News from the Skagit County Democrats
Posted on April 16th, 2023
Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for April 17, 2023
DEMOCRATIC EVENTS
1. UPDATED – Legislative Committee Report
With the State Legislature in session our Legislative Committee is hard at work going through as many bills as possible to make sure we keep you well informed. Please review the following bills and express your support to your elected officials.
—————
HB1240 An assault weapons ban
This bill has now passed the State Senate and goes back to the House with adjustments made while under Senate review. So we need your support to reinforce our support for passage of HB1240. This bill will prohibit the manufacture, importation, distribution, selling, and offering for sale, assault weapons, and by providing limited exemptions applicable to licensed firearms manufacturers and dealers for purposes of sale to armed services and law enforcement agencies and for purposes of sale or transfer outside of the state, and to inheritors. EVERY DAY in America our children, family, and friends are being murdered by deranged people with unlimited access to military style assault weapons. Is it not time to stand up to BAN THESE WEAPONS.
Email Your Legislators to Support HB1240
Recommended Text: “Washington state legislators MUST stand up to gun lobbies and put our children, families, and friends ahead of unlimited access to military style assault weapons that were designed for a singular purpose – the mass killing of people. We must ensure public safety. Please vote to support HB1240!”
SB5768 Protecting access to abortion medications
Authorizes the department of corrections to acquire, sell, deliver, distribute, and dispense abortion medications. The Governor made the right call when he directed DOC to purchase a three-year supply of mifepristone in anticipation of the court ruling in Texas. The uncertainty of the final outcome in the judicial process is not something that should be gambled on, and this bill gives DOC appropriate authority to dispense mifepristone to clinics and providers to ensure there is as much safe access as possible to mifepristone in Washington.
Email Your Legislators to Support SB5768
This bill has passed the Senate and is now in the House for consideration. Please contact your legislators to support this important legislation.
2. NEW – The most recent meeting of the Fidalgo Democrats, "Increasing Social Trust in Our Divided Times", can now be viewed on YouTube (Click Here).
3. Garage Sale Report
"Our participation in the Skagit County Garage Sale was a first-year success! Thanks to a great team of volunteers and to all the donors who came through for this effort. Our first year in the Skagit County Garage Sale was both fun and profitable. It was a long four days but well worth it!"
Editor's Note: And a special thank-you to Sheila Mulligan for all her work and organization!
4. Parade Dates for the Calendar
Please put these parade dates on your calendars! (No doubt more information to follow.)
- Anacortes PRIDE Parade – June 17 – 10:30AM line up; 11:00AM parade start up
- Anacortes Independence Day – July 4 – 10:00AM line up; 10:30AM parade start up
- Mount Vernon Holiday Parade – December 3 – 4:30PM line up; 5:00PM parade begins
5. NEW – 2023 Congressional Art Competition
"Each spring, the U.S. House of Representatives holds a nationwide high school arts competition . . . The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students who live or attend school in the Second District. The winner of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol with winning pieces from around the country . . . Artwork must be submitted no later than Monday, May 1, at 5:00 p.m. PT. If you wish to submit your artwork in person or need to make other arrangements, please call 425-252-3188 to schedule an appointment." Click Here for more information.
6. Skagit County Democrats is again requesting anyone visiting our Headquarters to "mask up"
7. NEW – Links of the Week
The Links of the Week provide in-depth pieces and resources the Editor has found to be relevant, insightful, and thorough on important issues of the day.
- Jeremy Grantham can spot market bubbles. Now he's warning of an 'ominous' bust
- Scientists Broke a Major Computer Design Barrier — And It Could Change Tech As We Know It
- Why America's EV chargers keep breaking
- The True Dangers of Long Trains
- American IQ Scores Rapidly Decline: What Is Reverse Flynn Effect?
COMMUNITY EVENTS
1. NEW – Tulip Festival Street Fair 2023, Friday, Apr 21, 10:00am – 6:00pm, Saturday, Apr 22, 10:00am – 6:00pm, Sunday, Apr 23, 10:00am – 5:00pm, Downtown Mount Vernon
2. NEW – FCCs are up for Consideration – Again!
"Two previously deferred proposals (LR20-04 and LR22-02) to amend Skagit County’s Comprehensive Plan to allow Fully Contained Communities (FCCs)–huge housing developments on rural lands–are on the list of petitions to be considered for the County’s 2023 planning docket. Skagit citizens across the political spectrum have consistently demonstrated widespread opposition to FCCs. The County’s own Planning Department recommends that these petitions be EXCLUDED from the 2023 Docket. Let’s tell the County Commissioners that we agree with the Planning Department: It is time to fully exclude these lingering, and legally flawed proposals from consideration." Click Here for more information.
