Public Safety Town Hall Event 

We are facing significant public safety issues in our communities across Snohomish County and all of Washington State. Recent changes to state law relating to law enforcement, the Supreme Court’s de facto legalization of hard drugs through the Blake decision, a staffing crisis in law enforcement, and the rise of fentanyl are all contributing to a rise in crime in our neighborhoods. It is important that residents and business owners understand these challenges so that they can help be part of the solution to addressing them. County Sheriff Adam Fortney, Councilmember Sam Low, and I will be hosting a Public Safety Town Hall on Wednesday, June 8th from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Marysville Opera House to provide our input on these important challenges and answer your questions about public safety in Snohomish County. This invite is open to all community members so please join us if you are able.  

Jackson High School Class Visit 

On May 23rd, Councilmember Jared Mead and I visited students at Jackson High School to talk about local government, the importance of civil discourse, and finding common ground during a time of hyper-polarization in politics. We have been visiting classrooms for the past two years to encourage young people to be more engaged in their communities and their government and provide an alternative view of how government ought to work compared to the negativity we regularly see through the media. I always enjoy these opportunities to speak with the next generation and hear from them on their perspectives of politics and government.  

Broadband Action Team Meeting 

On May 19th, the Snohomish County Broadband Action Team (BAT) met to discuss updates on expansion of broadband infrastructure in the County and opportunities for further work on this important issue. We met Mark Vasconi, the new Director of the Washington State Broadband Office. Mark provided an update on new funding opportunities that will soon be available for broadband expansion and ways that the BAT can partner with the state to create the state’s plan for accessible broadband service. 

We also heard from Josh Dugan in the County Executive’s office with an update on the SR 530 expansion project we are partnering with Ziply on. The project is planned to start this summer and will be completed by the end of 2024. This expansion project will bring reliable internet access to nearly 6,000 homes and businesses between Arlington and Darrington. Josh also updated the group on the ARPA funds allocated to broadband access from Snohomish County. We are working on identifying barriers to broadband access and creating a program to assist residents in connecting to broadband. 

We also heard from a representative from Congresswoman DelBene’s office about the funding opportunities provided by Congress and a new low-income broadband assistance program recent announced by the federal government.  

Missing Middle Housing Legislation 

On May 4th, the Snohomish County Council passed Ordinance 22-016 to encourage the production of more “missing middle” housing. I introduced this ordinance as part of a suite of housing affordability legislation aimed at creating more housing options for Snohomish County residents. “Missing middle” housing refers to townhomes and other housing that is denser than traditional single-family developments but less dense than mid-rise apartments. Townhome-style housing can be a good option for first time homebuyers looking to enter homeownership when other options are less affordable. 

I am thankful to my fellow Councilmembers for supporting this legislation and look forward to working on other ways we can reduce barriers to home ownership for more County residents. To read Ordinance 22-016 and learn more, click here.  

“Girls Build” event at the RAP Center 

The Regional Apprenticeship Pathways (RAP) Program is a pre-apprenticeship program for youth in Snohomish County to gain valuable, hands-on training in the building and construction trades. One of the goals of the program is to reduce barriers for young people looking to enter the trades and provide opportunities to explore these careers before they graduate high school. On May 5th, the RAP Program hosted a “Girls Build” event and invited young women from across the county to participate in a day-long educational and training program. Nearly 50 female students had the opportunity to hear from women in the trades and participated in hands-on activities to begin learning about building and construction. The event was a great success and helped to breakdown the misconception that trades careers are only for men. I look forward to seeing some of these young women pursue successful careers in the trades in the near future.  

WWSMJATC Tour 

Following the RAP Program “Girls Build” event, I was invited by the Western Washington Sheet Metal JATC to tour their apprenticeship facility in Everett. I was very impressed by their facility and their training programs. Several RAP Program students have been connected with Western Washington Sheet Metal JATC and have seen great early success with some of their programs.  

Office of Recovery and Resilience Meeting - District 1 

The Office of Recovery & Resilience (ORR) is hosting an in-person pandemic recovery community event on June 23rd, at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. At this event, County Council District One communities – including residents and business owners – will be able to help shape uses of the county’s $160 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation. 

Attendees will be able to provide feedback on the proposals and ask questions about key priorities for the ARPA funds. 

Snohomish County Arts Commission Opportunity 

Join local cultural non-profits and organizations, private cultural arts sector businesses and artists to learn about the WA State Department of Commerce’s low barrier grant program that opens for two short weeks at the end of June 2022! The grant is non-competitive, easy to apply for, and proposes to get grant checks to recipients by Labor Day! To get the word out, Inspire Washington is convening 16 Cultural Futures sessions about the grant across the state this month.   

RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW for the Cultural Futures Session on Thursday, June 9 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Blue Heron Room at the Port of Everett Administration Building. Refreshments provided! 

District 1 Survey 

This month’s survey is focused on our upcoming Public Safety Town Hall. Please take a moment to provide your feedback about public safety by completing the survey linked here. 

I send out monthly newsletters to keep you informed about what I am working on and how I am representing North Snohomish County on the County Council. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate in reaching out to me at Nate.Nehring@snoco.org or 425-512-4810. 

Sincerely,


Nate Nehring
Councilmember, District 1