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When Diversity Matters Most. The Strength Lies In Differences, Not In Similarities

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Tell us about flooding or standing water in your neighborhood or near your workplace 

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The information you share will help us understand where the City’s wastewater and stormwater systems may not be working like they should. A more complete list of problem areas means we can plan better future solutions.

We’re studying flooding in the wastewater and stormwater systems

When flooding happens, it could mean that the system is overwhelmed somewhere else. Problems could include anything from pipes under residential streets being too small, to not having enough storage during heavy rain storms. We need to look at neighborhoods citywide to learn more about where and when flooding occurs and what the causes may be before we turn to solutions.

We want to include your stories and experiences to help us get it right. We’re looking at the big picture and the long-term. Challenges you help us identify today will be used to build our future plans.

How can you help keep the system moving?

We maintain the shared infrastructure to keep toilets flushing, and our neighborhoods free from flooding. “Shared infrastructure” means we all use the same system of pipes, so what you put down your drain could have impacts at your house or further down for your neighbors. Click on the links below to learn more about how you can do your part to help keep the system at its best:

 

The Seattle Planning Commission Seeks New Commissioners

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The City of Seattle is looking for candidates to serve on the Seattle Planning Commission beginning in April 2019. Planning Commission members are appointed by the Mayor or the City Council and may serve up to two consecutive, three-year terms. Three positions will be open in April; two of which are City Council appointments, one of which is a Mayoral appointment. All appointments are subject to full City Council approval. The City is committed to promoting diversity in the City’s boards and commissions. Persons of color, women, persons with disabilities, and sexual minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Commissioners must reside in Seattle and serve without compensation.

The commission members advise the Mayor, City Council, and City departments on citywide planning goals, policies, and plans and provide them with independent and objective advice on land use, zoning, transportation and housing issues.

State will expand unemployment benefits to federal employees working full-time for no pay

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Gov. Jay Inslee and Employment Security Department Commissioner Suzi LeVine meet with businesses and organizations who are offering assistance to federal workers during the shutdown, Jan. 24, 2019. (Office of the Governor photo)

Gov. Jay Inslee announced today that Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) is expanding unemployment benefits to federal workers who, since the partial shutdown began, were deemed “essential” and were directed to work full-time without pay. This includes TSA agents, Coast Guard personnel, border patrol agents, food safety inspectors, FBI agents, and many others.

Since the partial shutdown began, only those federal workers who were furloughed and not working were eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits. Inslee said this is an inexcusable situation that state leaders should not accept.

“There are nearly 16,000 Washingtonians who are about to lose a second paycheck because of this record-long federal shutdown,” Inslee said. “Thousands of those Washington-based federal workers are being told they must work anyway, and therefore have no option but to hope this shutdown ends. It is wholly unacceptable, and Washington state will not stand by while our public servants work day after day while struggling to make ends meet. We have got to prioritize people over politics and end this shutdown.

“It is unconscionable that the president is turning these public servants into his political pawns. We will take care of Washingtonians, even if the president won’t.”

If you are an impacted federal worker, you can file your claim now by going to the ESD website.

ESD Commissioner Suzi LeVine said their first preference would be an immediate end to the prolonged and painful shutdown, followed by federal protection for the workers.

“Absent movement on any of these options, we’re taking action to protect those workers who are forced to work with no paycheck, no safety net and no ability to find alternative work during this time,” LeVine said. “It’s the compassionate and responsible thing to do.”

Numerous businesses are also stepping in to provide financial relief to federal workers impacted by the shutdown. Inslee and LeVine hosted a roundtable Thursday with several business leaders who detailed their efforts to help struggling workers who have gone weeks without pay. The business leaders came from varied industries such as banking, telecom, utilities and health care.

“It’s impressive to see so many businesses and organizations stepping up to help in so many ways, big and small,” Inslee said. “Companies are deferring payments or waiving fees, providing no-interest loans and finding other creative ways to help workers stay afloat during this difficult time.”

Francine Artis said Tacoma Public Utilities is here to help.

Gov. Jay Inslee hears from business and organizations who are helping federal workers during the shutdown, Jan. 24, 2019. (Office of the Governor photo)

“Tacoma Public Utilities remains committed to providing customers in need with multiple assistance options to help them pay their utility bills and make their homes more efficient,” said Artis, TPU’s Customer Solutions Manager. “The partial federal government shutdown is affecting many in our community, and TPU wants to assist affected customers during this difficult time. Customers seeking assistance with their bill can call 253–502–8600.”

Rod Hochman of Providence St. Joseph Health said the organization provides assistance and charity care in times of financial hardship. But that for affected federal workers, they are also offering a grace period to pay out-of-pocket medical costs and are suspending collection activities on outstanding balances.

