News
News, opinion and analysis, from the people of Tacoma and Pierce County, Washington, for the people of Tacoma and Pierce County, Washington. We want your contribution! Send ideas, articles, comics and events to editor@tahomaorganizer.org.
Pongo Teen Writing: Call for volunteers! Free training. Therapeutic writing programs for youth.
Pongo is doing wonderfully and looking for volunteers for the fall. Pongo volunteers will make a six-month commitment (once a week for three hours plus), and they will learn our techniques for helping abused, neglected, and other traumatized youth to express themselves therapeutically through poetry. More information is included below.
Neighbors Fight to Preserve Shoreline
State Court to Hear Case on Tuesday, June 23rd
Oregon Dems play ball; Washington Dems lack ‘em
Oregon Dems appear set to pass a worker privacy act, while the Washington Democractic leadership screwed their base. The OR Governor has said he will sign the bill when it arrives at his desk.
Somali Pirates - an editorial cartoon submitted from Malawi
Our little newsrag has grown famous. At last count, we've had visitors from 90 countries, and this cartoon was submitted to us by Sudi Mwale, a cartoonist based in Mulawi! I don't know about you, but I think that's pretty cool.
11 Arrested in May PMR Freeway Blockades
The wars go on in the Age of Obama, as does Port Militarization Resistance (PMR). In May with the deployment of the 5th Stryker Brigade to Obama's expanded war in Afghanistan, young activists raise the cost of the war by blocking the passage of Strykers from Ft. Lewis to the Port of Tacoma. Eleven are arrested.
ACTIVISTS FILE LAWSUIT OVER ARRESTS AT PORT OF TACOMA
Press release describing the lawsuit and text of actual lawsuit
Democrats Betray Union Workers in Nixing Worker Privacy Act
The Washington State Leadership Council (WSLC) called out state Democratic leadership, and these corporate politicians showed their true color...Benjamin green. In a year with a terrible revenue crunch, the Worker Privacy Act was an opportunity to give workers meaningful rights on the job that didn't cost a penny. But Dems kowtowed to Boeing and betrayed the unions that had campaigned to build this Democratic majority in the legislature and governor's office. Here is the WSLC's challenge....
A fitting end to an anti-worker legislative session in Olympia.
Washington State Democrats make plain who their master is, by screwing their union worker base for Boeing and other corporate paymasters. In the final hours of the legislative session, Legislature removes benefits from unemployment bill, cuts health funding for state employees, passes new tax breaks for Big Business.
Trailhead to grow from Fennel Creek acquisition
Nearly 10 acres of lush natural growth along Fennel Creek in the City of Bonney Lake has been conserved through a partnership between Pierce County, the City of Bonney Lake and the Cascade Land Conservancy.
Oregon New Sanctuary Movement organizing a Mothers Day vigil at the Northwest Detention Center
Portland, Ore.-- On May 9th, the Washington and Oregon New Sanctuary Movement coalitions will join together with immigrant rights, labor groups and immigrant families, in a Mothers Day vigil outside the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, WA, a privately-run holding facility for immigrants awaiting trial in an immigration court or deportation.
Paint Tacoma-Pierce Beautiful seeking volunteers
Close to 250 people have requested free house painting by volunteer crews from Paint Tacoma-Pierce Beautiful this summer. The applicants are either low-income seniors or low-income with a disability. With all those applications, now is the time for people to get some of their co-workers, friends and family together to spend a couple of days answering these people’s requests for help.
Tacoma PMR - You can do something today, tonight, and tomorrow.
In one of the most highly militarized places in the entire world, a van and a small group of people took the military and the police off guard. They were surprised. They had no idea what was going on. Imagine, if you will, how the scene would have unraveled if instead of three people doing a blockade there were ten or twenty or more?
Friends of the Lower White River seeking volunteers
Friends of the Lower White River is helping teacher Margo Swift at Sequoyah Middle School (Federal Way Public Schools), in S. King County, with a habitat improvement project in the Jovita Creek drainage of the Lower White River basin, Puyallup River Watershed. SMS's forests and wetlands are actually one of the sources of Jovita Creek, by way of 5 Mile Lake and Trout Lake.
Campbell officially announces run for Tacoma City Council Position #4
Marty Campbell, a community leader and small business owner, has announced his candidacy for Tacoma City Council. Campbell is seeking position #4, currently held by Councilmember Rick Talbert, whose term ends this year.
RR Anderson slaps Rick Talbert, Mike Cohen, Point Ruston, I.C.E and the Northwest Detention Center
Thanks to Tacoma's own RR Anderson for this biting editorial cartoon, which, in our opinion, lays it out pretty well.
Volunteers Unite to Restore Urban Habitat in April
Residents and volunteers are coming together in honor of Earth Day by coordinating volunteer work parties in every corner of Tacoma with the aim of connecting neighbors and communities with local parks and open spaces.
Coverage update: Northwest Detention Center
The Northwest Detention Center is now a national disgrace. Private for-profit prisons are being caught out mistreating their prisoners all over the country, and ICE itself is coming under increased scrutiny. Thanks to Maru Mora Villalpando of Washington CAN! for this information.
NOAA Seeking "Shovel-Ready" Habitat Restoration Proposals
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is seeking proposals for coastal habitat restoration projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in an unprecedented effort to jumpstart the economy, create and save several thousand jobs, and restore valuable coastal and marine habitat for fish, birds and other animals.
It Begins with Energy
Obama’s plan to rebuild the economy starts with strong climate solutions. Washington and Oregon need to do their part to lead the country to a new paradigm of energy use. While Washington State legislators are reeling under the weight of an $8 billion-plus budget shortfall for 2 years, the state’s economy lost twice that much – over $16 billion – in 2008 alone to import fossil fuels.