Crossing Division

We have a housing crisis in Tacoma. While there are government programs to help our neighbors, and some terrific non-profits too, who is checking on the tents and cars today and providing clean blankets for tonight? Often, it’s someone engaged in mutual aid, grassroots collectives of neighbors helping neighbors.

Zoe Grieder of the Tacoma Mutual Aid Collective joins host Evelyn Lopez to talk about the mutual aid philosophy and TMAC’s direct aid efforts. They have been helping with shopping and groceries for people who can’t get to stores during the pandemic, and they regularly check in with neighbors living in tents to find out what they need. TMAC provides help, and does so while treating people with compassion and dignity.

Right now, in the midst of winter, people need warm places to stay. If there is one thing that could really, dramatically help people, it would be hotel rooms for the winter. In the absence of better shelter options, heaters and warm clothes will help people survive in tents and on the streets.

You can find out more about their programs, get involved, and help financially:

If you have comments on this program, or ideas for future episodes, please get in touch!

Evelyn Lopez:  [email protected]   @True_Tacoma

What a week it has been!!! An exciting and historic election on Tuesday, an insurrection and attempt to take over the US Capitol on Wednesday, followed by obsessive twitter and news watching for the rest of the week. At least that’s how we spent our week.

We are reeling, and yet trying to make sense of it all. Joe Lopez joins Evelyn Lopez in discussing this week’s events, and what might be coming next. We also look at what might be developing at the Legislature this session regarding police reform, and local elections for Tacoma’s Mayor and four City Council positions this year. Give a listen as we dissect the events and PREDICT! what’s coming next (you have to listen to get that).

If you have questions or thoughts on this episode, or ideas for future podcasts, please get in touch. And take care Tacoma, this year is starting out wild!

Evelyn Lopez:   [email protected]    @True_Tacoma

News Tribune reporters Josephine Peterson and Chase Hutchinson, and columnist Matt Driscoll, join host Evelyn Lopez to discuss the actions taken this week to launch a union for the staff of McClatchy newspapers in Washington state. The new union would include the News Tribune, the Bellingham Herald, the Olympian, and the Tri-City Herald.

Why now, what is the plan, and how may our community benefit from this effort? If we want to keep and build our local news reporting, this is a critical step. Over this last year with the pandemic, uncertainty for schools and businesses, elections locally and local repercussions from state and national elections, local news has been more critical than ever.

Listen to find out how to support these efforts. If you’d like more information and updates, here are some resources:

  @WaNewsGuild on Twitter

Email:   [email protected].

Have thoughts on this episode, or ideas for future programs! Get in touch!

Evelyn Lopez:   [email protected]    @True_Tacoma

It’s a month past the 2020 general election, and really things should be settled. The votes have been counted, and as of Dec. 8 elections results have been certified by all the states. Washington certified its election results over a week ago. And yet, and yet, in 2020 things don’t go the way you might expect.

First, Joe Lopez returns to talk about the 2020 Election–both on the presidential level and the local level. While the US Supreme Court handed yet another defeat to the President, Loren Culp, the losing candidate in the Governor’s race, filed his own lawsuit in King County. While there is no merit to the case, Culp’s candidacy, especially the number of votes he received and the dollars he raised in small contributions shouldn’t be ignored. Joe digs into Culp’s financial records and has some thoughts.

Here is a Seattle Times story about the Culp lawsuit:  Republican Loren Culp lost the Washington governor’s race by 545,000 votes. Now he’s suing. | The Seattle Times

Second, we turn to the Pierce County Council’s continuing momentum on an ordinance to demolish the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and replace the 48 year institution with a new county health department under the control of the County Executive. The ordinance comes up for a final vote next Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Here is a link to the meeting agenda:  December 15, 2020 Council Meeting (pierce.wa.us)  If you think this is the wrong direction, or that now is the wrong time to be reorganizing our public health system while COVID cases surge, get in touch with the County Council and let them know what you think.

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

Evelyn Lopez:  [email protected]    @True_Tacoma

Well, no chance for a quiet, reflective end of year in Pierce County!

