Crossing Division

Well, here we are, three weeks from the general election. So many critical races, so many huge issues! This episode of Crossing Division is a companion to the Nerd Farmer voters’ guide podcast. We will cover the Supreme Court positions, and then we will go local, super local.

Because in addition to all the national and state campaigns, we have Tacoma election issues too.  Specifically, six proposed amendments to the Tacoma City Charter. Boring? No. Infuriating? You bet!

Hosts Evelyn and Joe Lopez review the proposed charter amendments, compare them with the recommendations of the Charter Review Committee, and consider whether any should be approved. (Spoiler: none of them.)

If you have not received your voters’ guides, you can find them here:

Voters Pamphlet 2024 – Edition 09 – Pierce.pdf (wa.gov)

2024 General Election Voters’ Pamphlet by Pierce County – Issuu

It can be hard to make friends, connect with your town, feel like you are part of positive changes. Volunteering can help open doors to finding your people and putting down roots in your community. But to be honest, some volunteer activity just sucks the life out of you. How do you find a way to engage that is nourishing and meaningful?

Hosts Evelyn and Joe Lopez sit down with Dorian Waller, who has been active in local political and social justice groups. Dorian talks about how to get involved, and how to assess whether an activity is good for you, for your health and for your soul.

Let us know what you think. You can email us at [email protected], or find us on social media @True_Tacoma.

Tacoma, we love you, and your political controversies never disappoint. Hosts Evelyn and Joe Lopez sit down with Justin Camarata to discuss, and dish, the city council appointment process to fill district 4, the difficult issues facing Congressional candidates for WA=6, and the wild election season ahead.

We are always interested in your thoughts and feedback. Email us at [email protected] or find us on social media @True_Tacoma.

Every ten years, the City of Tacoma engages in a Charter Review. It’s time again, and hosts Evelyn and Joe Lopez review and discuss the most significant changes recommended by the Charter Review Committee. Are they good ideas? What happens next?

Here is the April 29 Draft Recommendations–it’s a lot of information, but worth the read:  City of Tacoma Charter Review Committee Recommendatons

If you have questions or comments, please get in touch!  Email: [email protected], or find us on most social media as @True_Tacoma.

After a hiatus to clear our heads and figure out what we want to still talk about, Evelyn and Joe Lopez are back in the studio to talk about local developments in Tacoma with the LNG Plant, PSE billing plans, Point Ruston drama, local politics, and other odds and ends.

As discussed in the podcast, here’s a link to a recent article in the Seattle Times about the LNG Plant, violations of clean air laws, and a very fishy financing scheme to use their land customers to pay for a marine fuel terminal. Shenanigans!  Puget Sound Energy facility has violated air permit over a dozen times | The Seattle Times

We will try to keep to a more regular recording schedule, maybe every other week, and we’d love to hear your thoughts on our format and topics. You can email us at [email protected] or find us on social media @True_Tacoma.

Well, there are still some ballots left to count, but most races have been called. Tacoma City Council Position 7 will remain with incumbent Councilmember Olgy Diaz, and Tacoma will welcome new District 3 Councilmember Jamika Scott at the beginning of 2024, And Tacoma’s Tenants Bill of Rights is passing; it’s close, but it’s passing.

Hosts Evelyn and Joe Lopez review the election results that consider what the results signal about Tacoma in 2023. Listen and let us know what you think.

Email:  [email protected]   Social Media: @true_tacoma

Last week, hosts Evelyn and Joe Lopez talked about local Tacoma elections, and noted that the “No on Tacoma Measure 1” PAC (political action committee) may not have been timely or adequately reporting campaign contributions.

This week we dig into the history of the “No on Tacoma Measure 1” campaign and discuss why the pattern of disregard for campaign finance/open government laws is concerning. We get pretty wonky.

Let us know what you think!

Email:  [email protected]   social media: @true_tacoma

Local elections are never overlooked at Crossing Division. And this year we have several critical races for Tacoma. What direction will our City take? You have a chance to decide just that.

Hosts Evelyn and Joe Lopez break down the local races and focus on three campaigns: City Council Districts 3 and 7, and Tacoma Initiative 1, the Tenants’ Rights measure.

City Council District 3 is an open seat (current Councilmember Keith Blocker is term limited out at the end of this year). District 3 residents will choose between Jamika Scott and Chris Van Vechten. This race features questions about local policing, community activism, and what vision for Tacoma should prevail.

City Council District 7 is a city-wide seat currently held by Olgy Diaz, who was appointed by the City Council to fill the term of Conor McCarthy after he resigned in 2022. Running against Olgy Diaz is Kristen Wynne. Diaz has the backing of many local democrats and unions, while Wynne has support from local businesses and real estate interests. This would usually be a battle between social issues and business issues, but both candidates want strong local businesses and safe neighborhoods–perhaps there is some difference in how to get to those goals, but it’s subtle.

The most interesting issue on the ballot is Tacoma Initiative 1, the Tenants’ Rights initiative. This measure has had a drama filled year with a City Council ordinance that tried to occupy the same ground, the City’s legal challenge to the initiative, Court victory by the Tacoma for All initiative sponsor, and now a huge dump of money into an anti-initiative PAC funded by out of state real estate interests in a last-ditch effort to defeat the initiative (after the City Council and Court shenanigans failed).

We break it all down for you. Please VOTE. Local elections are important to our day to day lives and to our future.

Thoughts or comments on this episode? Send us a note:

[email protected]    @true_tacoma (threads, instagram)

Can’t keep up with the indictments? We’re here to help! Joe and Evelyn Lopez go over the four current indictments (and that’s not even counting the E. Jean Carroll case). What are the charges, what are the timelines, and what is at stake?

We are living in unprecedented times in terms of Presidential power and infamy. For a good overview of the cases, check out this link to the New York Times: Trump Investigations, Explained: Charges and Status of Each Inquiry – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Listen to our conversation, and let us know what you think, or what you have questions about.

Evelyn Lopez:  [email protected]   @True_Tacoma (for as long as I can stand the social media site formerly known as twitter), and @true_tacoma on Threads

After Carol Mitchell was dismissed from her key executive position with the Pierce County Executive, and while suing the County for wrongful discharge, Carol put her heart and soul into a new endeavor–the Institute for Black Justice.

In Part 2 of this discussion, Carol talks with host Evelyn Lopez about power, change, community realities, and culture, and how all of these threads have come together in an organization that not only fights for Black families, but works on solving problems before the family falls into crisis. This work is so important, and you will be inspired by Carol’s story.

Check out the Institute at instituteforblackjustice.org and read about how they are healing families and developing plans for families to thrive in Pierce County.

Let us know what you think!

Evelyn Lopez:   [email protected]    True_Tacoma