News from the Skagit County Democrats
Posted on February 23rd, 2025
Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for February 24, 2025
DEMOCRATIC EVENTS
1. NEW – Legislative Committee Report
Please support our Legislative Committee by emailing our Senators & Representatives using the "Email your legislators" links and with the Suggested Text (or similar sentiments).
- –HB 1146 – Voting Access in Jails and State Hospitals
- This bill aims to enhance access to voting for individuals incarcerated in jails and patients in state hospitals in Washington and mandates that each county auditor's office designate a jail voting coordinator. Additionally, jails and state hospitals are required to create a voting plan in collaboration with the county auditor, which must include provisions for voter registration, access to ballots, and voter education materials. The bill outlines the responsibilities of jails and state hospitals to provide access to voter registration information and ballots, ensure election officials can conduct outreach, and prioritize election-related mail.
-
- Suggested Text: Please vote yes to support increasing access to voting for people in state hospitals and jails. Each eligible voter in the state of Washington deserves access to voting information and voter registration.
- -HB 1174 – Accessible Court Interpreters
- The bill amends the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) to improve language access for individuals with limited English proficiency in the court system and would require the state court system to establish written procedures for providing language services, known as “language access plans.” Court interpreters offer language interpretation in legal proceedings, providing equity and equal justice for speakers of all languages. The bill improves standards for credentialed and non-credentialed interpreters.
-
- Suggested text: Each person deserves to understand the court proceedings in which they are required to attend. Please support this bill to establish the highest quality court interpreters for all of Washington’s residents.
- -HB 1232 – Health Inspections for Private Detention Facilities
- House Bill 1232 is an act relating to private detention facilities. This bill will require the Department of Health to adopt rules governing the operation of private detention facilities. The concern is that private facilities once used as internment camps will be repurposed into “wellness farms” and detention facilities under the new administration. If this happens, it is imperative that these facilities house people in sanitary, hygienic, and safe conditions. You are encouraged to write your legislators in support of this bill.
-
- Suggested Text: House Bill 1232 addresses concerns of humane housing within detention facilities. A safe, clean environment which provides adequate hot and cold running water, adequate lighting, sufficient ventilation, heating and cooling, written policies for maintenance and housekeeping, and equipment to accommodate people with physical and mental disabilities must be provided by private detention facility owners. Your support of this bill would be appreciated.
- -HB 1217 – Rent Cap
- Excessive rent increases are driving people out of their homes and communities while increasing homelessness. This bill would cap rent and fee increases at 7% during any 12 month period and prohibit rent increases in the first year of tenancy. The bill would also limit late fees, move-in fees, and require 6 months notice for larger rent/fee increases and limits late fees to 1.5% of monthly rent. This will provide stability in our communities while still allowing landlords to set rates that will cover their costs and generate profit.
-
- Suggested text: Vote yes on HB1217 to protect our communities from excessive rent increases. In the past few years, cost of living increases have outpaced wages, with renters disproportionately affected by rapidly increased housing costs. Supporting this bill would promote stability for families without undue harm to landlords
2. The Fidalgo Democrats YouTube recording of their most recent meeting about the Comprehensive Plan regarding climate action plans is now available
Click Here for the Fidalgo Democrats recording. Click Here for the Anacortes 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update. Click Here for the Transition Fidalgo website.
3. Local Party Organization Officer Trainings
"Welcome to Democrat University! The State Party staff will be hosting a series of training sessions to help new and returning officers learn skills around building up their local party organizations. These will include a variety of topics from compliance to social media, and help give LPO officers the skills they need to successfully run their own organizations. Please Register for each training you would like to attend . . . All training will take place on zoom and will be recorded for future use and review." The trainings will be as follows:
- -How to Grow Your LPO [Local Party Organization] Membership and How to Run an Organization Training
- This training will go over how to recruit new members to join your organization and how to be successful at leading your party organization.
