 GOVERNMENT
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION. Support citizen participation in local government by advocating that county and local government branches provide adequate notice of proposed actions, hold open meetings, and make public records readily accessible.
ELECTION LAWS AND PROCEDURES. Seek enforcement of registration laws and election procedures.
PORT DISTRICTS. Encourage port districts to emphasize environmental values, to coordinate planning, and be accountable to the public.
NATURAL RESOURCES
CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES. Support regional planning that reflects conservation of natural resources: citizen participation in planning, zoning, land use, and water management; county and city compliance with Growth Management Act; and park acquisition and development.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT. Support the solid waste management priorities of Snohomish County in descending order: waste reduction, recycling, and landfill.
TRANSPORTATION. Support comprehensive regional planning for transportation that reflects conservation of natural resources. Support a long-term service plan that increases ridership, ensures smooth transfers between modes of transit, and provides a quick response to service needs. Continue public education and monitoring of many layers of transportation planning. Monitor the possible consolidation of Everett Transit and Community Transit under an agreement that includes: (a) An independent audit that focuses on (1) any cost saving to be achieved, equalization of taxes, and possible increases in service to riders, and (2) a clear resolution of the following issues: employee benefit inequities that may arise, and labor relations issues including possible workforce reductions.
SOCIAL POLICY
HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING. LWVSC believes that all levels of government and the private sector share the responsibiity to help alleviate the housing shortage in the low-income sector. LWVSC also believes that identifying housing needs and planning to meet those needs is best done at the local level. Increase awareness of homelessness through education, advocacy, and support for: (1) Adequate funding. (2) Services and education for homeless children. (3) Opening government buildings (lobbies) in inclement weather provided that safety, supervision, and sanitary needs are addressed. (4) Support enforcement of the requirements for a range of housing prices through land use planning. (5) Bond levies for low income housing. (6) Involvement of private and nonprofit agencies with housing authority to provide low income housing. (7) Removing emergency housing barriers for persons who have special health or medication needs.
JUVENILE SERVICES. Support measures to maintain effective services by Snohomish County Juvenile Services: (1) Provision of suitable facilities and adequate professional staff. (2) Support for groups and organizations that provide programs and counseling aimed at intervention in lieu of incarceration.
MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES. Support measures for adequate funding of prevention and treatment services for persons of all ages, including (a) increase in state and federal funding formulas under Medicaid and Medicare, (b) increase in county and state appropriations for community mental health services, (c) reduction in state and regional administrative overhead, and (d) enactment of full mental health insurance parity legislation at state and federal levels. Support these services and actions: (1) Crisis and treatment services for children and families, including inpatient care for seriously mentally ill children. (2) Housing for mentally ill, including homeless mentally ill, especially those in rural areas. (3) Increased community education to fight the stigma of mental illness and inform the public of available services. (4) Extended inpatient care for severely and persistently mentally ill. (5) Mental health evaluation and treatment services at the county jail and the juvenile facility. (6) Public funding for both acute and extended partial hospitalization (day treatment). (7) Increased prevention and early intervention mental health programs. (8) Increased prevention and treatment services for adult and adolescent substance abuse. (9) Revision of eligibility requirements for publicly funded services so that more people qualify.
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