Latest news with #TacomaCityCouncil
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
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Here's how The News Tribune decides when to do candidate endorsements
Let me start by saying, I should have published this column over a month ago. Journalists hate missing deadlines, so it pains me to realize this information is overdue. No, I'm not telling you who The News Tribune editorial board is endorsing in the 2025 Tacoma mayoral race. But we've heard from quite a few Tacomans asking where that endorsement was during the primary election. So as Opinion Editor, I'm here to explain what our plan is, and to promise to make our process more clear going forward. The short version is this: this newspaper's editorial board will issue an endorsement for the 2025 mayoral race in October, on or before the day you receive your general election ballot in the mail. While the election results aren't certified yet, the current frontrunners from the primary election are Anders Ibsen and John Hines. In all likelihood, the board will be choosing between those two candidates. And here's the why. The editorial board makes decisions each year about which races to offer endorsements for in the primary election, and which to leave for the general. If we've already endorsed a candidate in the primary, we won't revisit that race for the general election. There are simply too many races to consider in one go. The editorial board is currently made up of two News Tribune employees and three community volunteers, and we have to use our time wisely. That requires a judgment call on when to endorse in a given race. Sometimes it's easy to spot when the editorial board should endorse in a primary or a general election. Some races skip the primary, such as the Tacoma City Council District 2 race, which only has two candidates. And some have a more manageable number of candidates in the primary, allowing the board to have a meaningful conversation on each candidate's stances. Others present more of a conundrum. The board this year decided to save the Tacoma mayoral race endorsement for the general election. There were pros and cons for both options, and we understand that many voters would have liked some guidance when choosing among six candidates for an open seat in the mayor's office. To arrive at a choice in October, the editorial board will pose questions to both mayoral candidates. We hope that diving deeper with two candidates will offer more insight into their visions for the city's government, and the differences between them. That's harder to get at in a six-person panel interview. There's still value in vetting the primary candidates. With this in mind, the editorial board did go through the endorsement process with all six candidates running for the at-large Tacoma City Council Pos. 6. What's more, our news team covered mayoral candidate forums and reported on the race during the primary campaign season. Going forward, the editorial board will aim to be transparent about what readers can expect leading up to primaries and general elections.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ballots for Tacoma's Aug. 5 primary are out. Here's where the candidates stand
Ballots for this year's primary election went out July 18, the first step in whittling down the list of 20 candidates looking to fill the five Tacoma City Council seats up for election this year. People looking to register to vote can do so online or on paper by July 28 and can do so in-person until 8 p.m. on election day, Aug. 5. Ballots must be postmarked no later than Aug. 5, election day, or placed in a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. that same day. Ballot drop boxes are available in 51 locations across the county, with locations ranging from outside UW Tacoma to Wapato Park. Tacoma's next top leaders are likely to be tasked with dealing with the city's enduring budget deficit and the ever-changing impact of a new presidential administration. They'll also be coming to city leadership in a time of transition – the city is without permanent leaders in top positions of police chief and city manager. The News Tribune's editorial board, which is separate from its news reporting staff, has endorsed candidates in the District 4, District 5 and at-large Position 6 races. Various community groups are hosting candidate forums and debates ahead of the primary. Here's a list of some of the upcoming events: TV Tacoma's mayoral candidate forum, posted on the City of Tacoma's Youtube page. Four candidates participated in the forum at City Hall, moderated by Liz Kurnitz-Thurlow from the League of Women Voters of Tacoma-Pierce County. TV Tacoma and the League of Women Voters also hosted candidate forums for the council-at-large Position 6 and Port of Tacoma Positions 1 and 4. Mayoral Watch Party: No Politics, Just Policy on Thursday, July 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. at UrbanWork Rhodes Center at 950 Broadway. Hosted by Tacoma Rising, the event will feature a screening of pre-recorded interviews with all six mayoral candidates on questions about economic development, followed by a question-and-answer session with the candidates. Mayoral Forum: Tacoma's Housing Crisis on Saturday, July 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Co-sponsored by United Food and Commercial Workers 367, Tacoma Ministerial Alliance, Common Good Tacoma and Tacoma For All. Four mayoral candidates will discuss policy related to Tacoma's housing crisis at Common Good Tacoma at 621, Tacoma Avenue South. Here's what we know about the 20 candidates in the running: Mayor Steve Haverly Haverly has worked as a substitute para educator for Tacoma Public Schools, in TV production and construction. His priorities include reducing homelessness, protecting the environment and making it easier for small businesses to start in Tacoma. By July 17 he had raised a total of $21,120.88 for his campaign, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Jesus 'Jesse' Carlos Carlos has served as a U.S. Army Ranger sniper and worked as a financial advisor, according to his campaign website. His priorities include addressing homelessness, combating climate change and uplifting marginalized communities. Carlos