Crossing Division

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

Carol Mitchell has worked at just about every government office and agency in Tacoma. As a well-respected attorney and government leader, she has a deep background in human resources and equal opportunity laws, and organizational management. She hosted a popular local civics TV show for 17 years, and she is not at all afraid to speak up when something is going wrong. She is a local treasure.

Carol sits down with host Evelyn Lopez to talk about her cabinet position in the Pierce County Executive’s office as the Senior Justice Counsel, how the inequities in that office increased over time, and her unexpected termination. It is a simply fascinating look behind the scenes into our county’s highest offices.

In Part 2 we will talk about Carol realizing her dream and launching the Institute for Black Justice to relentlessly pursue equity and justice for all.

We always appreciate your comments:

Evelyn Lopez:   [email protected]   @True_Tacoma

Perhaps you have heard that there are 34 criminal charges filed against Donald Trump in New York. Perhaps you have heard that the case involves business records, payments to a porn star, and billings by Trump’s former attorney. And maybe you’re a bit confused.

Evelyn and Joe Lopez talk through the charges, what they are, and what is needed to make misdemeanor record keeping crimes into felonies. It’s pretty interesting!

Plus, we talk through the far more interesting Dominion v. Fox News case–but then that case settled yesterday so we won’t see the groundbreaking First Amendment litigation after all. Maybe the settlement ($787,5 million paid to Dominion) will serve as a cautionary tale to news media–don’t publish known false narratives because the penalties are high. We will surely see more of these issues over the next year.

Listen and let us know what you think!

Evelyn Lopez:  [email protected]   @True_Tacoma

We’ve been talking about housing and homelessness regularly on Crossing Division, and in this episode, we have the chance to talk about a really big idea—a game changing big idea.

Governor Jay Inslee is proposing a housing referendum that would allow the state to issue bonds outside the state’s debt limit to frontload $4 billion of housing construction over the next six years. The state’s underlying capital budget will fund approximately 2,200 units between 2023 and 2025. The referendum would add approximately 5,300 additional units between 2023 and 2025 and 19,000 in the remainder of the six years. The referendum would require approval from legislators and voters.

The Governor’s plan involves using the referendum to fund several housing gaps including emergency housing for people experiencing homelessness, housing for people with special needs, additional capacity for behavioral health needs, affordable housing for lower- and middle-income workers and down payment assistance for low-income first-time homebuyers.

Governor Inslee joined host Evelyn Lopez in the lovely Moon Yard Studio to talk about his plans for the housing financing we desperately need.

Thoughts or questions? Get in touch!

Evelyn Lopez:     [email protected]     @True_Tacoma

Next week, the Tacoma City Council will take up the issue of whether to make living on the streets illegal around temporary shelters and waterways. We’ve talked about bans before, and making it a crime to be homeless, and we will talk about it again.

City Councilmember John Hines joins host Evelyn Lopez to discuss the idea of using criminal punishment as a way to encourage neighborhoods to welcome temporary shelters. Yes, the City could create the shelters first, but that’s not the plan.

Here’s a link to the City Council meeting for Oct. 11 when the proposed ban will be open for public comment (see item 12 on the agenda): City of Tacoma – City Council (legistar.com)

Listen and let us know what you think.

Evelyn Lopez     [email protected]    @True_Tacoma

And with one decision, the US Supreme Court destroys the right to abortion in this country, deciding that the availability of these vital, personal, health decisions should be decided by the states. While other states rush to end or severely limit abortion rights, Washington is moving to become a safe haven for people seeking abortion and other health care.

Senator Yasmin Trudeau, from Tacoma’s 27 Legislative District, joins host Evelyn Lopez to talk about the impact of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health decision and how Washington can safeguard the protections in our laws and build upon that base to make our state a place where everyone can live their lives, be themselves, and pursue their rights.

Additional background material:

See also, Dobbs Part 1 with Shannon McMinimee.

If you have thoughts or questions, please get in touch!

Evelyn Lopez     [email protected]     @True_Tacoma

Yasmin Trudeau     [email protected]     @Yasminsvoice

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, issued by the US Supreme Court on June 24, 2022, sweeps away 50 years of legal precedent and healthcare protections to decide: “The Constitution does no confer a right to abortion. Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.” (Dobbs, slip opinion, syllabus).

Constitutional law expert Shannon McMinimee joins host Evelyn Lopez to talk through the Dobbs decision, explain why it is such a dramatic and disturbing change in how the courts consider Constitutional issues and personal rights, and discuss what other laws could face similar fates.

This cases changes everything about how we teach and understand the rule of law and the role of courts. As stated by Joanne Rosen of the Bloomberg School of Public Health: “What is extraordinary in this case is that, perhaps for the first time, the Supreme Court departed from precedent not to recognize a right it had previously neglected but rather to remove one it had previously protected. It deconstitutionalized a long standing right. This is an astonishing moment and an astonishing use of the court’s authority.” (Inside the ‘Dobbs’ decision | Hub (jhu.edu) )

Reading:

See also Dobbs Part 2 with Senator Yasmin Trudeau where we focus on Washington state abortion laws and plans to make them stronger.

If you have questions or comments, please get in touch!

Evelyn Lopez    [email protected]     @True_Tacoma

Shannon McMinimee     [email protected]     @SMMcMinimee