Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Highlights of Reardon's speech Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon delivered his fifth state of the county address today, highlighting his views on affordable housing, agriculture and climate change. Click here to listen to excerpts from the 20-minute speech. A copy of the speech can be found here.   Related Stories • Snohomish County Council approves hiring diversity expert 2/27/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, January 31, 2008 Housing, farms among Reardon's priorities The county exec is upbeat in his state of the county address. By Jeff Switzer, Herald Writer Despite financial worries across the country, Snohomish County faces "no imminent economic threat," County Executive Aaron Reardon said Wednesday as he marched through his key goals for 2008. Instead, complacency is the county's enemy as it tries to find solutions for affordable housing, homelessness, tough times for farmers and protecting the environment, he said. "Today we stand tall, bolstered by a strong economy, fiscally responsible government and an electorate that has voiced their confidence in the direction we are taking Snohomish County," Reardon said. Reardon made his comments during a 20-minute state of the county address. It was his fifth such speech and the first one since voters re-elected the Democratic leader in November. He highlighted the county's job growth, more than 22,500 new jobs last year, thanks in part to Boeing's 787 production line increasing the number of family-wage jobs. Republican County Councilman John Koster said he appreciates Reardon's optimism about the economy, but the county executive needs a dose of reality. "I'm nervous about the economy," Koster said. "It's a bit naive to say there's no economic threat given what's going on around us. We need to look outside the county and be a little realistic. We need to tighten the seat belt a little bit in case it gets a little rough." To stave off national recession, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates another half-percentage point on Wednesday, on top of a three-quarter percent cut last week. No new initiatives were announced in Reardon's speech. Instead, he focused on his ongoing efforts. "Among the greatest challenges facing Snohomish County families today is the need for affordable housing," Reardon said. His plans include reforms for the county's social service spending and land-use regulations to help make housing more affordable. He also is working with a broad coalition of community members to talk about the issue. He said he also supports teaching people how to be self-sufficient and financially stable. Koster said he was glad Reardon focused on affordable housing and government regulations that can drive up the cost of construction. Reardon focused on the right local issues, Democratic County Council chairman Dave Somers said. "I thought it was a positive speech," Somers said. "It's a good road map for what we need to tackle." It surprised Koster that Reardon's speech made no mention of public safety. "He didn't address whether he felt things are better in that regard, or if improvements need to be made," Koster said. The county spends 71 percent of its general fund on public safety. Reardon made no mention in his speech of transportation challenges facing the county. He did reiterate his climate change goals to reduce Snohomish County's greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent below the year 2000 levels by 2020. Agriculture also will get special attention this year, he said. Plans include nurturing the county's biofuels crops and a study of the long-term community goals to sustain farmland and farming in the county. Reardon closed by pushing the County Council to quickly approve hiring a community inclusion manager to promote diversity in hiring and in applying for county contracts. The council rejected the idea a year ago, but new council members reintroduced the proposal. Reardon said he hopes for a hearing and approval by March. Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.

1. 5 die of swine flu in Snohomish County 2. Driver charged in deaths of 4 3. Red Cross honors acts of heroism, many by ordinary people 4. Barista clothing rules delayed by County Council 5. Haugen's husband accused of sexual assault in civil suit 6. Ruskell steps down as Seahawks GM 7. Three people hurt in Everett house fire 8. Steelhead anglers finding mixed results 9. Airbus wins order for 52 single-aisle jets 10. Silvertips hammered 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Wildcats fall to familar foe in semis • ‘Nutcracker' times three • Road warrior • Mavericks reloading • Holiday Lightings & Santa Sightings • Cities prepare for winter blast repeat • Wolfpack duo takes last shot at state tourney • This Weekend in Your Town • Tips for the stormy season • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million