We need housing a county sales tax increase would provide

I am in support of the county’s use of HB 1590 to support a 0.1% sales tax for building affordable housing and its operation, which the County Council adopted Wednesday. I know this was not an easy decision, but it is absolutely vital for our county’s future and the well being of our residents.

The market doesn’t build this housing: Private market housing will not produce units that can be affordably rented to residents earning 60 percent or less of the area median income. Affordable housing requires partnerships and public investment to ensure that our essential workers can find and live in housing that will not be flipped for profit. Enacting this very small tax will give the county vital funds and will unlock significant grant dollars at various levels to create affordable housing in Snohomish County. This will support our economic vitality, bring more jobs, construct housing, and ensure Snohomish County residents can continue to live, work, and recreate in our county.

We pay for it no matter what: Without this tax, and without more affordable housing, we will continue to see growth in housing insecurity, residents experiencing homelessness, and the associated costs of trying to re-shelter our neighbors. These costs manifest in health care, human and social services, and law enforcement costs, which are passed on to all taxpayers. Studies from around the world show what solves housing insecurity and homelessness: a roof over people’s heads.

Our environment demands it: The rural and ex-urban sprawl of the Salish Sea region continues to bulldoze our green-field areas, increasing transportation greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants harming salmon recovery efforts. Not only is sprawl fiscally unsustainable, but the environmental impacts are being seen season after season as our extreme weather events set new records every year. We can reduce “drive to qualify” by using these dollars to build this much-needed housing in our cities so our workers can live nearer where they work, while also reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.

I look forward to seeing more affordable housing built in cities and areas in need all across Snohomish County.

Luke Distelhorst

Edmonds

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

2024 Presidential Election Day Symbolic Elements.
Editorial: Marine for Mukilteo mayor; Van Duser for council

The mayor should be elected to a fourth term. A newcomer offers her perspective to the council.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Tuesday, Sept. 23

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Everett Council, Dist. 2: Crowther offers needed change

In 2019, I had the honor to participate in the city’s first… Continue reading

For better traffic safety, address phones, electric bikes on sidewalks

Regarding a recent Herald editorial on bike and pedestrian safety (“Speed limit… Continue reading

Douthat: Conservatives have a point on Kimmel; Trump misses it

Rather than oversee a correction on civic responsibility, Trump wants those institutions to serve him.

Comment: The transformation from free speech champion to mafioso

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr once understood government’s role in speech freedoms; now he sounds like Brando.

Comment: ChatGPT’s youth safeguards must be robust, easy to set up

Under threat of lawsuit, OpenAI is moving to install safety measures; it must do better than Apple and Google.

Group Therapy Addiction Treatment Concept. Characters Counseling with Psychologist on Psychotherapist Session. Doctor Psychologist Counseling with Diseased Patients. Cartoon People Vector Illustration building bridges
Editorial: Using the First Amendment to protect our rights

For better government and communities we need better understanding and respect for differing opinions.

2024 Presidential Election Day Symbolic Elements.
Editorial: Everett school board incumbents warrant support

Roman Rewolinski, Jen Hirman and Anna Marie Jackson Laurence have shown their value to the district.

2024 Presidential Election Day Symbolic Elements.
Editorial: Garrard best for Edmonds School Board post

The retired teacher was appointed last year to fill a vacancy and has contributed from the start.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Monday, Sept. 22

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Comment: Kimmel’s cancelation un-American, unconstitional

With the FCC leaning on ABC and station owners, the host’s suspension is a blatant First Amendment violation.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.