The Fremont Neighborhood Council’s Feb. 24 meeting drew a packed room for what organizers called “Democracy Night,” featuring speakers from the federal, state, and local levels covering civics, elections, and ways residents can get involved.
The following is a summary based on the FNC’s meeting recap, distributed to members via email. (To receive future recaps and updates directly, sign up for the FNC email list.)
What happened
Three speakers covered a lot of ground, from congressional updates to a crash course in how elections actually work.
Marielle Trumbauer, outreach and grants coordinator for Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s office (WA-07), shared updates on legislative priorities including College for All, Medicare for All, protections for the trans community, and immigration policy. Jayapal has held 129 town halls for constituents; residents can sign up for her newsletter to learn when the next one is scheduled.
Steve Vuleta of the Washington Secretary of State’s Civic Engagement Program delivered a civics refresher on state and federal government, covering how a bill becomes law, Washington’s 49 legislative districts, the biennial budget process, and the SAVE Act. Vuleta also spoke to the current political climate, noting that the Secretary of State’s office is actively working to safeguard Washington’s election process. “We are opposed to federal law enforcement at polling stations and are trying to ensure that rights are being respected,” he said.
Chirag Vedullapalli, a Fremont/Wallingford neighbor and Precinct Committee Officer, introduced attendees to a role many had never heard of. According to the FNC’s February meeting recap, the PCO is “the most overlooked and impactful position for the time commitment,” just a few hours per year. Washington has 7,500 precincts and more than half of PCO positions statewide are currently unfilled. Precincts with active PCOs consistently see higher voter turnout. You can see Vedullapalli’s presentation here.
The livestream recording of the event is available on Facebook.
Other highlights
Community announcements touched on several active FNC projects seeking volunteers, including the Helen Tapp Bench project, the B.F. Day Emergency Hub, and the 46th Street Mural project. Residents also organized around ICE rapid response preparedness, with a future meeting focused on ICE training. The Fremont Arts Council announced an April 4 gala fundraiser for the Solstice Parade.
Coming up
The March FNC meeting will focus on ICE preparedness. April’s Annual General Meeting will include board elections; contact the FNC if you’re interested in joining. May’s meeting is expected to cover Stone Way pedestrian improvements and a new development on North 36th Street.
Note: The author serves on the Fremont Neighborhood Council Board.
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