August 5, 2024
Dear councilmembers,
We are writing to express concern that it has been six months since the City Council suspended all activities performed by the Immigration Advisory Board (IAB), seemingly, without any progress towards developing a workgroup with IAB members or plans for a restart.
During your January 29, 2024, Committee of the Whole meeting, the Administration recommended that you request a progress update after six months. We urge you to make that request so the Administration can provide an update during one of your August Committee of the Whole meetings.
Additionally, we bring to your attention that due to the IAB’s suspension, the city has not likely maintained compliance with Ordinance No, 2021-03-00, which established the IAB. Specifically, the ordinance describes one purpose of the IAB is to “determine compliance with” the Keep Washington Working Act (KWW). It is the IAB’s independent review of collected data that assures compliance with the KWW. We do not accept as a substitute that the Bellingham Police Department has policies and procedures in place.
We hope to hear that progress is, in fact, being made towards the promises made to our immigrant community following the suspension of the IAB. We remain certain that the IAB served as an important vehicle for hearing from immigrant voices on the impacts of current and proposed city policies related to the environment, housing affordability, and public health. And, we believe that, as the largest population in Whatcom County, Bellingham plays a leadership and accountability role that shapes the way the entire county views our immigrant neighbors.
Sincerely,
Riveters Collective Board of Directors