Category: Executive

  It was hard to watch.  A year ago, Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine. (Actually, the Russian efforts to subjugate Ukraine extends back to 2014 with the annexation of Crimea). Many of my generation and older can vividly recall Soviet tanks rolling into Czechoslovakia in 1968 to crush an independence movement - and before that in Hungary in 1958.  But this time was different.  The Ukrainian people stood up to what appeared to be the overwhelming Russian military.  They fought for their freedom - and I was inspired by their courage. But they could not stop the devastation wrought by the invading forces.  Cities, homes, schools, and hospitals were attacked, and many civilians had to flee their country which had become a war zone.  Millions of refugees fled - to…

This week we launched a critically important tool to make sure we serve everyone in Pierce County. The Equity Index website is now live and County employees are getting trained on how best to use this new way to consider the breadth and impact of our programs and initiatives. You can learn more about the Index here and I encourage you to check out the interactive maps that allow you to see how a proposed project can benefit those who need it most. [caption id="attachment_3866" align="aligncenter" width="1764"] A screenshot of the Equity Index across Pierce County[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3867" align="aligncenter" width="1679"] A screenshot of the map that shows access to a variety of services and support[/caption] I think it is fair to say that in the past, investments and policies were…

Last night (and this morning), I was out in the field as part of our annual Point in Time (PIT) count of chronically homeless residents.  Each year, our Human Services team leads a community effort to conduct this “Count” to meet a Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirement.  It is a big effort. In the weeks leading up to the Count, teams are collecting food, Gatorade, clothing, hygiene kits and other items to distribute. In addition, they are bringing together counting teams made up of service providers, Human Services staff, community volunteers - and several County elected officials!  They also prepare maps of the County so we can fan out to count and interview many of the chronically homeless living unsheltered in our community. Other teams count…

The iconic naturalist John Muir once famously said, “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” Those of us blessed to live in this region can appreciate Muir’s sentiment.  We look at Mt. Rainier and the Cascades each day (when the clouds allow), and many of us answer the call to connect with the grandeur of our environment - hiking, backpacking, snow shoeing, and skiing.  Looking at nature from afar is great - but being in it is awesome! This week I reflected on connecting as part of the groundbreaking for a new pedestrian bridge being built across the White River.  This new bridge will extend our amazing Foothills Trail from Buckley to Enumclaw.  When finished, the bridge will connect two cities, two counties, two communities - and it took…

If you’re like me, when you were a kid you played the game, “Red light, green light.” It was no game, however, when I visited the STOP (Sewer and Traffic Operations) facility where our traffic lights are made, tested, repaired and managed. My thanks to Vern Page, a supervisor in Planning and Public Works, for his tour of their spaces.  It was fascinating to see into the guts of our traffic signal control cabinets! Did you know that our team takes care of about 250 signals throughout the County - and nearly 100 of them are in incorporated cities and towns? I also learned that today’s signal lights last longer, are more reliable, and use much less energy than those from years ago.  Despite what you see in the movies,…

  As a kid, I kind of liked power outages - it was an adventure where we used candles!  As an adult?  Not so much.  I need to make sure I am prepared, including updating my emergency kit.  Do I have fresh batteries for my flashlights?  Has the food expired?  Are my gas cans full? *If you don’t have a home emergency kit, checkout helpful tips here. And when the power goes out, it is, at its best, inconvenient – just resetting all the clocks and timers is a hassle! As the County Executive, I really don’t like power outages.  I know many in our community are ill-equipped to deal with a prolonged outage.  Most household budgets would be hit hard by throwing out a refrigerator or freezer full of…

I hope your holiday time with family and friends went off without a hitch, but I know for many of you, it didn’t.  Despite all our plans, 2022 is closing out with a heavy dose of the unexpected. Some of it comes from Mother Nature - in the form of King Tides that broke local records.  As a guy who checks my TideGraphPro app regularly, I was still surprised at just how high this week’s tides were.  A combination of phenomena contributed but we saw amazing images: the Gig Harbor lighthouse entirely surrounded by water, the Purdy Market flooded, the Narrows rolling over the road on Day Island - and jellyfish swimming down the streets of Olympia!  Thankfully, our emergency responders were there to support those who needed help to…

Legendary crooner Andy Williams was known for his holiday favorite, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of Year.”  I couldn't agree more, but for none of the reasons Andy includes in the lyrics.  I have nothing against holiday greetings, toasting marshmallows, or hosting parties, but that is not what makes this time of year so special.  For me the season is all about how generous you and our community are. I saw this generosity at work several times over the last few weeks and it warmed my heart. Many of you helped collect clothing and donate money for Ukrainian refugees who came to Pierce County from their war-torn country.  It took a lot of work and coordination - donation boxes throughout our workspaces, all returned to the Human Services Soundview conference…

It’s been quite a year. We began 2022 starting to emerge from the throes of the pandemic and moving closer to the “new normal.” That is, before the “tridemic” of the flu, COVID and RSV emerged recently to strain our healthcare system once again. The Great Resignation upended the relationship between employee and employer. Wildfires, snow and flooding reminded us of the power of nature. For all the challenges and obstacles that 2022 threw at us, however, we made good strides in many important initiatives.  One case in point is the small business accelerator program that graduated 200 new or reinvigorated entrepreneurs of color into our community! Over the last 12 months, you have shown up for our residents. Whether you were working at a kitchen table, in an office…

