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Latest Blog Posts

Whole lot of saving going on

Amazon Prime Day shoppers weren’t the only ones saving money recently. Thanks to some hard work, smart timing and favorable markets, we have saved our sewer ratepayers nearly $25 million! Gary Robinson and Wolf Opitz of the Finance department saw...
Vote.

Yes, it is that time of year. With all the yard signs, mailings and political ads flooding our streets, mailboxes and minds we find ourselves in systems overload. My husband and I have been in elected office for several years and yet we still refer...
Getting in SSHAP

For more than a year, a group of mayors and other elected officials have been meeting to create regional solutions to the challenge of affordable housing. The group, co-chaired by Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards,...
Looking forward to NEO

If you are a fan of the science fiction thriller The Matrix, you might think when I mention NEO I am referring to the protagonist played in the movie by Keanu Reeves. While I enjoyed the film, both the cinematography and plot, NEO on my calendar does...
And justice for all

…with liberty and justice for all. As a kid I repeated the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in school. Whether during my service on the Puyallup School Board or in the Legislature, I recited the Pledge with sincerity at the start of each session...
COVID-19 impacts on behavioral health

A few years ago, the County Council established the Mobile Community Intervention Response Team to address a high number of calls to 911 that needed assistance, but not by traditional first responders like law enforcement or fire and rescue...
Now they’ve done it

The year 2020 has thrown a lot at us. We started out with mudslides, shifted into a pandemic and we’re still recovering from last week’s wildfires. You may be asking, what could possibly happen, next? Well, sadly, this seemingly doomed calendar year...
Days to remember

Sometimes history focuses on the losses, like the number of buildings destroyed, the financial toll of a tragedy, and, most importantly, the lives lost. And while it is important to take in the gravity of these situations, it’s equally important to...
Guest blog: Caring for our seniors

Hello, from Aging and Disability Resources (ADR). I appreciate Heather giving me this opportunity to highlight the great work our team is doing. For some background, ADR is designated as the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for Pierce County. We are...
The power and importance of education

I don’t think I could believe more strongly in education. My life has been shaped by my education, from Mr. Dempsey’s 7th Grade class at Curtis Junior High to the Leadership Class at the U.S. Naval Academy, and from Construction Law classes at the...
Are you hungry?

COVID-19 has created terrible new problems and worsened some that we’ve already had in our community. One of the areas hardest hit over the last few months is the network of food support for those who are struggling to feed themselves and their...
Answer your phone!

Like many of you, I usually let unfamiliar phone numbers go straight to voice mail. But, these days we should all be a little more lenient on that – or at least check your voicemail frequently! That’s because you never know when that phone call may...
Technology, stock tips and COVID

I was really looking forward to my Tuesday morning. I have been office-bound by COVID, so the prospect of getting out with our Roads Crew doing chip sealing got me rev’d up! First, I was reminded just how big our county is. It took me nearly 45...
Give them a standing ovation!

Let’s face it. It’s been a rough few months. It’s been difficult to get and keep our bearings during the pandemic. But there are a few people and groups that not only held their own but found opportunity and creativity in this unprecedented time. ...
Summer Update

Happy Summer, Friends! I am proud of my twenty-five year career in public service, and if there’s a silver lining to all the uncertainty and fear around COVID, it’s that public servants like me really have an opportunity to step up. And step up we...
In the center of the storm

In the center of the storm So, we’ve all seen the memes that end with the blank stare on the person’s face because they just can’t process what they’ve seen or heard? You can almost hear the crickets … I’ve seen that look for years when I explained...
In it for the long-term

In it for the long-term Have you tried to buy a bike, lately? What about adopting a shelter pet for quarantine company? These and other popular items are in short supply, thanks to the ripple effect of the pandemic. In the case of abandoned...
A roller coaster ride

A roller coaster ride I like, but don’t love, roller coasters. I ride them mostly with my son, Colin, who loves them. The roller coaster rides that I hate are where you can’t see what is coming and have no ability to anticipate and prepare. Well,...
How are you?

Many people are facing incredible difficulties in the face of COVID. Some have lost loved ones, and even worse, have not been able to be in the room when they passed. In comparison, my loss was not as great, but it still hurt my heart – a lot. My...
Council Schedule Highlights Week of July 6th, 2020

Due to Governor Inslee’s Emergency Proclamations 20–05 and 20–28, in-person attendance by members of the public at meetings of the Pierce County Council is NOT permitted at this time. Public participation must be done remotely. Remote attendance and...