LYNNWOOD — The Social Security field office in Lynnwood won’t be closing after all, thanks to a public outcry.
The proposal to close the office met with opposition at a public hearing in December organized by U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash.
“The public felt that relocating the office would reduce services, and the community did not want to trade additional staff for an (Everett) office they’d have to fight traffic forever to get to,” Inslee said. “And for the disabled population, convenience is important.”
Social Security’s Everett district manager, Rich Dickson, said after the hearing and talks with elected officials that he decided to veto the idea.
“We want to provide the highest possible level of service, and based on feedback I got, we decided not to go forward with the plan,” Dickson said.
The office, on 33rd Avenue W., south of Alderwood Mall, serves an average of 80 people a day who have retirement, disability and survivor benefit claims, and administers the federal public assistance program.
Dickson proposed closing the Lynnwood office and consolidating services in a new, expanded downtown Everett office to address the needs of northeastern Snohomish County. The present Everett office, on Evergreen Way just south of Highway 526, sees about 250 people a day.
“Originally, when I looked at demographics, moving the office closer to downtown Everett, I’m convinced, is the best way to provide more service to all of Snohomish County,” Dickson said.
Carrie Kitchin-Kofahl, vice president of the union that represents Social Security employees, the Seattle-based American Federation of Government Employees Local 3739, said she was glad of the decision.
“People in both offices are pleased,” Kitchin-Kofahl said.
While consolidating would not have eliminated union jobs, it would have been an inconvenience for some clients.
“Nobody wanted people serviced by the Lynnwood office to be forced to come to a new downtown Everett office,” Kitchin-Kofahl said.
Pam Brice is a reporter for the Herald in Everett.
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