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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tacoma creates labor task force after workers bill of rights misses ballot deadline
The Tacoma City council voted Aug. 12 to start a task force charged with reviewing labor standards in Tacoma. The move came after the council missed the deadline to get a citizen's initiative seeking to improve working conditions in Tacoma on the November ballot. The council made their decision in a 7-1 vote, a rare split for a council that often makes decisions with unanimous votes. Council member Sandesh Sadalge was absent. Council member Olgy Diaz was the sole dissenting voice, saying that she feels the process was rushed and that she didn't understand how the task force would address concerns about the workers bill of rights. The newly-approved task force will consist of 15 people appointed by members of the council and the mayor. They will suggest recommendations to improve labor policy in Tacoma. The council's approval also directs $50,000 to be directed to support the task force's work. Mayor Victoria Woodards first proposed the task force at the council's Aug. 8 special meeting, saying that conversations about the workers bill of rights raised concerns and questions about labor standards in Tacoma that she hopes the task force can address. Diaz expressed doubts. 'I have a lot of pause about the mayor bringing this forward in such a rushed timeline,' she said at the meeting. 'We really need to be more transparent with folks about what the goal of this is and what that $50,000 is going to be used for and who that's going to go to. I don't know who would convene this, what kind of consulting process there's going to be.' The vote comes after controversy around the proposed workers bill of rights in Tacoma. Organizers with Tacoma For All, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 367 and the Tacoma Democratic Socialists of America had since February been gathering signatures to get the measure on the ballot. The proposal seeks to improve working conditions in Tacoma and set a $20 minimum wage. They delivered the signatures to city officials in late June, and city and county officials validated the petition by July 10, leaving Tacoma's City Council with 30 days to decide whether to approve it directly or to send it to the ballot. While council members have in recent weeks expressed support for the sentiments behind the measure, they also expressed concern about the logistics involved with implementing the measure. In the special meeting on Aug. 8 they voted unanimously to send it to the ballot – three days after the county's deadline to do so. Just before the council's Aug. 12 meeting, Tacoma for All, UFCW Local 367, and the Tacoma DSA filed a lawsuit against the city, Pierce County and County Auditor Linda Farmer alleging that they did not act with 'reasonable promptness' to get the item on the November ballot. The suit also called for a judge to put the item on the ballot despite missing the deadline. The council's on the task force was met with a mixed response from people at the meeting. Activists criticized the decision, some making the case that the task force is an effort from the city to get an alternative to the workers bill of rights on the table. Ty Moore, co-executive director with Tacoma For All, said it was similar to the council's efforts to propose an alternative measure to the tenants bill of rights which appeared on the ballot in 2023. The council is using the task force to prepare an alternative measure to the workers bill of rights, he said. The same activists in 2023 sued the city, Pierce County and county auditor, alleging that the city violated its charter when the council put an alternate renters' rights measure on the ballot that year. A judge ruled in favor of the activists, and voters eventually approved the tenant bill of rights. 'There is a right to initiative for a reason – it's because when voters disagree with the council, they should be able to exercise their right,' Moore said at the meeting. 'Voters did everything right and you failed in your obligation to sustain democracy in this city. Shame on you. ' Members of the business community expressed support for the decision, saying it will broadly represent workers and business owners in conversations about labor standards in a way that the workers bill of rights didn't. 'It's far better than Measure 2, that had been proposed without consulting stakeholders that really have a stake in the game,' Rose Gundersen of the Washington Retail Association said at the Aug. 12 meeting. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘We affirm you.' Transgender pride flag flies over Tacoma Dome for first time
In honor of Transgender Day of Visibility, for the first time a blue, pink and white trans pride flag was flown over the Tacoma Dome on Monday. Similar flags were raised above the Tacoma Municipal Building, Tacoma Police Department headquarters and the Tacoma Fire Department, according to the city. For the past few years the transgender pride flag has flown over City Hall, but this was the first year it was flown on other city buildings, said Mayor Victoria Woodards in a news release Monday. There has been ongoing debate for years among Tacoma and Pierce County officials about whether the rainbow Pride flag and others should be flown on places like the Dome or in council chambers. Last July was the first time a Pride flag had ever been flown in the Pierce County Council chambers. 'Transgender Day of Visibility was born out of trans people daring to proclaim joy. In defiance of all the barriers they face, they have the audacity to thrive in the face of hate and bigotry. The contributions of trans people are endless, and seen here in our city's rich diversity, economic vitality, and quality of life. Trans joy is worthy of celebration,' said Council Member Olgy Diaz in a news release Monday. 'March 31 is a moment for us to pause to honor and celebrate the tremendous perseverance and fortitude of trans people of all ages, backgrounds and professions. This is an opportunity to speak in one voice to say we see you, we affirm you, and there is a community standing in support of you.' The choice to raise the flag comes at a time of increasing attacks on transgender rights and people in the United States. In 2023, for the first time in its 40-year history, the Human Rights Campaign declared a National State of Emergency for LGBTQ+ Americans in response to more than 550 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced into state houses across the country, more than 85 of which were passed into law. Last year more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced and more than 40 passed. A vast majority of those bills specifically targeted transgender people, seeking to ban access to safe, effective and age-appropriate gender-affirming medical care, limit access to bathrooms and locker rooms and remove references to LGBTQ+ identities and experiences in books and school curricula, according to the HRC. 'As trans people, our very existence is seen as defiance under a tyrannical federal government. While it is dangerous to be out and visible, it is also imperative for those who cannot be to see that their community and allies have not stopped fighting,' said Oliver Webb, executive director of the Diversity Alliance of the Puget Sound, in the news release. The city of Tacoma said the transgender flag was provided by community partners at no cost to the city and was raised as directed by the council's newly adopted commemorative flag policy.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City of Tacoma affirms support for immigrants, LGBTQ+ people. Are resolutions enough?
