Does Puyallup need a new jail? Voters will decide. Here’s what the TNT Ed Board thinks
In a city of 40,000 and growing, Puyallup voters filling out their ballots in the coming weeks will be tasked with decisions that will help determine the trajectory of Pierce County’s third-largest city in the years to come.
Unfortunately, not every Puyallup race reflects the weight of the moment or the kind of choice residents deserve. While current mayor Julie Door has served with admirable purpose — and shown the acumen to help tame and focus a city council that was once known for bitterness and dysfunction — her unchallenged run to retain the District 3, Position 2 seat on the Puyallup council still represents a missed opportunity for civic discourse. Even when residents are satisfied with the incumbent, competition sharpens leaders and helps spur involvement in democracy.
The same is true in the race for Council District 1, Position 2. While voters will see a choice between incumbent Jim Kastama and U.S. Air Force veteran Joshua Harem, in reality it’s an illusion.
Last month, Harem told The News Tribune Editorial Board that he had a change of heart shortly after filing and quickly ended his campaign. Harem initially misunderstood state financial disclosure rules, he said, and later decided he didn’t want to file forms with the state Public Disclosure Commission out of privacy concerns. By then it was too late to pull his name from the ballot.
All of this is not to say that this year’s general election will be void of Puyallup intrigue, however.
The race for Council District 2, Position 2 represents a litmus test for voters, particularly as the city contends with the dual crises of homelessness and a lack of affordable housing.
During the primary, we endorsed Joe Colombo to replace council member Cyndi Jacobsen, who — after winning election to the state House last year — wisely opted to forgo a bid for a second council term. Given his knowledge of affordable housing policy and his vision for helping Puyallup achieve “functional zero homelessness” through thoughtful, results-oriented policy, Colombo’s credentials and detail-oriented demeanor stand head and shoulders above his challenger, Dennis King.
Proposition 1 — an $82 million bond measure that would replace the city’s aging and leaky police station and jail with a new public safety facility — will test voters’ appetite for new property taxes at a time of monumental growth. The 25-year bond — which would cost the average Puyallup property owner roughly $20 a month — will need to secure 60% of votes to pass.
An average property tax hike of more than $200 a year is nothing to take lightly — particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on family finances — but, in our view, Puyallup’s plan for a new jail is worth supporting.
As Puyallup Police Chief Scott Engle told The News Tribune Editorial Board, the city’s current facility — which opened in 1968 — is cramped and outdated; beyond a shortage of jail beds and space for detectives to work, it lacks the necessities to adequately care for those experiencing behavioral health challenges or medical emergencies, he said.
Tax skeptical voters should be reassured by the years of work that preceded the Puyallup City Council’s unanimous vote to authorize Proposition 1 for the November ballot. It was the result of roughly a decade of public discussions, and the plan that has emerged — which would ultimately provide roughly 30 more jail beds — reflects the city’s expected growth and the need for local government to be a responsible steward of public resources.
Looking 20 or 30 years into the future, Proposition 1 is worth the significant investment.
For Puyallup, the need for a modern public safety facility is hard to deny.
News Tribune election endorsements reflect the views of our Editorial Board and are written by interim opinion editor Matt Driscoll. Other board members are: Stephanie Pedersen, News Tribune president and editor; Jim Walton, community representative; and Pamela Transue, a community representative who serves during election season. The Editorial Board operates independently from the newsroom and does not influence the work of news reporting and editing staff. Endorsements are merely recommendations based on candidate interviews, research and discussions among the board. We do not endorse any candidates who do not interview with us. For questions, email matt.driscoll@thenewstribune.com
This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 5:00 AM.