Submitted by Bruce Dammeier, Executive. Native American Heritage Month, celebrated every November, is a time to honor and acknowledge the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Indigenous peoples in the United States. This dedicated month offers a powerful opportunity to highlight the strength, resilience, and diversity of Native American communities. Native American history is intricately […]
Are we just smarter?
Submitted by Bruce Dammeier, Executive. Other counties are preparing for layoffs, but here in Pierce County, we’re not cutting any jobs. Why is that? (Or as Assessor-Treasurer Mike Lonergan memorably recently asked, “Are we just smarter?”) Our county operates on a two-year budget that covers 2024 and 2025. Similar to how a football coach might […]
Seeing the Good
Submitted by Bruce Dammeier, Executive. It sometimes feels like we are surrounded by negativity and distressing events. And, yes, there are deeply concerning things going on far away and close to home. As County Executive, I am well aware of the challenges we face. But I also get the chance to see and hear many […]
Awesome!
Submitted by Bruce Dammeier, Executive. If someone was counting the number of times I used the word “awesome” during the annual Employee Incentive and Recognition (EI&R) evening, they would have needed all their fingers and toes! It was just that kind of night. And while awesome is a great word to describe the celebration, so […]
Trash talking
Written by Bruce Dammeier, Executive. As I have said many times before, there is nothing like seeing things firsthand. And sometimes that goes for smelling them, too. How do we know how long our landfill will last? How do we help our community change some long-established habits? How effective are our recycling programs? How would […]
Finding the road to recovery
Submitted by Bruce Dammeier, Executive. I would guess nearly all of us have had a family member or friend who have faced a substance or behavioral health challenge. Helping them face the challenge and hopefully get well is difficult. But the consequences of not addressing it can be devastating. That’s why I turned to one of […]
¡vamos a celebrar!
Submitted by Bruce Dammeier, Executive. Because Hispanic Heritage Month began this week I’ve asked Joy Sauer, the chair of the Juntos Employee Resource Group, to share with you a little bit of her personal story. I am sure, like me, you will be thankful she agreed. Written by Joy Sauer, Civil Engineer 2, Planning and […]
When is summer over?
Submitted by Bruce Dammeier, Executive. Technically the summer ends with the autumnal equinox on September 22. But when I talk to people, I get very different answers. For some, it ends on Labor Day weekend. For others, it hinges on when their kids go back to school. Some are excited for the beginning of the […]
Celebrating excellence
Submitted by Bruce Dammeier, Executive. As Executive, I have several celebrations that I really look forward to each year. The list is long and includes New Employee Orientations and Sheriff’s Department Commissioning Ceremonies; our Volunteer Recognition event; our Job Fair; ribbon cuttings; and more! But no list would be complete without including the Employee Incentive […]