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The League of Women Voters of Snohomish County and Futurewise have reviewed changes to the Urban Tree Canopy Policy being considered in the Snohomish County Comprehensive Plan Update. We have drafted an action alert to be published March 20th that will help the public provide comments and suggestions on the Comprehensive Plan Update before March 31st. We hope a surge in comments toward the end of the comment period will draw attention from the county. Watch for the email message with the action alert to amplify our voices in support of the policy with or without suggested changes.

The Snohomish County League of Women Voters Board selected the Sultan High School Broadcast Club for its 2023 Democracy in Action Award.

We have updated the resource section on the website to include the most up-to-date information concerning the state and federal eviction moratorium guidance. There is also a short summary of the existing standards and available eviction relief programs.

The LWVWA recently completed the study “The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy,” and now It’s time for League members to come together for consensus discussions, related to this study. The results of the consensus discussions will determine whether the state league proceeds to establish a position about support for local news organizations.

The League of Women Voters of Snohomish County and Futurewise have reviewed changes to the Urban Tree Canopy Policy being considered in the Snohomish County Comprehensive Plan Update. We have drafted an action alert to be published March 20th that will help the public provide comments and suggestions on the Comprehensive Plan Update before March 31st. We hope a surge in comments toward the end of the comment period will draw attention from the county. Watch for the email message with the action alert to amplify our voices in support of the policy with or without suggested changes.

Our League helped write a proposed Urban Tree Canopy Policy for the upcoming Comprehensive Plan Update to be adopted in 2024 by the County Council. The County is inviting input – and there are many ways to be involved. Here are some resources and links.

A group of concerned citizens asked The Daily Herald to find a way to expand their coverage on the impacts of climate change. In response, the newspaper established the Environmental and Climate Change Reporting Fund, which enables the community to support the journalism it values through tax-deductible donations.

The Washington State redistricting process needs to be changed. The Snohomish County League of Women Voters has signed a letter of support to encourage the statewide League (LWVWA) to plan and execute a campaign to reform the structure and procedures of the Washington State Redistricting Commission. We seek a state constitutional amendment and statutory changes before the 2031 redistricting cycle.

On January 1, 2022, two laws affecting voter registration went into effect. The first is an expansion of Washington's Future Voter program; the second concerns voting eligibility for convicted felons.

The WA State Supreme Court has declined to redraw voting-district maps, allowing the maps presented by the Redistricting Commission to stand. This article by LWVWA Redisttricting issue Chair suggests three ways you can help improve the process.

The national League of Women Voters has joined with hundreds of voting rights advocates to demonstrate in Washington, DC in front of the White House. The protests resulted in the arrests of participants such as the LWV Board president, its CEO, two board members, its senior director of Mission Impact and League members from at least eight different county leagues.

The Redistricting Commission failed to meet its November 15 deadline. It is now up to the Washington State Supreme Court to draw our new voting-district maps, with a completion deadline of April 30, 2022. This statewide process is not working. How can we keep this from happening in the future? Let's talk about it, and begin to build a plan for change.

Complex issues face our county’s growing population. From Growth Management Act requirements to the creative use of new “hub cities” in underdeveloped areas (next to high-speed transit stops), there is a wealth of great detail and even opportunity for your feedback in this summary report of the November 4th meeting of Snohomish County Tomorrow’s subcommittee, the Planning Advisory Committee.

Observer Corps member Julie Winchell reported on the Snohomish County Airport Commission Meeting and highlighted the Paine Field Airport Master Plan. Learn more about the master plan input process.

While climate change is stressing cities, maintaining urban trees is a step toward sustainability, with myriad healthy benefits. Learn more about the advantages of Becoming an Evergreen Community with two online presentations offered by the Snohomish County League of Women Voters, which is leading a campaign to keep and increase the county's tree canopy.

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers submitted his proposed 2022 budget to the Snohomish County Council. “Once a year, we have an opportunity to present our vision for the future in the form of our proposed budget,” said Executive Somers. See how you can comment on the proposed budget.

The Tax Structure Work Group will hold a town hall meeting for the Puget Sound Region on October 27, 2021 to present and hear reactions to scenarios they are developing for tax reform and wants to further hear from Washington tax payers by survey up to November 5, 2021.

On October 2nd, people around the world will be participating in events to show support for reproductive choices. The League has a history of supporting those choices. In brief, our national position is “Protect the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices.”

LWVSC observer Jilda Nettleton attended the Snohomish County Districting Committee meeting on September 15. The Districting Committee has released preliminary draft council district maps based on the 2020 U.S. Census. Learn more about the committee and how to provide input.

Voting is a sacred right. The national League of Women Voters urges you to take action now to raise your voice to the White House in favor of national reforms that would protect and enforce voting rights.

Fifteen new LWVSC observers have been trained and reports are already being submitted to Observer Corps coordinator Rita Ireland. So far, reports include observations of the Arlington City Council, Snohomish County Tomorrow Planning Advisory Commission, and Mountlake Terrace DEI Commission. Learn more about how to view the reports and how you can still be trained as an observer.

The results of the Primary are in, and we have a lot of work to do! Less than 30% of the county's registered voters determined the results.

Take The Next Step (TTNS) offers friendship, help, and hope to neighbors in need in East Snohomish County in efforts to keep children and family in their existing lodging rather than face homelessness. See how Take the Next Step tackles this problem.

The LWV Snohomish County Natural Resources Committee shared its Program of Work at the LWVWA Convention on June 25, 2021 in a presentation titled “Becoming an Evergreen Community.”

August 1, 2021 The Everett Herald published a commentary by LWVSC president about the importance of providing input to the state Redistricting Commission.

The League of Women Voters of Snohomish County is hosting a series of moderated Candidate Forums to introduce voters to candidates running for office in the 2021 election. This first series focuses on six races: Marysville, Snohomish, Everett, Edmonds, Mukilteo and Lynnwood.

We ask a short series of questions - the questions you might ask if each came to your doorstep. Links to video and audio of each forum can be found on the Candidate Forum page on our website.

Learn about and provide input to the Puget Sound Regional Council's Transportation Plan for Vision 2050. PSRC will describe the issues, preliminary plans, and survey results. Forum participants will be able to ask questions, provide feedback and enter their opinions into the community survey.

Voting-district lines drawn in 2021 will determine how strong a voice each voter has in coming elections for the next 10 years. We encourage you to share your ideas on how these maps can better reflect your voice and vote.

The 2021 legislative session ended with a bang on April 25, with stunning results for League issues.

The LWVWA Convention will be held virtually between June 23 and June 28. You can attend as a non-voting participant or one of the 10 voting delegates from the Snohomish County League.

Ahead is the June 14th National Week of Conversation, a cross-country effort at depolarizing and unifying America. Be sure to register.