TNT letters: Diversity and redistricting; housing in Proctor; masked up for James Taylor

Redistricting

Pierce County is my home. I was born and raised here, and am planting roots here. I want Tacoma to be a place where everyone can have their voices heard. We have an opportunity to create that with redistricting.

Tacoma and the surrounding cities are racially and socioeconomically diverse. We must not draw district lines that undermine this. To achieve this equity in representation, we must create a majority-people of color district in the 28th legislative district by removing University Place and including more diverse cities like Lakewood, Parkland and Spanaway. Currently, the 28th dilutes voices of color.

This, and maintaining the current majority-POC lines in the 29th district, will give Tacomans of color fair representation in Olympia. A nonpartisan coalition called Redistricting Justice for Washington is advocating for exactly this in Pierce County and across Washington. I implore the redistricting commission to adopt Redistricting Justice for Washington’s map proposals and prioritize creating majority-POC districts in our state.

Alexa Brenner, Tacoma

Affordable housing in Proctor

Re: “Contentious Proctor III apartments start construction in Tacoma” (TNT, 11/01/2021)

I just finished reading about this development and was amazed to see the city seems to feel $2000 monthly for 450 square feet of living space passes for affordable housing. Really?

I did the arithmetic. A full time job offering minimum wage (and full time jobs at minimum wage are rare) pays $2400 monthly. I anxiously await an explanation from the City Council of how a minimum wage earner can survive on the $400 balance.

Van Perdue, Tacoma

Masked up for James Taylor

We attended the James Taylor and Jackson Brown concert at the Tacoma Dome, which was filled nearly to its capacity of 21,000. The iconic ballads are always deeply satisfying, but what also struck me was that at least 95% of the audience was mask compliant.

Imagine, 20,000 people being considerate of one another like it was no big deal. Way to go, Tacoma, there’s a whole bunch of you I’d like to get to know better.

Paul Birkey, Tacoma

Inflammatory letter

Re: “Letters to the editor,” (TNT, 10/24/2021)

I was very concerned when I read the first letter to the editor in The News Tribune on Sunday, October 24th. It was titled “Dictator Inslee.” Given the current political climate, I think it was completely irresponsible to publish a letter comparing a state workers’ vaccine mandate to the sacrifices made by the military on D-Day on Omaha Beach.

With florid language, the writer pitied the first responders, saying they were “falling from battle and anguish” because they “chose” not to be vaccinated. I don’t agree with a word the writer says here, but that’s not the point. The point is that in this time, when Secretaries of State require armed protection for themselves and their families, when the Governor of Michigan was saved from a kidnap/murder plot for requiring people to wear masks, where election officials all over the country are leaving office because of constant threats and harassment, some letters should simply not see the light of day.

This published letter is the sort which can incite an unhinged person to a violent act. I believe it is right and proper to publish letters which express varying opinions, but not ones which add fuel to the fire and may lead to violence,

Sarah Newmark, Gig Harbor