Latest news with #VictoriaWoodards
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Spotted the orange flag above the Tacoma Dome? Here's what it means.
On June 4, an orange flag was raised on the Tacoma Dome. Three years ago, Mayor Victoria Woodards declared June as Gun Violence Awareness Month. In June 2023, the annual tradition of raising the orange flag on the Tacoma Dome began to encourage the reduction of gun violence, city spokesperson Maria Lee told The News Tribune Thursday. 'In the State of Washington, there are about 850 gun deaths every year, with a rate of 10.8 deaths per 100,000 people,' according to Mayor Woodards' May 2022 proclamation. In response to those statistics, Tacoma uses one of the city's most iconic buildings to shed light on the issue. The color orange has become a symbol of gun safety as part of the Wear Orange campaign and National Gun Violence Awareness Day, which is June 6. Orange was chosen because that's what hunters wear for safety, according to a previous News Tribune article. The flag will get taken down on Monday, June 9, but efforts to promote safety will continue throughout the month. For example, Tacoma helps fund Summer Late Nights, a program that aims to reduce youth violence, Lee said. From June 23 to Aug. 29, middle and high schools throughout Tacoma will have their doors open on weeknights for students. Students have the opportunity to get dinner and hang out with friends, according to the Parks Tacoma website. 'The City of Tacoma maintains our commitment to end senseless gun violence with evidence-based solutions, and pledge to do all we can to keep firearms out of the wrong hands,' the proclamation said. Editor's note: This story has been updated to include information about the Wear Orange campaign and National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Spotted the orange flag above the Tacoma Dome? Here's what it means.
On June 4, an orange flag was raised on the Tacoma Dome. Three years ago, Mayor Victoria Woodards declared June as Gun Violence Awareness Month. In June 2023, the annual tradition of raising the orange flag on the Tacoma Dome began to encourage the reduction of gun violence, city spokesperson Maria Lee told The News Tribune Thursday. 'In the State of Washington, there are about 850 gun deaths every year, with a rate of 10.8 deaths per 100,000 people,' according to Mayor Woodards' May 2022 proclamation. In response to those statistics, Tacoma uses one of the city's most iconic buildings to shed light on the issue. The color orange has become a symbol of gun safety as part of the Wear Orange campaign and National Gun Violence Awareness Day, which is June 6. Orange was chosen because that's what hunters wear for safety, according to a previous News Tribune article. The flag will get taken down on Monday, June 9, but efforts to promote safety will continue throughout the month. For example, Tacoma helps fund Summer Late Nights, a program that aims to reduce youth violence, Lee said. From June 23 to Aug. 29, middle and high schools throughout Tacoma will have their doors open on weeknights for students. Students have the opportunity to get dinner and hang out with friends, according to the Parks Tacoma website. 'The City of Tacoma maintains our commitment to end senseless gun violence with evidence-based solutions, and pledge to do all we can to keep firearms out of the wrong hands,' the proclamation said. Editor's note: This story has been updated to include information about the Wear Orange campaign and National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Holy Rosary Church still at risk of demolition. Here's where things stand now
As cardinals of the Catholic Church make their way to Rome to choose the next pope, a choice over what to do with a historical church looms over Tacoma. The Church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary would need costly repairs to function again. Everyone at least agrees about that. But from there things get complicated. A local group made an offer to purchase and run the church in 2024, but the local parish and the Archdiocese of Seattle has turned them down. Archbishop Paul Etienne decreed again in March that the Holy Rosary will be relegated to 'profane, but not sordid' use. That would decommission the church and make it possible to sell the property, and for a wrecking crew to take down the 104-year-old Gothic-style local landmark. Some local Catholics have made it clear they want to stop a potential demolition. They've raised funds and formed a legal entity that could purchase the property. They already appealed to the Vatican once and submitted their proposal to the local parish and the Archdiocese. As they did the last time the Archdiocese made this decree, they've now appealed to the Vatican again. The church is an eye-catching feature of the Tacoma skyline, and the prospect of losing it brought out strong reactions in Catholics and non-Catholics alike when the parish's plans first came to light in 2019. Even Mayor Victoria Woodards chimed in, pledging to help in what way she can. But the fate of the church isn't up to local government. Historical landmark laws don't apply to properties owned by religious organizations, and regional Catholic leadership has the authority to decide. Any arguments against those decisions are based in the Catholic Church's canon law, the same opaque set of rules and norms clerics will follow when choosing a replacement for Pope Francis. The local disagreement over whether Holy Rosary can or should go on as a church (and above all stay standing) is thorny. No one seems to agree on how valuable the property is. Or how extensive or costly repairs to the church would be. Or even what the process is for transferring the church to a lay organization. It's enough to make status updates from the Papal conclave, which are delivered through a chimney using different colors of smoke, seem straightforward. Tacoma Catholic Jack Connelly created a legal entity, Domus Dei Porta Coeli LLC, to buy the Holy Rosary property. Working with fundraisers for Save Tacoma's Landmark Church, he wants to purchase the property, fix up the church and eventually convert the surrounding property into a Catholic cultural center. The church would still serve as a place