John Hines - District 1 February 2023

Good Morning,

While I enjoy every season in Tacoma, I am looking forward to the end of winter and the coming of spring to the City of Destiny. I think our city looks its best with daffodils, cherry blossoms, and set against a backdrop of sunsets after 6 PM.  As we move forward into 2023, I remain optimistic about the direction and the progress we have made as a community, and I am excited to share some of that with you this month.  

For those who like to listen to podcasts, I was a guest this past month on Citizen Tacoma to talk about District 1. We discussed the Proctor Neighborhood Planning Project, the Cushman Adams Substation, the tiny home village at 6^th and Orchard, and my favorite place to get donuts in our district. It was great to have a chance to answer questions about all that I have been working on and what the City has planned for our district in 2023. 

Catching Up with Council Member Hines

Council Workshop

This past month, we held our annual workshop to set our priorities for 2023. While there is still much work to be done to continue addressing some of the complex challenges we face around key issues like housing, homelessness and community safety, let us reflect on the progress we have made thus far.

From some of the encouraging trends we’ve seen around (more on this later in the newsletter), we are continuing to make good progress on our efforts to improve community safety. And, in our efforts to address the needs of our unhoused neighbors, we connected more than 3,100 individuals to the services they need.

I am also excited about the millions of dollars in funding we approved in our latest budget for streets and sidewalks, supporting businesses in recovery from the pandemic, and addressing litter and graffiti.

While I am proud of the work we have done since I have joined the City Council, as I have said before, there is still much work to be done. As I shared with my esteemed Council colleagues during our workshop, I want us to maintain the momentum we’ve generated thus far and continue to focus on ensuring our city is safe, our streets and sidewalks are well maintained, and our businesses are thriving.

I am sure that many of you have your own perspectives on what the Council should prioritize this year. Please feel free to reach out to me, as I am always happy to hear from you and work with you to support our community priorities.

Tacoma Violent Crime Reduction Plan Update

At our February 14 Study Session, the Council received an update on the Violent Crime Reduction Plan. Crimes, especially violent crimes, continue to be the topic of most of my conversations with many of you and, as I’ve shared before, lowering rates of crime continues to be one of my top priorities.

I am cautiously optimistic to see that violent crime levels continue to flatten since a spike we saw in late 2021. Across all treated locations during Period 2, average monthly violent crime incidents fell 36 percent compared to the 12 months prior to implementation in July. Compared with the same period in 2021, violent crime levels were down 19 percent in treated locations. I want to commend our police officers for their hard work and dedication. While I am proud of the progress we have made in this area, I know there are many in our community who still do not feel safe. And, like many in our community, I am not satisfied with the level of crime that still exists in our city. Looking forward to the year ahead, I know we need to continue to bring down crime levels and make sure everyone feels safe.

Phases Two and Three will center on places and people, first taking a location-based approach, and following up with an offender-based approach. Phase Two starts soon. It will leverage partnerships and layers on top of our efforts in Phase One to change the conditions that make crime more likely to occur. Changes might include cleaning up areas of blight, or fixing shattered glass; neighborhood watches; community programs or services; and yes, stationing visible patrol cars at strategic times and locations as in Phase One.

Phase Three layers an offender-based approach on top of Phases One and Two, letting us dig deeper into the root causes of violent crime. We’ll build on the great work happening in the City’s Youth and Young Adult Violence Reduction Program, and work with community partners to find and expand resources for offenders who want an off-ramp from the cycle of violence. We will also continue to attract and retain our police officers to address an ongoing nationwide staffing shortage. Our officer recruitment program – Reflect and Protect – continues to be key to our ability to address community needs.

While Tacoma continues to have its challenges with crime, I am optimistic that we are headed in the right direction and have the right people leading our efforts.  As your Council Member, I will continue to work hard to ensure Tacoma remains a great place where people want to buy a home, start a business, and raise a family.

Safe Streets Board

On a related note, I was recently appointed the President of the Board of Directors of Safe Streets as the board works to identify a permanent president. As frequent readers of the newsletter know, I began my path in public service as an engaged community member as part of Safe Streets’ Youth Leading Change at Lincoln High School. While styles have changed, my commitment to community-led safety efforts has never wavered. I am honored to serve and lead in this important organization during such a critical time for community safety in Tacoma.

Scenes From the City of Destiny

Visit to Forging Path Emergency Mitigation Site

This past month, I visited the new emergency mitigation site, Forging Path, on 35^th and Pacific Avenue. This site serves more than 50 individuals and provides onsite case management and employment services. As we continue to help people move out of encampments and into shelters and housing, it was critical to see firsthand how a site like Forging Path fits into that system.

Forging Path is also an example of how Second Amended Substitute Ordinance 28831, which prohibits camping within a 10-block radius around temporary shelters in Tacoma, can work. Prior to opening, there was a large encampment nearby and, as Forging Path opened, we saw many residents of that encampment move into the mitigation site.

As I discussed last year, there is a need to balance addressing the health and safety impacts of encampments while providing different settings for people to transition from our streets to shelter and housing.  From the tiny home village by my house at 6^th and Orchard to places like Forging Path, I am proud of the steps the City is taking to address homelessness. Again, there is much more to be done, but I am confident we are taking positive steps in the right direction.

Asia Pacific New Year Celebration Opening Ceremony

One of my family’s favorite events is the Annual Asia Pacific New Year Celebration. This year, we joined hundreds of community members at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall for the opening ceremony. My children always enjoy the performances and the chance to experience community-based arts and cultural exhibitions to celebrate the cultures of Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Our city has always had a strong and vibrant Asian and Pacific Islander community. Growing up in Tacoma, I have valued all the opportunities to learn and experience so many distinct and diverse cultures. It is something that I am proud to share with my children as they grow to become responsible global citizens. If you were not there this year, you can learn more about the Asia Pacific Cultural Center here and check out one of their many events in 2023!