There is something about the holiday season that brings out the best in people.  One of the great aspects of my role with the County is that I get glimpses of what is happening all across the County.  Over the last week alone I’ve seen many examples of Pierce County people taking care of each other. While the acts of caring and service vary greatly, the common thread is that folks are looking beyond themselves to bring a bit a joy or a moment of kindness to someone else. For example, last Saturday a local church in University Place hosted a holiday gathering for 56 families that would not otherwise have much to celebrate.  Thanks to some amazing people – including our own Judge Jack Nevin – 250 children were…

A group of Pierce County partners has been working for some time to ensure court-involved people who are dealing with a mental illness can receive the care and treatment they need. This week, that work was recognized by the Washington state chapter of NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) with their 2019 Criminal Justice Award.    NAMI, a national advocacy group founded by family members of people diagnosed with mental illness, identifies its mission as being "dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.” [caption id="attachment_2127" align="aligncenter" width="4032"] Pierce County representatives receive the 2019 Criminal Justice Award from NAMI[/caption] This award recognizes the Sheriff’s Department’s operations and jail division, Superior Court, District Court, Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Department of Assigned Counsel, Human Services, and their…

This time of year can be gloomy, dark and rather dreary.  The days are short – we wake up to darkness and go home at the end of the work day the same way. As we head into the holiday season, I am struck by some of the conflicts and divisions in our larger world.  Finding paths forward and places of commonality can seem remote. These two topics come together for me when I consider the various holiday and faith traditions of the people of Pierce County - and how light is common to many of them. Whether it’s the candle headdress of the St. Lucia’s Day celebration in Scandinavia or the fireworks of the Chinese New Year a month later, our community has many ways to bring light into…

It’s a short week so I’m treating you to a short blog! For those of you old enough to remember David Letterman and his Top Ten lists, I’ve compiled my own list of things I’m thankful for. In no particular order… 10. National Adoption Day - Last week at Juvenile Court,  14 children were placed in their forever homes!  It was an amazingly touching event for these children and their new families – and extended families and even neighborhoods coming to support and celebrate.  That brings the total number of children connected with permanent families at 354 in 2019! 9. Ice Bumper Cars – We are one of only 13 places in the U.S. where you can have this kind of fun on the ice! Check out what Evening Magazine had…

Having the ability to make choices is a foundation of freedom and dignity.  It is a powerful principle that drives us – and as I look at Pierce County, it both motivates and challenges me. You can even see the word “choose” in our mission statement: “A vibrant Pierce County where people choose to live, work and raise a family.” Recognizing that people have choices - investors, employers, employees, residents – means we need to always challenge ourselves to be the best for our community. I spoke at the South Sound Summit hosted by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber last week and talked about the power of “choices.” I hope everyone is aware that I am working hard to recruit new investment in Pierce County to bring family wage jobs.  Simply put, if…

When the public speaks, all of us in government should listen carefully. We are public servants who owe our greatest respect to our fellow citizens and taxpayers. Last Tuesday the public we serve spoke loudly and clearly when they voted to approve Initiative 976, which reduces the cost of car tabs. In Pierce County, it was approved by nearly two-thirds of the voters and, remarkably, was passing in the vast majority of precincts in Pierce County (see below). The statewide measure also passed in nearly every county in Washington, except for King, Thurston, and four other counties. [caption id="attachment_2082" align="aligncenter" width="762"] Credit: Joe Izenman[/caption] Before the election, King 5 reporter Drew Mikkelsen asked me if I was going to vote for the initiative. I said “yes” because I’m frustrated that…

On Wednesday, we gathered as a community to symbolically break the ground that will form the foundation of the new Crisis Recovery Center (or CRC) that will be built in Parkland. It’s been estimated that 1 in every 5 people will experience a behavioral health challenge at some point in their life. That’s why I’m so grateful to know that help is on the way for our friends, neighbors and family members in crisis. The video below will tell you more, but I want to take a moment to recognize the many groups and individuals who came together to create a place of healing and wellness for our community. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC3tzg5BYnQ[/embedyt] Steve O’Ban on the Executive team headed up the effort to secure funding and get the project off the…

Most of you know that I am inherently optimistic. I look for and hope for the best in people and situations.  However, in this job I have had to adjust my approach slightly to “hope for the best but prepare for the worst!” For example, I am very excited that our local wildland fire season has ended with the fall rains and cooler weather.  It was a very mild fire season and we did not have either the fires or smoke in Pierce County like last year.  (Please keep our friends in California in your thoughts as they are battling several serious fires and related power outages.) But as the fire season fades into the background, floods and winter storms step up to take its place! That’s why I’m especially…

One of my favorite events of the year took place this week. I love going to the Employee Recognition Reception each year.  It’s great fun to co-host with Chair Doug Richardson and Maura Maye – both of whom are quick-witted and have a great sense of humor! But, my favorite part of the night is recognizing the people and teams that really exemplify our values and culture at Pierce County. This year’s honorees are no exception. I know that I previously blogged about the award recipients, but the videos shared at the reception were so powerful that I knew you would want to see them, too. So, for those of you who weren’t able to join us at the reception, here are the videos with five great reasons to be…

  Our Sheriff’s department has an amazing set of “tools” to help keep us safe – and help us when we need it most. In a previous blog I introduced you to their swiftwater team and Councilmember Dave Morell did a great profile of the marine services patrol unit:   [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5phZmFoa9k[/embedyt]   [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqX0wmNy-10[/embedyt]   I recently had the great opportunity to take a flight on a beautiful sunny day with Deputies Robert Malloy and Emily Holznagel of the Sheriff’s aviation team to learn more about what they do from their perch in the sky. Come take a ride via this video: [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E71X_v5DVzo[/embedyt] Here are a few other interesting facts about our aviation team: They have two Cessna 206 aircraft, which are very cost-effective and allow a long…