3. NEW – Skagit County Receives $2 Million Additional Rental Assistance Funds
Click Here for more information. Click Here for the Skagit County Rental Assistance Program.
4. Anacortes Safety Staffing and Skagit Hospital District 1 (Skagit Regional Health) Levy Lifts
Ballots are out! They must be returned by Tuesday, April 25. If mailed, they must be in the mail by April 17. You can register in person up to 8:00pm, Tuesday, April 25. For more information, go to the Skagit County Auditor's Election Page. Below is the timeline for this election.
- April 5 – Domestic ballots mailed
- April 17 – Deadline to register or update existing registration online and by mail
- April 25 – Deadline for in-person registration and voter updates – Closes 8:00 PM
- April 25 – Primary Election – Closes 8:00 PM
- May 2 – Canvassing Board Meeting, Initial Review – 1:30 PM
- May 5 – Primary Election Certification – 1:30 PM
5. "Bans Off Our Bodies Sign Waving" Skagit – Wednesday, Apr 19, 2023 5:00pm – 6:00pm, Walgreens, 623 South Burlington Blvd, Burlington
"Join Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood for a national weekend of action. This event is in response to the pending mifepristone court decision. This event will take place at the Walgreens in Burlington at the intersection of Hwy 20 and Burlington Blvd. The group will be meeting on the Burlington Blvd side of the intersection. Meet us at 5pm and bring your friends, come chant, and sign wave with us! Please RSVP!"
6. NEW – The monthly Planned Parenthood rally is Saturday, May 6, 11:00am – 12:00pm, on the sidewalk in front of the Mount Vernon Health Center, 1805 East Division Street, Mount Vernon
Bring your signs, your friends, your family, and your masks. To RSVP, sign up here.
7. Kiwanis Salmon Barbeque in 2023, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through April, Hillcrest Park Lodge, 1717 South 13th Street, Mt Vernon
"The event has been held in the community for 68 years, to raise funds for local youth and charitable work. The Kiwanis Club Salmon Barbeque is an official Skagit Tulip Festival Event . . . Alder grilled salmon with baked potato, coleslaw, garlic bread, beverages and dessert . . . Tickets are available at the door. Cost is $20 for a 3 ounce plate or $23 for a 5 ounce plate. Visa and Mastercard accepted."
8. Neighbors Night in the Tulips sponsored by Helping Hands, Thursday, Apr 20, 4:30pm – 7:30pm, Tulip Valley Farms, 15245 Bradshaw Road, Mount Vernon
" . . . a FREE event for the community to come together, tip-toe through the tulips, eat at the baked potato bar with potatoes generously donated by Skagit Valley’s Best Produce, and engage in the fellowship that Spring brings to our great Valley. Also, the best way to see tulips while avoiding traffic!" Click Here to register.
9. COVID-19 Information
Click Here for the most current report and resources.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Anacortes Sunday Demonstrations
Democrats are again demonstrating in Anacortes each Sunday, 12:00pm – 1:00pm at the corner of 12th Street and Commercial Avenue. "We carry signs for Dem candidates, get out and vote signs, women's right-to-chose in healthcare and so on and so on. We need more people to show up."
2. Coffee & Cards, Wednesdays, 10:00am – 12:00pm, Skagit County Democrats Headquarters, 2021 East College Way, Suite 104, Mount Vernon
Coffee and Cards meets on Wednesdays from 10:00am – 12:00pm. This is the group that was previously led by Carol Sullivan and is now lead quite capably by Judy Farrar. The group is a way for us to express ourselves about issues of importance to us all.
We will write messages of encouragement and support to people who are making positive contributions as well as messages of concern and opposition to people who are negatively impacting our world. This includes legislators on the local, state, and federal level as well as CEOs of corporations and other people having a significant impact in our world. We will share ideas for people to write to and issues to address.
Postcards and stamps will be provided, but we ask that people bring money to cover the cost of the postcard stamps which are currently $.44. Coffee will be provided or bring your own. As Carol always reminded us, “We are stronger together.” Our office is located at 2021 East College Way, Suite 104, Mount Vernon, 360-336-1555."