Comment: Lynnwood must make good on goal of inclusion

Published 1:30 am Sunday, September 4, 2022

By Lu Jiang, Simreet Dhaliwal and Jennifer McLaughlin / For The Herald

On June 27, Lynnwood’s mayor and city council adopted the All Are Welcome Proclamation. Members of Lynnwood’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission (DEIC) are now working to bring this statement into reality but are facing some challenges.

Lynnwood’s DEIC is tasked with achieving the community vision to make Lynnwood a ‘welcoming city’ and a ‘cohesive community’ that respects all by removing barriers, recommending areas for addressing root causes of inequity, recommending areas for investing upstream and where needs are most significant, facilitating the building of relationships with under-served and underrepresented communities, and serving as “Trusted Messengers” to the community at large.

The city council makes inclusive statements to the public. However, between June of last year and this July, the council has twice pondered changes that could instead narrow pathways for non-citizens to have a voice in local government by recommending changes to the municipal code regarding the eligibility of those who can serve on advisory boards and commissions.

The Lynnwood city limits include 7 square miles and include 36,000 residents. Unincorporated Lynnwood, or the Municipal Urban Growth Area (MUGA), is 15 square miles and includes more than 61,000 residents. Residents of the citys urban growth area do not get to vote for Lynnwood city leadership.

There are several reasons behind a person’s ineligibility to vote. Roughly 1 in 3 Lynnwood residents are born outside the U.S. The immigration process can take several years, or in some cases, decades. Many immigrants do not have the option to become citizens. The DEI Commission believes people who are not registered voters deserve to have their voices heard, and joining advisory boards and commissions is a great way to do so.

While the city council ponders additional restrictions on who can serve on advisory boards and commissions, violence has been increasing in our city. On July 14, two teenage boys were shot to death at a city park. This shooting occurred one day after another shooting that left two teens in the hospital.

The community is grieving and needs leaders to facilitate healing, outreach and connection. We need to listen to the voices of our youth, our people most affected by marginalization, and work together to bring healing and change.

In August, findings of an investigation against Lynnwood City Councilmember Jim Smith were released. The investigation is the result of discrimination complaints filed by two city employees. This investigation concluded that “Smith ‘has demonstrated under-informed views on race and social justice issues, along with a lack of willingness to educate himself or develop true empathy for these causes.”

The city council is elected to serve the public, and it’s time for this community to hold our leaders accountable and pay attention to how they lead. Successful DEI efforts center on the voices of people of color and populations who are marginalized. With that in mind, we need strong leaders capable of self-reflection, addressing the areas where they have been complicit in upholding systems of inequity, and then asking themselves where they can do better.

The rest is up to Lynnwood: This is the moment we have an opportunity to stand in solidarity as a community and begin elevating the voices of the voiceless and electing leaders who authentically represent us.

Perhaps it’s time for you to consider joining an advisory board or commission to have your voice heard. The following boards and commissions have vacancies for new volunteers: Arts Commission; Ethics Board; History & Heritage Board, Human Services Commission, Planning Commission and the Tourism Advisory Committee.

Another great way to have your voice heard is to run for office. The filing deadline to run for Lynnwood City Council is May 1, 2023. If you can register to vote and haven’t done so yet, consider doing so.

Neighbors, you have plenty of time to pay attention, get involved and vote.

Lu Jiang is chair of the Lynnwood Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission. Simreet Dhaliwal is a commission member. Jennifer McLaughlin is the commission’s vice chair.