News from the Skagit County Democrats

Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for February 26, 2024

DEMOCRATIC EVENTS

1. NEW – The Skagit County Democrats Membership will meet Saturday, Mar 9, 10:00am – 12:00pm, via Zoom OR in-person, C2C Community Center, 224 Stewart Road (turns into Hoag Road east of Riverside Drive), Mount Vernon
This Membership meeting will be a HYBRID meeting. PLEASE NOTE LOCATION OF IN-PERSON VENUE. We must start promptly at 10:00 a.m. If you choose the Zoom alternative, we ask that you log on no later than 9:45 a.m. Click Here for the Zoom link (Meeting ID: 861 7751 1309; Passcode: 604607).

Also, if you intend to join the Zoom meeting, we ask that you ensure your Zoom client is up to date. Click Here for easy-to-follow instructions on how to update the Zoom client.

2. NEW – Legislative Committee Report for this week
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. We have had a lot of success but the term is not over yet!

The following bills we supported have passed both chambers and are headed to the Governor's desk. Thank you for all your help!

• SB6007 – Concerning employment standards for grocery workers.
• HB1241 – Addressing election worker harassment
• HB2331 – An act relating to modifying requirements for public school instructional materials and supplemental instructional materials by prohibiting improper exclusions of certain materials, establishing complaint procedures, and promoting culturally and experientially representative materials.

The following bills MUST be out of committees by Monday. Do not wait, send your emails right now. Please review the following bills and express your support to your elected officials.

HB2023 – Would improve meaningful access to election language assistance.
Representative Clyde Shavers, from the 10th LD, has made good on his word by drafting HB 2023 which has passed the House. Still, now we need for it to be presented in the Senate by contacting:

• Senator Javier Valdez at https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/valdez/, and
• Senator Sam Hunt (28th LD) at https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/hunt/

Please email your support for this bill.

HB2023 reduces the percentage of non-English speaking voters required for our voting material to be in other languages from 5% to 2.5%. In Skagit County, members of our Diversity Committee, and other Latinos showed up to testify on the importance of this bill. Our County Commissioners received a one-year grant from a community agency called Northsound ACH after which Skagit County is committed to continue to fund this. However, it has stalled after it passed the House and we need all of you to ask these Senators to ensure it gets to the floor for a vote. There has been significant support for this on both sides of the aisle for this vote. Please spread the word because as we see it, to allow it to stall is a form of voter suppression! We cannot allow this to continue to sit in the Elections Committee for one week. This is unacceptable. Please write to these two Senators as soon as possible!

Email your senator to support HB2023
Recommended Text:
HB 2023 reduces the percentage of non-English speaking voters required for our voting material to be in other languages from 5% to 2.5%. Not passing this bill will continue to suppress voters and prevent them from having meaningful access to elections material. Please pass HB2023 before it is too late. This bill passed the House 84 to 13, it is not exactly controversial.

HB2114 Limiting rent increases and other fees for tenants passed the House on a party-line vote of 54 to 43. This bill improves housing stability for tenants.
People across Washington are struggling to pay rent. Hardworking people who work in grocery stores and hospitals are being forced to move farther and farther away from their jobs because they cannot pay rent. Evictions and homelessness are on the rise. Households of color disproportionately bear the impact of rent increases. Family members are forced to move far away from each other to afford rent. For some seniors on fixed incomes, rent increases can make it impossible to stay in their homes.

Email your Senator to support HB2114
Recommended Text:
Please support HB2114 and help keep rental fees and rent in check. Some people have experienced drastic rent increases in recent years that have devastated them financially and hurt their chances of upward mobility. It is time to provide housing stability for tenants.

3. Washington State's Presidential Primary
The following is quoted from Shoreline Area News of February 16 (emphasis added by the Editor):
"Voters' pamphlets for the Washington Presidential Primary are arriving in mailboxes around the state. Ballots will be mailed out by February 23, 2024 and should be delivered by February 26. The election deadline is March 12 – all ballots must be received by that date.

The purpose of the primary is for the two political parties – Republicans and Democrats – to pick their candidates. For that reason, voters must declare their party status in order to have their vote counted. For this election only, you will need to check a political party declaration box and sign and date the declaration. Then your vote must be for a candidate in that party.

Because of the lead time needed to print and pamphlets and ballots, our information is already out of date. On the Democrat side, Marianne Williamson dropped out at the beginning of February. A candidate named Dean Phillips is still in the race, along with President Biden. On the Republican side, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, and Vivek Ramaswamy have dropped out, leaving Nikki Haley and Donald J. Trump.

The voters' pamphlet is online at the Secretary of State's website."

Click Here for information about registering to vote.

Click Here for a Sample Ballot.

Click Here for Presidential Primary Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Ballot Drop-Box Locations
Boxes open for each election will be listed on the information wrap in your ballot packet. All locations that will be open for an election are open 20 days before Election Day and remain open 24 hours a day until 8:00PM Election Night. Not all boxes will be open for every election. Click Here for a map of locations. (Editor's Note: It is not known at this time which locations will be closed.)

