Dear neighbors,
All of our families and businesses rely on good ferry service here in the 10th District.
I want to keep you informed about new developments when it comes to better ferry service.
First meeting of the Ferry Caucus
Along with Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes), I formed the Ferry Caucus, a place for lawmakers from both chambers and both parties to discuss this vital service.
Making this bipartisan and a joint House-Senate effort are important steps. Real, lasting change comes from agreements reached by the broadest number of people.
We held our first meeting on Feb. 1 and will keep working in good faith toward solutions.
Ferries of the future
Our state has the largest ferry network in the United States, and one of the biggest in the world.
Yet those boats haven’t changed much in the last century.
I support modernizing the fleet and building new ferries that are hybrid-electric. Click here to read about this effort.
Aging ferries often suffer from breakdowns, which cause delays.
New, hybrid-electric ferries would be better for the environment, save taxpayer money for fuel, and be more reliable.
Standing up and speaking out
It takes strong public support to make big changes and investments in our ferry system.
Please stand up and speak out.
There are two virtual community meetings, hosted by Washington State Ferries, where you can make your voice heard.
- 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9 — visit bit.ly/WSFWinterMeeting1 to register.
- 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10 — visit bit.ly/WSFWinterMeeting2 to sign up.
The day after each meeting, Washington State Ferries will put up the video record of the meeting on its community participation webpage.
How to be an effective advocate
First, the most powerful tool you have is your story.
Tell your story, or your families, in a minute or two. What’s your experience with the ferry system? Please share your story with my office, too. I can share it during committee meetings or in debates on the floor of the House.
Second, ideas from people who use a service every day are incredibly helpful.
The people who use ferries every day know them best. Perhaps you experience a nagging problem and have ideas for a solution.
Third, be prepared and do a little research. End your personal story with a compelling fact or statistic.
It’s my hope that you can find time for these community forums, and share your story with me.
