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In my time in public office, I have never seen the widespread suffering and devastation we are facing from the current drug crisis. This crisis is different than earlier ones. Illicit drugs are cheaper than ever, readily available, and extremely addictive. The crisis has touched many families, including my own.
We have seen the impacts across all areas of the county. From overdoses, street-level crime and blight, and increases in gang activity, we all know we have a problem. To face this crisis, we need a new, holistic approach at the federal, state, and local levels of government that prioritizes accountability and compassion.
We have held roundtables with members of our Congressional delegation; we have advocated for changes in state and federal laws; we have created the infrastructure to help move people from addiction to health. But we must do more because of the nature of this crisis.
If the public approves the Public Safety Sales Tax in November, we will be able to create a number of programs that we currently don’t have.
- First, we will be able to hire more law enforcement officers to ensure the cartels, drug dealers, and criminals will be held accountable.
- We will be able to add more resources to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Public Defense, and Courts to ensure we can prosecute those who are arrested for crimes.
- But we cannot arrest our way out of this crisis because of the nature of the impacts of these illicit drugs on people.
- Did you know that we have less than 100 beds statewide for Secure Managed Withdrawal? Our closest is in King County, but it is often unavailable due to capacity and barriers to accessing required medical transport. I’m proposing we establish a Secure Withdrawal Management facility in Snohomish County to provide more capacity for those who need to get clean.
- We should establish a second community resource center like Carnegie which has shown great success in helping get people connected with services.
- We should increase treatment services for addiction in our jail.
- We should create programs to address graffiti, derelict vehicles, and other visible signs of the crisis.
The health of our economy and safety of our community demand that we take new approaches. I'm confident that, working with our partners, we can make progress in counteracting the public safety challenges we face, and the public will now be able to decide if responding to the crisis is worth the cost of approximately $3.88 per month.
For more information, please go here: https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/124351/Public-Safety-Sales-Tax?bidId=.
In June, Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, Snohomish County Council Vice Chair Nate Nehring, Chief Marketing Officer for Ziply Fiber Mike Doherty, and Executive Director for Sno-Isle Libraries Lois Langer Thompson broke ground on the SR-530 Broadband Project to supply this vital service to over 4,000 homes, business, and community institutions.
The project is a collaboration between Snohomish County, Ziply Fiber, and the Washington Department of Commerce, who provided a $17 million grant funded by the state’s Infrastructure Acceleration Grant Program with federal American Rescue Plan Act resources.
“Broadband is a vital service for public safety, education, economic opportunity, and health,” said Executive Somers. “By expanding broadband access to over 4,000 homes, businesses, and community institutions along SR-530, we are making significant progress on our goal to increase access. We are very grateful to our federal partners, the Washington state Department of Commerce, Ziply Fiber, and the Stilly Valley.”
Learn more in this story from the Daily Herald
Are you passionate about the long-term development of Snohomish County as a regional, national, and international destination? Then this may be a great opportunity for you! The Snohomish County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) is looking to fill one vacancy for representatives from agencies or activities eligible to receive lodging tax funding under RCW 67.28.187.
To apply for an opening on the LTAC, please visit the Snohomish County Boards and Commissions webpage and click the "Current Boards and Commissions" link. Once there, please follow the instructions to apply and submit your application.
Anyone interested can learn more in this press release.
 Snohomish County Public Works Deputy Director and County Engineer Doug McCormick, P.E., was named County Engineer of the Year by the Washington State County Road Administration Board (CRAB) at the Washington State Association of County Engineers (WSACE) annual conference in Ritzville, Wash. Outgoing WSACE President Scott Yaeger, County Engineer, Adams County also honored McCormick, awarding him with the 2024 President’s Award. McCormick is being recognized for his nearly four decades of dedicated service and delivery of innovative transportation projects.
“Doug knows every mile of the county road network as well as the history of the projects, the people who live there, how the communities have changed, and what options should be considered to improve public safety and prepare for growth,” Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers said. “He continually challenges himself and his teams to determine the best, most creative way to move a solution forward in ways that are innovative, efficient, and cost effective, helping to make Snohomish County the best place to live and work.”
Anyone interested can learn more in this press release.
Washington state is already experiencing a hotter and drier summer than normal. These conditions can lead to more wildfires, exposing millions of residents to wildfire smoke and worsening people’s health.
To help protect people from wildfire smoke, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) joined a coalition of local and regional agencies and departments for this year’s Smoke Ready Week.
Smoke from fires can lead to dangerous air quality levels, especially for people with chronic health conditions like asthma or COPD, infants, the elderly, low-income or marginalized communities, and more. Exposure to fine particulate matter from wildlife smoke can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat, and lead to fatigue, headaches, wheezing, and other symptoms.
The WA Smoke Blog is the best tool to stay up to date on wildfires and air quality. DOH also offers practical tips to protect yourself, such as how to select a portable air cleaner, build a box fan filter, and prepare your home, on the Smoke from Fires webpage.
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