www.edmondsbeacon.com INSIDE: Goodwill staying… 4 Canoes depart Edmonds … 8 Edmonds BeaconYOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER 728 3rd St., Ste. D Mukilteo, WA 98275 Volume XXXVI Number 36 August 5, 2021 HB 1310: Edmonds Only when restaurant necessary requiring New law sets guidelines for when police can use proof of physical force BY NATALIE KAHN vaccination BEACON REPORTER Other local businesses n July 25, Edmonds police O officers rushed to a 911 call masking up again, too about a man kicking a home’s BY BRIAN SOERGEL front door. Soon after, an officer [email protected] spied a man walking on a nearby street who matched dispatch’s ith the delta variant numbers description. The officer trailed him W increasing in Snohomish County, in his squad car. many businesses have returned to mask The suspect suddenly took off, mandates inside their stores. and the officer watched as he ran That includes Maize & Barley on Main away. Police did not locate the Street, which has taken the mandate a step man. further. That same day, a dozen police “As parents of a 10-year-old and a mem- reform bills Washington state leg- ber of the greater Seattle beer community, islators passed this spring became in solidarity with our neighbors and indus- law. try in an effort to curb the spike of rising According to Sgt. Josh McClure, cases associated with the delta variant, we Edmonds’ acting assistant chief are as of today saying you will need to of police, the officer chose not to wear a mask to enter, and if you’d like to command the man to stop be- dine inside you will need to show proof of cause of one of those laws: House vaccination,” read a post off its Facebook Bill 1310, which concerns “permis- page. sible use of force by law enforce- “We’re so close to defeating this thing Photo courtesy of Edmonds PD ment and correctional officers.” and bless it, we want our kid back in The controversial law sets new Edmonds Police Sgt. Ryan Speer applies handcuffs on a suspect. school in the fall!! Thank you for your criteria for when law enforcement understanding in these efforts to protect officers are permitted to use physical force. Under HB 1310, “However, the new laws may alter the way in which we our community and families.” officers can use force in situations where doing so is deemed investigate calls for service and, as a result, there will be “All employees have been required to circumstances where officers may let a suspect go and walk necessary to prevent someone from escaping from custody wear masks as of a few weeks ago prior away from the situation until probable cause is established for or to protect any person – including the officer or the person to the new delta data,” said Shubert Ho, a crime in order to avoid using physical force to detain them.” who force is being used against – from an imminent threat of owner of Feedme Hospitality, which has Prior to this law, police were allowed to use physical force injury. several restaurants in town. If there is probable cause for arrest, officers are allowed to against a person as long as they had “reasonable suspicion” of criminal conduct. Probable cause is a higher standard that “For the majority of our restaurants, our use force when necessary to make an arrest or to prevent customers will be asked to wear masks criminal conduct. requires there to be facts leading the officer to believe that a person committed a crime, rather than just being suspicious when not eating or drinking while inside According to McClure, HB 1310 would have prevented the our establishment starting (this) week. This officer from using physical force, as it was not clear if there of it. “The law requires a higher degree of certainty that the per- has already been the policy at Potlatch and was probable cause that a crime had been committed. He Shore Pine, where we serve an at-risk com- said the officer chose not to give verbal commands due to son that you are approaching has actually committed a crime, and not just a hunch about someone,” said Enoka Herat, the munity at the Edmonds Waterfront Center. concern that the man would flee and the officer would need “This will be indoor dining only. Outdoor to use force to apprehend him. Police Practices and Immigration lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU). She said that dining spaces, like the Mar-ket, will not be In a statement released Monday, Acting Police Chief required to mask, but it is highly suggested Michelle Bennett said, “The Edmonds Police Department these “hunches” can involve racial bias. The law also stipulates that officers must use “reasonable for those who are unvaccinated.” strongly supports decreasing the potential use of force by law At the Edmonds Bookshop, co-owner enforcement. see PHYSICAL FORCE GUIDELINES page 13 u David Brewster said his staff is masked