We were lucky enough to get an hour with Rep. Laurie Jinkins, the speaker-designate of the Washington state House of Representatives a week after she was elected to her new role. She'll be the first woman speaker, she's from Tacoma, and she knows how to get stuff done in the Capitol. Goes without saying that Grit City — and the Democratic party in Washington — are pretty excited. 



We talked about what the new gig means, how she might differ from her predecessor (current House speaker Frank Chopp), how her sense of humor has helped her build relationships across the aisle, and the direction a few key issues might take in the next year. 



Links



WA's first female House speaker loves a good joke



Washington's first woman speaker of the House tells The News Tribune about her life



Capitol Happy Hour: Welcome to special session. (What is that?)



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Episode 53: Politics and socks with WA’s next House speaker

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Welcome back to another episode of Citizen Tacoma! Michelle Douglas joins the podcast to discuss hunger in Pierce County. She gives an update on some of the ways Emergency Food Network and the food pantries across the county are serving those who need food.

We also check-in about the arts, the economy, downtown Tacoma, and more.

Enjoy!

Links

Emergency Food Network

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Michelle Douglas—Emergency Food Network

Did you know that Tacoma is governed by a "charter?" And that every ten years, a group of citizens gets together to review it and propose new changes. It's true!

Steve Wamback is the chair of the committee that is tackling this process. With more than 50 meetings planned in six months, they have a big workload ahead of them.

So what are they looking at? How does the process work? And how can you share your input? All that and more on the next episode.

Links

Tacoma's Charter Review Committee

Flyer for extended public comment session on Monday, February 26 (.pdf file)

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Steve Wamback – Tacoma’s Charter Review Committee

Welcome back to another episode of Citizen Tacoma! Melissa Malott joins the podcast to discuss the health of Commencement Bay and what's threatening it. She gives an update on some of the industrial uses in the port and the work CHB is doing on that front. We get into the proposed rebuilding of the animal rendering plant and much more.

She also speaks a little bit about the Tacoma Charter Review Committee and what's happening there.

Enjoy!

Links

Melissa Malott at Communities for a Healthy Bay

Tacoma Charter Review

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Melissa Malott — Communities for a Healthy Bay

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland joins the podcast to talk about the recent speakership elections, government shutdowns, conflicts in Israel and Ukraine, bridging the digital divide, her view on what's at stake in the 2024 elections, and more.

Links

Marilyn Strickland

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Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland

On this episode, we welcome Deputy Mayor Kristina Walker, who is a commissioner with Pierce Transit and a board member with Sound Transit. We discuss what's happening with transit in Tacoma and the wider region. We focus on the opening of the extension of the Link T Line in Tacoma. We also look at bus rapid transit, access to transit, and we check in on projects in Seattle and on the Eastside of Lake Washington.

Links

Kristina Walker

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Episode 53: Politics and socks with WA’s next House speaker

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