The Tacoma Council has unanimously approved two resolutions affirming support for immigrants and LGBTQ+ people, pledging to use no city funds to 'investigate, enforce, cooperate with or assist in the investigation and enforcement of any federal registration or surveillance programs' targeting people based on race, religion, citizenship status, national origin, sex or gender. The move Tuesday came after the Tacoma Police Department announced in January it has no agreements with ICE and would comply with state regulation, which says local police do not enforce civil federal immigration laws. Tacoma police officers also will not inquire into a person's immigration status unless it is connected to a criminal investigation, and school resource officers cannot investigate or collect information about a person's immigration status nor provide immigration information to authorities for enforcement, as previously reported by The News Tribune. According to Resolution 41627, which affirmed support for immigrants, more than 12% of people living in the city of Tacoma were born outside of the United States as of 2022, and nearly 20% speak a language other than English at home. Immigrants make up 15% of Washington's population and 19% of its labor force and are responsible for 21% of the state's gross domestic product, according to the Washington State Budget and Policy Center. About 100 people crowded the council chambers Tuesday, many standing and overflowing into another room, said city spokesperson Maria Lee, who was present. The crowd erupted in cheers after the passage of each resolution. In January the Olympia City Council declared Olympia the state's first sanctuary city for transgender and LGBTQ+ people. The resolution approved by the Tacoma City Council this week didn't include any 'sanctuary city' language. Council member Olgy Diaz, who was the main sponsor of Tacoma's resolution told The News Tribune on Thursday she was inspired by Olympia's resolution and used it as a basis for Tacoma's. Substitute resolution 41628 affirmed the city's commitment to ensuring all individuals regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity 'feel safe and supported' and reaffirmed the city's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. The council embraced Washington's Law Against Discrimination and authorized the city attorney to prosecute violations as a gross misdemeanor 'should someone intentionally or recklessly interfere with individuals' right to access a health care facility to seek gender affirming care,' according to the resolution. It also affirmed individuals' rights to seek access to restrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms and homeless or emergency shelters 'that are consistent with that individual's gender expression or identity,' engage in expression supporting LGBTQ+ people, including through books, literature, arts and drag performance, and seek housing, employment and public accommodation 'without discrimination, harassment or prejudice against one's gender expression/identity of LGBTQIA2S+ familial structures.' The resolution states that no city resources, including city property or employee time, 'shall be used for investigation, assisting an investigation, arrest or prosecution' of anyone exercising those rights. In the event that any law or regulation passed in Washington would impose criminal punishment, civil liability, administrative penalties or professional sanctions on an individual or organization exercising their rights, 'the City Manager will be directed to make enforcement of said law or regulation to be among the City's lowest enforcement priorities,' the resolution continues. Diaz said in bringing the resolution forward she wanted to show the community what protections Tacoma already has in place to support LGBTQ+ people because, 'it's easy to get lost ... because we're so overwhelmed by fear and anxiety.' Washington already has protections for access to reproductive health care and gender-affirming care, in addition to laws about what information the state can share with the federal government when prosecuting immigrants, so Diaz said this was something city councilors could do within their power at the local level. Council members Diaz, Sandesh Sadalge, Joe Bushnell, Sarah Rumbaugh, John Hines and mayor Victoria Woodards spoke glowingly of the resolutions and said in passing them the community would know the city has their backs and celebrates their contributions to society. But City Council member Jamika Scott raised concerns about the true protective nature of the resolutions. Before she voted in favor of the LGBTQ+ resolution, Scott said she felt 'very deeply troubled and uncomfortable celebrating as people continue to face real risk and danger.' 'Language can evoke a lot of things. They can evoke excitement, fear, joy, anger, etc. And my concern is that these resolutions tonight have the ability to create a false hope, leading our constituents to believe that the City Council has more power to protect them than it truly does,' she said. 'Though we really want to protect you all, we are limited in what we can do. And we have to be honest about the dangers that marginalized people and communities face. And this resolution does not shield anyone from federal legislation, not in the real sense, nor does it fully eradicate the everyday discrimination that too many of us continue to endure.' Scott said the council must be transparent that the policies it passes 'can be overwritten' or 'dismissed entirely by people who do not value the rights that we seek to uphold' or have their own agendas. 'History shows us that words alone have never stopped oppression. Words did not stop all of the violence, erasure, discrimination and gaslighting endured by non-dominant communities long before this moment we're in today. Words did not stop Nazis or the Confederacy. Words don't stop violent coups and they don't stop oligarchs. Action does,' she said. 'Find comfort in the words and the resolutions that are being presented and will hopefully be passed tonight, but please do not rest. Please reflect on what individual responsibility we all bear in keeping ourselves and each other safe, and how we can share in that scary and wonderful burden together. Because real change, the kind that swells up rather than trickles down, does not come from government alone. It comes from a community committed to action.'
