Public Invited to Join With Task Force to Solve Street Level Social Issues in Everett

July 21, 2014

Everett, Everett Government

Give a damn

Public involvement will be key. File Photo: myeverettnews.com

People passed out on city streets, people experiencing homelessness sleeping in doorways, camping in parks, aggressive panhandling. These and other issues for those facing life on the streets are a true problem in Everett. On Thursday, the City of Everett task force chosen by Mayor Ray Stephenson will meet for the first time to form a plan to address the issue. Members of the public are asked to attend the meeting and provide their perspective. Here are the details as provided by the City of Everett…

The Everett Community Streets Initiative, a task force looking at street-level social issues in the city’s commercial cores, will meet for the first time next Thursday, July 24, from 3-6 p.m. in the Weyerhaeuser Room at Everett Station.

 

“Our goal is to foster a vibrant and healthy community by better understanding social issues on our streets,” said Mayor Ray Stephanson. “I’ve asked residents, business owners and service providers to join us in learning more about the challenges we face and identifying actions we can take as a community to address those issues.”

 

The task force will be co-chaired by Sylvia Anderson, chief executive officer at the Everett Gospel Mission, and Chris Adams, an Everett attorney and chair of the City’s planning commission.

 

The group will meet every other Thursday through Nov. 13. The meetings will be open to the public, and community members are invited to attend to learn alongside the task force members. The City has hired facilitator Karen Reed to help guide the process.

 

“We’ll look at a variety of factors that contribute to street issues in Everett, including homelessness, mental health, addiction, public safety, public spaces and commercial streetscapes,” said David Hall, deputy city attorney. “We’re inviting service providers and experts from other communities to share their experiences and successes with us.”

 

Hall will represent the city on the task force, along with Police Chief Dan Templeman and Lanie McMullin, executive director for economic development. Other city staff will serve as resources throughout the process.

 

For more information on the task force or to share feedback, click here.

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My Everett News is a hyperlocal news website featuring news and events in Everett, Washington. We also cover City of Everett information and items of interest to those who live and work in Everett.

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