For me, the holidays are a time to celebrate family and loved ones. This week I enjoyed a visit with my big brother, Teddy, whom I haven’t been able to see much during the pandemic. While he was here, we stopped by the Everett Animal Shelter’s Kitten Wonderland Livestream fundraiser event and were able to play with some super sweet little kittens. A big thank you to McClain Insurance for hosting this event to help our shelter raise over $1,000 to care for the animals in our community. And thanks to ALL who tuned in and donated.
 
I’ve always been so moved and impressed by the generosity of our Everett community, and how we truly come together to support each other. This time of year can be especially difficult for some in our community so it is also a great time to join family and loved ones in donating time, money or supplies to any one of our amazing local nonprofits. We have a list of ways you can give a hand, and/or also find support, during these times.
 
Our city teams are working to give back too - in fact you may have already seen Santa, not on his traditional sleigh, but on a fire engine! We are collecting unopened toys and nonperishable food for local organizations, which you can either drop off at one of our fire stations (locations listed here) or give to any of the firefighters accompanying Santa as he cruises through our neighborhoods this month. You’ll find Santa’s schedule here.
 
As this year comes to a close I think it is important we recognize the exceptionally challenging time we still find ourselves in. The Herald ran a great article earlier this week with some great ideas on how we can all be good to ourselves, and to each other. So please enjoy the season! Spend quality time safely with family, friends, neighbors and loved ones. And please take extra special care of yourselves too! Wishing you a season of love and joy and happy holidays!!
 
- Mayor Cassie

Applications open for Everett’s Districting Commission

It's time to update our city council districts map with 2020 Census data and create a new districting commission! Applications are now open for community members interested in serving on the City’s Districting Commission. The City Charter and Washington state law require the City of Everett to develop new city council district boundaries following each federal decennial census. Applications will be accepted through Monday, Jan. 3 at everettwa.gov/districting. Mayor Cassie Franklin and the city council will each select one person to serve on the commission. The commission will begin meeting in early 2022 to select their ninth member, appoint a districting master, and begin evaluating and revising the city council district map based on 2020 Census data. 

Everett Transit and Community Transit to begin joint transit study

Everett City Council and Community Transit’s Board of Directors earlier this month voted to conduct a joint study to explore in greater detail what a potential transit system consolidation would look like. The study will build on the ‘Growth Through Consolidation’ option of the Rethink Transit study and further assess the benefits, costs and other considerations of a potential merger between Everett Transit and Community Transit. This study is a continuation of Rethink Transit, a study that finished earlier this year and gathered community feedback on the future of public transit in Everett. Learn more at everettwa.gov/transitstudy.

Everett Veterans Book Group coming to Everett Public Library

Everett Public Library is proud to announce that it will host an Everett Veterans Book Group for local veterans from all military branches. Starting in January, the group will meet monthly to discuss works of fiction and poetry exploring themes of military service. Group members will have the opportunity to discuss their own experiences and share their personal stories in a welcoming community of veterans with a skilled facilitator with a military background. Up to 20 participants will receive the reading materials for the entire year along with a notebook to record their thoughts and reflections throughout. Learn more and sign up to participate at epls.org/signmeup. 

Everett City Council adopts 2022 operating budget

In case you missed it, the Everett City Council unanimously approved Mayor Cassie Franklin’s proposed 2022 operating budget, totaling $446.5 million. The 2022 budget continues to build on a foundation of quality-of-life priorities: housing; economic, workforce and cultural vitality; engaged and informed community; safe community; transportation and infrastructure; and responsive and responsible government. It includes $4.3 million in investments for housing, including adding a new homelessness response coordinator who will develop and coordinate strategies to alleviate chronic homelessness in Everett, and supporting the addition of 40 more Pallet shelters in Everett. It also includes funding to update parks facilities, introduce new public art into the city, improve bicycle routes, and support local businesses to move Everett’s economy forward. Council also proposed and approved an amendment to add eight new Everett Police Department positions funded by the COPS grant received this year to focus on community-oriented policing. For the complete 2022 budget, visit everettwa.gov/finance. 

COVID-19 updates:

Snohomish County has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases this month and with the emergence of a new Omicron variant in Washington, health officials urge people to take all the existing prevention steps, and to do them better than ever! There’s still a lot to learn about the new variant, but the key steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and prevent severe infections remain the same: get fully vaccinated including a booster, mask up in public spaces, maximize ventilation when indoors, avoid large gatherings, and stay home and get tested if you feel sick.

The Snohomish Health District calls the COVID-19 vaccine a game-changer for keeping our kids healthy and safe in their latest blog. If you’re looking for a COVID-19 vaccine for your 5- to 11-year-old, the health district’s list of resources that are updated weekly: snohd.org/587/How-to-Get-Your-Shot.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced an extension of the face mask requirement for individuals across all transportation networks throughout the United States, including at airports, onboard commercial aircraft, buses, and rail systems through March 18, 2022. For international air travel into the US, the US government also requires a negative pre-departure COVID test within 24 hours of departure, regardless of the traveler’s vaccination status. The new requirement applies to US citizens, as well as foreign nationals.

As you get ready to travel and spend time indoors with friends and family this holiday season, remember that COVID-19 is still with us. Stay safer this winter by getting your COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can, get your booster shot as soon as you’re eligible and learn how to gather safely. Find free vaccines near you: go to vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233.