City of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 08/18/2020 09:30 AM PDT
We’re now five months into adapting to the global pandemic. This has radically shifted our work and home lives. It has also left many of us with questions about the future of our jobs, how our children will receive their education, and what we can do to protect the health of those we love most. So much remains uncertain but, as your City Council Member, I continue working every day to find ways the City can help each of us be resilient and work together to overcome COVID-19.
Most City services are up and running. I am thankful for every employee showing up each day in service to the residents and businesses who rely on their work. Please continue to report your concerns to City staff by using Tacoma FIRST 311 and City staff will follow up.
Sincerely,
Catherine Ushka Council Member, City of Tacoma - District 4
We continue to see that COVID-19 affects every geographic area of our community, all age groups and all ethnic groups. In July, Pierce County experienced one of the highest increases in COVID-19 cases compared to other counties. Pierce County hospitals reported a higher percent of beds used for COVID-19 patients compared to other counties.
The good news is we can all be a part of the solution. We need to stop the spread of COVID-19. If you are not doing it already, wear a face covering. You can also:
Stay close to home.
Wear a mask when you leave home. No shirt, no shoes, no mask? No service.
Limit your interactions to a small circle of friends and family.
Keep gatherings small, and outside if possible where fresh air circulates and more physical distancing space is available. Stay 6 feet apart from others.
Get tested for COVID-19 if you are experiencing symptoms or have participated in any large gatherings.
Wash your hands, cover your cough, and keep up your best hygiene and sanitation.
When I wear a mask, I’m protecting you. When you wear a mask, you’re protecting me. Love your neighbor. Wear a mask.
In June 2020, the Tacoma City Council passed Resolution 40622. This resolution formally acknowledges that the City of Tacoma’s existing systems have not adequately served the needs of everyone in our community and, in particular, have not adequately served the needs of Black community members and other community members of color.
It affirms the City of Tacoma’s commitment to improving existing systems for all community members, with the first stated priority being local policing. It also requires specific directions for the City Manager to follow.
As a community, and as a nation, we are living in historic times. One often hears that "transformation" is needed. But what does that really mean? At the City of Tacoma, when we say that, we are talking about "systemic transformation".
For us, that means comprehensive change that fundamentally enhances and radically re-imagines the way we operate as an organization and, ultimately, the way we serve you.
Right now, we are working to analyze all aspects of our organization. Where there are interlocking, interrelated moving components, we are looking at how they work independently and in conjunction with one another. Where additional information is needed, we are conducting the research necessary to obtain that information.
Learn more about this transformation and review weekly updates on our website at cityoftacoma.org/transform
The City of Tacoma has established an emergency micro-shelters site at 623 E. 60th Street to allow for the relocation of the existing micro-shelter site (802 Martin Luther King Jr. Way) and expansion of capacity to serve persons experiencing homelessness.
Residents transferred to E. 60th and McKinley on July 23. As of the end of July, there were 24 residents. We expect to have full site occupancy this month. Individuals experiencing homelessness will be referred to the site through the Homeless Outreach Team and City-funded homelessness service providers.
The site provides up to 50 micro-shelters and no more than 65 individuals experiencing homelessness. The site will provide basic human amenities, including toilets, showers, laundry, garbage services, handwashing stations and drinking water. The property will be fenced and have 24-hour security, with on-site management provided by a contracted service provider with expertise in operating temporary shelter sites.
The City hosted a virtual town hall on June 4, 2020 to address community questions and concerns. A recording of that town hall is available at cityoftacoma.org/authorizedencampments.
Want to give input? The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) has established a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that will address questions and concerns, provide advisory input, and monitor the success of the site and residents. Members of the CAC will include nearby neighborhood stakeholders, including immediate neighbors, community, faith and educational leaders, businesses, service providers and others. The CAC will meet monthly and meeting minutes will be publicly posted. If interested, have a question, or wish to receive an application, please contact Josh Castle with LIHI at josh.castle@lihi.org or (206) 334-0508.
The TEMS site has a donation wish list! Please bring all donations directly to the site located at: 623 East 60th St., Tacoma, Washington 98404. For questions, please call (425) 295-5421.
Item Donations Needed:
Large and medium gloves
Lysol cleaner
Bleach
2 Rubbermaid storage sheds 7’ by 7’
Clean and new or good condition bedding/sheets/pillows
The Pipeline trail is a beautiful and family-friendly resource in East Tacoma. Just over a year ago, the City opened Phase 2 of this trail, a 2.4-mile contiguous non-motorized facility starting at Pipeline Road at East 48th Street and ending at the East 'D' Street Bridge I-5 overpass. With more people staying at and close to home, this trail has become a vibrant resource for our community to share while social distancing. I bike along the trail several times a week, and love to see my neighbors along the way!
I want to thank neighbors who called me to report 14 trees dug up along the trail south of 64th Street. I personally rode out to this area to take pictures of the broken and missing trees so I could talk to City staff about restoration. City staff will work through the logistics of securing this area and restoring the trees later this year. If you notice any other damage along this or other trails, please report it to Tacoma FIRST 311.
I encourage you and your family to safely explore the outdoors in Tacoma, including visiting the Pipeline Trail!
It is my honor to join the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Legislative Priorities Committee.
The AWC was established in 1933 with the idea that Washington state is only as strong as its cities and towns. It is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that engages Washington state’s elected officials and decision-makers on issues its 281 cities and towns have committed to working on more broadly together, for the broadest possible impact.
As I work and build coalitions with these other cities and towns to advance Tacoma’s interests at the local and state levels, my focus remains the same: passionately advocating for YOU.
Many residents and businesses across Tacoma have taken the time to share their thoughts on a variety of issues with me and my City Council colleagues. We are grateful for your continued engagement and you can be assured that I will use the information I have gathered to help develop AWC’s legislative priorities for Washington state’s 2021 legislative session.
