Call them what you will: Tacoma’s homeless encampment sweeps are cruel and inhumane | Opinion

Homeless sweeps

I feel compelled to write this letter after reading Matt Driscoll’s recent column in The News Tribune. Those of us who have observed the city of Tacoma’s sweeps of local homeless encampments — call them what you will — know that they are simply making life worse for unhoused residents.

Those whose belongings are pretty much thrown in the trash, one more time, do not know where to go. I have come to understand that their stuff is as valuable to them as our stuff is to us. Once more, we have driven the unhoused further away from the rest of us.

I admire the Tacoma Needle Exchange and its conscientious stand — returning money to the city. The nonprofit service provider clearly sees the danger of continuing to deal with the unhoused through sweeps, making outreach work all that much more difficult.

We need to listen more attentively to those who are aware of what is happening on our streets.

Colleen Waterhouse, Lakewood

Home in Tacoma

I am concerned that The News Tribune continues to promote the city’s Home in Tacoma plan, despite its broad, abiding unpopularity. I have yet to see an article that presents a fulsome view of those, like me and my neighbors, who do not want to see 45-foot apartment buildings erected in our beautiful neighborhoods.

The public comments, on view for all to see, are decidedly opposed to the entire project.

It should be noted, too, that the Tacoma City Council seems to be ignoring public sentiment, as it blithely cruises toward the implementation of its plan.

Absent meaningful changes to the city’s plan, we citizens will take control via the initiative process, a lesson learned by the majority in Olympia recently.

If the Democratic Socialists of America can push through an initiative that allows people to live for six months without paying rent, then we homeowners should be able to preserve our neighborhoods.

Greg Taylor, Tacoma

Behind the Bylines

The News Tribune’s “Behind the Bylines” event I attended last night was so interesting. Thank you, Stephanie Pedersen and staff, for your hospitality and informative description of your jobs.

You seem jovial knowing each other and happy in your careers.

I was excited to learn that curiosity is one reason journalists choose a career in news and I was relieved to hear the word “taxpayer” referenced regarding the value of the TNT’s work.

The highlight was meeting TNT columnist and Opinion editor Matt Driscoll. Thank you, Matt, for publishing several of my letters — and giving me the courage to voice my own opinions.

It was a great event.

Deana Kay Veldhuis, Edgewood

Animal welfare

We are all concerned about food prices. Yet we should not promote a race to the bottom when it comes to animal welfare as a result of pricing concerns.

In a recent op-ed published by The News Tribune, Amber Gunn, a policy analyst for the Mountain States Policy Center, warns against “prioritizing the humane treatment of animals above the nutritional needs of low-income Washingtonians” — as if it’s an either/or situation.

As the saying goes, “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.” We pride ourselves on treating our pets well, yet animals in our food supply chain are far too often out of sight, out of mind.

Let’s have the integrity to treat all animals decently, including those who provide us with meat, milk, and eggs.

Catherine Forte, Lakewood

This story was originally published March 14, 2024 at 11:10 AM.