Executive feature archive
Community dedicates Steve Cox Memorial Park
The White Center community came together today to honor one of their fallen heroes by dedicating Steve Cox Memorial Park, named for the King County Sheriff's deputy who was killed in the line of duty a little more than a year ago. The celebration included a grand opening of the park's newly renovated Mel Olson Stadium.
"Deputy Cox used athletics as a means of reaching out to local youth and connecting with them in a personal way," King County Executive Ron Sims said to the hundreds of community members who gathered under overcast skies to witness the renaming ceremony. "Deputy Cox's commitment to this community – his community – will not be forgotten, and renaming this park in his honor is a fitting tribute to an extraordinary man," Sims said. Learn more... Related news
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Sims receives national award for health reform The groundbreaking health care reform initiatives of King County Executive Ron Sims have been recognized with a prestigious national award.
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a Washington, D.C. non-profit and a leader in advancing health care quality, has tapped Sims for its 2008 Health Quality Award for his work founding the Puget Sound Health Alliance and pioneering the county's employee wellness initiative. Sims is joined in this national recognition by Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Arkansas Surgeon General Joseph Thompson.
"Ron Sims has taken an innovative approach to improving the health of the residents and employees of King County," said Margaret O'Kane, President of NCQA. "He has demonstrated leadership by bringing an impressive group of stakeholders together to improve the quality and efficiency of health care in the Puget Sound region while containing health care cost increases." To tackle rising health care costs, King County has taken the unique approach of investing in employees' health rather than cutting benefits. The county's Healthy IncentivesSM program has surpassed national standards for participation and produced impressive rates of health improvement for employees. In 2008, 89 percent of employees chose to participate in the wellness program, which offers lower out-of-pocket expenses to those who enroll. Since the program began two years ago, more employees have moved into lower risk categories for developing health problems in the future by losing weight, exercising more and eating better. Learn more... |
Sims praises achievements of local youth at 21st annual Paul Robeson Scholar-Athlete Awards
The award is named after Robeson (1898-1976), an internationally acclaimed African American singer, actor, athlete and scholar who was the third African American to graduate from Columbia University Law School. The awards program was co-founded by King County Executive Ron Sims and Lt. Ronald Sylve of the Seattle Police Department (retired) when the two were coaching youth football. Related information |
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King County mobile home park buyout will relocate residents from harm’s way
For public health and safety reasons, King County is acquiring the 20.42-acre property, and will work with Cedar Grove residents to move them to higher ground. There are 41 occupied mobile homes on the property, which is located in a dangerous floodplain. "Local government has no higher mission than protecting its residents, and the best way to protect Cedar Grove residents is by relocating them to safer areas of our community," said King County Executive Ron Sims. The mobile home park was severely flooded three times by the Cedar River in the 1990s. Risky emergency evacuations through fast-moving flows were required to save the residents each time. As river water infiltrated the mobile home park's septic and drinking water systems, unhealthy conditions persisted well after the floodwaters receded. Learn more... Learn more
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County’s new hybrid truck delivers on two fronts
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Metro estimates biggest ridership gain in 10 years
These preliminary estimates will be finalized in March, but it is believed to be the largest annual ridership increase for Metro in the past 10 years. Breaking down the numbers shows that Metro had 365,000 boardings on an average weekday in 2007 – the equivalent of the entire population of the cities of Bellevue, Federal Way, Kent and Renton boarding a Metro bus on a single weekday. Related information
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Executive joins Governor to announce 520 bridge replacement plan
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Video: From a crown to a King
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Sims shares King County's plans to support Puget Sound Partnership
In a report transmitted to the Metropolitan King County Council today, Executive Ron Sims shared the county's Puget Sound recovery work to date and its vision for supporting the Puget Sound Partnership. "This report makes plain King County's commitment to ensuring that our wide-ranging work improving water quality, reducing toxics, protecting and restoring habitat, and increasing awareness about what the public can do to make a difference, will complement the overarching effort of the Puget Sound Partnership," Sims said. Learn more... Related information
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County and partners at work to end homelessness
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December 2007 |
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Leaders gather to dedicate Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center
County Executive Ron Sims formally presented a memorial plaque that will be posted in the building that commemorates Maleng's life and tireless pursuit of justice for the people of King County. "Norm could have no greater honor than the naming of this important Regional Justice Center in his memory," said Maleng's widow, Judy. "Mark and I are extremely touched and gratified by this generous action and wish to thank the King County Executive, County Council, and all others involved in making this possible." Learn more.... |
Support County parks with holiday stamps
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Executive Sims speaks before the US Senate's Committee on Environment and Public Works
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Port to acquire BNSF rail corridor
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It's been nearly a year since King County unveiled its new logo. It has received critical acclaim, a national award and has been a great success representing King County and its work. Watch the unveiling of King County's new logo in March 2007 and hear the story of the nearly two decade-long effort to change King County's namesake from a 19th century slave owner to the Civil Rights Leader and Nobel Prize Laureate, Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. 
Even as the public awaits an overall Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) action plan due this fall, King County is aggressively integrating its long-standing efforts to restore and protect Puget Sound so that they work hand in hand with the new state agency.
People from across the county and from all walks of life are coming together as never before to create real solutions to homelessness - building new housing units, improving access to treatment services and other supports, and working to keep people off the streets where we can. Please take a few minutes to hear from just some of the people involved in our Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness and go to www.cehkc.org to see how you can help.
King County Executive Ron Sims testified today before the US Senate's Committee on Environment and Public Works, Chaired by Senator Barbara Boxer on America's Climate Security Act S 2191. The Executive is one of five speakers invited to discuss the legislation. Executive Sims' testimony focused on the need for policies and incentives for local governments to reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled per person. 