  If you’ve ever watched the fantastic Fiddler on the Roof movie, you will no doubt remember the scene where Tevye exuberantly sings about his family and their traditions.  He is fearful that a modern way of life is coming to his Orthodox Jewish home. Many of us have holiday traditions that make this time of year so nostalgic. As a young boy, my grandmother served finnan haddie at her Christmas Eve Dinner – a Scottish “delicacy” that was revolting to me.  My brother and I dreaded the meal!  I was relieved when that particular meal was dropped from our holiday traditions! More recently, a few years ago our family started a fun tradition of lighting the County’s Christmas tree with our granddaughters, Blair, Lucy and Maggie!  The girls have…

For the first time in several years, our family’s Thanksgiving gathering will be larger! We’ve been looking forward to returning to something that resembles a typical holiday. With some wise precautions, this is the year. My sister and brother-in-law will be flying in from the East Coast.  They’re the parents of the cross-country Olympic skiers I wrote about last winter. My brother is quite the foodie and always prepares an amazing meal!  As for me, my talents shine after dinner, as the “dishwasher in chief.”  It will be wonderful to be with my siblings, and many of our children and grandchildren! For me, the holiday is not just about a great feast with those I love.  There are many other things that make this time of year special. We just…

Recently, I joined a group of County employees at the Environmental Services Building to welcome them to a very important training session.  This was my third time welcoming folks to this particular class this Fall and we hosted the class several times before COVID. The class is called “Government to Government” and the goal is to teach our colleagues about Indian Tribes and how to effectively interact with the leaders, members, and employees of our local tribal partners.  We are very fortunate to have Pam and Gordon James lead the class.  Gordon was a former tribal leader with the Skokomish tribe and Pam is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.  They do a great job presenting the information and engaging the students! When I welcome the…

This is an early edition of the blog since tomorrow is Veterans Day. I had the honor of speaking at the Puyallup American Legion’s annual Veterans Day event last weekend and I’d like to share a portion of my remarks that day with you. Back on September 2nd, I attended the opening ceremonies of the 43rd Annual Puyallup Tribe of Indians Pow Wow.  The Pow Wow is an amazing celebration of Native culture.  Nearly 100 dance groups and drummers from tribes across the country assembled to preserve and elevate their heritage. The Pow Wow begins with a processional to welcome every dance group.  As they enter the huge event tent, they dance in a circle, coiling like a snake, until everyone is dancing together.  However, leading the procession was a…

It was quite a celebration on Wednesday night at the McGavick Center!  A room full of our Pierce County colleagues and some family members gathered to recognize long-time employees with anniversary milestones and cheer the winners of this year’s Standing Ovation Awards.  Enthusiastic smiles, hugs and handshakes abounded at the first in-person banquet we’ve held in several years. As the group settled in for dinner and dessert, the stars of the evening began to shine. In a profile that touched the heart of every animal lover in the room, we learned about how Josh Drye in the Prosecutor’s Office is an advocate for animals – including those who have been abandoned by the very people who were supposed to protect and take care of them.  Thank you, Josh, for supporting…

Hope is powerful.  Without it, despair sets in.  But with hope, nearly anything is possible.  This week I witnessed that power in our community - not once but twice! As you may have seen in the recent news release, this week we presented to the Council a bold and smart plan to create a new community for chronically homeless people in the county.  A place where people trapped on the streets, many with untreated addiction and mental illness, can be restored and recover. Modeled after the successful community outside Austin, Texas, this village of microhomes with supportive services, gathering spaces, healthcare, and microenterprises would bring dignity, hope and a home for about 270 people who have been without a stable home for years. You can read more about the plans…

There’s an old nautical expression you don’t hear much anymore.  When a ship is ready or prepared for action, she is described as “yar.” (Not to be confused with the better-known pirate saying “Arr!”) Last Sunday, Pierce County welcomed a new teaching vessel, and she is yar, indeed. The MV (motor vessel) Doolin-Rogers arrived at her new home on the Foss Waterway, escorted by the Pierce County Sheriff’s boat, the Mundell (named for Deputy Kent Mundell), as well as the Tacoma Police and Fire boats.  She was greeted by boats from the Tacoma Yacht Club lining the waterway.  The afternoon was gorgeous and the Doolin-Rogers and many of her greeters were “dressed” for the occasion - nautical for displaying their signal flags in a decorative fashion. The new vessel, owned…

We are in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month, where we recognize and celebrate the incredible contributions of the Hispanic culture and community to our nation.  In Pierce County, two people who exemplify those contributions are Councilmember (CM) Paul Herrera and Deputy Ernest Cedillo. I’m thankful for both their service and leadership at Pierce County, and for inspiring young people - especially Latino kids - to aim for a career in public service. They got together recently to talk about their shared Mexican heritage and what it means to them, both personally and on the job. Take a look: [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZojT3mx3zI[/embedyt] As he mentioned in the video, CM Herrera is the first Hispanic member of the Council.  He is also the only veteran among the seven councilmembers. In fact, his…

With apologies to Gerard Butler and his gladiators, a different kind of 300 has created a bit of history here in Pierce County. Almost six years ago, I was newly elected as the Pierce County Executive - coming from my work in the State Legislature.  I knew it would take some time for us to get to know each other, and that many of you were both curious and potentially nervous about the new Executive.  That was the catalyst for this blog! My goal was to give you a window into the many facets of the County that I see each week. Along the way, I wanted to be transparent and candid. The tone and content often reflect what I experienced. I’ve shared my emotions when we lost colleagues or…