Over the past year, in response to a growing budget crisis, Edmonds city leaders have examined every possible revenue option to prevent financial insolvency. Among the options that caused most alarm was the idea to sell two of our beloved community landmarks: the Frances Anderson Center and Hummingbird Hill Park. While selling these assets might offer a short-term financial boost, it would do nothing to resolve the city’s deeper, structural budget challenges—and once sold, these public treasures would be lost forever.

In response, Keep Edmonds Vibrant, a grassroots coalition of local residents, organized. Within just 72 hours, more than 7,200 emails were sent to the mayor and city council, clearly expressing the community’s overwhelming opposition to selling these irreplaceable public spaces.

At the next City Council meeting, nearly 250 residents packed the Council chambers, urging city leaders to protect our shared assets. In response, the Council voted to table the proposed amendments, pausing—at least temporarily—further exploration of the sale of Frances Anderson Center and Hummingbird Hill Park.

But let’s be clear: unless Edmonds secures stable, long-term funding, the threat of selling public assets will continue to loom over us. That’s why it’s critical that we grow and diversify our revenue base. One of the ways we can do this is to approve Proposition 1: Police, Parks, Planning, Streets and Sidewalks Levy.

Continued underinvestment is not a sustainable path forward. We must fund a healthy, functioning city that can serve this community effectively and allow it to thrive for generations to come. Edmonds is worth it!

Support Proposition 1 by voting YES on November 4th.