“The situation is a painful reminder of how quickly a sudden loss of income can render someone vulnerable,” said Hochman, president and CEO of Providence St. Joseph Health. “We are also encouraging as many PSJH caregivers as possible to volunteer for service activities to help meet immediate needs for affected families, such as food banks and diaper drives. Together, we hope to offer some measure of relief in this time of need.”

Randy King, a former federal employee who worked for 15 years as deputy superintendent and superintendent of Mt. Rainier National Park, also participated in the roundtable. He said there’s no doubt access to unemployment benefits and support from businesses will help prevent many workers from experiencing incredibly difficult financial hardship.

Kent, a 29-year veteran of government service, said, “ A number of coworkers in my office have not reported to work, claiming financial hardship, and this would go a long way to easing their burden.”

Inslee’s office hosts a resource page for impacted federal workers. The page includes information about unemployment benefits, as well as the support options offered by the companies he and LeVine met with today.

The governor also released an updated document detailing some of the shutdown’s most significant impacts to Washington state programs and services. You can find the list here.

Environment Washington Unveils Campaign Targeting 100 Percent Statewide Clean Electricity for Washington State

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Part of Nine state campaign for 100 percent clean energy

Environment Washington announced a major initiative today to convince state leaders to commit to 100 percent clean, renewable electricity. Environment Washington’s efforts are part of Environment America’s broader 100% Renewable campaign to boost clean energy bills in at least nine states: Washington, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, and New Mexico.

“Washington State has both the capacity and will to be a nationwide leader on 100 percent clean, renewable energy,” said Bruce Speight, Environment Washington Executive Director. “With other states and scores of cities and corporations committing to cleaner, healthier futures for our kids and our planet, Washington State has an obligation to take a strong, clear position.”

This campaign comes following the key role Environment California, a sister organization to Environment Washington, played in convincing the Golden State to commit to 100 percent clean electricity generation by 2045. Now, other states are poised to emulate the renewable energy pioneers:  California and Hawaii.

Environment Washington is pushing a bill that would eliminate coal on the grid by 2025, require all utilities to have a resource mix that is 80 percent clean by 2030, and ensure all electricity in Washington state is carbon-free. Gov. Jay Inslee requested the bill, and its prime sponsors are state Sen. Reuven Carlyle in the Senate and state Rep. Gael Tarleton in the House.

“Considering the level of climate chaos already unleashed at 1°C warming, from ravaging wildfires to devastating storms, we must move as rapidly as possible to reduce emissions,” said Speight. “What we do in the next few years, not in 20 years, is what matters.  That’s why strong short-term targets are critical to making this bill meaningful.  At the very least, we need to ensure that the provisions to eliminate coal on the grid by 2025 and to require utilities to be 80% percent clean by 2030 remain in the bill, and if anything, that they are strengthened not weakened.”

The renewable revolution isn’t only happening at the state level. Growing awareness of the environmental impacts of our energy use, coupled with rapid advances in technology and declining costs, has made renewable energy the “go-to” option for many communities and businesses. One hundred U.S. cities, led by a mix of Republican and Democratic mayors, have pledged to transition their power sources to 100 percent renewable energy. In addition, 131 major companies, including Bank of America, Walmart and Anheuser-Busch, have pledged to power their entire operations with renewable energy.

“Renewable energy technologies are gaining momentum because they’re pollution-free — which means they’re healthier for both us and the earth,” said Rob Sargent, Environment America’s Clean Energy Program Director. “It should be a no-brainer for other states to follow Hawaii and California’s lead. But we have to convince states to act as soon as possible.”

Make your creative project happen

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4Culture, King County’s cultural funding agency, is excited to announce their annual
grant program that supports projects for individuals and groups working in the arts,
heritage and preservation.
Here are some examples, saxophonist Gary Hammon explored the Central District’s music
history through storytelling and filmmaker Patricia Boiko recorded the stories of Women of
Color associated with the Seattle Black Panther movement.

Last year, the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation hired a consultant to document Latino heritage sites for the website Revisiting Washington.
There will be workshops in January and February to ensure there is support every step
of the way. 4Culture is very interested in encouraging new applicants and working with as many
people as possible producing arts and culture in King County.

The deadline to apply is March 6 th . More information at 4Culture.org.

 

Construction contract awarded for Urban Triangle Park in South Lake Union neighborhood

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Seattle Parks and Recreation(SPR) announced the construction contract for Urban Triangle Park, a new park in South Lake Union, located at 2100 Westlake Ave has been awarded to MidMountain Contractors, Inc. They will begin construction soon and anticipate completion of the park by early summer 2019.

