Roberto Maestas inspired all
King County Executive Dow Constantine and Councilmember Larry Gossett today joined county residents in mourning the loss of Roberto Maestas, the longtime leader of the community organization El Centro de la Raza.

Executive proposed budget cuts the last of human services in the county’s General Fund
In order to help close a $60 million shortfall in the General Fund, the cuts to be proposed by the King County Executive in his 2011 budget next week will include elimination of all remaining General Fund support for human services. The proposed budget will eliminate $850,000 for the last two human service programs remaining in the General Fund – those supporting survivors of domestic violence and victims of sexual assault.

Constantine unveils commitments for more than 125 electric vehicle charging stations throughout King County
With the arrival this fall of the nation’s first mass-produced, commercially-available electric vehicles, King County Executive Dow Constantine today unveiled commitments for more than 125 new electric plug-in stations in the county. The stations will support the hundreds of new electric plug-in vehicles now being purchased by both the public and government agencies all across the region.

New “over-the-counter” permitting at DDES will enable walk-in, one-day service beginning Oct. 18
The weeks-long wait for review of many environmental and building permits in King County will soon be a thing of the past. Beginning Monday, October 18, the county’s Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) will provide expedited, one-day or “over the counter” review processes for many permit types.

Executive calls for reducing scheduled rate increases paid by cities to house their inmates in King County jails
Twenty-four local cities that house their inmates in King County jails would see a much smaller rate increase next year, under a proposed ordinance sent today to the King County Council by County Executive Dow Constantine.

Executive proposed budget to include more than $7 million in cuts to services provided by Sheriff
In order to help close a $60 million shortfall in the general fund, the cuts to be proposed by the King County Executive in his 2011 budget will include a reduction of $7.2 million from the King County Sheriff’s office – the equivalent of 71 full-time positions.

Inmate dies in custody at King County Jail
A man being held on a fugitive warrant from the state of Florida died in the custody of the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention yesterday afternoon, September 13, 2010, at Harborview Medical Center at 4:00 p.m.

County Executive proposes steps to advance fairness and opportunity in King County
The principles of equity and social justice will be closely integrated into the practices of all agencies and branches of King County government, under an ordinance proposed to the King County Council by King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Constantine completes tour of King County’s 39 cities and towns
When King County Executive Dow Constantine visits the town of Skykomish tomorrow [Tuesday], it will complete his schedule of visits to each of the County’s 39 incorporated cities and towns.

Constantine appoints Dylan Ordoñez to Executive Leadership Team
King County Executive Dow Constantine today appointed Dylan Ordoñez as coordinator of his Executive Leadership Team, which monitors the day-to-day operations of County government, anticipates needs, and addresses emergent issues.