America 250

Last month, Americans across the country celebrated the semiquincentennial, our nation's 250th birthday. From Fourth of July fireworks and parades to events recognizing our history and heritage, it was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our remarkable past and renew our pride in our country. My family and I attended the Arlington Fourth of July festivities and appreciated the patriotism and community spirit we were able to experience firsthand.  

The America 250 celebration continues throughout the year, and September 17 (Constitution Day) has been designated as a Day of Civic Engagement. All residents are encouraged to participate in civic life, whether by helping with voter registration drives, encouraging friends and family to vote, or getting involved with local government. What better way to commemorate the founding of a government of, by, and for the people than by getting involved in our government today? You can read an op-ed I wrote about America 250 and preserving The American Dream at this link.

On Thursday, July 9, nearly 100 volunteers gathered at Meadowdale Beach Park for our second annual beach cleanup event. Last year, my office began partnering with WSU Beach Watchers to promote environmental stewardship and civic engagement. At this year’s event, volunteers removed more than 130 pounds of litter and trash from the shoreline. 

The event was a great success, and I would like to thank the Greater Seattle Korean Association, Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County, Snohomish County Parks, and WSU Beach Watchers for their partnership. You can read more about the beach cleanup in this op-ed.  

Civic Assembly Presentation

On July 8, during our General Legislative Session, the Snohomish County Council recognized the Civic Assembly on Artificial Intelligence and received the final report from assembly participants. The civic assembly brought together randomly selected residents from across Snohomish County to develop grassroots recommendations for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in county government. 

Over three weekends, participants met to learn about AI, discuss the potential benefits and challenges of implementation, and develop recommendations for the County. The group agreed on 35 recommendations that received broad support and emphasized transparency, human oversight, data protection, fairness, and public accountability. This was a first-of-its-kind process for local government, and I appreciate the organizers and participants for their efforts. You can read the full Snohomish County Civic Assembly on Artificial Intelligence report here.  

One of the recommendations focused on the regulation of data centers. Earlier this year, I proposed a moratorium on data centers while the County Council develops permanent regulations. My office created a survey to collect community input on the future of data center regulation in Snohomish County. If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to take the survey at this link.  

Jensen Park Pump Track Grand Opening

I am proud to have partnered with the City of Arlington to support its new pump track at Jensen Park. The city hosted a grand opening on Wednesday, July 29, for this new addition to its park system. Snohomish County, Amazon, and the Stillaguamish Tribe contributed funding to the project. The new pump track expands recreational opportunities for riders of all skill levels. 

I joined the City of Stanwood, fellow elected leaders, and community members to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Skagit Bay Dike Project, a critical infrastructure project near Stanwood. The first phase of this project will repair sections of the levee, which was originally constructed more than one hundred years ago. Later phases of the project will replace the entire 4-mile-long levee. This project will strengthen flood protection for the City of Stanwood and approximately 1,800 acres of productive farmland in the area. 

Snohomish County contributed $1.75 million in grant funding for Phase 1 of this important project. I applaud the efforts of Stanwood Mayor Sid Roberts, the Stillaguamish Tribe, and the Stanwood City Council for their leadership in advancing this project and bringing it to fruition. 

Family Day

On Friday, July 24, Snohomish County hosted its second annual Family Day on Sievers Plaza outside the courthouse and administrative buildings. Departments from throughout Snohomish County government hosted booths with games and activities for children and families. County employees brought their families to the plaza to enjoy a fun afternoon learning about county government and meeting fellow county employees. 

At the County Council booth, attendees had the opportunity to pie their councilmembers in the face, which many seemed to enjoy (including Prosecutor Cummings). I appreciate all of the organizers who made this great event possible for the second year in a row. I hope to see this great tradition continue for years to come. 

State of Tulalip

At their Breakfast Before Hours meeting in July, the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber hosted Tulalip Tribal Chair Hazen Shopbell to provide updates on the Tulalip Tribes. During his State of Tulalip presentation, Chair Shopbell discussed recent economic development efforts and other updates from tribal government. I appreciated the opportunity to hear from the Tulalip Tribes and learn about some of the great work they are doing to contribute to our local economy. 

I had the privilege of attending part of the soccer clinic hosted by the Real Madrid Foundation in Marysville last month. Young athletes from across Snohomish County had the opportunity to train with coaches from the Foundation at Strawberry Fields Athletic Complex. Attendees participated in drills designed to develop technical skills, teamwork, and their passion for the game. 

I appreciate the Real Madrid Foundation for bringing this opportunity to Snohomish County, and I am thankful that we have a great facility like Strawberry Fields to host events like this. 

On Saturday, July 18, I joined fire district personnel and fellow community members for a ribbon cutting at the new Station 41 and Fire District 4 headquarters in Snohomish. We had the opportunity to tour the new station, learn about the services provided by Fire District 4, and connect with district personnel. 

The new station is a great addition to Snohomish and will serve the community for decades.