On December 31, 2008, SPR purchased the 8,722-square-foot property at 2100 Westlake Ave. for a new neighborhood park in the Denny Triangle Urban Center Village.  SPR allocated funding to complete the design phase early in 2014 to ensure a seamless and coordinated design with the adjacent properties. Together with the community and the landscape architecture firm Site Workshop, the design was completed. The new park will include an open lawn, a central play structure, lighting, ADA access, places for vendors, landscaping, and other park elements.

This park project is made possible by the voter-approved Seattle Park District, which provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding for SPR, including maintenance of parklands and facilities, operation of community centers and recreation programs, and development of new neighborhood parks on previously acquired sites.

Seattle Parks and Recreation seeks proposals for seasonal food service, recreational activities, and fitness concessions

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Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is seeking proposals for seasonal partners to operate food service, recreational activities, and group fitness concessions in various park locations throughout Seattle. Locations vary with sites appropriate for carts, food trucks and other self-contained service businesses.

Request for Proposal (RFP) packets can be downloaded, picked up in person at the address below, or mailed to you. Small businesses, women and/or minority businesses are encouraged to submit proposals.

Proposals are due by 3 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2019.

For more information or to download a copy of the RFP packet, please visit:www.seattle.gov/parks/seasonalconcessions

 

Mailing Address and Contact Information:

Contracts and Concessions

Attn: Amy Hamaker

800 Maynard Ave. S

Seattle, WA 98134-1334

Office: 206 684-0902

Email: amy.hamaker@seattle.gov

Broadband access for all

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Harrington is a rural community of about 400 people in Lincoln County about an hour west of Spokane. In 2012, it was one of several communities whose library received a high-speed fiber connection as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The Lincoln County Public Development Authority (PDA) believed if their entire downtown –not just the library –could access broadband, then people interested in a rural lifestyle might consider relocating their businesses there. Knowing that Harrington is too small for a large private internet service provider (ISP) to make the investment needed to bring service to its citizens, the Lincoln PDA made a deal: It asked the library’s private ISP to become downtown Harrington’s provider.

With funding from local tax revenue, the PDA purchased the necessary equipment, the provider installed it and committed to maintain service to the downtown area. The project went live. Just two years after formulating a plan, Harrington had gigabit internet service with equipment purchased, owned, and operated locally — which cost the PDA less under $10,000.

Harrington Mayor Justin Slack said his family moved to Harrington from Seattle in 2013.

“I was able to use the high speed connection available here to maintain my career as a commercial property appraiser,” Slack said. “We opened up a coffee shop at the site of the old post-office as a space for folks to use the service, and eventually had the idea to create a co-working space for other teleworkers like me.”

Slack said ‘The Post and Office’ currently serves the Harrington community with a high speed connection, and allows local residents to maintain their urban jobs at companies like Microsoft and Indeed.com. Nearby, the historic ‘Electric Hotel’ is being renovated and a new storefront that sells jewelry and artwork is exploring e-commerce.

“It just goes to show that with a little help from government, some local dollars, and community support, we can make a big difference in rural Washington,” Slack said.

That’s the difference Gov. Jay Inslee hopes to see in more communities statewide. Today, he was joined by Slack as well as legislative and tribal leaders to detail his proposal to expand broadband.

President Isiaah Crawford KeyNote Speaker at City of Tacoma 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration

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“We’re Better Together” The 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration in Tacoma will once again bring the community together to celebrate Monday, January 21, 2019 as a day on, not a day off.

President Dr. Isiaah Crawford – University of Puget Sound

Event Details

January 21, 2019

10 AM – Doors open for Community Outreach Fair

11 AM – Program begins

Greater Tacoma Convention Center

1500 Commerce Street

Tacoma, WA 98402

Map and Directions

 

Available Parking

There is free holiday on-street parking and free parking at Freighthouse Square (2501 E. D Street). Freighthouse Square is easily accessible via the LINK Light Rail and stops at the Convention Center. There will also be signage directing event attendees to designated complimentary parking stalls that will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center.

 

City Events and Recognition Committee

The Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration program is spearheaded by a City Council-appointed City Events and Recognition Committee. The Committee is comprised of local community leaders from a broad array of backgrounds and areas of expertise.

The City Events and Recognition Committee serves as an advisory and action committee on matters pertaining to City-hosted events and special recognition programs. Members are responsible for planning, reviewing and evaluating events, engaging the community in its fundraising efforts, and soliciting corporate and private sponsorships to leverage funds for City-hosted events such as the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration and the City of Destiny Awards.

 

About President Dr. Isiaah Crawford – University of Puget Sound

 A distinguished scholar, teacher, and college administrator,Isiaah Crawford became president of University of Puget Sound on July 1, 2016, following an extensive national search. Crawford’s academic work and achievements as a senior administrator are closely aligned with the values and aspirations of Puget Sound, and with the key areas of challenge and opportunity facing higher education today.