of worship in this plan, but it wouldn't have a dedicated priest or weekly services. The surrounding property could include gardens with Catholic statuary designed for contemplation. The parish, called the Parish of Saint John Paul XXII, and the Archbishop in Seattle didn't go for it, saying the offer wasn't workable. Connelly believes that the Archdiocese of Seattle wants to get more money for the property by making it possible to raze the church, which Etienne's decree does. He also thinks that strategy isn't going to make as much money as the Catholic leadership might hope. It costs money to raze a church. For its part, the Archdiocese has pointed to the millions of dollars it would take to restore the church. They estimate a price tag of $17 million or more. Archdiocese chief communications officer Helen McClenahan emphasized that the decision came from the parish in Tacoma, and not as a top-down order from leadership in Seattle. That decision came after engagement with the community, including Connelly's group, and a lot of 'prayer and discernment,' she added. While the church is historic, Catholics in Tacoma are part of the present. As much as it might be a beautiful part of the skyline, it's also supposed to serve the needs of the parish, McClenahan said, and that's no longer possible. Connelly disputes the Archdiocese's stance. The $17 million price estimate includes a list of nice-to-have things that aren't related to getting the building up to code, he said. For example, a new HVAC system would be nice, but he's willing to put up with the archaic boiler system if it means saving the church. Without knowing all of the many (many) details of the property's condition and what the law requires, it's hard to say whether Connelly and his cohorts have a viable plan. It is clear that many Tacomans want to keep the church intact. Catholics see it not only as a holy place where they've celebrated first communions, weddings and funerals, but as a way to attract people to their faith. But what that would look like, and the path to making it happen, is anything but clear.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New flag rules used for Transgender Day of Visibility celebrations in Tacoma, WA
The Brief A recent resolution changes the way flags are permitted to fly in Tacoma. For Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, the city will fly commemorative flags at some city-owned locations. There have been recent controversies over flag use by city governments in Washington. The flags were provided to the city by community partners at no cost. TACOMA, Wash. - It was a historic day in Tacoma as the city celebrated Transgender Day of Visibility with commemorative flag raisings. "For the past few years, the City of Tacoma has proudly raised the Transgender Pride flag over City Hall, and this year, we take an even stronger step forward," said Mayor Victoria Woodards. In compliance with a new flag policy in the city, Monday will mark the first time the Transgender Pride flag will fly above the Tacoma Dome, Tacoma Police Department Headquarters, Tacoma Fire Department Headquarters, and Tacoma Municipal Building. The backstory Resolution No. 41642 was passed by the city earlier this month to clarify rules for flying "commemorative flags" at official buildings. It requires the City Manager to establish and implement a "clear and consistent process" for displaying the flags. While federal and state laws provide established protocols for flying the United States, Washington State, and the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action ("POW/MIA") flags, others have been up for debate--recently causing controversy in Newcastle, Washington. City council members have now created policies for flying all other flags. These are deemed "commemorative." According to the Tacoma City Council, a "Commemorative Flag" refers to a flag that is "associated with a specific event, cause, theme, or group of people that the City Council chooses to honor, recognize, or commemorate consistent with the City's official policies, priorities and sentiments, and does not include advertising media, such as banners." These flags will need to be approved in advance by the city council, either by a motion or resolution. There, it will be determined if the proposed flags are determined to communicate "messages that reflect the viewpoint and values of the City of Tacoma as a government and the City Council as a governing body," according to the city's Commemorative Flag Policy. The following flags are pre-approved to be raised at city buildings: The Progress Pride flag The Trans Pride flag The Juneteenth flag Orange gun violence awareness flag What they're saying "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," read the City of Tacoma announcement, in part. "Today, the City of Tacoma made it clear Tacoma stands with the transgender community. To see the Transgender Pride flag on top of the Tacoma Dome, with our mountain looking down upon it, reminded me exactly why I stay visible today and always," said Oliver Webb, Executive Director of the Diversity Alliance of the Puget Sound. Local perspective As stated in Resolution 41642, the reason for creating this policy, and pre-approving the above flags was to remain in line with the city's culture. "Tacoma is an inclusive, welcoming city, that strives to build belief and trust with all people in our community…the selection and display of commemorative flags on city facilities communicates messages that reflect the viewpoint and values of the City as a government and the City Council as a governing body…providing a clear process when honoring our diverse communities when raising commemorative flags further strengthens trust in public institutions in the City." The Source Information for this article comes from the City of Tacoma. Top aide for WA Gov. Ferguson resigns over workplace complaints, report Seattle police arrest man accused of more than 20 bank robberies Here's where Seattle renters are relocating Seattle's Capitol Hill Block Party announces 2025 lineup, changes to event Could Bryan Kohberger's autism defense for capital murder set a precedent? To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
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.
