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I condemn political violence and encourage our community to consider ways that we can help bring down the temperature of our political discourse and find commonalities and cordialities. Our county and nation thrives when we are all committed to respectful dialogue and peaceful resolution of differences.
Council recently approved a ballot measure asking voters to implement a two tenths of one percent (0.2%) sales tax to fund public safety, health, and criminal justice initiatives in Snohomish County. The measure will be on the November 5 ballot ant would equate to two cents for every $10 of applicable purchases. The revenue from the sales tax would be split, with 60% going to Snohomish County and the remaining 40% going to cities by population and depending on if they have enacted their own local sales tax. Over 50% of the funding would be used by the County for criminal justice purposes and the remaining for other public safety priorities.
If the voters approve the Public Safety Sales Tax:
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Snohomish County will be able to hire more law enforcement officers to ensure the cartels, drug dealers, and criminals will be held accountable.
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The County 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.
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The County will establish a Secure Withdrawal Management facility in Snohomish County to provide more capacity for those who need to get clean, vitally increasing the 77 beds that are now available statewide.
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Snohomish County would establish a second community resource center like Carnegie which has shown success in helping get people connected with services.
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The County would increase treatment services for addiction in our jail.
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The County would create programs to address graffiti, derelict vehicles, and other visible signs of the crisis.
If approved, this measure will bolster the county’s ability to holistically fund public safety in our communities. It’s important that the county has the necessary resources available to take a balanced approach to ensuring all our residents’ safety. The broad spectrum of needs that this measure would fund, including addressing behavioral health needs, youth violence, addressing illegal activity and increasing access to treatment services will undoubtedly improve the quality of life for everyone in our county.
Our County Auditor’s Office handles animal services, licensing, recording, and all elections and voter registration services for the county. They recently opened their new processing facility at the county which consolidates areas that ballots are processed which will provide greater security of ballots and also gives the public an expanded space that they can view ballot processing in action.
The Auditor’s Office recently shared this update:
Ballots for the August 6 Primary Election will be mailed to voters on July 18. Do you know the many steps Snohomish County Elections of our Auditor’s Office takes to maintain the highest standards of security, accuracy, and integrity in our elections here in Snohomish County? For example, before and after every election, trained staff complete accuracy tests and audits to verify that ballot counting equipment is programmed correctly and ballots are counted accurately. Ballot counting equipment is never connected to the internet and access is strictly limited to authorized elections employees only. Snohomish County Elections takes many other steps to ensure you can have confidence in elections processes and results. Anyone is welcome to observe the elections process - even those pre-election tests and post-election audits.
For more information or to visit Snohomish County’s new Elections Center on the Snohomish County campus, go to our website snoco.org/elections, call 425.388.3444, email Elections@snoco.org, or attend an “Elections Explained” Q&A session at Sno-Isle Libraries. You can also follow @snoco_auditor on Facebook, Instagram, and X. To sign up for e-newsletters from Snohomish County, including from Snohomish County Elections, CLICK HERE.
Inside the new county election center. Photo Credit: Olivia Vanni from The Herald
I recently completed the rigorous County Leadership Institute program through the National Association of Counties (NACo). I was honored to have been nominated by the Washington State Association of Counties and selected by NACo for this 3-day intensive program as only one of seventeen people selected across the nation. While participating in this program, I learned about adaptive leadership with nationally recognized trainers and I enjoyed networking with other county leaders. Each participant focused on a leadership challenge and we worked in groups to analyze our issues and work on solutions using a leadership model focused on systems change. It was a tremendous experience and I look forward to utilizing the skills that I honed to serve our community.
Receiving my Certificate of Completion from NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase
Snohomish County Government is served by almost 30 various boards and commissions that help to inform the work that we do. Each board or commission has it’s own make up, responsibilities, and expected commitment levels. Please take a look through the vacancy page to see if there’s a good fit for you! Here’s a few vacancies that I’d like to highlight this month:
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Snohomish County is encouraging interested applicants to apply for a vacancy on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC). LTAC reviews and makes recommendations on grant applications for funding from Snohomish County lodging taxes. Hoteliers, representatives from agencies or activities eligible to receive lodging tax funding under RCW 67.28 are encouraged to apply, and as the Chair of LTAC this year, I can say that it’s a great group to work with. For more information, contact Trudy Soriano at Trudy.Soriano@snoco.org or call (425) 388-6603.
