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A shameful day in our nation’s history
By Dow Constantine, King County Executive This morning’s ruling by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade is the culmination of a decades-long strategy by right-wing zealots to strip the essential right to abortion care from millions of Americans. On a personal level, I am outraged that my daughter will come of age in a society that treats her as a second-class citizen, without authority even over her own body; in a country that lacks basic supports for families, like universal paid family leave and affordable access to quality child care;… Read More
Pride Parade is back, and King County is marching
Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 26 to join with colleagues and represent King County in the 2022 Seattle Pride Parade. Participants will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to participate. Marchers can join the King County contingent on 4th Ave, between Columbia and Cherry, from 1 to 1:30 p.m. See the parade and staging area map below. To get the full logistics and stay up to date on all things related to the Pride Parade, email leah.holland@kingcounty.gov with the subject line “PRIDE Info.”
Burien Police storefront takes an old-school approach
While the idea of a ‘storefront’ police officer is not new to King County – Kent, White Center, Skyway, Seatac, and others have had them several years – Burien has only recently joined in with the practice of having a fulltime presence in the downtown business district. The storefront is more of a community-focused, old-school approach to policing. It’s basically having an officer who’s out there most every day, walking a beat. “It allows us to look at problem solving instead of crisis response,” said Burien Police Chief Ted Boe. People feel… Read More
New PeopleSoft interface demonstrates improved inclusion and accessibility
You might have noticed a change the last time you logged in to PeopleSoft. As part of an upgrade earlier this month, the Business Resource Center (BRC) implemented a new look and feel to the interface, including new icons. While the old icons served their purpose to illustrate the tasks and functions, they didn’t reflect the diversity of our workforce and the communities we come from. They also weren’t designed to be accessible for people with vision impairments. “All employees, at one time or another, access PeopleSoft for payroll, benefits, or other… Read More
King County Council and King County Executive proclaim Juneteenth
The King County Council and King County Executive Constantine have formally proclaimed June 19, 2022, as JUNETEENTH. “Juneteenth is an important opportunity to honor the principles of the Declaration of Independence and to celebrate the achievements and contributions African Americans have made, and continue to make, in King County and across the nation” the Council and Executive proclaimed. View the official proclamation below.
Allen Nance prepares to lead DAJD
Quanetta West will serve as interim juvenile division director Submitted by the Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention (DAJD) Allen Nance is scheduled to take over for John Diaz as DAJD director effective June 25. Nance has served as juvenile division director since late 2019. “I am humbled by the opportunity to serve King County in this important role leading the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention and want to thank John Diaz for his leadership to the department and his lifelong commitment to public service,” Nance said in May, after Executive… Read More
“They’re everywhere”: The never-ending battle to control noxious weeds
Recently, The Seattle Times accompanied one of the King County noxious weed patrols on their rounds as they take on the determined garlic mustard weed. This group from the Department of Natural Resources and Parks’ Water and Land Division has the ongoing task of trying to keep certain weeds from taking over indigenous flora habitats in the region. The Times story is a great look at how King County crews on the frontline of environmental stewardship keep up this steady, important work. Read more. Photo: Steve Ringman / The Seattle Times
King County IT Security Tips: Data Breaches
Data breaches are becoming more and more common these days. You hear about them in the news all the time. So you might be wondering: what exactly is a data breach? A data breach is when secure information is taken from a trusted environment without permission. The bad guys can use this information to steal your identity, hack into your online accounts, or use the information for targeted phishing attacks to gather even more information about you. However, just because the data was exposed does not necessarily mean it’s already being used… Read More
Jennifer Hills receives Fred Jarrett Award
The recipient of the Fred Jarrett Leadership Excellence Award is Jennifer Hills, Director of the Office of Risk Management, Department of Executive Services. This award is named for former Deputy Executive Fred Jarrett and honors a senior leader of a department or division. Under Jennifer’s guidance, King County has adopted a more progressive view of risk. Where it once avoided risk, the county now uses a more balanced approach and takes risks when it can add value, drive change, and deliver results. Watch the video to learn how Jennifer led the Office of… Read More
Welcome Back Bash to Celebrate County and City Employees
Fellow Public Servants, It’s time to celebrate your great work in support of our residents and communities! Thank you for all you have done to serve the people of Seattle and King County during a time of significant challenge. We were the first in the nation to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, but because you stepped up with courage, dedication, and hard work – even while lives and livelihoods were upended – our region is recovering and reopening. To celebrate you, and all public employees, during these unprecedented times we are throwing a… Read More
Local Food Initiative supports farmers, protects land, and increases access to healthy foods
King County strives to be a healthy community, where residents can access opportunities and receive the support needed to succeed. One way it does this is through the Local Food Initiative. This program was started in 2014 and aims to make the local food economy more equitable and resilient to climate impacts. The initiative is overseen by Mike Lufkin, Food Economy Manager in the Department of Natural Resources and Parks. Mike has been with King County since 2015. His work includes growing the food and farm sectors, increasing access to healthy nutritious… Read More
Executive Services BEAT Assessment wins 2022 Achievement Award
Cross-posted from Executive Services Express The Department of Executive Services’ Beginning, Exploring, Applying and Transforming (BEAT) Assessment has been recognized with an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties. The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents. The BEAT Assessment was recognized in the Personnel Management, Employment and Training Category. Read more.
