King County Equity & Social Justice Initiative
2008
Working toward fairness and opportunity for all
What if all residents of King County had the same
opportunities regardless of race, ethnicity, gender,
immigration status, sexual orientation or disability?
What if all residents of King County had the
opportunity to receive the same quality education,
the same access to basic health care, the same
opportunities to work for a living wage, the same access
to affordable housing, the same ability to live
in safe neighborhoods, and the same opportunity
to enjoy the natural environment?
A new, better and very different King County would emerge.
We can be the catalyst for this change.
King County Executive Ron Sims
Table of Contents
Executive summary...............................................................................2
1. Inequities: A persistent problem ......................................................4
2. Searching for and creating solutions ................................................7
3. Now is the time to act....................................................................12
4. Next steps and actions ...................................................................14
A. County policy development and decision-making ....................14
B. Delivery of county services ........................................................14
v□□Adult and juvenile detention....................................................14
v□□Community and human services...............................................15
v□□Development and environmental services ..................................16
v□Executive office□16
v□□Executive services .....................................................................17
v□□Management and budget .........................................................18
v□□Natural resources and parks .....................................................19
v□□Public health ...............................