This article was originally published in the Everett Daily Herald. Last week’s election saw voters soundly reject tax increases proposed by the county and municipal governments throughout Snohomish County. With one exception, all local tax increases were rejected by voters. These are in addition to Everett voters’ rejection of a levy lid lift property...
Despite facing a billionaire and public sector union-funded opposition campaign that spent nearly 5 times as much as the YES campaign, the repeal on Washington’s natural gas ban appears on track for success, with 51.43% support as of votes reported by Nov. 7. This hard-won success joins three other powerful citizen-led initiatives passed into law...
This year’s General Election presents an opportunity for Everett voters to weigh in on three important ballot measures. Ballots will be hitting your mailbox now, and the last day to return your ballot is November 5th. Initiatives 24-01 & 24-02 are competing proposals which would both establish an increased minimum wage and other labor standards. Both initiatives would raise...
This year’s General Election on November 5th presents an opportunity for Snohomish County voters to weigh in on Proposition 1, a public safety sales tax. Ballots will be hitting your mailbox now, and the last day to return your ballot is November 5th. Proposition 1 would increase the sales tax rate throughout Snohomish County by 0.2%,...
An innovative technology from Flock is being successfully utilized across the country in order to target vehicle thefts, including here in Snohomish County. While adhering to privacy laws, this new technology collects only objective vehicle data by way of Automated License Plate Readers, alerts law enforcement of wanted vehicles, and aids in crime-solving. This camera system does...
The 2024 Washington State legislative session included debate and action on several key bills affecting Snohomish County residents. This year was a “short session” of 60 days and was focused on policy bills as the Legislature does not adopt their biennial budget during even years. Some of the critical policies considered this legislative session included...
This year’s Snohomish County Primary Election on August 6th presents an opportunity for voters to weigh in on multiple tax increase proposals in various areas of the county. Ballots will be mailed on July 18th and the last day to return your ballot is August 6th. A ballot measure to expand the boundaries of the Port of...
The 2024 Washington State legislative session included debate and action on several key bills affecting Snohomish County residents. This year was a “short session” of 60 days and was focused on policy bills as the Legislature does not adopt their biennial budget during even years. Some of the critical policies considered this legislative session included...
The political landscape of Washington state is undergoing a seismic shift, with June 2024 standing out as a pivotal month in the growing citizen-led movement to hold lawmakers accountable. Let’s examine the key developments that made June a landmark month for citizen power in the Evergreen State: Three Citizen Initiatives Become Law Last year, millions...
At a recent Everett City Council meeting, Councilmember Mary Fosse introduced legislation which would increase Everett’s minimum wage to up to $20.24/hour for local businesses. The City of Seattle’s current minimum wage is $19.97/hour and Washington State’s is $16.28/hour. Fosse’s proposal, if approved, would send the question of a minimum wage increase to the voters...
The progressive approaches of “housing first” and “harm reduction” are failing our communities. While taxes increase and hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on these ineffective programs, homelessness, overdose deaths, and drug-associated crime have been on the rise. To counter these harmful progressive approaches, 50+ local elected officials throughout Washington State have signed on...
Thank you for your continued engagement with Project 42 and Future 42 Snohomish County. Please see two important updates below on recent items of significance that we have weighed in on with hundreds of you contacting your elected officials to express your thoughts; your engagement is making a difference: SNOHOMISH COUNTY COUNCIL ADOPTS ORDINANCE TO...
Ordinance #24-011, mandating environmental testing for toxic drugs in county-owned homeless housing, is a crucial step toward ensuring the safety and well-being of residents, visitors and staff. The closure of multiple, county-owned facilities due to meth and fentanyl contamination serves as a stark warning of the risks posed by drug contamination. By implementing regular testing,...
At their April 24th and May 1st meetings, respectively, the Everett City Council will be discussing and taking action on a proposal to raise property taxes by over 5% through a ballot measure. This could raise over $13 million per year in an attempt to balance the city’s budget, which currently faces a deficit. This levy lid lift proposal is expected...