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FEMA deadline reminder, realtors urge rejection of home energy score ordinance, and survivor's testimony at Tumwater council
Summary
During public comment at the Tumwater City Council meeting on May 19, a FEMA representative reminded residents of a June 10 registration deadline for flood assistance; the Thurston County Realtors Association urged rejection of a proposed home energy score ordinance; and a survivor recounted childhood abuse and institutional retaliation.
Three distinct public commenters addressed the Tumwater City Council during the public comment period on May 19.
Maria Figereoa, representing FEMA governmental affairs, told the council the deadline to register for individual assistance related to the December floods is June 10 and provided the FEMA phone number and website for applications and local registration sites. "The last day to register for individual assistance if you were impacted by the December floods is June 10," Figereoa said, and she said she would send periodic information about in-person registration locations.
Don Baker, president of the Thurston County Realtors Association, urged the council to reject a proposed home energy score ordinance in its current form. Baker said the policy raises "significant unanswered questions related to implementation, compliance, enforcement, market impacts, and long-term administration" and warned a mandatory point-of-sale requirement could have unintended consequences for housing affordability and mobility.
Courtney Marie Holt House delivered a personal, emotional testimony describing childhood abuse and later retaliation she said she experienced when reporting institutional wrongdoing. She urged accountability and said that, in her experience, systems often "deny, minimize, reframe, repeat." The council thanked her for coming forward but did not take further action during the meeting.
The council did not take action in response to these public comments during the meeting but accepted the information and acknowledged the speakers. FEMA contact information and the June 10 deadline were highlighted as time-sensitive items for residents.
