Tacoma Urbanist
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Feb. 8, 2010 at 12:01am
Show You Give a #&%! about Tacoma and Vote Yes for Public Schools REPLACEMENT Levy
Support Tacoma! Support Tacoma's Schools!
Educational Programs & Operations Replacement Levy
This Replacement Levy (replacing the expiring 2006 levy) accounts for 22.4 percent of the district’s budget for educational programs and day-to-day operations including teachers, librarians, nurses, instructional aides, arts, music, athletics and classroom basics like textbooks and classroom materials.
Not a new tax – replaces expiring levy
- Nearly a quarter of funding (22.4 percent) for educational programs and day-to-day operations in the district, including every neighborhood school.
- The 2006 Operations Replacement Levy expires in 2010—major cuts without a replacement.
- The 2010 Operations Replacement Levy will continue for four years, 2011–2014.
Supports teachers, staff and small classes
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Teachers, librarians, counselors, nurses, instructional support staff and para-educators in every neighborhood school are funded through this levy. Funds the equivalent of 600 teachers in our schools.
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The Operations Replacement Levy funds small classes.
Provides for classroom and school basics
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Academic programs, athletics, arts, music, safety and security programs.
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Textbooks and classroom materials, maintaining technology, playgrounds and playfields.
School Facility Improvements & Technology Upgrades Levy
The School Facility Improvements Levy will be used to renovate or replace three schools and make district-wide school facility improvements and technology upgrades through a six-year levy, continuing a long-range plan to address the district’s aging schools.
Aged and deteriorating schools & facilities in serious need
- Over the last 30 years, the district has replaced or updated 65 percent of old and deteriorating schools.
- The School Improvements Levy will renovate or replace three of the district’s oldest and neediest schools, Washington Elementary School and Baker and Hunt middle schools.
- The School Improvements Levy also funds district-wide school and facility improvements on roofs, energy-efficient heating/lighting, electrical, plumbing, playgrounds and playfields.
Health, safety and security upgrades
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The School Improvements Levy provides funds for health, safety and security system improvements including roofs, seismic upgrades, sprinkler, alarm, security and ventilation systems.
Technology improvements—tools and schools for learning
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The measure will support technology and instruction in all schools, creating the best places for teachers and students to teach and learn.
For information, please go to www.tacomaschools.org or call the Public Information Office at 253.571.1015.
For more information, watch this informational video.
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Feb. 3, 2010 at 12:01am
Verizon Wireless Opens Branch in Tacoma's Burgeoning Blogosphere-Technology District
On Monday, senior writer Todd Matthews from the Tacoma Daily Index posted a picture of a papered storefront on Pacific Avenue near Pita Pit in the Provident Building.
Picture by Todd Matthews
I had thought that the Verizon advertisement was simply left over advertisements used in papering the window.
To my suprise, however, it appears that a Verizon Wireless store has is in the process of opening. They look to be about 80 percent set up.
Here's a picture from inside:
Great location right near the Tacoma blogospheric vortex adjacent to Artifex, Suite 133, Sitecrafting (coming soon), Tacoma Urbanist and City Councilmember David Boe.
Welcome to the neighborhood Verizon!
(Full disclosure: I have used Verizon for years and would not consider switching. Check them out.)
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Feb. 1, 2010 at 12:01am
Today at 5pm: Mayor Strickland To Cut Ribbon at Grand Opening Party for Satellite Cafe
Make sure and attend this event today fellow Tacomans:
Politicians usually reserve ribbon cutting ceremonies for the opening of new roads, bank branches or some other highly visible media event.
That is why it is encouraging to see Mayor Strickland helping to celebrate the grand opening of Satellite Coffee and Smooth and Juicy at 1122 Market Street at 5:00 p.m.
Satellite Coffee is owned by Pat Brown:
A cappuccino at Satellite Coffee
The new businesses are located on the first floor of the Embellish Salon building on Market Street.
Commentary:
The City of Tacoma has tried to revilatalize itself by landing the "big fish" downtown with the development of the Tacoma Dome, Convention Center and trying to lure big companies downtown.
Yet, it is the small businesses such as Satellite Coffee and Smooth and Juicy who make the biggest mark on adding life to downtown Tacoma and who take the most risk. The redevelopment of Tacoma is most likely to succeed block by block and storefront by storefront.
Congrats to the owners of these businesses and to Patricia Lacey-Daly, the owner of the Embellish building.
After visiting the White House with other mayors in Washington D.C., it is great to see that Mayor Strickland can find time to celebrate the opening of a small coffee shop and juice bar downtown.
(Has a mayor in Tacoma ever cut the ribbon for the opening of a small coffee shop or juice bar?)
