Snohomish County Data Center Moratorium hearing set for August 19
EVERETT — The Snohomish County Council will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, August 19, on an emergency moratorium it adopted unanimously on June 24 that pauses new data center development in unincorporated areas of the county—meeting information at end of article. Emergency Ordinance 26-026 places a six-month hold on the filing, acceptance, processing or […]
Jared Mead Commentary on Sales Tax Vote: Show Your Work
Before government asks people to contribute more, it should first show its work. My wife teaches middle school in Everett. Like teachers everywhere, she expects her students to show their work. Not because she is looking for extra steps on a page, but because showing your work demonstrates that you understood the problem, considered different […]
Snohomish County Approves 0.1% Sales Tax for Public Safety
EVERETT—The Snohomish County Council voted 3-2 on Wednesday to approve a new 0.1% criminal-justice sales tax expected to generate nearly $24 million a year, a move supporters said was necessary to prevent the loss of roughly 50 sheriff’s deputies, 50 corrections officers, 25 prosecutors and dozens of other public-safety positions. Opponents called the timing premature, […]
Arlington opens long-awaited bicycle pump track at Jensen Park
ARLINGTON — After nearly 15 years of planning, the City of Arlington officially opened its new bicycle pump track at Jensen Park on Wednesday, July 29. A pump track is a looping course featuring small hills, known as rollers, and banked turns, or berms. Riders maintain momentum by shifting their body weight rather than pedaling, […]
Nate’s Corner: Pressing “pause” on County-wide data centers
Data centers have become a significant topic of public interest and concern. While these facilities play a role in supporting many digital services, their impacts on land use, infrastructure, energy and water demand, and neighboring communities weigh heavily on the minds of many Snohomish County residents. That is why I recently proposed a temporary moratorium […]
From Slavery to Freedom: Snohomish County honors Juneteenth and the continued fight for equality
“When I thought about Juneteenth, I think of the insidious evil of those who knew what had happened [Emancipation Proclamation that freed slaves] in Texas and stayed silent [keeping Blacks enslaved]… So that’s what freedom means to me: we cannot be silent,” opened Kent Patton, Snohomish County Deputy Executive, during the fifth Juneteenth proclamation and […]
County Council Approves $170,000 Jail Efficiency Study to Address Rising Costs
EVERETT—The Snohomish County Council passed a motion Tuesday morning authorizing the development of a Request for Proposal (RFP) to conduct a comprehensive Jail Efficiency Study. The study will be initiated and carried out in close partnership between the Snohomish County Council, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, and the County Executive’s Office, reflecting a shared commitment […]
Snohomish County is first in WA to end ‘Housing First’ funding preference; fentanyl exposure to children now lands you jail time
EVERETT — The Snohomish County Council on June 10 approved two ordinances aimed at expanding treatment-focused approaches to addiction and housing while protecting children from fentanyl exposure, but postponed a third measure that would have carved out dedicated funding for behavioral health facilities. “These ordinances represent a step in the right direction for our fight […]
Snohomish County passes resolution recognizing June as Immigrant Heritage Month
EVERETT—The Snohomish County Council passed a resolution (26-029) recognizing June as Immigrant Heritage Month at their Administrative Session Tuesday, May 26, where they invited several Snohomish County immigrants share their compelling stories of uprooting their lives and choosing America for a better life. County Councilman Nate Nehring shared that he was honored to bring the […]
Snohomish County leadership presents Memorial Day Resolution and Proclamation to Naval Station Everett
EVERETT—The seat of county government, the Snohomish County Council, formally recognized Memorial Day by presenting both a council resolution and an executive proclamation for the first time to Command Master Chief Jeffrey Fleming on behalf of Naval Station Everett on May 20. The proclamation urges residents to observe a national moment of remembrance at 3 […]