This is 2020 after all, and this week the County Council was presented with a surprise proposal to pull Pierce County out of our long-standing public health entity, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. That’s right, in the middle of a surge in the COVID 19 pandemic, when everyone is being asked to stay home and stay safe, several county councilmembers would like to upend our public health system. Let the chaos begin!

So, we asked Councilmember Derek Young to come on Crossing Division to talk about what was going on, if he has figured out why this is happening, and why anyone would think this is a good idea right now.

Please listen to the conversation, and then contact your councilmember with your thoughts. You can find a link to an online contact form here:  https://www.co.pierce.wa.us/3301/Council-Contact-Information

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

Evelyn Lopez:   [email protected]    @True_Tacoma

Joe and Evelyn Lopez break down the election challenges that have been filed by the Trump campaign and Trump supporters in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada and Arizona.  So far, no cases have been successful, and time is running out. All of the states should have their votes certified by December 8 and at that p0int litigation is pointless. But will that be the end, or are there other plots hatching?

This post-election activity is completely unprecedented, and changing every day. One good resource for keeping up with the legal challenges is the Election Law Blog by UC Irvine Law School Professor Rick Hasen (he’s a good follow on Twitter too): https://electionlawblog.org/

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

Evelyn Lopez:  [email protected]    @True_Tacoma

Pierce County Councilmember Derek Young joins host Evelyn Lopez to talk about projects and priorities of the County Council. Specifically, the Youth and Young Adults Jobs Program that Derek helped create to provide training and paid employment for young people (a 2020 Jobs Corps) that will launch soon, plus other ways that the Council has been moving CARES Act monies into our communities to help offset the economic ravages of COVID.

We also talked about COVID policies, the need to wear masks (those who mask will rule the world!), and the likelihood of further assistance from the Federal government. And had a good discussion about the likely priorities for the Council in 2021. There are four new members, and the Council shifts from majority Republican to majority Democrat.

Here are links to more information about the Jobs Program:

Thoughts about this episode, or ideas for future programs? Please get in touch!

Evelyn Lopez:  [email protected]    @True_Tacoma

Whew, well we are all waiting to see, aren’t we? If you woke up this morning feeling grim, this discussion might help.

Evelyn Lopez is joined by campaign consultant extraordinaire, Crystal Fincher of Fincher Consulting, and Justin Camarata, Chair of the 27th LD Democrats. These campaign and election experts weigh in on races in Pierce County, our state, and the nation. And what we can learn about our community from the results!

Thoughts on our election coverage? Please get in touch! Ideas for other episodes are also always welcome!

Evelyn Lopez:  [email protected]    @True_Tacoma

Restaurant Rally: November 8-19, 2020. Info here: https://www.co.pierce.wa.us/7032/Restaurant-Rally

Pierce County received hella money from the Federal Government to help offset costs and losses from COVID 19. Now, how to spend it all before December 31?

One sector of our local economy that has been devastated by required closures and lack of business is the restaurant sector. So, Pierce County Council and the Economic Development Board wanted to come up with a funding plan that would both get money into local restaurants, but also encourage people to eat out again. But as our COVID rates rise, is that wise?

County Councilmember Marty Campbell explains the Restaurant Rally program and how they are trying to meet evolving needs and keep everyone safe; local activist and concerned citizen Maddy Sanders has questions about health safety and how Pierce County is making policy decisions that incorporate the best advice from our local health officials. Both agree that now that the program includes take out dining, it’s safer and a lot more accessible to everyone.

Give this a listen and let us know what you think about Restaurant Rally, and about how the County should spend the CARES Act funding for maximum positive impact on our cities and neighborhoods!

Evelyn Lopez:   [email protected]    @True_Tacoma

Election Day 2020 is quickly approaching, and opinions abound! Evelyn Lopez asked Republican campaign consultant Alex B. Hays and Chair of the 27th LD Democrats Justin Camarata to talk about state and local campaigns. Let’s just say we disagree on every race, but it made for some interesting insights into the issues on this year’s ballot.

Listen and let us know what you think. There’s plenty of division between us, and yet we get along. Did you appreciate hearing the different perspectives, or were you wanting to scratch someone’s eyes out? And would you listen to more of this type of program?

Evelyn Lopez:  [email protected]     @True_Tacoma