had reported raising $10,109.71 as of July 1, per the PDC. Whitney Stevens Stevens has a background in local government, having served on the Pierce County Planning Commission and worked for Pierce County Councilmember Tim Farell and Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson. Her priorities include summer childcare, building up the city's revenues and addressing youth gun violence. She raised $20,522.86 for her campaign as of July 17, according to public disclosures. Anthony (Tony) Ginn Ginn did not appear to have a campaign website as of July 17 and did not report any campaign expenses or fundraising dollars by the same date. Anders Ibsen Ibsen most recently worked in real estate and before that served on the City Council representing District 1. His priorities include affordability, public safety and economic development. Ibsen had raised $172,104.84 as of July 17 – the highest amount of any candidate so far – and reported having spent $139,675.29 by the same date. John Hines Hines is on the City Council representing District 1 and served as deputy mayor in 2024. Hines' priorities include building Tacoma's economy, addressing homelessness and prioritizing public safety. He reported having raised $164,998.42 for his campaign as of July 17, the second-highest amount of money raised in the race for mayor. He reported spending about half that amount by the same date – $85,564.28. District 2 Per state law, since only two candidates are in the running for the District 2 position – incumbent Sarah Rumbaugh and newcomer Ben Lackey – the two will advance to the Nov. 4 general election without the need for a primary. They will not appear on the Aug. 5 ballot. District 4 Israel James McKinney McKinney has served in the Air Force Reserves and worked at Boeing and Xfinity, according to his campaign website. His priorities include improving Tacoma's job market, improving public safety and addressing homelessness. McKinney as of July 17 did not report any campaign expenditures or fundraising dollars. According to public disclosures, he opted for 'mini reporting,' which applies to campaigns that raise and spend less than $7,000, which are not required to report their fundraising and expenditures to the state's Public Disclosure Commission. Silong Chhun Chhun has worked for former Gov. Jay Inslee's office and the Khmer Anti-deportation and Advancement Group, according to his campaign website. His priorities include protecting immigrant communities and making housing in Tacoma more affordable. Chhun raised $25,677.60 by July 17, according to public disclosures. Sandesh Sadalge Sadalge holds the position of District 4 council member, having been appointed to the seat in July 2024 after council member Catherine Ushka died in the middle of her term. Sadalge's priorities include crime prevention, affordable housing and supporting small businesses. Sadalge by July 17 had raised the most amount of money in the race for District 4 at $30,033.00. District 5 Brandon A. Vollmer Vollmer spent the majority of his life living in District 5, according to his campaign website, and his priorities include addressing homelessness, affordability and transparency. He reported raising $851.03 for his campaign by July 17, according to public disclosures. Joe Bushnell Bushnell, who represents District 5 on the City Council, spent about a decade in the Marine Corps. His priorities include addressing homelessness, building on public safety and boosting Tacoma's economy. By July 17 he raised $35,041.14 for his campaign. Zev Cook Cook is a community organizer, co-founder of Tacoma for All and worked on the campaign for the Tenant Bill of Rights and on council member Jamika Scott's campaign in 2023. Her priorities include raising Tacoma's minimum wage, building more affordable housing and taxing the rich. As of July 17, she raised $47,012.98 for her campaign – the largest amount of money raised out of all four council races. Council-at-large Position No. 6 Lindsay Wills Wills has worked as a fire inspector and in the permits department for the city of University Place. Her priorities include helping reduce costs to manage the city's budget, transparency and addressing climate change. By July 17 she raised $4,453.00 for her campaign, according to public disclosures. Hunder D. Henderson Henderson works for the Washington State Department of Transportation and has worked for Pierce County Parks and Recreation. His priorities include creating jobs, affordable housing and improving Tacoma's roads. As of July 17, Henderson raised $1,761.90 for his campaign. Krista Perez Perez is an author and small business owner, according to her campaign website, and is the only candidate who appears to have the endorsement of Deputy Mayor Kiara Daniels – who holds the at-large Position 6 seat. Her priorities include affordable housing and supporting local businesses. As of July 17, Perez had raised $31,281.92 for her campaign, the most amount of money raised by one candidate in the race for at-large Position 6. Jessica Johnston Johnston is the vice president of the Downtown Tacoma partnership and a member of Tacoma's City Events & Recognitions Committee, according to her campaign website. Her priorities include bolstering public safety and economic development in Tacoma, as well as improving access to mental health care and addiction services. Johnston raised $21,216.00 for her campaign by July 17, according to public disclosures. Todd Briske Briske ran for the at-large Position 8 in 2023 and lost to now-council member Kristina Walker. His priorities, according to his campaign website, include affordable housing, addressing homelessness and reducing 911 response times. Briske did not report raising or spending any funds on his campaign, having also opted for mini reporting. Latasha Palmer Palmer is a small business owner and board member of the Hilltop Action Coalition. She hopes to focus on housing security and economic security, according to her website. As of July 17, Palmer had raised $22,573.03 for her campaign – the second-highest amount of money raised in the race for at-large Position 6.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-Tacoma police official went to court over racial bias. City settles for $500K
