On Thursday afternoon (03-27-2025) in front of a standing room only crowd at Apex Everett, in a program presented by the Everett Chamber of Commerce, Mayor of Everett, Washington Cassie Franklin gave her annual “State of the City”. Here’s the recap with links to content provided by her office.
In her eighth State of the City address, Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin reaffirmed the City’s vision for a thriving, business-friendly environment while ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents.
“My vision for our city is bold, ambitious, and clear: we are building the best city in America to run a business, raise a family, pursue an education, build a career and enjoy a high quality of life,” said Mayor Franklin. “With the deep roots of our past as our strong foundation, I’ve charted a path for our city – and with each accomplishment, we are moving forward towards the best possible tomorrow.”
Full recording and written speech are available on the City of Everett website: everettwa.gov/sotc
In her speech, Mayor Franklin made two significant public safety announcements:
Issuing Mayoral Directive 2025-01: A renewed commitment to youth safety (PDF)
Across the board, Everett has seen a decrease in crime rates, particularly violent crime, but youth violence remains a serious concern, prompting Mayor Franklin to issue Mayoral Directive 2025-01: A renewed commitment to youth safety. This directive is about protecting Everett’s young people – both from being victimized and from engaging in violence themselves. It includes four initiatives that focus on the City’s response to these incidents, prevention efforts, community engagement and partnerships for upstream solutions.
“This new mayoral directive, expanding on my very first directive, renews our city’s commitment to youth safety – because even one instance of youth violence is too many,” said Mayor Franklin.
A key part of the new directive is a new partnership with the Latino Civic Alliance on the “I AM JAGUAR” program, designed to divert Latino youth and young adults away from potential criminal gang affiliation and encourage them onto a better life path.
“I want to thank Nina Martinez from the Latino Civic Alliance for her leadership and the development of this fantastic, culture-infused approach that supports youth as well as their families,” said Mayor Franklin.
Launching the ‘Drone as a First Responder’ pilot program
The City of Everett’s police department will be deploying drones to incident scenes ahead of ground units to support faster response times, increase efficiency and improve safety for all. Everett will be one of the first jurisdictions to implement this cutting-edge technology.
“We’re excited to launch the ‘Drone as a First Responder’ pilot program, bringing our current use of drones to the next level,” said Mayor Franklin. “Technology like this is a force multiplier, allowing us to do more with limited resources and deliver real results for our community.”
Key highlights from the speech included:
· Public safety technology. Police department has successfully implemented new technology like the Flock Safety System and since the launch, Flock’s license plate reader cameras have helped in 70+ arrests.
· Police staffing. Everett continues to be a regional leader in police staffing per capita. Since 2018, 18 additional positions have been added and 100+ new officers have been sworn in.
· Investing in Everett’s future. The outdoor multipurpose facility project, which will bring baseball, soccer and more community events to downtown Everett, is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in a brighter future. Investments of this magnitude are transformational for communities.
· FIFA World Cup Fan Zone. Excitement is building for the FIFA World Cup in 2026, with Everett selected to host an official Fan Zone – bringing energy, culture and global recognition to the city.
· Streamlined crisis response: The Community Alternative Response Everett (CARE) program was launched, helping over 1,800 individuals in crisis last year.
· Housing and business growth. Everett issued permits for nearly 600 housing units in 2024—a 340% increase from 2023. And business licenses have nearly tripled over the past seven years.
· Economic Investments: The Everett Mall redevelopment will be transformative to south Everett and includes a major anchor tenant – Topgolf.
· Investments in Parks & Public Spaces: New playgrounds, dog parks, and great community events are making Everett a more vibrant and connected city.
“As your mayor, I take that same approach every day—leading with vision, building with purpose and engaging our community every step of the way. We don’t just dream big; we take bold actions and make strategic investments in our shared future,” said Mayor Franklin. “Let’s continue to lead, build and believe in all that Everett is and all that Everett can and will become.”
The full recording and written speech are available here: everettwa.gov/sotc.
State of the City: Community Edition
The public is invited to attend the FREE ‘State of the City: Community Edition’ event on Monday, March 31 from 6-7:30 p.m. (doors open at 5:30) in the Weyerhaeuser Room at Everett Station, 3201 Smith Ave. Everett, WA 98201. Mayor Franklin will provide an Everett update and then attendees are encouraged to learn more about different ways to get involved including our Neighborhood Associations, Boards and Commissions, Community Watch and other volunteer opportunities.
Due to limited capacity, pre-registration is required. Reserve your free tickets.