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Residents urge action on housing affordability and request Pride flag raising during Lynnwood public comment
Summary
During the public comment period residents asked the council to support a Pride flag raising June 1, expressed concern about housing affordability and displacement (including manufactured-home residents), and criticized appointment processes for some public bodies; no formal council action was taken on these comments.
At the May 12, 2025 public comment period, several Lynnwood residents addressed the council on housing affordability, tenant protections, public appointments and a planned Pride flag raising.
Philip Lipson, who identified himself as representing organizers at Wilcox Park, said the organizers plan a Pride flag raising on Sunday, June 1 and asked for council support after earlier confusion about whether flags other than the U.S. flag could be raised. Lipson said staff later confirmed flag-raising rules and asked for the council’s backing for the public event.
Pam Hurst, introduced herself as a Lynnwood resident for over 30 years and a volunteer with the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance. She said she had been speaking up for the growing number of Lynnwood residents 65 and older who face economic insecurity. Hurst referenced recent state action and said, “On my birthday, May 7, you can put it on the calendar, we celebrated the signing into law of house bill 12 17,” and added that many renters fear the recent 10% approved rental cap may still be too high for households on fixed incomes.
Other speakers criticized the appointment process for certain public bodies and questioned whether some municipal projects—cited generally as convention center or PFD-related items—reflect broad resident benefit. One public commenter raised concerns about policing and behavior at the transit center and asked the council to add the subject to a future agenda.
The council did not act on these public comments during the meeting; they were recorded under the public comment portion of the agenda and several councilmembers later thanked speakers for bringing issues to the dais. Councilmembers referenced these remarks during their comments and signaled plans for follow-up conversations (for example, the youth council update on a future agenda and continued work on parks and events).
