City of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 08/09/2024 10:00 AM PDT
Hello Tacoma!
I hope it has been a wonderful summer so far for you and your family! The Hines family had a great July with some camping, hiking, and soccer tournaments filling many of our weekends. I was also able to live out one of my dreams by throwing the first pitch at the Rainiers game on July 3. I was happy that I threw a strike and did not embarrass District 1!
Also, this past month, the City Council completed its part of the City Charter Review process and sent six proposed amendments to the November ballot. The Tacoma City Charter is our city's constitution, and it is reviewed every ten years. All changes to our City Charter require a vote of the people and the six proposed amendments will be on the November 5 general election ballot.
I encourage you to check out the City’s Charter Review website to learn more about the Charter Review Committee and the proposed amendments that are headed to the ballot in November.
A Look Back at My Walk Across Tacoma
This past month, I spent seven days walking across Tacoma, covering almost 200,000 steps and nearly 70 miles. I grew up in Tacoma and I have lived in all parts of our city, but this walk provided a great opportunity see even more of our neighborhoods with my own eyes—and on my own two feet.
I walked through our parks, visited libraries, schools and local businesses, and spoke with countless residents along the way. It was a great experience, not just because of the places I saw, but also because of the many people I met and those who joined me for parts of each day. I heard a lot about what concerns people have in our city, but also about the many things they love about our community.
People that I met shared concerns about crime, homelessness, the high cost of housing, and their worries for young people and seniors. I also heard deeply personal stories about the struggles some of our residents and small businesses have faced during and since the pandemic. Many of the conversations echoed topics we’ve discussed in past newsletters and at Coffee Chats. Thanks to everyone who came out to Wheelock Library for the Coffee Chat on July 20!
Some of the concerns that people raised during our conversations don’t have easy answers. The root causes are often part of regional or national issues, and they require time and significant resources to address. I was very honest with people about what we could do in the short term and what it would take to achieve longer-term solutions. I’m always impressed by how much people in our city appreciate honesty and directness, and I did my best to answer questions candidly. I recognize the many significant issues we need to tackle, and while it’s not going to be easy, I’m grateful for the understanding and constructive discussions I had during this walk across our city.
I was also heartened by the fact that, despite the challenges, just about everyone talked about how much they love Tacoma. They spoke about fun times on their blocks, beloved neighbors, favorite parks and great small businesses. Like me, they recognize there is more work to be done, but they also expressed hope for the future and a commitment to getting involved in helping our community. This left me inspired and even more committed to serving Tacoma.
One thing that stood out during my walk was how difficult it can be to get from one place to another on foot. We have many sidewalks in need of repair, some that are missing altogether, and intersections that are inhospitable to pedestrians. There are also too many stretches where you have to walk in the sun with no tree cover. While we must maintain our roads, this walk was a great reminder that we also need to think about how people can safely walk or roll to the places they need to go. I spoke with many residents who would love to walk to the store, library, schools, or parks, but there are just too many barriers. I'm looking forward to digging into more ideas about how we build out our city's infrastructure to create safe and convenient travel options!
Another item that became apparent is the need for more public gathering spaces and opportunities for community building. During discussions about neighborhood planning and participatory budgeting, the City Council frequently hears about how people are longing for more spaces to connect with others. It was abundantly clear as I walked that there aren’t enough places for people to gather. We have great public art installations, which I made it a point to visit along the way, and we’re slowly working toward creating more of these spaces. But we need more areas where people can come together, not just for collaboration, but to simply be with one another. One of the main goals of this walk was to connect with people in their neighborhoods and along the streets, and it underscored the importance of creating more spaces to foster community interaction.
Community building isn’tjust about having fun and enjoying your neighbors, though it certainly can be. It’s also about building resiliency within our neighborhoods—supporting them as they step up to help address the issues they face. I believe that by building community capital—the trust people have in each other and their willingness to solve problems together—we can effectively address many of our challenges. When we think about what makes a neighborhood feel safe, welcoming, and full of opportunities, we know that community building plays a crucial role. It brings neighbors together to collectively address these bigger issues.
Throughout this walk, I heard from many people whose families have been in Tacoma for generations and hope to remain for many more. Their dedication and hard work in building up their neighborhoods left me feeling hopeful. But I also feel a deep sense of responsibility—our city needs to do more to support our residents. What we’ve done so far is good, but there is so much more to do.
As we look ahead to the upcoming months, the City Council will be diving into budget season, focusing on how to allocate funds for our city over the next two years. The walk provided me some clear areas for focus:
We need to continue to prioritize expanding our sidewalk network and addressing ADA compliance to ensure our city is accessible to everyone.
We need to increase tree planting in public spaces and ensuring they are maintained so they can thrive and grow to maturity.
We need to further support open streets projects, public spaces, and public art initiatives to support community building and access to beauty for all residents.
These topics go hand in hand with further investments in public safety, housing, and small business support as all of these efforts tie back to the goal of growing and building a community where people feel comfortable getting out, moving around, and enjoying their neighborhoods.
I didn't visit a single neighborhood where people didn't feel their area was unique and deserving of more support, and I know that every neighborhood deserves access to the resources and support that continue to make them special.
While the problems we face as a city are complex, the solutions often start with simple steps—right outside our doors, on our streets, and with the people in our neighborhoods. By focusing on local issues that people can point to, we can build our city block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood, into a community we all believe in.
I encourage you—if you haven’t done so lately—step outside, walk around, and engage with the people nearby. It will open your eyes to all that needs to be done, but also to all that we have to build on. The time to start that work is now.
Only in Tacoma would you randomly run into the incredible cast of the Wizard of Oz while out for a walk!
I had a great time learning about the new aquarium at Point Defiance. Such a fun place to visit with young people who want to learn more about our underwater wildlife!
Allen C. Mason loved Tacoma and was one of the city's biggest promoters. It is always fun to shake his hand for a little bit of luck!
We have an amazing collection of murals in our city painted by incredible artists. Check out the City's mural roster if you are interested in hiring an artist for one of your projects!
Please be sure to check out cityoftacoma.org for City updates and resources and, as always, please feel free to share your thoughts and concerns with me directly at john.hines@cityoftacoma.org. You can also call me at (253) 312-5620 if you have questions.
I invite you to tune in to the City Council’s Study Session or Council meetings every week on Tuesdays via TV Tacoma, Facebook Live, or Zoom. Access information is available at cityoftacoma.org/councilmeetings.
Also, if you enjoy getting this newsletter and regular updates from me, please feel free to share it with others who you think might find it valuable and encourage them to subscribe.