Snohomish County Arts Commission
The Snohomish County Arts Commission currently has two vacancies – one for a person living in District 4 and another for a person living anywhere in Snohomish County. The Arts Commission works to put together events and festivals in Snohomish County and also support arts and artists. They generally meet monthly and joining the commission is a great way to stay brushed up on events in the county. Here’s their webpage with more information.
Community Services Advisory Council
The Community Services Advisory Council was established by the County Council in 1986, with the purpose of “advising the county executive and the county council, through the Snohomish County Human Services Department, on all matters relating to the causes of poverty and to a reduction in the effects of poverty.” There are currently vacancies for representatives from District 2 for individuals who represent three sectors: People who are low-income, an elected official, and a general community representative. Please contact Jennifer King at 425-312-0874 for more information.
Many families with children struggle with summer hunger as school meal programs are on summer break. There is a Summer EBT program through the federal government that can help families by providing them with a pre-loaded benefit card that they can use at grocery stores and farmers markets. This summer “SUN Bucks” program is available to those who qualify. Please check this page for more information and to register.
Locally, The Washington State Summer Meals Program provides free meals and snacks to all children and teens (18 years and younger) during the summer months. No proof of income, address or citizenship is ever required. Summer Meals for kids are available at many sites in Snohomish County including schools, youth centers such as YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs, churches, and more. You can find the Summer Meals site closest to you at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sitefinder or you can call the USDA National Hunger Hotline 1-(866)-3-Hungry or 1-(877)-8-Hambre (for Spanish).
The WSU Snohomish County Extension Sustainable Community Stewards program is hosting a volunteer training for community members who are interested in learning more about ways they can help the environment through their daily lives. Classes and topics include recycling, composting, sustainability, and more. Learn more and register at: bit.ly/wsuscs2024.
The Snohomish County Human Rights Commission invites you to the SCHRC July Movie Night featuring "Growing Cities," a 60-minute documentary that explores urban farming in America. The movie night will be hosted at the Edmonds Library and the film will start at 6 PM. The event is free and all are welcome to join.
Get ready for a purple cow and carnival rides - early bird tickets are now on sale for the Evergreen State Fair. This year’s fair runs from August 22-27 and August 29 – September 2. The fairgrounds are closed on the 28th to allow for a good shine for the second half of the event. The Fair is the largest event hosted by Snohomish County and welcomes fair goers from all over the region. This year I have been asked to participate as a judge in the knitting barn and I’m in stiches about joining. Please check out their web page for the full listing of events, vendors, and schedules. I’m grateful for the county’s commitment to make sure that this event is accessible to people of all abilities, and for efforts to be a zero-waste event. I’ll see you there!
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Summer in Mukilteo means Movies in the Park is back starting on Wednesday, July 24. The City is offering a family-friendly lineup of movies on an enormous inflatable movie screen beginning with Kung Fu Panda 4. It’s a great time to enjoy a family night out at Lighthouse Park. All you’ll need is low back lawn chairs and blankets. Movies start at dusk. Lighthouse Park is located at 609 Front Street in Mukilteo. For more information, visit https://www.mukilteowa.gov/425/Movies-in-the-Park, email recreation@mukilteowa.gov or call (425) 263-8180.
MADRES(formerly Madres de Casino Road) is hosting a Latin Music Festival at Walter E Hall Park in Everett on July 28 from noon-7p. They are excited to present live music, amazing food, and artisan crafts. Attendees are welcome to join and encouraged to bring their own blanket or lawn chair to spend the day enjoying the event and celebrating community.
The Port of Everett recently released the lineup for their summer Sail-in Cinema Outdoor Movies. The movies start on Friday, July 26 and run every Friday through August 30. Movies start around dusk and are hosted at Boxcar Park. The lawn opens an hour before the movie and folks can snag their spot before grabbing some fresh free popcorn and other concessions that are available for purchase. Here’s the link with the full line up.
Also down at the Port of Everett... Reservations are now open to secure your spot on the ferry to Jetty Island. The ferry runs until September 1 and is a program provided in partnership by the Port of Everett, City of Everett, and Snohomish County to help bring visitors to enjoy this two-mile long manmade island – the longest sandy beach in Puget Sound. Visitors are asked to remember that it’s a soft sand archipelago and getting around in strollers or wheelchairs is difficult. There’s only one restroom on the island just off of the ferry dock, swim at your own risk as there is not a lifeguard on duty, and pets (except for service animals) are prohibited. And of course: wear your sunscreen!
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