Crossing Division

Melissa Malott, Executive Director of Citizens for a Health Bay, joins host Evelyn Lopez to discuss the current state of land use in the Tacoma tideflats and port area. This part of Tacoma has been a flashpoint of controversy over the direction and future of our city, especially since residents successfully derailed plans to build the world’s largest methanol refinery on these lands.

The Tacoma Planning Commission was charged with developing a special sub-area zoning plan for the tideflats and to take a closer look at how the lands were being used, and how they could be used to support Tacoma’s future. As part of that process, interim regulations were put in place, and have been reviewed and reinstated every six months. Now, the Planning Commission has proposed “non-interim regulations” that would be the working plans for the tideflats and port area through the rest of the sub-area plan development process.

Melissa explains the positive aspects of the proposed regulations, and where they fall short. These regulations are the critical next step in halting the development of more fossil fuel industry on our waterfront, and slowing the creation of more oil trains, fuel lines, and oil export. If we want a future that is open to new, clean technology, and if we want to commit to a real partnership with the Puyallup Tribe, then these “non-interim regulations” are the next necessary step.

You can still contact your city council member to share your thoughts about how the tideflats are regulated and developed! What is your vision for Tacoma?

You can find more information at www.healthbay.org, and you can email Melissa at [email protected].

If you have thoughts on this program, or ideas for future episodes, please let us know!

Evelyn Lopez:    [email protected]     @TrueTacoma

Last year we talked with David Thompson about the Food is Free program in Tacoma. The program’s focus was home gardens around Tacoma and tables for sharing produce with neighbors. The program has evolved and changed in the last year. Now Food is Free has expanded into food rescue and has been providing farm to table food boxes in Tacoma.

David Thompson joins host Evelyn Lopez to talk about how Food is Free has developed, and plans for a new program in Tacoma. The new program will encourage gardeners in Tacoma to grow more fruits and vegetables with the goal of having 20% of our food grown locally to increase our food security. The program will also set up opportunities for food growers to meet and share food with neighbors in parks around Tacoma.

Check out the Food is Free website for more information and to consider volunteering:  www.foodisfreewashington.org,

If you have feedback on this episode, or ideas for other programs, please get in touch!

Evelyn Lopez:   [email protected]     @True_Tacoma

According to The Urbanist:

Tacoma has embarked on a sweeping plan to reform residential zoning in the city. The Home in Tacoma project could transform single-family and multifamily zones by allowing more Missing Middle Housing.

Home in Tacoma Project Chugs toward Citywide Zoning Overhaul | The Urbanist

Chris Karnes, the designated Public Transportation member of the Tacoma Planning Commission, joins host Evelyn Lopez to discuss the Home in Tacoma project and how it could change housing in Tacoma by creating more affordable housing, denser development and commercial hubs, and help  our City move beyond past racist zoning and planning.

There is a public meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 7 at 5:30, and public comments will be accepted through April 9, 2021.

The Tacoma Planning Commission would appreciate your thoughts on the following questions:

Here are some helpful links to explain the project and provide examples:

We’d love to have your feedback on this episode, or ideas for other programs!

Evelyn Lopez:   [email protected]     @True_Tacoma

In 2015, in response to police killings and protests around the country, Mayor Victoria Woodards (at the time a Tacoma City Councilmember) and Police Chief Ramsdell developed Project Peace as a program to promote trust, relationships, and understanding between the residents of Tacoma and the Police Department.

Project Peace Co-Chair Corwin Scott and TPD Captain Shawn Stringer joined host Evelyn Lopez to discuss the goals of Project Peace, and their hopes of using the Project to build better relationships in Tacoma. Both feel that the school forums sponsored by the Project before 2020 (suspended due to the pandemic) were opportunities for positive engagement and discussion between Tacoma’s youth and police. And both hope that Project Peace can do more.

The 11 pillars of Project Peace:

Link to information about Project Peace:  Project PEACE – City of Tacoma

Listen and let us know what you think!

Evelyn Lopez:    [email protected]     @True_Tacoma

Channel 253 continues its partnership with Tacoma’s Downtown on the Go Friday Forums in 2021. This year the forums focus on racism, urban design and transportation. After each forum, we will have a Crossing Division episode that expands on the discussion.

