Light rail is coming to Lynnwood soon. It’s impossible for us to predict exactly what the impact on our city will be. From talking to Lynnwood residents, I know that there are concerns that light rail could bring an increase in crime. Currently, Lynnwood has a Police department that is nearly fully staffed and is one of the best-trained and well-respected departments in the region. We’ve thankfully avoided the shortage of officers that other cities have suffered from by being proactive in recruiting while also offering a sought-after work location.

I support keeping Lynnwood competitive in training and hiring the best officers available and will work closely with our department to be sure our staffing needs are keeping pace with Lynnwood’s rapid growth. We are also soon to have a one-of-a-kind Community Recovery Center (CRC) as part of our new Community Justice Center (CJC). The city currently faces a roughly $3 million gap in financing for the CRC. I will work with the state legislature and Snohomish county to find a way to close that funding gap for Lynnwood.