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Water, water everywhere

Record-setting rain has wreaked havoc on the Puget Sound region. Last Friday I spent the day with Emergency Management/Roads/Surface Water Management to see their planning and recovery work first-hand. We started our day at the Emergency Operations...
Your behavioral health is worth a penny

“Deja vu all over again,” an expression many of us have heard and used. According to Psychology Today, “Déjà Vu” is a common intuitive experience that has happened to many of us. The expression is derived from the French, meaning...
The same and different

The annual Point-in-Time count has been completed and the results are being reviewed and analyzed. While very important and key to helping us develop solutions, they are still just numbers. I go out with the overnight team to help ensure those...
In sickness and health

As I mentioned in last week’s blog, today’s edition was going to be about the Point-in-Time count of individuals experiencing homelessness. And, that was the plan, until this morning I heard a story so powerful that I decided to “stop the presses”...
The power of a story

If you have followed my blog for any period of time, you know I love to read. I love to travel to new places and times and learn about the challenges people have confronted. I have recently “heard” some powerful stories and wanted to share them...
A day to remember

One day is certainly not enough to consider and advance the work and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But this Monday does give us the time and opportunity to remember, reflect and challenge ourselves. The holiday provides us with the chance to...
Thankful for the holidays, but…

We’ve begun a new year and Thanksgiving is a distant memory. But I still have an overwhelming sense of gratitude and a strong need to offer some special thanks. I wrote about Cooper Dyson, the deputy we tragically lost, in last week’s blog. Those of...
Everyone counts, no matter where they live.

Greetings from the bunker! I am coming up on my sixth month with the County – what a whirlwind it’s been! While there’s lots going on in every division of Human Services, there’s one event happening later this month that I want to bring your...
Council Schedule Highlights Week of January 6th, 2020

– Derek Young, Pierce County Council Monday, January 6th, 2020 1:30 pm Community Development Committee Regularly scheduled meetings are broadcast live and replayed on channel 22 (Comcast and Click! Network) and channel 20 (Rainier Connect). Access...
A look back

Did you make a new year’s resolution? Are you planning ahead for a dream vacation or a big purchase in 2020? At this time of year, we tend to look to the future with excitement and anticipation of what the next 12 months will hold for us. But, in...
In the dark of the night

Domestic violence calls are some of the most dangerous calls our deputies face. High emotions frequently fueled with drugs or alcohol can be an unpredictable and deadly combination. Two of our deputies recently responded to a domestic violence call...
Comfort and joy

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...
Simply the best

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...
Saying Goodbye to 2019

Greetings from the bunker! As we get ready to put 2019 behind us, here is a quick review of the great work the Human Services Department has accomplished or funded in Pierce County: County staff have answered over 12,000 calls to our Aging and...
Votes tonight on I-976 litigation and a Clean Fuel Standard

– Derek Young, Pierce County Council I-976 Litigation On a 4–3 vote, the Council voted to intervene in defense of I-976 in a suit filed by a number of parties including King and Garfield counties. The voters have spoken and they deserve to have the...
Light in the darkness

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...
Vision 2050 Recommended for Approval

Our new regional land use plan for Kitsap, Snohomish, King and Pierce counties is ready for final approval by the Puget Sound Regional Council. – Derek Young, Pierce County Council After almost two years of work and over 200 amendments, we’re ready...
Council Schedule Highlights Week of December 2nd, 2019

– Derek Young, Pierce County Council Monday, December 2nd, 2019 1:30 pm Community Development Committee Regularly scheduled meetings are broadcast live and replayed on channel 22 (Comcast and Click! Network) and channel 20 (Rainier Connect). Access...
A United Thanksgiving

– Derek Young, Pierce County Council In October 1863, the United States wasn’t united at all. The Battle of Gettysburg was just three months prior. Sherman’s March was a year away. Whatever anyone thought the outcome of the war would be, the state of...
Gratitude

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...