The March 26 DOTG Friday Forum discussed how government and transportation project decisions get made locally: Breaking the Urban Bubble – Race & Transportation Policy in Pierce County and Tacoma. Our follow up discussion is about local government decision making, and how anyone can become a more effective advocate.

Joining host Evelyn Lopez is frequent guest (and good sport) Joe Lopez. Joe was on the Tacoma City Council when decisions were being made about the Link Light  Rail route, and was a regular transit rider for 16 years of commuting to Seattle.

There is always a suspicion that some people and groups have special access and influence in local decisions, and there’s some truth to that. But anyone can increase their access to decision makers and be more effective in their advocacy. We talk about how that works.

We would love to have your feedback!

Evelyn Lopez:     [email protected]     @True_Tacoma

In the final Friday Forum of 2021, the discussion focuses on project and government decision making.

How do infrastructure ideas become reality? How do problems like faulty sidewalks and inadequate bus stops get fixed? Policy in Tacoma is a web of stakeholders and decision makers, often spanning into Pierce County. Follow along as the panel tracks issues from concept to implementation and learn how to have concerns addressed.

Panelists:

This program will also be available on TV Tacoma. Follow www.downtownonthego..com for more information about their programs and events!

Over the last year there has been a rise in hate incidents and hate crimes directed at Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) neighbors in our communities. Recently the hate became more deadly. Last week a white gunman targeted Asian businesses in Atlanta, with specific animus against Asian women, and killed six people.

What is happening, and how can we help each other?

We asked local activists and community leaders to talk about the rise in Anti-Asian hate, our history of exclusion and racism, and how we can work together to fight the hate that goes hand in hand with white supremacy. Enormous thanks to:

To be AAPI is to be treated as an outsider, whether you are an immigrant or have been in this country for generations. Our stereotypes add to that otherness, and turn people from humans into soulless facades. And then there is rhetoric, recently even Presidential rhetoric, designed to demonize and blame people for a virus and pandemic for which no person is at fault. All of these streams of hate come together, and violence results.

Listen to this discussion and think about how you can be part of the solution and take positive action.

If you see or experience an incident in Seattle, you can use this link to report:   https://cisc-seattle.org/report-an-incident-of-hate-or-bias/

If you would like to get involved, or learn more, here are links to local resources:

King County Coalition Against Hate and Bias

https://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice/Coalition-Against-Hate-And-Bias.aspx

API Chaya            https://www.apichaya.org/

API Chaya empowers survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking to gain safety, connection, and wellness.  We build power by educating and mobilizing South Asian, Asian, Pacific Islander, and all immigrant communities to end exploitation, creating a world where all people can heal and thrive.

ACRS                     https://acrs.org/ 

ACRS promotes social justice and the well-being and empowerment of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities – including immigrants, refugees, and American-born – by developing, providing and advocating for innovative, effective and efficient community-based multilingual and multicultural services.

APALA                  https://www.apalanet.org/seattle 

Founded in 1992, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO, is the first and only national organization of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) workers, most of who are union members, and our allies advancing worker, immigrant and civil rights. Since its founding, APALA has played a unique role in addressing the workplace issues of the 660,000 AAPI union members and in serving as the bridge between the broader labor movement and the AAPI community. APALA is dedicated to promoting political education and voter registration programs among AAPIs, and to the training, empowerment, and leadership of AAPIs within the labor movement and APA community. Furthermore, APALA works to defend and advocate for the civil and human rights of AAPIs, immigrants and all people of color, and continues to develop ties within international labor organizations, especially in the Asia-Pacific Rim.

As always, we would love to get your feedback on this episode or your ideas for other programs!

Evelyn Lopez:     [email protected]     @True_Tacoma

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department has been working on health equity issues for several years. In 2015, TPCHD published a comprehensive health equity report, focusing on increasing the quality of health and life for Pierce County residents. When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, all the equity issues and challenges were suddenly amplified.

Director of Health, Dr. Anthony L-T Chen, MD, MPH, and Gabe Moaalii, Health Equity Coordinator, joined host Evelyn Lopez to discuss health equity issues in our community, the pandemic and vaccine access, and the impact of hate and racism on health.

