Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin outlines 2026 priorities

EVERETT—Leading into 2026, the Lynnwood Times sat down with Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin – who just won another term last November with a, nearly, 11-point win – to share with you what the City of Everett has in look forward to in the coming years. Ahead of the 2025 General Election, Mayor Franklin shared her […]
Bold moves in housing for 2025: Hope, trauma, and action

In 2025, Snohomish County faced the stark realities of Washington’s escalating housing crisis while communities pursued innovative solutions. Below are the highlights of our housing coverage in 2025. The ‘Housing Governor,’ Ferguson goes all in with a bold $244 million plan to tackle Washington’s housing crisis On December 18, 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson announced a $244 […]
The ‘Housing Governor,’ Ferguson goes all in with a bold $244 million plan to tackle Washington’s housing crisis

SEATTLE—Governor Bob Ferguson unveiled a $244 million package of housing investments on Thursday and signed an executive order creating a task force to lay the groundwork for a new cabinet-level Department of Housing, to combat what he calls a housing crisis and to help victims of the fatal floods from last week’s atmospheric river. Speaking […]
City of Snohomish just added a $20,000 per unit fee to affordable housing

SNOHOMISH—The City of Snohomish has decided to increase the cost of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) by requiring separate sewer and water connections which can add an additional $20,000 to $40,000 to the construction cost of the ADU. Since the passage of House Bill 1337 (HB 1337) in 2023, cities over 20,000 in population, have been required to […]
Murray, Cantwell, Larsen, DelBene secure $19 million to construct new family-style military homes

WASHINGTON, D.C.—With passage of the $467.5 billion spending package on Friday, March 8 that avoids a shutdown by funding portions of the federal government until September 30, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), along with Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Rick Larsen (WA-02), secured $19 million for the construction of 88 family-style homes […]
Public Hearing on senior housing, resolutions on City transparency

LYNNWOOD—Lynnwood City Council will host its Business Meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, February 12, to hold a Public Hearing for the addition of 36 housing units at Garden Senior Village. The council will vote to pass a resolution amending Council Rules relating to remote public comments, approve the 2024 Finance Committee meeting schedule, and approve […]
Snohomish County Housing Affordability Regional Taskforce discusses housing crisis

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., April 6, 2022 – Yesterday, the Snohomish County Housing Affordability Regional Taskforce (HART), chaired by Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers and Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, reconvened to build upon the five-year plan and continue efforts to ease the housing crisis. HART released its report and five-year plan in January 2020, just as […]
Proposed legislation forcing cities to increase housing density in single-family neighborhoods introduced

OLYMPIA, Wash., January 21, 2022 – Proponents of HB 1782 say forcing higher housing density in Washington’s cities will help reduce housing costs, cut fuel emissions and put an end to exclusionary zoning. Critics of the idea, however, say it will require significant overhauls in city infrastructure and reduce local control of housing options. Local […]