December Update from your District 2 Council Member
City of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 12/22/2022 01:04 PM PST
Dear District 2 residents,
We are just finishing up my favorite season of the year, fall. We are now entering what is usually our wettest part of the year, winter. As it gets darker earlier, it is enjoyable to see businesses and homes putting up lights. In other countries like Iceland, lights remain up before and after the winter solstice. I like to think that the lights I put on my outside trees will brighten the dark days of winter until spring arrives.
Sincerely, Sarah Rumbaugh Council Member | District 2
I was happy to attend the annual tree lighting and visit with many people who were out to hear the music from local artists and stand and have their photo taken with characters from the Nutcracker, performed by the Tacoma City Ballet. My daughter Gabi was a bon-bon for years and I have attended many performances from the Tacoma City Ballet.
Standing with the Mouse King from the Tacoma City Ballet Nutcracker during the Annual Tree Lighting Event.
This month I supported a resolution directing the City Manager to have the City of Tacoma’s Office of Equity and Human Rights adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism for the City of Tacoma. With the uptick in antisemitic events in our country, this is a first step in addressing this violence. The Office of Equity and Human Rights can use this definition as a tool to identify and combat antisemitism. Here is the language in the resolution.
I took a tour of The Tacoma Recycle Center (TRC) recently with Council Member Joe Bushnell, District 5. We learned a lot about how Tacoma is providing many different opportunities for our community to recycle other items that aren’t necessarily allowed in our curbside containers. The winter 2022 edition of which should’ve reached residential solid waste customers’ mailboxes, is full of information about the Tacoma Recycle Center. EnviroTalk is the Environmental Services Department’s quarterly newsletter that showcases the environment and opportunities to learn more about how the City is being greener. Since it is the holidays, I wanted to pull out a few items that might be helpful to you in the next few weeks.
The Tacoma Recycle Center collects plastic bags, the types that are clean and stretchy, packaging such as bubble wrap, and Styrofoam blocks which break into pieces easily, as well as polyethylene foam blocks which are squishy, glossy, and very flexible.
Got holiday lights that don’t work anymore? You can recycle those at the Recycling Center year-round. If lights are part of a decoration, they must be removed and recycled separately.
The Recycle Center collects glass. There are drop-off locations around Tacoma, but feel free to drop your class at the Recycle Center as well.
Large plastic containers that may have included detergent are recyclable at the Recycle Center if they are cleaned out before dropping them off.
Recycle your Christmas tree (unflocked with no decorations) at the Recycle Center. You can drop it off from December 26 – January 15.
Holiday wrapping paper & gift bags can NOT be recycled this year in Tacoma. Exception: Brown paper and shipping paper can be recycled.
The TRC is located at the Tacoma Recovery and Transfer Center (3510 S. Mullen St.) and is open to residents of Tacoma and Pierce County seven days per week, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit cityoftacoma.org/recycle or call (253) 502-2100.
Councilmember Joe Bushnell, Andrew Torres, City of Tacoma Solid Waste Dept., and myself at the Recycle and Transfer Center.
Holiday lights that are ready for recycling.
Did you know – Some leftover paint can be recycled through the PaintCare program. Washington state is part of a paint stewardship law, and we operate recycling programs on behalf of paint manufacturers. Please read more here at paintcare.org. Once you visit the site and put in Washington, put in your zip code to find participating PaintCare sites where they accept up to 5 gallons per visit.
I was on Cityline –Find out what my priorities are for the coming year. While I was only asked to name three, I hope to support and work on several other issues that are impacting residents here in Tacoma. Send me your concerns at srumbaugh@cityoftacoma.org.
After a hiatus of a few years, the MetroParks Norpoint Classic 5k run (previously the Turkey Trot in NE Tacoma) is back with a new and improved course. I was happy to run/walk this with my family, as is our annual tradition. If you are looking for a safe and hilly run, I suggest trying out this run next year. It is held on Thanksgiving Day and starts at the Center at Norpoint in NE Tacoma.
My family: (from left) Miri my daughter and her husband Matt, Gabi my daughter, myself, Stan my husband, and Cousin Max who was visiting with his parents from Montreal, Canada.
Thank you for being with me during my first year on the council. I appreciate your interest in what is happening in our city. While I provide a newsletter as a way to reach out, I am also on social media. Find my personal Facebook page and Instagram account at @cmsarahrumbaugh. I do not respond to Council-related questions there so remember you can reach me at srumbaugh@cityoftacoma.org for official city business. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