Crawford came to Puget Sound following service as provost and chief academic officer of Seattle University (2008–16), where he directed the Division of Academic Affairs and oversaw the university’s schools and colleges, libraries, enrollment, information technology, institutional research, and offices supporting student academic achievement, faculty affairs, and global engagement.

Key areas of focus during his service to Seattle University included strategic planning; strengthening shared governance; securing grants and other gifts in support of fundraising objectives; supporting teaching, research, and service activities of the faculty; and establishing the Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability, the Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture, and the School of New and Continuing Studies, which began operation in academic year 2015–16. Working with university leadership, he participated in the development of more than $200 million in key facilities projects, including renovation of the library and establishment of a learning commons; a new residence hall; a new fitness center and remodeled intramural athletic field; the School of Law annex; an admission and alumni center; and planning for a new science facility.

From 2004 to 2008, Crawford was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Loyola University Chicago, where he joined the faculty of the Department of Psychology in 1987 as an assistant professor and through the years was tenured and promoted to the rank of professor in 1999. He taught courses in psychology of personality, human sexuality, addictive behavior, human diversity, and minority mental health. He also served as graduate program director of the clinical psychology doctoral program (1994–97), Department of Psychology chair (1997–2003), and interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (2003–04).

A licensed clinical psychologist, Crawford earned his bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University, and master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from DePaul University, where his research focused on personality theory and community psychology. He completed a pre-doctoral clinical psychology internship at the San Francisco VA Medical Center; worked as a clinical specialist at Charter Barclay Hospital and staff therapist at DePaul University Community Mental Health Center; and maintained a private clinical practice in Chicago from 1987 through 2002.

A recipient of national awards, including three from the American Psychological Association, he has been published in numerous scholarly journals over the past 30 years—including, most recently, the Archives of Sexual Behavior, Journal of Homosexuality, Journal of Child and Family Studies, AIDS Care, and Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality—on topics including post-traumatic stress, racial inequality, HIV/AIDS, sexual abuse, visual impairment, poverty, depression, and more. Crawford has served on the editorial boards of professional publications, including the International Journal of Sexual Health, Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, and Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention & Education for Adolescents & Children. He serves on the board of directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, The Annapolis Group, Independent Colleges of Washington, and the Northwest Conference, as well as the Tacoma Art Museum, Seattle Symphony, Providence St. Joseph Health (chair, Work/Life Committee), Providence Health Plan (chair, Governance Committee) and The ROPA Corporation (St. Louis).

Crawford’s numerous other activities include serving on the board of directors for Swedish Health Services (2010–12), AIDS Foundation of Chicago (1994–08; board president, 2004–06), and Horizons Community Center (1988–92). He is former president of the Clinical Psychologists Licensing and Disciplinary Board of the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, and previously served on the national advisory board of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Institute (2006–08), National Institutes of Health Panel Review–AIDS and Related Research (1999–2002), and various roles with the American Psychological Association.

 

Spaceworks Incubator Company GoodDesign Celebrating Grand Opening in Downtown Tacoma

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 Creative entrepreneur Steve Buchanan joined the Spaceworks Incubator program in 2016 and completed multiple Spaceworks training programs. He has worked over the last year developing GoodDesign and remodeling a new shop just blocks from Spaceworks headquarters. GoodDesign is a Sign and Space design company who works with clients to apply their brand to physical space. This “space” can include anything from storefront exteriors and interiors, tradeshows and exhibits, down to simple business signs and fleet graphics.

“The customer experience starts long before they get inside. We take a collaborative approach to understanding your customers’ needs while in and outside of your space, helping you reinforce your brand and values in a clear and consistent way.”

Steve is a Tacoma native who is truly ecstatic to bring his passion and experience to other Grit City businesses. Helping his customers tell who they are, in a fresh, modern way to our community is the goal.  He recently has been hard at work in the newly designed Lincoln District working with companies to develop their new storefronts.  Take a drive down 38th and check out his work on Manic Mermaid, Allstar Vintage, and Bossy Baby.

Join us for the Grand Opening to hear the GoodDesign story, and equally awesome – enter a raffle for free design time.

Event: Friday January 18th

Time: 10AM – 5PM (Ribbon Cutting at 1PM)

506 South 11th St Tacoma, WA 98402

More event info@
https://www.facebook.com/gooddesign.tacoma

 -Steve Buchanan, Owner at Good Design

Spaceworks makes Tacoma culturally vibrant and economically strong through training and support for artists and creative entrepreneurs. Since launching in June 2010, Spaceworks has worked with over 400 artists and creatives in over 55 spaces around Tacoma. Funders include the City of Tacoma, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, Community Development Block Grant, JP Morgan Chase Foundation, South Sound Together, US Bank Foundation, The Bamford Foundation, and The National Endowment for the Arts.


www.spaceworkstacoma.com