If you’d like to learn more about health equity (https://www.tpchd.org/healthy-people/health-equity), here are links to TPCHD’s health assessment and strategy reports:

In addition, if you know someone who needs help accessing vaccine information, especially individuals who are not comfortable with online processes or who do not have access to computers in their homes, they can call TPCHD and talk with someone who can assist them. Call TPCHD (253) 649-1412, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 7 days a week.

If you have feedback on this episode, or ideas for other programs, please get in touch!

Evelyn Lopez:   [email protected]       @True_Tacoma

Part 2 of our discussion about Harm Reduction – Decisions and Consequences, our tie in to the February 26 DOTG Friday Forum: Can Street Safety Be Anti-Racist, and How?

Once again, Shannon McMinimee, partner at Cedar Law PLLC and Constitutional Law Professor, joins Evelyn Lopez to talk about when government should make policies, rules, and laws, and what sort of decision making framework will result in better decisions.

Because this is detailed material, these show notes contain the complete outline of our discussion.

Harm Reduction: Decisions and Consequences

Context: Why do we have rules and laws? One of the reasons for government is to provide for the common welfare. So we should always ask if a government policy or regulation provides for the common welfare—for whom, and at what cost?

Recap Part 1: Rules, Risks and Choices: We are a nation of laws, and we default to making more laws and rules when there are problems. But our historical and cultural legacy of discrimination can turn law enforcement into oppression. Do we really need to govern our interpersonal interactions as police issues?

Thinking through laws, rules and policies, and the impact of these on all the people in our community, is one of the greatest responsibilities of our political leaders. Do they have the skills to make these decisions?  Today we are going to talk about how they can do better.

Part 2: A Framework for Harm Reducing Decision Making

Examples for discussion: (1) Recently repealed bike helmet law in Tacoma; (2) recent Washington Supreme Court decision overturning strict liability for possession of any amount of a controlled substance; (3) new recommendation from Tacoma Police Department in favor of adopting a criminal ordinance on unlawful exhibitions of speed and criminalizing bystanders at such events.

Need: Do you need the policy, rule, or law?

— What is the harm to be prevented?

— Is it a real harm, or a potential or perceived possible harm?  If harm is not real or immediate, consider more study of alternatives.

— How likely is the harm to occur if nothing is done?  If harm is not likely to occur, rule or law is not needed.

— Who will benefit if the harm is prevented?

— Who will be impacted by harm prevention activity?

Consequences (enforcement): Who should enforce the policy, rule, or law?

— What is the quality of harm at issue?

— What are the consequences of using criminal laws to regulate matters that are not immediate risks of physical harm?

Review: Is there an opportunity to review actual impacts of the policy, rule, or law?

Information and Consultation with the Public: Is There a Plan for Engagement?

Throughout the decision making process, providing information to residents about what is under consideration, proposed, on the agenda, and adopted will result in higher engagement and better decision making. For each policy, rule, or law under consideration or development, assign a specific official or staff person to be the liaison to the public and set specific expectations for use of social media, email and website for spreading information and collecting feedback.

As always, we are interested in your thoughts! Let us know what you think about this episode, and if you have ideas for other programs.

Evelyn Lopez:  [email protected]     @True_Tacoma

Channel 253 continues its partnership with Tacoma’s Downtown on the Go Friday Forums in 2021. This year the forums focus on racism, urban design and transportation. After each forum, we will have a Crossing Division episode that expands on the discussion.

The February 26 DOTG Friday Forum discussed the questions: “Can Street Safety be Anti-Racist? And How?” Our follow up discussion is about government policies, laws and rules, and whether making criminal laws is an appropriate response to non-violent activities. Who is harmed, and how can harm be reduced?

Government decision making is complicated and important, so we’re going to cover this topic in two episodes. Episode 1 is about Rules, Risks and Choices. We could have no better person on this topic than Shannon McMinimee. Shannon is a partner at Cedar Law PLLC, a law firm specializing in education and civil rights issues. Shannon also teaches Constitutional Law and has been a regular guest on several Channel 253 podcasts.

Listen to our discussion of “de jure” and “de facto” discrimination and how laws that may appear neutral on their face can easily become racist and discriminatory through unequal and biased enforcement. Then start pondering how our law makers should be critically thinking about their laws and policies, and we’ll talk more about that in our next episode.

We would love to have your feedback!

Evelyn Lopez:     [email protected]     @True_Tacoma