Tacoma City Council on Tuesday voted to pay $500,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a former chief of staff for the Police Department who claimed he was subjected to racial bias and discrimination before he resigned. The lawsuit in Pierce County Superior Court included allegations of a hostile work environment, hiring practices that were discriminatory to Black applicants and uneven discipline between Black and non-Black employees. Some of the claims described problems with the highest levels of department leadership, now-fired Deputy Chief Paul Junger and former Chief Avery Moore, who resigned in February with a hefty payout. Curtis Hairston, who brought the lawsuit, is Black and reported directly to Moore when he was hired in April 2022. Neither Moore nor Junger were identified as defendants in the legal action, but it described Junger, who is white, making racist comments to Hairston and implied Moore, who is Black, didn't do enough to step in. The City of Tacoma denied both those allegations. The settlement gives Hairston 'significant vindication' and allows him to move forward in his life, his attorney, Jeff Musto, said in a phone call with The News Tribune. Musto said it won't solve all of the Police Department's problems, but he said it was a step in the right direction. 'Tacoma Police Department has a history which continues to this day of allowing, if not encouraging, racial discrimination in the department,' Musto said. The settlement has yet to be finalized, according to Musto. A settlement in a lawsuit often means the defendant does not have to admit to any wrongdoing. Musto said it was likely the settlement agreement in this case would include that, too. A spokesperson for the City of Tacoma, Maria Lee, said the city does not comment on settlements. A spokesperson for the Police Department did not respond to a request for comment. The City Council's vote to authorize the settlement came and went quickly. After Deputy Mayor Kiara Daniels read the motion, there was an oral vote, and there appeared to be no dissent. The responsibilities of chief of staff included managing administrative workers and driving long-term planning, according to a now-closed job posting for Hairston's replacement. It's unclear if the department ever hired someone. According to Hairston's lawsuit, he also was brought on to address racial biases in the department. 'Curtis Hairston came to Tacoma, Washington in 2022 to try to help address racial biases and inequities within the Tacoma Police Department,' the lawsuit said. 'Unfortunately, over the next year and a half, Mr. Hairston would be yet another in a long line of victims of insidious racism and discrimination within (TPD) and the City of Tacoma.' The racist comments Junger allegedly made occurred when Hairston walked by the deputy chief's office and was abruptly told to retrieve a woman from downstairs and bring her to Junger in a conference room. Hairston told Junger he would this time, according to the lawsuit, but said, 'The way you asked you might as well have said, 'Boy go fetch me my guest.' Junger allegedly responded, 'No. You will go do it because I am your boss and if I said, 'Boy go wash my car,' you will do that too.' Later, Junger gave what Hairston described as an 'insincere' apology. When Hairston indicated he wasn't prepared to accept the apology, Junger allegedly said, 'You people are full of [expletive] and rude as hell.' Among other allegations, Hairston's lawsuit claimed he was fired in October 2023 after he was investigated over an ethics complaint that claimed Hairston used his position to try to get his stepson hired at the Police Department. The investigation was closed without discipline imposed, but Hairston claimed the Police Department still moved to fire him less than a month later. The City of Tacoma denied that allegation in a legal response to the lawsuit, instead contending that Moore was dissatisfied with Hairston's performance and gave him the option to resign instead of termination, which Hairston agreed to. Asked about recent changes to Police Department leadership, including whether it was moving in the right direction with its new chief, Patti Jackson, Hairston's attorney declined to comment. In regard to the case itself, Musto described how Hairston still felt the effects of his 18 months with the Police Department. He said a settlement doesn't take that away. 'The scars of racial discrimination accumulate over time,' Musto said. 'It's not the type of thing, it's not something where they just simply go away. And they certainly remain with Mr. Hairston, with Curtis and others like him every day.'
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tacoma braces for ‘diminished' ability to repair streets after defeat of Prop 1
The Tacoma City Council is exploring next steps after voters appeared to have rejected a tax hike to raise money for street improvements and repairs in Tuesday's special election. In a statement issued Wednesday, the city said it's concerned about maintaining the city's infrastructure needs – though it understands the tighter budgets that Tacoma residents are likely contending with. In the first round of results released on election night, 54.05% of voters had voted against the measure, with a roughly 19.17% voter turnout in Tacoma and roughly 200 ballots left to count. 'Looking ahead, we anticipate that the level of service residents rely on will unfortunately be diminished over time as maintaining and upgrading our infrastructure becomes increasingly more challenging,' the statement reads. Prop 1, if approved, would have been a permanent levy – whereas previous packages voters approved are on track to expire in December 2025 and February 2026. The council is 'actively exploring' next steps, including a potential revised measure that could come back to voters at a later date, according to the statement. The measure, known as Streets Initiative II or Proposition 1, proposed increasing property taxes by 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed value and increasing the utility-earnings tax by 2% for natural gas, electric and phone utilities – up from the 20 cents per $1,000 of assessed value and 1.5% utility-earnings tax hikes that voters last approved about 10 years ago.