Metro Pride! Operator Johnathon Futch selected as Grand Marshal of 2022 Pride Parade
Cross-posted from Metro Matters Pride Month celebrates the history and accomplishments of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities throughout the world. For Metro Operator Johnathon Futch, Pride 2022 is an opportunity to lead the celebration as one of the Grand Marshals of Seattle’s 48th Annual Pride Parade through downtown Seattle on Sunday, June 26. Read more. Join Johnathon to represent King County in the 2022 Seattle Pride Parade. Participants will be required to show proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test. For information, email leah.holland@kingcounty.gov with the subject line “PRIDE Info.”
People Leader Award honors Hedda McClendon
The People Leader Award recipient is Hedda McClendon, COVID Emergency Services Director for the Department of Community and Human Services. This award honors a leader below the department or division leadership level who directly manages staff. In an incredibly challenging year, Hedda led operations at two high-volume COVID-19 vaccine sites, King County’s Isolation and Quarantine System Sites, and the White Center Cooling Center, and oversaw the Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program. Watch the video to learn how she inspired multi-departmental teams to produce big results with her leadership, partnership, and information-sharing –… Read More
Biologists see promising signs for native kokanee salmon
Biologists observed a sharp increase in the number of adult kokanee salmon returning to spawn four years after Executive Dow Constantine announced that King County would enact recommendations from the Lake Sammamish Kokanee Work Group. Last fall, biologists observed more than 2,000 adult kokanee returning from the lake to spawn in tributary creeks, more than the total number of spawners they observed during the previous five years combined. See the full story here.
King County rolls out the state’s first battery-electric heavy-duty truck built in Renton
King County – already a leader in the transition to bus fleets powered by clean energy – is now the first organization in the state to operate a battery-powered heavy-duty truck manufactured at Kenworth’s plant in Renton. It will be one of the first Class 8 battery-electric trucks in North America operated by a waste management agency. Along with King County Metro’s progress toward electrifying its bus fleet, King County is a leader in the transition to zero-emission vehicles that reduce air and noise pollution. Read more.
Juneteenth events for King County employees
King County employees are invited to participate in a week full of celebrations featuring events, speakers, and opportunities to build community while commemorating Juneteenth. The Importance of Juneteenth with keynote speaker Hill Harper, Monday, June 13 Award-winning actor, bestselling author, and philanthropist Hill Harper will share what Juneteenth means to him. Monday, June 13 from noon to 1:20 p.m. via Zoom, meeting ID: 812 7312 8226 and usepasscode: 274575. Click here to add to your Outlook calendar. Transformational Conversations featuring Larry Gossett, Tuesday, June 14 Former King County Councilmember Larry Gossett shares… Read More
Get income and employment verification through The Work Number
King County employees have access to free, self-service income and employment verification services through The Work Number. The Work Number from Equifax provides a comprehensive income and employment verification service that helps employees qualify for loans, credit, government aid, and more. Current and former employees can visit employees.theworknumber.com to get the verification services they need to obtain: Loans, home mortgages, new jobs, rental qualifications, and Social Service benefits such as temporary assistance, housing assistance, child support, and nutrition assistance. For more information, or to access employment verification self-service, visit the Verification of Employment website and follow the instructions.
Individual Contributor Award honors Carolina Johnson
This year’s recipient of the Individual Contributor award is Carolina Johnson, Data Asset and Technical Manager, Department of Community and Human Services. This award honors an individual contributor who does not directly manage staff. Carolina is the product owner for the Community and Human Services and Public Health Integrated Data Hub, and she created the first-in-county structures and processes to allow for transparent and responsible data use and interpretation. She moved her project team to quickly generate data analysis that shaped the county’s COVID-19 homelessness response and limited the spread of the virus…. Read More
King County’s Vashon Recycling and Transfer Station goes energy neutral with new solar array
Posted by the Department of Natural Resources and Parks As it becomes more urgent to address the effects of climate change, the Solid Waste Division in King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks is working to provide recycling and waste disposal services throughout the county while reducing its carbon footprint and overall environmental impacts. At the Vashon Recycling and Transfer Station, a recently completed solar project will help the division reach its climate goals, providing energy-neutral recycling and garbage service to Vashon Island residents for years to come. Read more.
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