Everett city budget cuts and effects need more dicussion

I worked for the City of Everett Parks for many years and I’ve been a Herald subscriber for almost 30 years, just to keep up on local news. Where is the coverage of this major crisis in the city and the massive layoffs or furloughs or whatever they are?

This should be frontpage headline news! I have heard that up to 65 people in Parks and 30 at the Library and some at Public Works are either laid off, furloughed or pretty much forced to retire. In parks, who will pick up the garbage, mow the lawns, take care of the landscapes and sports fields, work on the irrigation? No more team sports, no more seasonal color with flowers, no more senior center, no more paychecks supporting local businesses.

This will affect every person in the city and surrounding areas. What are the issues that led the Mayor and City Council to mandate these cuts? Please, Herald, do some reporting and let us know what is happening and what the effects will be!

Libbie Soden

Lake Stevens

Editor’s note: The most recent news story regarding the city’s budget was published May 4; an editorial discussed pending budgets cuts on April 21.

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