The TNT Ed Board’s endorsement got it wrong. Only 1 candidate fights for Hilltop | Opinion

District 3 endorsement

Disappointed as I am in The News Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsement decision for the District 3 seat on Tacoma’s City Council, I am more disappointed by the rationales. In them, I read tired and clichéd stereotypes.

Jamika Scott received 41% of the votes in the primary, way ahead of the pack. Clearly, the voters of District 3 want someone with deep connections in Tacoma with a history of working tirelessly, as a volunteer, to help make substantive changes. Scott has done this by being collaborative and transparent.

Meanwhile, the TNT Editorial Board makes the completely uninspired decision to endorse a Portland transplant who does not have an even remotely similar track record in Tacoma of working, along with a diverse array of fellow Tacomans, for the public good.

I trust Scott will represent my interests on the Tacoma City Council. These include working to ensure that people’s basic needs aren’t sacrificed to those looking to profit from essential, life-affirming things like housing, health care and public safety.

I want someone who will challenge the status quo, not just because she is, justifiably, dissatisfied with it but because she loves Tacoma and its people and sincerely wants all of us to have a fair shake.

Laurie Arnold, Tacoma

Union support for Initiative 1

As a board member of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 367, I’m disgusted by the dishonesty shown by the lobbyist group opposing Tacoma’s Initiative 1.

This initiative would provide common-sense protections for tenants in Tacoma, including well over a thousand members of our union. To fight for higher pay and quality of life for our members only to see those gains swallowed up by moneyed interests from outside of our state is disheartening, but what is more disheartening is to see opponents’ repeated attempts at misinforming the voter.

In the first attempt, the Tacoma City Council tried to manipulate the ballot and were defeated in court. More recently, misinformation was sent out about Initiative 1 to voters via flyers that were carefully worded to confuse the reader.

Through these actions, the big landlord lobby has made it perfectly clear that with no valid argument to present, they will rely on dirty tricks and shady political maneuvers in an effort to insult the intelligence of the Tacoma voter.

I am voting yes on Initiative 1 in support of my coworkers.

Cam L. Peterson, Tacoma

PenMet Parks levy

I am writing in support of the PenMet Parks levy renewal.

Under PenMet’s stewardship, we have stunning parks and trail systems. My family and I use the trails at McCormick Forest and Sehmel Park on a regular basis. There are trees along these trails that are ancient, breathtaking in their size and presence. How lucky we are that PenMet had the foresight to preserve them.

I think it is vital that we help support PenMet’s efforts to continue to preserve community forests and open spaces.

I attended one of their recent informational meetings regarding the levy. I noticed they are using a new tagline: “Parks for all, Parks for life.”

I think that sums it up for me.

Please join me in voting yes on the PenMet Parks renewal levy.

Hunter Severt, Gig Harbor