City Government – Page 43 – Everett Leader Herald

Thousands Voting Early By Mail And In Person

By Josh Resnek

By Tuesday morning this week, more than 2,000 Everett residents have cast their votes for the upcoming primary on September 6.

Using mailed in ballots and by appearing at city hall, residents have been voting early at a rapid clip.

City Clerk Sergio Cornelio said he believes voting totals for the primary will be in the range of 7500-8000.

Over the years, Cornelio has been a solid handicapper of the total vote.

For the first time in many an election, an Independent candidate has his name on the ballot.

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Davis Companies Means To Remake 95 Acres Of Prime Everett Property

Transiting From A Polluted Mess To Triumph

By Josh Resnek

The Davis Companies is well on its way to becoming the shepherd and overseer of the single largest construction and development effort in Everett’s history.

In its optimistic planned configuration if everything goes as planned, it will be a larger development than the $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor Hotel and Casino.

**Rendering by Perkins & Will showing development on Exxon Mobil site.**

When completed sometime during the present decade or close to the end of it, there will be millions upon millions of square feet of new space developed for house residences, tech companies, and manufacturers with an exotic mix of housing, retail and industrial uses.

What exactly the final configuration will be is unknown at this moment.

Massive amounts of capital must be raised, a huge mitigation of 100 years of pollution has to be accomplished, and a cavalcade of rules, regulations, agreements between the city, the state and the federal government are to be arrived at in order for this ambitious project to work.

Davis Companies has not yet purchased the site, which is expected to be conveyed to the development firm for somewhere between $350 million and $500 million by Exxon Mobil in the near future.

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What’s Going On Is Anyone’s Best Guess When It Comes To Federal Probes

By Josh Resnek

Everett is where the politics of local government is hopelessly split and mired in an explosion of citizen complaints and toxic responses to issues of nearly every kind.

The extraordinary political events of March, April and May – and eye catching, jaw dropping events well into June and July have now been eclipsed by an end of summer doldrum.

The emerging major question heard dominating political discussions throughout the city among those who claim to know is the wonder about what, if anything, is going to come of the US Attorney’s probe into racism, discrimination and retaliation?

Does anything come of this? Does nothing come of this?

Do we believe the supporters of the mayor all agreeing that nothing is going to happen?

Or do we believe the exhortations of those who have been waging a very public fight against the mayor, and who believe the mayor’s end is coming nearer every day that passes?

Obviously, it depends on whose side you are on how greatly you believe nothing is going to happen or much is going to happen when it comes to law enforcement exerting pressure on issues most in need of law enforcement’s over view and possible action.

Racism, sexual harassment, possible municipal fraud and theft, discrimination and retaliation are all apparently being looked into by the US Attorney – or is it?

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Questions & Observations

By Walter Rice

Does the City Council have a rule that allows the body to “censor” a member (for misconduct? etc,)?

If so, why has it not been used or mentioned?.

Why have the residents not petitioned (or direct action taken by a council member) to sponsor a resolution calling for the Mayor’s resignation?

Is it possible a group of concerned citizens (or a state level regulated body) go into court and seek a temporary injunction against the city of Everett to stop any further building or permitting (at the local level) until such time as (at least some) the myriad of legal questions are cleared up?

Is it not patently obvious that during the public comments portion of City Council meetings that residents are being patronized and no resolutions or fee back? Since such time as the residents pushed for and obtained their rights to be heard at Council meetings during “public participation” in the meetings I have witnessed (which are many, and online) not once….. not once, has a person received feedback or much less, answers, to questions, complaints, concerns or claims. Not once. Which brings me to the next question:

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School or Housing?

There is a great deal of well- intentioned debate about the future use of the former Pope John High School property.

Many Ward 3 residents are up in arms about the city’s plans to sell the property so that it can be turned into affordable housing, which, frankly, is badly needed in this city.

The real estate boom has caused rental and purchase prices for property to go through the roof.

Despite interest rates rising, prices have not fallen and the need for housing that is affordable is continuing its starling upward trajectory.

At the same time, the Everett Public Schools need more classroom space to house a student population well over 7,000 in the present array of school buildings which are all bursting with students, with more students than places to put them.

This had led to a situation now playing itself out as the new school year approaches.

Some classes will have as many as 35 students in them.

Most classes will be in the range of 30 students.

Educators and parents understand that classrooms so crowded with students make teaching a near impossible task.

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