The month of October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  You may not have heard of that recognition before, but it has been celebrated for 70 years! Dictionary.com defines the word "ability" as: “competence in an activity or occupation because of one's skill, training, or other qualification.”  You’ll notice there was no mention made of one’s physical mobility or sensory capability. As you are likely aware, we have made Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) a priority at Pierce County.  This week’s blog focuses on the inclusive part of that initiative. Being an inclusive employer means people get to belong and contribute – regardless of physical capability or perceived limitation. Having a more inclusive work environment gives us the opportunity to benefit from the contributions of all of us. Having said that,…

Those of you who have seen me “out and about” in our County know that I strongly believe that some things can only really be appreciated by seeing them firsthand.  Whether it's a needed repair at a ferry dock, a sewer wet well, or Baby Court, just reading about something does not give you the complete picture.  Seeing with your own eyes is essential to gaining a full understanding! That is why when the Seattle Chamber of Commerce announced their annual “in-state study mission” trip was planned for Pierce County, I was excited to help host.  The Chamber selects a different community each year for a study trip to learn best practices and strengthen its regional ties. For two days last week, Seattle and King County leaders, mostly from their business…

I had the honor and privilege of presenting our first-ever biennial budget to the Council this week. As you will hear me say in the brief video clip below, I believe budgets reflect our values.  And, this proposed budget is no exception. (more…)

There is a common thread that weaves this year’s Standing Ovation Award winners together – leadership.  In each instance, our colleagues stepped forward and didn’t wait for someone to tell them what to do.  Their award-winning work illustrates their success in being proactive, creative and innovative. In the Vibrant Communities category, we recognized two projects:  The replacement of the Heritage Recreation Center Field and the Pierce County LIFE program. If you have athletes in your life you are probably familiar with the health concerns over crumb rubber playfields. They have been the subject of medical research for those who come into contact with the little black rubber pellets that kick up when you land on the turf or save a goal. In light of these concerns, Benjamin Barrett in Parks…

Two key surveys have recently been fielded to a couple of very important groups: our employees and our residents.  The results have been compiled, and I want to let you know what we heard. The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) survey was sent to County employees so that we could learn more about your thoughts on this important initiative.  We had a tremendous response! We received nearly 1,000 responses and thousands of written comments – in fact, there was a total of 153 pages.  You clearly had a lot on your mind. I’m grateful to all of you who took the time to respond and provide your thoughts – I personally read each and every one of them. I was especially impressed  that when we asked you to define “diversity”…

I am a huge believer in the power of transparency.  Being able to see something clearly, gives understanding and builds confidence.  Those two principles are core to why transparency to our residents and taxpayers is so critical to the work we do.  Accountability and trust go along with it - especially in a government setting.  An increasingly important part of our work is to be transparent with the public. It’s not always easy to shed light on the operations and actions of a government entity - especially one as large and complex as Pierce County. It requires a significant amount of time. Plus, sometimes it’s downright uncomfortable.  But we need to stay vigilant in our obligation to being transparent and accountable to those we serve and who fund our work.…

As I’ve mentioned in this blog many times, I’m a boat guy. I love being on the water.  Whether as a kid sailing with my family, during my time in the Navy, or in the San Juan Islands with my family this summer.  While I believe any day on the water is better than any day on land, I also have a serious respect for the sea – including the waters of Puget Sound.  The key to a safe and successful voyage is to always have the right sized boat for the trip – especially when you confront a storm. Recently, my wife Lauren and I, along with Bosco, were out on Eld Inlet in a 10-foot rowboat when the wind picked up – a little over 10 knots.  This…

I toured a fascinating new facility in Pierce County this week. You may have noticed a big, white cube on the outskirts of Fircrest.  Thanks to the Economic Development Board (EDB), Chair Richardson, Councilmember Morell and I had the chance to peek inside the building. The building, owned and managed by NewCold, is a cold storage facility that houses seafood and produce.  Their primary customer is Trident Seafoods, one of the largest companies that fish in Alaska. NewCold is based in The Netherlands and the Tacoma location is its first in the United States. They also have a Burley, Idaho facility that focuses on potatoes – naturally! I was thrilled to hear company officials talk about how their search for a site south of Seattle led them to Pierce County.…

You’ve probably heard the stories of victims who unwittingly become trapped in human trafficking schemes. Sometimes, a victim of trafficking is a vulnerable person trying to escape a difficult or dangerous life in their homeland. They fall prey to false promises of help, a job and a fresh start. Or, the victim could be a young girl who decides to run away from home, thinking that life with a charming man who showers her with gifts is sincere in his attention.  The tragic reality is that he is grooming her for an unspeakable life forced into sex work and torn away from her friends and family. Sadly, Pierce County is an especially attractive region for trafficking due to our proximity to an international airport and the Pacific Rim. In fact,…

I first learned of a problem with the Steilacoom/Anderson Island ferry service at 7:23 on Sunday night. Fresh off my own vacation, my mind immediately went to the folks spending a beautiful weekend on the island and wondering whether they could get home. At 9:37 p.m., Toby Rickman of Planning and Public Works called with an update. Two of the three hinges on the ramp apron on the Anderson Island ferry dock had failed and we could not safely load cars on or off the ferry. Pierce County engineers recognized repairing the 13-ton ramp would require a specialty marine contractor. I initiated an emergency contract to conduct the repair without delay. I anticipated a repair of that magnitude would take some time and it was possible that the island would…