I’m telling!

Throughout the relatively brief lifespan of the Weekly Volcano’s nuevo, bulkier, newsier, and sexed-up format, one square mile on the doorstep of Point Defiance Park has probably garnered more ink than anywhere.



That square mile is Ruston, and in the near future there’s at least a chance the politically mired town will start drawing the interest of the ACLU — not just drama-hungry media types looking for some of the juiciest and nastiest small town politics in all the land.

That’s because on Tuesday, March 12, Ruston resident Helen Accra drew on her experience of 50 years worth of political activism and express mailed a letter to the ACLU highlighting several ways that she, and others, say the Ruston Town Council, is acting illegally and unconstitutionally.



At the heart of Accra’s letter, which can be found on www.rustonhome.blogspot.com, are a number of complaints. The biggest is that, according to Accra, the Rules of Engagement proposed by Councilman Bradley Huson and passed by the Ruston Town Council in February, which bar public comments during Town Council meetings until the last 15 minutes — time permitting — is undemocratic and quite possibly illegal and/or unconstitutional.



While the ACLU hadn’t received Accra’s letter at press time and was unavailable for comment on it specifically, there’s reason to believe they will at least consider taking action. In 2005 the ACLU fought a rule enacted by the Pierce County Council that stated “Speakers may not attack or make any allusion to the motives of any council member.”



The Pierce County Council later voted unanimously to repeal the rule.

“The ACLU has taken up similar cases in Pierce County and Yelm, for the same kind of thing, if not lesser,” says Accra. “All Pierce County and Yelm were doing was limiting the kinds of things you can say. Our council isn’t letting us say anything.” — Matt Driscoll

R.I.P. property owners

Two bills seeking to reform eminent domain processes in Washington have died in the legislature, disappointing property rights advocates who say the laws were sorely needed in light of recent events.



As originally presented, HB 2016, the so-called Eminent Domain Reform bill, died in the Senate Transportation Committee after failing to get enough votes to keep it alive. The House-passed bill would have reserved a seven-year option to buy back property taken through eminent domain if the property was not used for the intended purpose. The bill also would have made it harder to take land from private property owners for purposes such as economic development or to increase tax revenues. The bill also would have required agencies to consider alternatives provided by the targeted property owner. Most of the meaningful reforms proposed within the bill were stripped of their teeth shortly before the bill died.



HB 2920, sponsored by Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, would have required condemning agencies to provide a pamphlet outlining the process of eminent domain and the rights of property owners who are faced with eminent domain action.

That bill was inspired by a state Supreme Court ruling that posting an obscure notice on a state agency’s Web site was sufficient notice for condemnation proceedings against University Place resident Ken Miller. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing Feb. 29 and did not vote on the bill. — Joe Malik

New discussions, old issues

On Thursday, March 20, the New Tacoma Neighborhood Council, who’s mission is “to create a safe, dynamic, and livable community in the New Tacoma Neighborhood,” will host a panel discussion called “Tacoma No Income Housing: What to do about the Pierce County Jail.” The meeting will take place at the Evergreen State College Tacoma Campus at 6 p.m. Panelists will include Pierce County Prosecutor Gerry Horne, Tacoma Municipal Court Presiding Judge David Ladenburg, Pierce County Superior Court Presiding Judge Tom Larkin, Tacoma Police Chief Don Ramsdell and Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor.



Faced with understaffing and maligned inmate healthcare, the Pierce County Jail definitely has plenty of issues worth discussion.

According to Elton Gatewood, Tacoma’s Neighborhood Council coordinator, the main topic of discussion Thursday night will be how to combat the overcrowding problem at the Pierce County Jail, which routinely leads to early releases for criminals, as well as catch-and-release tactics for low-level drug offenders and prostitutes.



“Once these people are released, what do we do with them? The meeting will be an opportunity for education, information and exploration,” says Gatewood.“It’s a chance for residents to voice their concerns and also learn what roles everyone plays in this issue.” — MD