- February 27th at 6 PM
- -How to Build a Website with Hey Victor Training
- Learn how to create a website for only $25 a month to help your organization stay organized and available to the public. Hey Victor is a great company that helps local and national organizations have a more professional online presence and they are ready to help you build a new LPO Website!
- March 1st at 12 PM
- -How to Run a Political Event Training
- This training will go over the basic structures and plans for how to run any event from a 200 person fundraiser, to a small get out the vote rally.
- March 1st at 2
4. 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.
- As measles cases rise in the U.S., some adults may need a vaccine booster
- What It Would Actually Be Like If The US Got Rid Of Daylight Saving Time
- Congressional stock trading law has unintended, but profitable consequences
- Tens of millions of dead people aren't getting Social Security checks, despite Trump and Musk claims
- With a phone call, WA governor keeps emergency powers bill alive
COMMUNITY EVENTS
1. NEW – The monthly Planned Parenthood rally is Saturday, Mar 1, 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 – Concrete Mardi Gras, Saturday, Mar 1, Parade at 3:00pm
"Event Highlights Include: Parade at 3:00 p.m.; Film, Music, Food; Parade Winners Announced; Free Family Activities." Click Here for more information.
3. NEW – The Skagit County Board of Commissioners and the county planning commissioner will conduct a joint meeting Tuesday, Feb 25, 6:00pm, Commissioners Hearing Room, 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon
The meeting is "to review the planning department's recommended updates to the County Comprehensive Plan. The document can seem dry to read, but watching the meeting can make it easier to comprehend. Staff are knowledgeable and clear in their presentations. And it helps a great deal to see what sorts of questions commissioners have and what sort of comments the planning commission inserts. This can help us respond and comment appropriately to protect the quality of life in Skagit County. The public comment period is already open and will close March 13. All documents are available here. To join the planning commission meeting on Tuesday in person, on zoom or through TV21: Agenda – includes links to zoom and TV21."
4. NEW – Buy Nothing Day, Friday, Feb 28, all day
"24 Hour Economic Blackout. Buy nothing unless it is 100% essential, or purchase from a local business. Boycott big businesses. Don't use credit or debit cards." Normally, "Buy Nothing Day is a day of protest against consumerism. In North America, the United Kingdom, Finland and Sweden, Buy Nothing Day is held the day after U.S. Thanksgiving, concurrent with Black Friday. [Wikipedia]" Per Yahoo!Finance, "Americans are pledging to halt discretionary spending for 24 hours on Feb. 28 in protest of major retailers scaling back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in response to President Donald Trump’s policies. The nationwide economic blackout, organized by The People’s Union USA, targets companies like Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Walmart (NYSE:WMT), and Best Buy (NYSE:BBY), urging participants to hold off spending in stores and online." Other articles include from USAToday and Newsweek.
5. NEW – Guemes Island Ferry Electronic Ticketing System Launching March 19th
"Skagit County is in the process of transitioning to a new electronic ferry ticketing system, provided by Anchor Operating Systems . . . For more information regarding the new system, please visit the ferry ticketing project page." Click Here for the full press release.
6. NEW – Puget Sound Energy to test early warning siren system at Baker River Dam, Thursday, Feb 27, between 8:00am and 4:00pm
"The test will include sounding the sirens. The purpose of the test is to conduct operational assessments as a follow up to the early-warning siren system that was installed in 2018." Click Here for a description.
7. NEW – Employment Security assists federal workers with unemployment claims, job searches amid rise in layoffs
Click Here for the Governor's announcement.
8. Applications Now Open for the 2025 Master Composter Recycler Volunteer Training
"If you are interested in composting and recycling, a sustainable future, and being part of a great community, consider becoming a Certified Skagit County Master Composter Recycler. The certification training, hosted by the Skagit County Solid Waste Division, provides participants with tools and knowledge to share back to the community as official waste reduction educators." Click Here for more information. The final day to apply is Friday, March 21st, 2025.
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 $.56. 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."