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Still thankful

We’ve lost so much this year. Our young people have lost their schools, we’ve lost live music and sporting events, and for now we’ve even lost the ability to enjoy a meal in a restaurant. Worse than that, of course, are the lives lost. ...
Proud warriors

Photo by Russell Albert Daniels/American Indian Magazine. The 2002 movie “Windtalkers,” starring Nicolas Cage and Adam Beach, highlighted the unique contributions made by Navajo code talkers during the Battle for Saipan in World War II. ...
Four more years

Running for elective office is never easy. Running for elective office while in the throes of a once-in-a-century pandemic is something else altogether. My hat is off to everyone who put themselves out there and campaigned for office. Win or lose,...
Tacoma Farmers Market: Shop local this holiday season

The holiday season is fast approaching and this year I encourage you to double-down on efforts to shop local and support Pierce County business. One way you can do that through visiting the Tacoma Farmers Market, which has four markets planned...
Moving criminal justice forward

I discussed my proposed supplemental budget with the Council yesterday and will formally submit it to them next week. Simply put, I think with it we are breaking new ground. Not only is it the first mid-biennial budget ever in the County, but, more...
Hope, healing and connection for women in Pierce County

October was National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so I want to take a few minutes to introduce you to a special program here in Pierce County, Catherine Place. Catherine Place operates quietly from Tacoma’s Hilltop as an “oasis for women.” It...
Tricks and treats

Like much of 2020, Halloween won’t look the same as it has in the past. For example, taking kids trick or treating in the neighborhood is problematic and, despite perfect Saturday night timing, parties for...
Wearing a mask does not mean I ‘live in fear’

It’s no secret, we’re seeing a third surge in positive covid cases in Pierce County. Recent case counts continue to follow an upward trajectory, erasing the efforts we put forward earlier this year to reduce the transmission of this deadly virus....
Shining stars

The evening when we honor our outstanding employees is one of my favorite nights of the year. The Employee Incentive and Recognition (EI&R) reception gives us a...
Whole lot of saving going on

Amazon Prime Day shoppers weren’t the only ones saving money recently. Thanks to some hard work, smart timing and favorable markets, we have saved our sewer ratepayers nearly $25 million! Gary Robinson and Wolf Opitz of the Finance department saw...
Vote.

Yes, it is that time of year. With all the yard signs, mailings and political ads flooding our streets, mailboxes and minds we find ourselves in systems overload. My husband and I have been in elected office for several years and yet we still refer...
Getting in SSHAP

For more than a year, a group of mayors and other elected officials have been meeting to create regional solutions to the challenge of affordable housing. The group, co-chaired by Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards,...
Looking forward to NEO

If you are a fan of the science fiction thriller The Matrix, you might think when I mention NEO I am referring to the protagonist played in the movie by Keanu Reeves. While I enjoyed the film, both the cinematography and plot, NEO on my calendar does...
And justice for all

…with liberty and justice for all. As a kid I repeated the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in school. Whether during my service on the Puyallup School Board or in the Legislature, I recited the Pledge with sincerity at the start of each session...
COVID-19 impacts on behavioral health

A few years ago, the County Council established the Mobile Community Intervention Response Team to address a high number of calls to 911 that needed assistance, but not by traditional first responders like law enforcement or fire and rescue...
Now they’ve done it

The year 2020 has thrown a lot at us. We started out with mudslides, shifted into a pandemic and we’re still recovering from last week’s wildfires. You may be asking, what could possibly happen, next? Well, sadly, this seemingly doomed calendar year...
Days to remember

Sometimes history focuses on the losses, like the number of buildings destroyed, the financial toll of a tragedy, and, most importantly, the lives lost. And while it is important to take in the gravity of these situations, it’s equally important to...
Guest blog: Caring for our seniors

Hello, from Aging and Disability Resources (ADR). I appreciate Heather giving me this opportunity to highlight the great work our team is doing. For some background, ADR is designated as the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for Pierce County. We are...
The power and importance of education

I don’t think I could believe more strongly in education. My life has been shaped by my education, from Mr. Dempsey’s 7th Grade class at Curtis Junior High to the Leadership Class at the U.S. Naval Academy, and from Construction Law classes at the...
Are you hungry?

COVID-19 has created terrible new problems and worsened some that we’ve already had in our community. One of the areas hardest hit over the last few months is the network of food support for those who are struggling to feed themselves and their...