A message to Biden: Certify the Equal Rights Amendment. It has met the threshold | Opinion
Biden should finalize ERA
In the United States, women and girls are not legally guaranteed equal rights. We have seen the devastating consequences of this reality in our fights against unequal pay, workplace harassment, pregnancy discrimination, domestic violence, limited access to health care, discrimination against LGBTQIA+ individuals and more.
As our nation braces for a rise in attacks on the liberties of women and girls, we need the only duly ratified constitutional amendment that has not been added to the Constitution: the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The ERA rightfully became the 28th Amendment more than four years ago and will update the Constitution to provide nationwide protection against discriminatory federal and state laws.
President Joe Biden has acknowledged its ratification but passed the buck to a polarized Congress. This political punting has precluded the ERA’s publication and has cost people their health and lives. Biden has the power to instruct the U.S. Archivist to certify and publish the amendment, making equal rights the law of the land.
With just weeks left in office, the League of Women Voters of Washington calls upon Biden to pick up the phone and instruct the Archivist to finalize the ERA now.
Mr. President, your legacy is calling.
Mary Coltrane, Seattle
Homelessness in Tacoma
In 1546, Geneva Switzerland was flooded with refugees from Catholic France. Available land was scarce. At John Calvin’s direction, additional stories were built on the existing buildings to house the refugees. They are reminders of hospitality to the homeless. Along Yakima Avenue, rocks and boulders serve as reminders of Tacoma’s inhospitality to the homeless.
In Tacoma, a person can be fined or imprisoned for up to thirty days. It is estimated the actual number of homeless is as high as 4,300, but there are a little over 1,000 shelter beds available. Lakewood and other cities across the nation have criminalized homelessness.
German cities are obliged to provide shelter to the homeless. A U.N. report has called homelessness “perhaps the most visible and more severe symptom of lack of respect for the right to adequate housing.” The city’s “Tidy Up Tacoma “ordinance has merely moved the homeless out of sight but not out of the cold and the rain.
The legislature should require municipalities to provide an opportunity for adequate shelter to all who are homeless. The City Council may say that is unfair to obligate them for matters out of their control. To them I say: You started it.
John Cain, Tacoma
Support for Kimber Starr
As a new resident of Pierce County, I’ve been thrilled to learn more about this beautiful community and start calling it home. Adjusting to a new area can be daunting, but Kimber Starr made my family and me feel welcomed from the very beginning. Her kindness and dedication to building connections truly stand out.
As I’ve gotten to know Starr, I’ve been inspired by her commitment to community, focus on real results and thoughtful leadership. Having served as a school board director, I understand what it takes to lead effectively, and Starr is more than ready for the job. Her experience on the Pierce County Planning Commission demonstrates her dedication to fostering responsible growth while preserving the qualities that make our county special. Starr’s approach ensures policies reflect the needs of all residents, creating a foundation for families like mine to thrive.
Starr also excels at bringing people together. She listens to all voices in the community and collaborates with decision-makers to ensure she truly represents the area. Even when faced with difficult decisions, she strives to do what’s best for the people. I urge Pierce County councilmembers to appoint Starr to the Council — she’s exactly the leader we need.
Melissa Bedford, Puyallup