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FEMA reports aid disbursed to 163 households; resident accuses county of favoritism in Clearview cannabis buffer
Summary
At the May 20 Snohomish County Council meeting, a FEMA representative updated the council on local disaster assistance totals while a resident publicly accused officials of favoring an existing cannabis operator in adopting a 10,000‑foot buffer in Clearview.
SNOHOMISH COUNTY — A Federal Emergency Management Agency representative told the Snohomish County Council on May 20 that 163 households in the county have registered for FEMA individual assistance and that roughly $341,000 has been distributed, with an additional $129,000 issued through housing assistance.
"So far, just in your county, there's been 163 individual households that have registered for FEMA for assistance," said Stuart Anderson, who identified himself as representing FEMA. He reminded residents the deadline to register is June 10.
Following that briefing, resident and business owner Patrick Ann addressed the council during public comment to dispute the process that produced a 10,000‑foot separation buffer for cannabis retail in Clearview. Ann said he found "little to no documented evidence" of community demand for the buffer, recited a timeline he said showed the ordinance moving unusually quickly, and said staff emails described the distance as chosen because "it's a nice, round number." He also said the only major supporting comment in the legislative file came from a paid lobbyist, Joshua Estes, for an existing operator.
"At the end of the day, this simply looks like favoritism wrapped in public policy," Patrick Ann said.
Ann referenced ordinance 23‑009 and said it was introduced Feb. 2, reviewed by the planning committee Feb. 7, scheduled for a public hearing Feb. 8 and approved March 8. The council did not provide a formal response to Ann's allegations during the meeting.
Why it matters: FEMA's registration and distribution numbers affect what additional federal support may be available to residents after a declared disaster. Separately, allegations about the legislative process for land‑use rules — including whether staff analysis or lobbying shaped a buffer distance — bear on transparency and equity in local land‑use policy.
What happens next: Anderson repeated FEMA's June 10 registration deadline. The county has already adopted ordinance 23‑009 according to the timeline cited by the public commenter; Ann urged the council to consider transparency and fairness in future land‑use decisions.
Representative quotes: "They don't have to say, 'well, I don't have any damages anymore.' They can still register and possibly get some help," Anderson said of residents who delayed registering.
"This simply looks like favoritism wrapped in public policy, and that's why I'm here asking for fairness, transparency, consistency, and equal treatment under the law," Patrick Ann said.
No formal county response to Ann's claims was recorded in the meeting minutes. The council moved on to ceremonial business and later to scheduled agenda motions and hearings.