Bonus: Mayor Strickland in Washington D.C. on C-Span:
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Jan. 29, 2010 at 12:01am
Troubling Tacoma News: WA State and Pierce County Attempt To Tax Tacomans For Mental Health Services
Background of Issue:
Washington State and Pierce County have long argued as to which entity should be responsible for mental health funding in Pierce County.
It appears that these governmental entities have now come to a dismaying agreement: to shift the responsibility of caring for the mentally ill on cities and try to convince the City of Tacoma impose a tax on Tacoma residents of $4,000,000 a year (from the Tacoma Weekly):
One state legislator has suggested the city of Tacoma consider a tax increase to fund mental health programs.
Washington State Legislature has authorized county governments to impose a sales tax increase of 1/10 of 1 percent to fund mental health services. This does not need to go to voters for approval.
...
State Representative Jeannie Darneille, a Tacoma Democrat who represents the 27th Legislative District, was concerned by Pierce County Council’s decision. She is now proposing the city take action if the county will not.
Tacoma City Council members met with Darneille and other legislators in Olympia on Jan. 14, where she discussed her idea.
Analysis:
It is hard to imagine a more detrimental proposal from the legislature. No doubt, Pierce County and the Washington state officials would be thrilled to step by step shift the cost and responsibility of caring for the mentally ill to Tacoma.
The proposal would have numerous negative consequences for Tacoma:
1) Further drive businesses to leave Tacoma for Fife and Pierce County by creating an ever increasing gap between the tax rate of Tacoma and the Pierce County. (The mayor is trying to reduce the incentive for businesses to leave Tacoma)
2) Force Tacomans to pay for the mental health needs of residents in greater Pierce County and the those from rest of the state.
3) Concentrate the mentally ill and drug addicts in Tacoma from the rest of the state:
"Her hope is for the funding to support both mental health and chemical dependency services, Lewis noted. “This is a passion of hers.”
4) Threaten the ability of the City of Tacoma to pass much needed levies for Tacoma Schools, Metro Parks and other issues. There is a finite amount that Tacomans are willing to be taxed.
5) Deny Tacomans the right to vote on the tax increase. According to the article, the county provision already part of state law "...does not need to go to voters for approval." A similar provision presumably would be proposed by the legislature from the state.
No doubt legislators from Seattle and other county council around the State of Washington would be gleeful to relieve themselves of their obligation to care for the mentally ill and dump the burden incrementally on Tacoma. Tacomas should oppose this bizarre and likely harmful proposal.
During the last election cycle, much was was said about improving Tacoma's educational system, not making it the dumping group for mentally ill from other government entities.
Meanwhile, flush with state funds and federal funds, Seattle is enhancing their city with streetcars.
Must be nice.
Reference:
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Jan. 22, 2010 at 12:01am
Tacoma Urbanist Appears in Streetfilm Clip With A.U.T.O. Lobbyist Veronica Moss
Tacoma has had many of its urban improvement efforts opposed by A.U.T.O. Lobbyist Veroinca Moss such as the traffic calming measures on 21st Street.
On January 19th, I travelled to NYC to watch Moss rail against the street improvement efforts in NYC in her words to "stop the propaganda" before the Streetfilms group. Many of the Streetfilm pieces are shown in Tacoma to help our city make better urban design issues such as the proper construction of separated bike lanes.
Here is the clip from her presentation and I am honored to have made the final cut.
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Jan. 17, 2010 at 10:40pm
Former Presidents Bush and Clinton Urge Tacomans to Help Haiti
Support the Earthquake Recovery Efforts in Haiti
On January 12, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti just outside the capital city of Port-au-Prince. The devastation – in lives lost, property destroyed, and families displaced – is immense. At the request of President Obama, we are partnering to help the Haitian people reclaim their country and rebuild their lives. Our immediate priority is to save lives. The critical needs in Haiti are great, but they are also simple: food, water, shelter, and first-aid supplies. The best way concerned citizens can help is to donate funds that will go directly to supplying these material needs.
Through the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, we will work to provide immediate relief and long-term support to earthquake survivors. We will channel the collective goodwill around the globe to help the people of Haiti rebuild their cities, their neighborhoods, and their families. We ask each of you to give what you can to help ensure the people of Haiti can build back stronger and better than ever.
Both of us have personally witnessed the tremendous generosity and goodwill of the American people and of our friends around the world to help in times of great need. There is no greater rallying cry for our common humanity than witnessing our neighbors in distress. And, like any good neighbor, we have an obligation and desire to come to their aid. Thank you for taking the time to visit, and we hope you will donate to this worthwhile cause. The people of Haiti now need our assistance more than ever.
President William J. Clinton
President George W. Bush
For more information see: http://www.clintonbushhaitifund.org/
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Jan. 11, 2010 at 12:31am
Tacoma City Council To Decide Fate of Waterfront Esplanade Tuesday
Introduction:
Tacoma's Waterfront has been cleaned up and redeveloped in bursts and stops over the last 10 years. In some years, much progress is made while the waterfront has languished in other years.
