Back to Tacoma Week In Review

Dicks and Smith weigh in on the debt deal, plus more medical marijuana drama

A look back at the last week in Tacoma and Pierce County

Washington's 9th District Congressman Adam Smith

Email Article Print Article Share on Facebook Share on Reddit Share on StumbleUpon

Tacoma Congressmen Split on Debt Bill

On Monday Congress reduced the stress levels of millions by passing a debt ceiling deal, avoiding what many experts speculated could have been a global economic catastrophe. The bill passed 269-to-161 with House Democrats split down the middle - 95 on each side. Washington's delegation (including the Senators) voted 9 to 2 in favor of the debt deal.

In a microcosm of the Democrat's split, the two congressmen representing Tacoma cast opposing votes. Norm Dicks, who lives in Belfair but represents most of Tacoma, voted in favor of the bill, while Adam Smith, who resides in Northeast Tacoma but represents only a small portion of the city, voted against it.  Smith voiced his skepticism to the News Tribune soon after it was passed.

Medical Marijuana debate

Medical marijuana made headlines again this week in Tacoma, and will likely continue to do so until the City Council comes to a decision about the legitimacy of the establishments attempting to responsibly distribute it.

This week the council unanimously approved a six-month moratorium, banning the opening of new dispensaries as well as "collective gardens." The ban likely will not affect previously existing dispensaries in Tacoma, which are already locked into what's becoming a long and drawn out proceeding.

Jordon Schrader of the News Tribune wrote about this week's development in detail.

Local Voters to Decide on 911

Pierce County voters will be given the opportunity to establish what the county describes as "a seamless, more efficient emergency communications system that improves safety for every resident and first responder."

The Pierce County Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday, July 26, to send the measure to the Nov. 8 General Election ballot. If voters approve the funding, a new agency called South Sound 911 will be created to make updates and improvements to critical communications equipment used by law enforcement and fire agencies.

Even in this "off year" the November ballot looks to be a crowded one. Statewide, three citizen initiatives and two constitutional amendments from the Legislature are slated to be put before voters, and the Pierce County Council may be adding as many as three Pierce County Charter Amendments.

School Board Candidate Forum

The Tacoma Urban League Young Professionals are hosting a community forum for Tacoma School Board candidates Aug. 11 at the Allen Russell Building (1321 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma). The forum is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with a reception beginning at 5:30 p.m.

This forum is the last chance for voters to observe conversation between a deep roster of candidates with differing proprieties and opinions. With the completion of the primary election less than two weeks away the field will soon be shrunk from eight to four.

Civic Volunteer Opportunities Abound

The City of Tacoma Planning Commission, Pierce County Personnel Board, Pierce County Board of Equalization and Pierce Conservation District are all seeking to fill vacancies on citizen boards. To learn more about these opportunities visit the City of Tacoma or Pierce County's website. Take it from this Tacoma Art Commissioner that citizen commissions and boards are a phenomenal way to learn about local issues, contribute to local culture and deepen networks and community roots.

Comments for "Dicks and Smith weigh in on the debt deal, plus more medical marijuana drama"

Comments for this article are currently closed.