Executive Constantine honors ‘the stewards of our shared history’ with John D. Spellman Awards
Executive Constantine honored recipients of this year’s John D. Spellman Awards for historic preservation, including the city of Kirkland’s effort to protect buildings surrounded by new development.

Celebrate New Year’s with free rides on Metro
Metro will usher in 2018 with free rides for all customers on New Year’s Eve. People celebrating or working late will also be able to take the Seattle Streetcar for free, and Sound Transit Link light rail will be extending service.

Executive Constantine: Devastating Amtrak derailment has caused pain and concern throughout our region
King County Executive Dow Constantine today issued the following statement following the Amtrak train derailment in DuPont.

A new King County initiative prevented more than 3,000 people from becoming homeless in 2017
The first Best Starts for Kids initiative launched by Executive Constantine has prevented more than 3,000 people in 1,024 households from becoming homeless in its first year.

Executive convenes task force to review police shooting inquests
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the creation of a 6-person King County Inquest Process Review Committee to review and re-examine the public fact-finding forum to investigate the circumstances surrounding law enforcement shooting deaths.

Regional leaders announce 'One Table' – a community approach to homelessness and affordability
Executive Constantine, Mayor Durkan, and Mayor Backus announced a regional approach to the homelessness and affordability crisis. Elected officials, business leaders, local philanthropists, service providers and others will synchronize a county-wide community response that sets outcomes and develops innovative solutions.

King County Executive seeks moratorium on Atlantic salmon net pens
Executive Dow Constantine is seeking a six-month moratorium on non-native salmon pens along King County’s marine shoreline on Vashon and Maury Islands. New rules will be developed to eliminate the risk of farmed, invasive species to our native salmon and serve as a model for other jurisdictions across Puget Sound.

King County partners with Ballmer Group to expand access to outpatient mental health and addiction treatment
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced a new partnership between King County, Ballmer Group, Third Sector Capital Partners and local service providers to increase same day access to behavioral health services. As part of a package to address the root causes of homelessness, Executive Constantine will also re-open a substance-use treatment facility in Seattle and expand a mobile opiate treatment program.

Executive Constantine directs Public Health to oversee King County juvenile detention reorganization
In an Executive Order signed today, King County Executive Dow Constantine directed Public Health – Seattle & King County and other county departments to provide a plan and timeline to restructure juvenile detention.

Youth ridership surged on buses, light rail and streetcars last summer during ORCA pilot project, doubling expectations
Youth ridership on buses, trains, and streetcars dramatically increased this past summer when King County Metro and Sound Transit offered a reduced-fare ORCA card. Metro distributed twice as many ORCA Youth cards than it initially expected.

Executive Constantine: Metro passengers want simpler fares, and we're making it happen
King County Executive Dow Constantine today issued the following statement after the King County Council approved his proposal to simplify Metro Transit fares, eliminating zones and peak hours.

Building on the foundation of strong regional government, Executive Constantine outlines third-term agenda
Elected overwhelmingly to a third term, King County Executive Dow Constantine laid out his policy priorities for the next four years, including homelessness, behavioral health, transit and the environment.

Seeking a world-class team to help transform Northgate property into a vibrant neighborhood connected to mass transit
Executive Constantine is searching for a talented team to help King County transform Metro Transit’s property in Northgate into an inclusive, sustainable neighborhood connected to high-capacity mass transit.

Executive Order: Youth charged as adults to be housed at the Youth Services Center
King County Executive Dow Constantine signed an Executive Order to move youth charged as adults from the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent to the Youth Services Center, a facility in Seattle better able to offer age-appropriate programs and services.

Executive Constantine opens new health care Enrollment Center, urges uninsured to get coverage
King County Executive Dow Constantine opened the Federal Way Enrollment Center, one of two full service offices across the state to help people find the right health insurance plan. Despite federal efforts to kill health reform, King County remains one of the nation’s top Affordable Care Act success stories.

More integrated treatment for addiction and mental health with a priority for people who are homeless
King County is helping open a new detox facility that will offer integrated treatment for mental health and substance-use disorder – including opioid addiction – that prioritizes bed space for people who are homeless.

Helping more young people throughout King County reach adulthood healthy, empowered, and ready to thrive
The latest Best Starts for Kids initiative will provide funding to 32 partner organizations to provide leadership opportunities, mentoring, and other services that will help young people throughout King County achieve their full potential.

Regional leaders announce bid on Amazon HQ2, emphasize long-term economic development
King County Executive Dow Constantine and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers announced a regional proposal to Amazon for its second headquarters. The potential sites are located in cities and tribal lands across King and Snohomish counties.

King County to file lawsuit against opioid manufacturers
King County Executive Dow Constantine and Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg today announced that King County will file a lawsuit to hold pharmaceutical companies responsible for their role in the region’s opioid crisis.

Honoring a neighborhood group that helped Greenwood recover and thrive following a major gas explosion
Executive Constantine honored a neighborhood group that helped Greenwood recover from a 2016 gas explosion, raising more than $330,000 in relief funds and organizing volunteer work parties to refurbish the impacted area.