Councilmember Nehring's June Newsletter

Snohomish County, Washington sent this bulletin at 06/01/2026 06:00 AM PDT

Dear North County Neighbors,

I hope you and your family enjoyed a relaxing and safe Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day gives us an important opportunity to honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedoms.

The County Council passed Resolution 26-026 recognizing Memorial Day in Snohomish County. During that meeting, we presented Command Master Chief Jeffrey Fleming from Naval Station Everett with a copy of the resolution. On Memorial Day, my family and I also attended the Arlington Memorial Day Parade to pay our respects. Thank you to American Legion Post 76 for organizing this meaningful event.

In addition to Memorial Day, May was a busy month filled with new legislative proposals, community ribbon cuttings, and events across Snohomish County. Below is a summary of this month’s newsletter, with full details included below:

💊 Addiction Recovery Proposals - Introduced four proposals focused on recovery, treatment, and accountability in addressing homelessness and addiction. Public hearings are scheduled for June 10.
🎓 Granite Falls “Tiger Cabinet” - Met with Granite Falls students alongside local and state leaders to discuss community improvement ideas and student experiences.
🌲 Mother Nature’s Window Ribbon Cutting - Celebrated the reopening of Mother Nature’s Window in Marysville after a 25-year closure, restoring public access to 34 acres of natural space.
🏓 Arlington Pickleball Courts - Celebrated the opening of new pickleball courts at Haller Middle School in Arlington through a partnership with the city and school district.

🎉 Syttende Mai Celebration - Celebrated Norwegian Constitution Day with family at the Ballard parade and met former Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg in Everett.

In The News

Snohomish County trades students shine at annual RAP showcase in Marysville | Seattle Red – May 1, 2026

Snohomish County Superior Court held its inaugural ‘Law Day’ to bridge media, and legislative partners to the courts | Lynnwood Times – May 1, 2026

Commentary: RAP program shows there's more than one path to a good career | Stanwood Camano News – May 4, 2026

Nehring Legislation would shift County’s approach to addiction and recovery | Lynnwood Times – May 5, 2026

Nehring: It’s time to change county policy to better serve us all | Everett Herald – May 6, 2026

Snohomish County moves to defund drug kits and kill Housing First. Nehring explains why the model was never going to work | Seattle Red – May 8, 2026

Inaugural K-Fair connects Korean Community with Snohomish County employers | Lynnwood Times – May 11, 2026

Community Events

June 1 – Marysville Red, White, and Clue Scavenger Hunt
June 6 – Marysville Poochella in the Park
June 13 – Arlington Show n’ Shine Car Show
June 20 – Stanwood StanFest
June 28 – Twin City Idlers Show & Shine

💼 GSKA Job Fair - Spoke at a regional job fair highlighting opportunities in aerospace, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, and vocational trades.
⚾ D-BAT Ribbon Cutting - Joined community leaders to celebrate the opening of a new baseball and softball training facility in Smokey Point.
🎉 AMHS STAR Breakfast - Attended Archbishop Murphy High School’s tuition assistance fundraising event benefiting students in need.
🌎 Immigrant Heritage Month - Introduced and passed Resolution 26-029 recognizing Immigrant Heritage Month in Snohomish County.
🧹 Meadowdale Beach Cleanup - Partnering with local organizations for a community beach cleanup event on July 9 at Meadowdale Beach Park.

Addiction Recovery Proposals

Last month, I introduced four proposals aimed at shifting the County’s approach to homelessness and drug addiction. For years, our systems have prioritized “Housing First” and other strategies that often lack accountability. My proposals would move Snohomish County toward a more balanced, recovery- and accountability-focused approach to addressing homelessness and addiction.

The proposals would:

Prohibit “Housing First” requirements in county funding opportunities

Increase funding for behavioral health treatment facilities

Criminalize fentanyl exposure involving minors

Prohibit the use of local taxpayer dollars to purchase and distribute drug paraphernalia

The first three proposals have been scheduled for public hearings on June 10, 2026, at 10:30 AM. The hearings will take place in the Jackson Board Room (8th Floor, Drewel Building) and remotely via Zoom. If you would like to provide testimony on any of these proposals, you may do so in person or remotely at this Zoom link.

The final proposal related to taxpayer-funded drug paraphernalia remains in committee for further discussion. You can read my commentary on these proposals for the Everett Herald at this link.

“Tiger Cabinet” with Granite Falls Students

On Thursday, May 21, I joined State Representatives Carolyn Eslick and Sam Low, along with Granite Falls City Councilmember Tom Fitzgerald, at the Granite Falls Tiger Cabinet.

