2025/08/06 Council Agenda Packet

Everett City Council Meeting Public Comment - July 23rd, 2025 John Peeples, Everett, Washington I acknowledge and celebrate that Everett is American land. It is not stolen, but, properly treated for, or, fairly conquered. I also celebrate and acknowledge that the local Puget Sound Indian tribes agreed to free their slaves and to not practice slavery or hold slaves thereafter as noted in Article 11 of the Point Roberts Treaty of 1855 as follows: “ARTICLE 11. The said tribes and bands agree to free all slaves now held by them and not to purchase or acquire others hereafter.” I acknowledge and celebrate that this year is the 250th anniversary of the ‘Shot Heard Around the World’ and the start of our American War For Independence. Back home in Delaware Ceasar Rodney made his overnight ride from June 1st to June 2nd from Dover to Philadelphia through a summer thunderstorm to cast his tie-breaking vote for independence for Delaware from British rule. I join you in celebrating all of this. In honor of our ancestors and the legacy of the rule of law they have left us, I do expect that you will support the important work of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will refrain from impeding their important work. I expect that the Everett Police Department will assist their federal ICE agent counterparts when asked to do so. I am, however, concerned about your use of eminent domain to displace current Everett landowners for the beneﬁt of private entities in the creation of the new Everett Outdoor Event Center. Eminent domain should be used as a last resort and only for full public beneﬁt, NOT for private beneﬁt. I’d like to propose that you offer the right of ﬁrst refusal to current land owners for ownership stakes in any private entity you allow exclusive use of the facilities. Offer the right of ﬁrst refusal to employees of current land and business owners for employment by concessionnaires & city who operate private or public entities associated with the outdoor event center. Note, too, that Knoxville, Knox County was named after General Henry Knox, who worked with Ethan Allan and pre-turncoat Benedict Arnold to win Fort Ticonderoga and transport cannon to Boston to push the British forces out. Lastly, while we citizens honor your oft-repeated request that we not advocate for any particular issue before the council or conduct any politicking at council meetings, I ask and expect you to do the same and refrain from politicking or advocating for ﬁlling city council seats with public/municipal resources. Good day, John Peeples For Ceasar Rodney’s Horse