up see VACCINATION PROOF page 16 u Edmonds Primary 2021: Johnson, Crank, to face off; Distelhorst trailing BY BRIAN SOERGEL Will Chen might have enough votes to advance finding housing solutions, meeting the [email protected] needs of our most vulnerable residents and Cass (32.22%) and Will Chen (29.28%) aren’t what I hoped for, I’m so grateful for underserved communities, taking meaning- ne Edmonds City Council incumbent are leading incumbent Luke Distelhorst the opportunity to be your City Council ful action to address climate change at the O will move on to the Nov. 3 general (22.66%) and Lora Petso representative and will local level, and imple- election, while the other (15.76%). If results don’t continue to work hard menting policies that help looks like his time on change, Cass and Chen until the end of the term. create safe, equitable and council is over. will face off in November. In both my position on thriving communities. The initial results from Distelhorst was appoint- council and in my efforts “Work I hope our local the 2021 primary election ed to his Position 2 seat to retain the position, leaders will continue, show that City Council after Mike Nelson vacated it has been my honor regardless of council com- Position 1 incumbent Kris- the position for his suc- meeting fellow commu- position.” tiana Johnson (44.44%) cessful mayoral campaign. nity members sharing a Said Chen, a business has a seven-vote lead over Alicia Crank “The writer Sharon Janelle Cass vision and priorities while Will Chen owner and first-time Kristiana Johnson challenger Alicia Crank Salzberg said it best that ‘Voting is the ex- connecting with folks who want the best council candidate: “We are really happy (44.37%). Both will advance to the general pression of our commitment to ourselves, for our community. with tonight’s returns so far. It’s a testament election Nov. 3. Brian Hartman (10.96%) is one another, this country and this world,’” “I’m proud of my campaign and the to the hard work of our campaign team not considered a serious candidate. Distelhorst said. focus always remaining in line with many For Position 2, both candidates Janelle “While the initial results of the primary of my accomplishments during my tenure: see EDMONDS PRIMARY page 15 u 2 - Edmonds Beacon www.edmondsbeacon.com August 5, 2021 Will broadband legislation help bridge ‘digital divide’ locally? BY BRIAN SOERGEL like electricity or water,” said Rep. Drew Han- [email protected] No mandates for Snohomish PUD, says spokesperson sen (D-Bainbridge Island), the sponsor of the Public Broadband Act (HB1336). wo new laws aimed at helping bridge “The PUDs were critical to enacting my T the so-called digital divide in Washing- Public Broadband Act, and I look forward to ton State took effect July 25 and lets public working with PUDs across the state to bring entities, including not-for-profit, communi- public broadband to more people.” ty-owned public utility districts to provide re- The new laws expand existing PUD broad- tail broadband service to those who may not band authority. have it. Since 2000, PUDs have had the authority to What affect will it have on Snohomish offer wholesale telecommunications services County? (RCW 54.16.330). Since then, PUDs have “Neither House Bill 1336 or Senate Bill invested over $509 million in broadband in- 5383 have a direct impact on Snohom- frastructure. With wholesale telecommunica- ish PUD or our customers as both bills – in tions authority, PUDs were able to build the varying capacity – authorize public entities to pipeline to help connect communities, with provide broadband/telecommunications ser- customers relying on private providers for vices,” said Kellie Stickney, a spokesperson for end-use service. Snohomish County PUD. If customers did not have a private provid- Neither bill puts forward any mandates or er that could meet their needs, their options requirements for public entities to provide were limited or non-existent. broadband/telecommunications services or “Under the new law, individual PUDs will build out infrastructure, she said. consider the needs of their customers when “Before the 2021 legislative session began, deciding whether to provide retail telecom- Snohomish PUD recognized existing ineq- munications service,” said Caan. uities in broadband accessibility, which were PUDs are community-owned, so each PUD exacerbated by the pandemic. We initiated operates differently and is responsive to the and are currently conducting a study process needs of their community. The decision re- to better understand broadband as it relates garding retail telecommunications service will to unserved and underserved communities in be made by locally elected PUD boards of our service territory.” is a role or model for the PUD to responsibly PUD Association executive director.