• Anacortes
  • Anacortes Public Library (behind library near drive-up book-drop), 1220 10th Street
  • Skyline Beach Club, 6041 Sands Way
• Bow Edison
  • Fire District 5 Fire Station, 14304 West Bow Hill Road
• Burlington
  • Burlington Parks and Recreation Building, (north side of Fairhaven Ave parking lot), 900 East Fairhaven Street
• Conway
  • Conway Fire Department, 21020 Greenfield Street
• Concrete
  • Skagit Upriver Services, 45770 Main South
• Hamilton
  • Fire District 8/Punkin Center Station, 34041 State Route 20
• La Conner
  • La Conner Library, 614 East Morris Street
• Mount Vernon
  • Mount Vernon Police Department, 1805 Continental Place
  • Skagit County Auditor's Office [Courthouse], (in U-shaped parking lot accessed from 3rd St. near Kincaid), 700 South 2nd Street
• Sauk-Suiattle
  • Last Chance Casino and Bingo, 6020 Mountain Goat Way, Darrington
• Sedro-Woolley
  • Sedro-Woolley Post Office, (in alley between Eastern Ave and Metcalf), 111 Woodworth Street
• Swinomish
  • Social Services Building, 17337 Reservation Road

Below is a timeline of activities for the March 12, Presidential Primary Election

• January 27 – Military and Overseas ballots mailed
• February 21 – Accessible Voting Unit test – 10:00 AM
• February 21 – Domestic ballots mailed
• February 28 – Official Logic & Accuracy test – 2:00 PM
• March 4 – Deadline to register or update existing registration online and by mail
• March 12 – Deadline for in-person registration and voter updates – Closes 8:00 PM
• March 12 – Special Election – Closes 8:00 PM           
• March 19 – Canvassing Board Meeting, Initial Review – 1:30 PM
• March 22 – Special Election Certification – 1:30 PM

4. Election Observers Needed for Presidential Primary
Election observers will be needed in March, as presidential primary ballots are opened and processed. Shifts are just 1 ½ hours each. Please see the link to the SignUp Genius form below and find a shift that works for you. Simply click on “Sign Up" then scroll to the bottom of the page to click on Save and Continue. You should receive a confirmation email immediately after you complete the form. We will send you observer guidelines in advance of your shift. We really appreciate those who help observe the process and we believe the election staff appreciates you as well. Click Here to access the SignUp Genius form. Click Here to view a copy of the 2024 Observer Guidelines from the Skagit County Auditor's Office.

5. NEW – This month is the 50th anniversary of the Boldt Decision
The Boldt Decision of 1974 was literally a "watershed event" that has had far-reaching consequences to this day, not only in terms of Native American rights but also in terms of salmon restoration and conservation of habitat that continue to impact all our lives to this day. It is a complex and nuanced narrative. Below is a listing (by no means exhaustive) of several articles and descriptions of what that impact has been.

• Fisheries Timeline
• Boldt Decision: United States v. State of Washington
• The Boldt Decision’s impact on Indigenous rights, 50 years later
• 50 years ago Boldt decision affirmed Northwest tribes' treaty fishing rights 
• Tribal Hatcheries and the Road to Restoration
• Fishing for a Rule in a Sea of Standards
• Pacific Coast: Water Quality Improvement Case Study
• Fish Passage “Culverts” Litigation

6. View the latest Fidalgo Democrats meeting video, "Loving Our Neighbors in a Complex World", presented Tuesday, Feb 6
Click Here for the YouTube link.

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.

• The West tried to crush Russia’s economy. Why hasn’t it worked?
• Portugal's overdose death rates are a tiny fraction of U.S. fatalities
• Many believe the founders wanted a Christian America. Some want the government to declare one now
• In historians' Presidents Day survey, Biden vs. Trump is not a close call
• How Graphene Batteries Are Poised to Revolutionize Cordless Power Tools

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

1. The monthly Planned Parenthood rally is Saturday, Mar 2, 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, and your family.

2. NEW – Helping Hands Food Bank Community Open House, Saturday, Mar 2, 12:00pm – 4:00pm, Helping Hands Food Bank, 9386 Fruitdale Road, Sedro-Woolley
"Our incredible community does so much to ensure the participants who visit Helping Hands have access to healthy food and resources, helping to ease suffering. This event is a way for us to say, “Thank you!” and show you the impact you have when donate, volunteer, and support Helping Hands. Staff and volunteers will give tours of the warehouse, unveil our 2023 Impact Report, and provide lunch to all attendees."

3. NEW – The La Conner Daffodil Festival runs through the month of March
The Daffodil Pet Parade & Fashion Show is scheduled for Saturday, Mar 9, 11:00am – 12:00pm. The parade route will start at the La Conner Marina and move down 1st Street. Click Here for more information.

4. February is Black History Month
Skagit Valley College is hosting a number of events and activities for Black History Month. Click Here for a listing. Click Here for the Smithsonian/National Museum of African American History & Culture website. Here's the story behind Black History Month — and why it's celebrated in February (Click Here).

5. NEW – Gary Kanter and Greg Deer will be hosting a live audience recording session on Monday, Mar 4, 1:00pm, at the Tim Noah Thumbnail Theater, 1211 4th Street (Corner of 4th Street & Avenue D), Snohomish
Gary is a long-term Democrat and Labor Activist who has performed at several local progressive functions over the years. Click Here for more information.
 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. 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 led quite capably by Judy Farrar and Judith Chilcote. 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 $.51. 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."

2. Anacortes Sunday Demonstrations
Progressive folks regularly demonstrate each Sunday, 12:00pm – 1:00pm at the corner of 12th Street and Commercial Avenue in Anacortes. While this is not an official Skagit County Democrats activity, turnout is encouraged.
 

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