The Tiger Cabinet is a student organization that brings together students in grades 3–12 to drive positive change and foster a sense of belonging. We had a great conversation about what it is like to be a student today and heard many thoughtful ideas for improving our community. In particular, it was interesting for me to hear directly from students on their use of AI in the classroom. Tiger Cabinet is a special program, and it was an honor to participate alongside such inspiring young people.

Mother Nature's Window Ribbon Cutting

Earlier this year, the City of Marysville restored public access to Mother Nature’s Window following a 25-year closure. The restoration project began in 2025, and public access officially reopened in January 2026.

We recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with local and regional leaders to celebrate this significant accomplishment. The community now has access to 34 acres of natural area in north Marysville featuring improved walkways and trails, new sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, irrigation, signage, and other enhancements.

Congratulations to the City of Marysville and the entire community on this exciting achievement!

Arlington Pickleball Court Ribbon Cutting

Last year, my office partnered with the City of Arlington and the Arlington School District to help fund the construction of new pickleball courts at Haller Middle School. These courts will serve both students and the broader community.

On Friday, May 22, we held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the courts. This project is a testament to strong partnerships and demonstrates what can happen when local leaders work together to invest in community recreation opportunities.

Syttende Mai Festivities

Syttende Mai (which literally means the “17th of May” in Norwegian) is Norway’s National Day and commemorates the signing of the Norwegian Constitution on May 17, 1814.

Over the holiday weekend, my family celebrated by attending the Syttende Mai Parade in Ballard. The kids had a great time dressing up for the festivities. My daughter Kennedy and I also had the opportunity to meet former Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg at the Normanna Lodge in Everett.

It was wonderful to meet Prime Minister Solberg and hear her perspective on the importance of the partnership between the United States and Norway.

GSKA Job Fair

On May 2, the Greater Seattle Korean Association (GSKA) hosted a job fair in partnership with the City of Lynnwood, Edmonds College, and the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County at the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center.

I spoke at the event and was encouraged by the wide range of opportunities available across industries including manufacturing, technology, vocational trades, aerospace, healthcare, and more. Thank you to GSKA and all of the event partners for organizing such a successful event.

D-BAT Ribbon Cutting

On May 11, I joined the Stilly Valley Chamber of Commerce and many community members for the official ribbon cutting of D-BAT in Smokey Point.

D-BAT is a baseball and softball training center located next to Tractor Supply and the Smokey Point Library. This new facility will provide valuable opportunities for young athletes in our community to develop their skills and passion for the game.

My kids love baseball and softball, so we are excited to try out this new facility ourselves in the near future!

AMHS STAR Breakfast

I had the pleasure of joining local leaders and community members at Archbishop Murphy High School’s STAR Breakfast. STAR stands for Student Tuition Award Relief, and the breakfast helps raise funds for tuition assistance so students in need have the support necessary to achieve their goals.

I was able to work with Senator John Lovick on securing capital budget funding for AMHS, and it was great to get to recognize his work at this event. The STAR breakfast was an inspiring event where alumni were recognized and attendees came together to support the important work happening at AMHS.

Immigrant Heritage Month

On May 26, the County Council passed Resolution 26-029 recognizing June as Immigrant Heritage Month in Snohomish County.

I introduced the resolution to celebrate the many contributions immigrants make to our community and to reaffirm that the American Dream is still alive and well in our country. During the meeting, several community members shared their experiences immigrating to the United States and the lives they have built here since making that journey.

I was inspired by their stories of the American Dream and grateful for their willingness to share with us. These stories are especially meaningful as our nation approaches its 250th anniversary and reflects on the people and history that have helped make America the greatest nation in the world.

Meadowdale Beach Cleanup

Mark your calendars! On July 9, my office will partner with several local organizations to host a beach cleanup event at Meadowdale Beach Park.

Community members will join WSU Beach Watchers, the Greater Seattle Korean Association, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County for a day of service and conservation. The cleanup will officially run from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Because parking at the beach is limited, participants are encouraged to park at the Meadowdale Ballfields and take the complimentary shuttle to the beach. Free shuttle service, provided by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County, will operate from 9:30 to 10:15 AM and 12:00 to 12:45 PM.

Please see the flyer below for additional information, and feel free to share it with your networks. We hope to see you there!

I send out monthly newsletters to keep you informed about what I am working on and how I am representing the residents of North Snohomish County on the County Council. Please feel free to reach out to me at 425-512-4810 or Nate.Nehring@snoco.org.

Sincerely,

Nate Nehring
Councilman, District 1

Snohomish County Council

3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 609
Everett, Washington 98201

8th floor, Robert J. Drewel Building
Phone: 425-388-3494
E-Mail: Nate.Nehring@snoco.org

Russell Wiita, Legislative Aide