No teachers' strike - and no contract agreement

On Wednesday night members of the Tacoma Education Association (TEA) voted not to go on strike, instead opting to return to work with no formal contract. The union needed 80-percent of its membership to vote in favor of a strike for one to go into effect.

About 600 teachers did not show up to cast votes, with these absences counted as votes against a strike. This policy has come into question by many teachers who say the high number of presumed no votes led to the no-strike decision.

Teachers are currently working under a non-official agreement with the Tacoma School District, with the terms of the old contract to be honored during this period.

TEA members will meet again Sept. 12. If there is still no agreement between the union and school district by that time the TEA has the option to again vote on a strike. However, it's highly unlikely teachers would choose to strike after beginning the school year.

Marijuana Task Force to include local heavyweights.

The City of Tacoma announced the names of citizens who will be on Mayor Marilyn Strickland's Medical Marijuana Task Force this week. The committee features political heavyweights like State Senator Debbie Regala, State Representative Laurie Jinkins and former (and potentially future) State Supreme Court Candidate Stan Rumbaugh.

According a blog yesterday by the News Tribune, the committee is expected to present feedback and recommendations to city staff regarding many aspects of marijuana public policy. The city staff will then incorporate the committee's conclusions into recommendations presented to the Tacoma City Council.

Medical marijuana moratorium public hearing

In another bit of weed-related news, the city Planning Commission is holding a public hearing Wednesday specifically on the current medical marijuana moratorium in Tacoma. Local news followers will recall that the Tacoma City Council adopted a moratorium last month, prohibiting the opening of any new medical marijuana dispensaries (kind of). The moratorium is intended to give the Planning Commission and the city time to properly research and get educated on the issue so they can decide how to regulate medical marijuana in the future. Public hearings are a valuable part of this process and I encourage you to participate if you're passionate about this issue.

The Washam Recall Army's work is done ... now time for counting

With a Tuesday deadline, the campaign to recall current Pierce County Assessor Treasurer Dale Washam turned in its final signatures this week. Now the campaign to recall Washam must wait for the Pierce County Auditor's Office to count them. 65,495 valid signatures are required for the recall to be put before voters in November. Nearly 85,000 un-validated signatures have been turned in. Despite the impressive number, the recall effort is no sure bet; such signature-gathering efforts (especially with paid signature gatherers) often yield between 15-25-percent illegitimate signatures.

EXTRA CREDIT: In a growing moratorium trend, the Tacoma City Council on Tuesday took an unexpected stand against "big-box" stores. By "big-box" stores the council seems to mean Wal-Mart, which following the city council vote revealed plans to the News Tribune to put a Wal-Mart at S. 23rd Street and Union Ave., where the giant Elks facility currently stands. Expect plenty of drama from this story in coming weeks and months. Public protest to the proposed Wal-Mart is already developing. Meanwhile, officials from the Elks don't seem worried about the sale of their land.