On Tuesday, January 12th, the Tacoma City Council will vote on whether to approve a contract to expand the esplanade/walkway on the waterfront which they tabled last week.
Many Tacomans, including those from Walk the Waterfront have long advocated that the City of Tacoma complete a continuous walkway around the waterfront with public access as many other cities have:
For over 60 years Tacomans have dreamed of a pedestrian walkway along the water, from the head of the Thea Foss to the beach and trails of Point Defiance.
To bring the dream to life we've formed Walk the Waterfront, a nonprofit organization dedicated to a continuous, accessible, vibrant path along those seven miles. We see so many opportunities emphasizing healthy lifestyles, recreation, business, conservation, culture and history.
Background
On January 4th, the City Council had before them a proposal to award a contract to:
...for the Foss Harbor Esplanade Site 11 project, including a 304-foot esplanade with lighting, railing, and park benches, and the installition of 32 new piles to support the esplanade.
According to a memorandum by the Public Works Department, Tacoma has already spend $400,000 to begin the "permitting and design" for the project.
In response to questions by city council members, staff points out that a number of permits are set to expire if the contract is not approved soon:
Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) - expires 2012
Shoreline Substantial Development Permit and Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Area (FWHCA) Development Permit - expires 2014;
Army Corp of Engineers Permit - expiration February 15, 2010 (fish window permit).
Commentary
Because some citizens and groups will always favor one contractor obtaining city contracts over another, objective criteria is set out by the State of Washington and the City of Tacoma as to the relevant factors that should be used in selecting contractors so as to not award contacts based on favoritism.
In the present case, the lowest bidding contractor appears to have met all of the objective standards set out by the city and under state law.
Because contracts should not be awarded based on popularity, the city should proceed with the contract and take the steps needed to build more of Tacoma's waterfront esplanade and complete other waterfront enhancements.
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Jan. 7, 2010 at 12:01am
Tacoma Could Learn a Lot About Constructing Bike Lanes From NYC
It is encouraging to see more and more bike lanes being installing in Tacoma.
Bike lanes being installed on 21st Street. Photograph by: Kevin Freitas
Yet, sometimes, it feels like Tacoma is trying to re-invent the wheel on so many urban design issues.
Here is a great video from Streetfilms showing the various techniques for constructing bike lanes including how to construct bike lanes to reduce the incidence of bicyclists being hit by car doors which are opening.
The proper construction of bike lanes:
Enjoy!
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Jan. 4, 2010 at 12:01am
A New Home For Tacoma's Hipsters? Satellite Coffee/"Smooth and Juicy" Opens Downtown
Yesterday, I visited the the combined Satellite Coffee and Smooth and Juicy bar which has just opened.
They are located in the same building as Embellish.
This is the third Satellite Coffee to open in Tacoma via Pat Brown.
A spot on cappuccino (9.3/10) and a unique scone. (See the prior ratings of Tacoma's Coffee Venues)
Pat Brown, now owner of his third coffee shop in Tacoma.
Check it out.
Location: 1122 Market Street in Downtown Tacoma.
Read more on the Volcano.
Could coffee pave the way to Tacoma's revitalization in 2010?
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Dec. 4, 2009 at 4:58pm
Blackwater Cafe Re-opens...Kind of
Vanilla Bean Coffee has now opened in the old Blackwater space. Check it out.
About
A ongoing conversation to make Tacoma a better to live and work through better urban design.
See my downtown Tacoma and neighborhood pictures of coffee, food, people, art, urban blight and Frost Park Chalk Off events.
Friend Me on Facebook.
-Erik Bjornson
Be sure to visit:
1. The Tacoma Sun, an online Tacoma urban magazine.
2. The James Howard Kunster podcasts broadcast weekly discussing the tragic comedy of suburban sprawl..
3. Tacoma Coffee Shop Showdown
4. Tacoma Document Archive - Key City Documents, Court Documents, Links, Books, and Videos.
5. Is your city worth caring about? James Kunstler discusses how to make your community a place worth caring about.
Useful Links
Tacoma Streetcars - Join the citywide effort to restore streetcars to Tacoma's Neighborhoods.
Congress for New Urbanism - the leading organization promoting walkable, neighborhood-based development as an alternative to sprawl.
Planetizen - A one-stop source for urban planning news, commentary and interviews.
New Urban News - Discussing traditional neighborhood development focusing on building mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods instead of conventional suburban subdivisions, shopping centers and office parks.
Heather Robinson Middle East Commentator - Human Rights and Middle East Issues.
VA Loans in Washington State - Obtain a VA loan today: for civilians and U.S.Servicemembers.