Lynnwood council vice president returns from NLC conference, criticizes divisive remarks and outlines housing, youth and equity takeaways

Council Vice President Bridal said he left a National League of Cities (NLC) general session led by Vice President JD Vance after hearing what he described as divisive remarks about immigrants, and used a city work session to summarize workshops and meetings he attended in Washington, D.C.

Bridal said he attended several NLC workshops on housing, youth programming and equity and leadership. "I did get up and I did leave, and I did not listen to the rest of the session at all," he told the council, describing his exit from the session as a personal protest to comments he said "villainize[d] our immigrants and ... criminalize our immigrants."

Bridal spent the remainder of his report outlining substantive takeaways from NLC. He said a housing session titled "America's Housing Comeback: Partnerships and Strategies for Economic Prosperity" emphasized collaborative partnerships among local governments, private developers and community organizations, along with innovative financing models such as public–private partnerships and community land trusts. "We talked about zoning and policy reforms ... to facilitate development of diverse housing types and increased density in underutilized areas," he said, and noted that Lynnwood's comprehensive plan already reflects several of the approaches discussed.

On youth services, Bridal reported attending a reception focused on after-school and summer programs. The session stressed funding opportunities, including federal grants and local partnerships, and a holistic approach that combines academic support with social-emotional and physical health services.

Bridal also attended a Race, Equity and Leadership Council (REAL) workshop that presented an equity framework for local government, including data-driven decision-making and inclusive leadership strategies. "We discussed strategies for fostering inclusive leadership within city councils that prioritize diverse voices and perspectives," he said.

Bridal said he participated in a meeting with Senate offices (he named Sen. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray's legislative assistant as part of the discussion) where federal support for infrastructure and community development and challenges to equitable distribution of resources were discussed. He also noted networking with other Washington state elected officials and a meeting with Rep. Maxwell Frost.

Bridal closed his recap by saying he will bring more of the conference material back to the community and that the rest of the council presentation would focus on NLC highlights.

Ending: Bridal recommended that the council consider the conference insights for Lynnwood planning and outreach, particularly around housing partnerships, youth programming and equity practices.