, and the results show a 95 percent satisfaction rate. In fact, more than half of those participating in the program are first time ORCA users; 44 percent say they are taking more trips on Metro and Sound Transit Link Light Rail since receiving their… Read More

Crossposted from Lean in King County On Friday, Deputy King County Executive Fred Jarrett briefed Snohomish County leaders on our successful (and ongoing!) efforts to improve customer service and find greater efficiency in county government. Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers invited Fred to speak with his staff to share the King County story and Lean lessons learned, as Snohomish County moves forward with their STEP Initiative (Service, Technology, Excellence Program). “We appreciate the opportunity to learn from King County’s experience. Fred has been fighting hard to bring better customer service and effective… Read More

Sex trafficking in King County is on the rise, nearly doubling in 2015 according to an Urban Institute study. But King County is fighting to stop sex traffickers and buyers in the county and protect the victims of trafficking. The growing problem came to law enforcement attention when officers on patrol began noticing a growing number of young girls working on the streets. Before long, officers were collecting evidence and bringing it to King County Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Val Richey. “People have this notion that sex trafficking doesn’t happen in the… Read More

Serving as a voice for members of marginalized communities is all in a day’s work for Misdemeanor Practice Director Twyla Carter. Since she began serving as a lawyer in 2007, she has acted as an advocate for her clients, and after recently moving to her current role will be overseeing misdemeanor practice across the four divisions ensuring quality public defense in courts of limited jurisdiction, which includes Seattle Municipal Court and King County District Courts in Redmond, Seattle and Kent. “I view my new role as being at thirty thousand feet and… Read More

The seventh-annual Big Backyard 5K is happening on Sunday, June 5 at Marymoor Park in Redmond. This run/walk is an event for the whole family, and it’s dog and stroller friendly! All participants will receive awesome t-shirts, refreshments, snacks, prizes, and the satisfaction of supporting King County Parks! And thanks to our friends at Harborstone Credit Union, the Big Backyard 5K hoodies that everyone has grown to love will available for purchase until May 13. The chip-timed course winds around the magnificent (but flat) Marymoor Park, and for kids ten and under,… Read More

Crossposted from the HazWasteHelp blog You can’t watch children all the time. So how can you keep them safer? If you have unwanted hazardous products you could get them out of your home and away from curious hands. How can you tell which products under the sink or in the closet are hazardous? Look on the label. If you see the words DANGER or POISON, that means the product is very harmful. If you see the words CAUTION or WARNING, that means the products is somewhat harmful. Read more at HazWasteHelp

Did you know that May is Asthma Awareness month? Asthma impacts nine percent of adults, five percent of kids, and one sea otter in King County. Yes, a sea otter. Last fall, Mishka, a one-year-old sea otter at the Seattle Aquarium was diagnosed with asthma. To learn more about asthma and how it impacts people, and otters, come see Public Health at the Aquarium! Public Health is teaming up with the Seattle Aquarium for Family Science Weekend! Our Community Health Workers and Public Health Director Patty Hayes are helping give stuffed animal check-ups at… Read More

View this video to get the latest information on a few of the most recent King County hot topics. Join host James Lynch for King County @ Your Service. See how King County is expanding its use of a new crime-fighting tool and find out who the 911 Dispatch Center calls when the network has trouble.

Crossposted from the Expanding the Narrative blog My story begins on a Saturday morning in early March.  It was one of those beautiful spring days and I was on a bike ride with my friend Bonnie on the Cedar River Trail.  I had recently finished my immersion role with the King County Facilities Management Division as part of the King County Bridges Fellowship program to develop leaders. So I was thinking about leadership stuff when I heard a loud splash. I slowed down and Bonnie caught up to me, smiled and said “Did… Read More