Friends and neighbors,
Before I get into updates, since my last e-newsletter, I wanted to provide some information about my communication with you during this summer and fall. During an election year, there are certain restrictions on my communications to prevent the use of state resources for election purposes. One of these restrictions is a “freeze” on email updates, websites, and Facebook pages. This means that beginning on May 6th, I am unable to provide updates like this one until after the general election in November, so this is the last email update you’ll receive from me for a while. However, although I will not be sending regular updates, please know that I am still working hard during the interim as your state representative, and you can still reach out to my office anytime with meeting requests, questions, and concerns. I look forward to hearing from you.
Community Conversations throughout Whatcom County
Sen. Shewmake and I had the privilege of talking with a number of you during our recent round of community conversations. We joined constituents in Bellingham, Ferndale, Blaine/Birch Bay, Lynden, Everson, and Maple Falls. I appreciate everyone making time to meet with us and I was thrilled that approximately 150 people turned out to discuss important topics, including education funding, climate change, affordable housing, and flood preparedness and response. These types of conversations help inform our work in the Legislature, including in making decisions about legislation and what community investments are needed that we can advocate for in the state’s budgets.
House of Healing
I was honored to join indigenous leaders, students, local elected officials, and WWU administrators on April 11th for a powerful blessing and ground-turning ceremony at the future site of the House of Healing longhouse, the first longhouse in the City of Bellingham. The Coast Salish longhouse, which will be built adjacent to WWU’s campus in the Sehome Hill Arboretum, is intended to serve as a place for healing for Native American students and the community at large. Plans for the longhouse have been years in the making, and I am proud that my legislative colleagues, led by Rep. Debra Lekanoff, allocated state funding for this important project before my time in office. Construction of the longhouse will begin this summer and is scheduled to open during the summer of 2025.
Cascadia Daily News wrote a story on the groundbreaking, the ceremony, and what it means to our indigenous community. You can read more here.
Again, you won’t be receiving email updates from me until after November’s election. Please always feel free to reach out to me with ideas, comments, concerns, or questions in the meantime. I hope to hear from you, and I hope you have a wonderful summer and fall.
Thank you,
Rep. Joe Timmons