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Residents urge North Bend to preserve human services and review policies on immigration enforcement
Summary
At the Feb. 3 council meeting, multiple residents praised city funding for human services and urged support for CarePoint Clinic; separate public commenters requested local policies to increase transparency and limit immigration-enforcement tactics.
Multiple residents spoke during public comment at the North Bend City Council meeting Feb. 3, urging continued or expanded funding for human services and asking the council to evaluate local policies in response to concerns about federal immigration-enforcement actions.
Jen Kirk, executive director of Reclaim, thanked the council for its support of human services in the Snoqualmie Valley and asked the human services committee and council to approve CarePoint Clinic’s funding application in the next budget cycle. "CarePoint is an extraordinary asset and a quiet pillar in our community," Kirk said, noting the clinic’s mobile medical and dental services for residents who lack transportation or stable schedules.
Terry Potmeyer, a board member of the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank, thanked the city for renewed 2026 funding and urged council to consider funding CarePoint in 2027 so the clinic can continue to serve food-bank clients. Potmeyer described mutual referrals between the food bank and human-service providers and called the city's financial support "an important partnership."
Separately, Linda Gres of Snoqualmie Valley Indivisibles urged the city to review policies after reporting what she described as national instances of violent or unlawful conduct by DHS, ICE and Border Patrol agents. Gres asked the council to consider locally enforceable steps including requiring identification and body-worn cameras for agents, banning face coverings by enforcement agents, prohibiting seizure of city property for immigration operations without court orders and banning the use of tear gas on nonviolent demonstrators. Gres framed the changes as measures to strengthen public trust and protect civil rights.
Council did not take immediate policy action on the suggested changes during the meeting; council members asked staff and noted that King County policies generally adhere to Washington state law. Other public commenters included Jess Ream, who urged council to prepare proactively, and Deb Landers, who provided an update on arts programming at the Center for Creativity and invited residents to upcoming events.
