Ferguson delivers new plan to slash up to half of state’s $15 billion budget deficit
OLYMPIA—Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson announced his plan to slash an additional $4 billion of the state’s $15 billion budget deficit. The Governor said he hopes to continue working with the legislature to figure out how to deal with the remaining $8 billion dollars to end the legislative session with a “balanced budget.” “[O]ur state […]
Snohomish County state lawmakers talk 2025 legislative priorities
EVERETT—Under the theme “One County, One Voice,” Representative Mary Fosse (D-Everett) moderated a bipartisan forum hosted by the Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) on December 5 at Elks Lodge in Everett where panelists discussed housing affordability, behavioral health, childcare, economic development and labor force, transportation, infrastructure, and public safety. With Washington state facing a projected […]
Public invited to 2025 Legislative Kickoff: “One County, One Voice”
EVERETT—Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) will host the Legislative Kickoff on Thursday, December 5, 2024, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Elks Lodge #479 in Everett. Presented by Boeing and Republic Services, this annual event connects local business leaders and elected officials to advocate for policies that drive economic success in Snohomish County. Under […]
How wealthy is your elected official? Looking at politicians’ worth amidst 14% wage increases
Washington state-level lawmakers are set to receive up to a 14.7 percent wage increase following the proposed 2025/26 salary schedule adopted by the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials on October 10. The final vote is scheduled for February 5, 2025. Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck is advocating for the higher pay stating that […]
Lawmakers celebrate soft open of new law enforcement training academy
ARLINGTON—The Washington State Justice Training Commission held a soft open on Tuesday, October 22, for its newest regional law enforcement training center set to officially open in Arlington in February 2025. Arlington’s law enforcement training center will be Washington State’s third regional training facility within the last two year facility following Pasco, which opened in […]
Snohomish County Therapeutic Courts celebrates 25 years of adult recovery
EVERETT—DJ Rivera, brother to Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Whitney Rivera, had a normal childhood growing up, but when his father passed away around his seventeenth birthday he turned to drugs and alcohol. His life quickly spun out of control until it culminated with being arrested on December 8, 2005, for a controlled substance. Instead […]
WSDOT awards Port of Everett a $4.3 million CCA grant to electrify South Terminal
EVERETT—The Port of Everett was one of 11 recipients awarded a capital grant, funded with Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funds, by the Washington Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) Port Electrification Program. The Port of Everett was awarded the $4.3 million competitive grant in August to be used to help fund a $5.8 million project to construct […]
The economic eviction crisis in manufactured home communities
The Baby Boomer generation (those born between 1946 and 1964) has been the driving force for consumption in America’s economy. Gerber’s baby food, Saturday cartoons filled with ads for sugary cereals, hula hoops, teaching the world to sing with Coca Cola are all part of the economic engine fed by the Baby Boomers. But this […]
Forum exposes the dark practice of underfunding manufactured home communities
LYNNWOOD—Almost 200 residents throughout western Snohomish County filled the dining hall of Homage Senior Services on Thursday, May 30, to attend a Manufactured Home Ownership Forum hosted by George Hurst, Lynnwood City Council President, and Pam Hurst, Legislative Lead, Washington Low-Income Housing Alliance; Dave Ross of KIRO Radio moderated the event. The purpose of the […]
Election integrity bill sponsored by Sam Low signed into law
OLYMPIA—A bill sponsored by 39th District Representative Sam Low to modernize Washington state’s voter registration system and strengthen election integrity was signed into law on Wednesday, March 13, by Governor Jay Inslee. Representative Sam Low (R-Lake Stevens), the bill’s primary sponsor, emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration in getting the election integrity bill passed and […]
