Citizen Tacoma

Latest Episodes:

Beth Doglio, Candidate for US Congress, WA-10 Sep 08, 2020

Show notes

Annie sits down with Beth Doglio, a candidate for the US House of Representatives in Washington’s 10th congressional district. This seat covers parts of Tacoma and much of the South Sound.

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Citizen Fircrest? Aug 01, 2020

Show notes

Annie Jansen talks to Hunter George, the Mayor of Fircrest, about what’s happening with Tacoma’s closest neighbor, including an upcoming EMS levy.

Links

Channel 253 membership

Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson Jul 23, 2020

Show notes

Good news! Annie Jansen and Megan Holyoke are pinch hitting on Citizen Tacoma during this election season.

For their first episode, they are joined by Auditor Julie Anderson, who talks about how the work of running elections has changed due to the coronavirus and the ways we can continue to make it easier to “vote from home.”

Remember to vote in the August 4 primary!

Links

Channel 253 membership

Episode 66: The state of mental health in Tacoma Dec 18, 2019

Show notes

Whether you’ve shopped around for a therapist in a moment of crisis only to find that none in Tacoma are taking new clients, or have struggled to get a family member a bed in a behavioral health hospital, if you’ve bumped up against our mental health care system it’s easy to feel like it’s broken.

We spoke to Hope Sparks president Joe LeRoy, Comprehensive Life Resources CEO Kim Zacher, and The News Tribune columnist Matt Driscoll about the challenges that plague this system, and a few efforts underway to make it easier to access for those in need of help.

We could easily have made six episodes out of this topic, and maybe we will in the future: This is an important conversation.

Links

Pierce County HSRI Report – Revised 2018

Kids Mental Health Pierce County – Statement of Community Needs

Tacoma Pierce County Health Department Health Equity Info & Social Determinants of Health

WA State Behavioral Health Workforce Assessment

Healthcare Workforce Development Recommendations

Help Me Grow Pierce County Data Summary Report

Kids’ Mental Health Pierce County

Elevate Health – Pierce County ACH
Help Me Grow Pierce County

Beacon Health Options – Pierce County Crisis Info

Comprehensive Life Resources

HopeSparks Family Services

He jumped in front of a train after being turned away by Tacoma’s new psychiatric hospital

Episode 65: John O’Loughlin, candidate for Tacoma City Council Oct 27, 2019

Show notes

Here it is, our last candidate of 2019! This was a meaty interview, y’all. John O’Loughlin is running for At-Large Position 8 on the City Council, which is being vacated by Ryan Mello as he terms out.

O’Loughlin spent 31 years working for the city of Tacoma in environmental services, and oversaw the cleanup of the Foss Waterway. He says that experience brings him a unique perspective on budget and environmental issues in the city.

O’Loughlin hasn’t run for office before and says he’s not a politician. Here, he talks about his ideas on paying for affordable housing, environmental issues surrounding the Port, and his favorite movie, which is a question we probably should have been asking all the candidates because his answer was a deep cut.

Links

Elect John O’Loughlin website

Public Disclosure Commission: O’Loughlin John F

Two new faces will join Tacoma City Council. Will voters continue to move to the left?

Channel 253 membership

Episode 64: Kristin Ang, candidate for Port of Tacoma commission Oct 25, 2019

Show notes

Kristin Ang was pretty much a total political unknown when she decided on the Friday of filing week in 2017 that she was going to run for Port of Tacoma commission. She was and still is vocally opposed to the liquefied natural gas plant being built on the Tideflats, which immediately set her apart.

That year, she came out of nowhere to win about 40 percent of the vote and cause a stir among environmentalists and progressives who wanted something different for the Port commission, which has historically dominated by older white people, mostly men.

This year, Ang (who is a lawyer) has a bigger backing and a more established campaign. She was even endorsed by The News Tribune. We talked about her views on how the Port can be more innovative and more environmentally-friendly and what’s been different about this election cycle.

Links

Public Disclosure Commission: Ang Kristin

Kristin Ang for Port website

Cash pours into Port of Tacoma campaigns amid concern over future direction of the port

We endorse: Deanna Keller, Kristin Ang aren’t alike (far from it), but both could help Port of Tacoma

Episode 63: Enrique Leon, candidate for Tacoma School Board Oct 21, 2019

Show notes

It’s almost time to vote! If you’re a voter in Tacoma, you probably already have your ballot (they’re due Nov. 5, btw). But before you fill it out, listen to our final three candidate episodes of the season!

In episode 63, we talk to Enrique Leon, who was appointed to the board of Tacoma Public Schools in 2018 to replace Catherine Ushka when she was elected to the Tacoma City Council. Now battle-tested after living through the Tacoma teacher strike last year, Leon wants a chance to be chosen by voters to serve for a full term.

Leon is a physician by day. We talked about the teacher strike, but also about some of the health-related initiatives and programs he’s helped bring to Tacoma schools and how he wants to expand them further. We also talked about the many reasons why he thinks Tacoma school kids should have a later start time.

Links

Public Disclosure Commission: Leon Enrique

Enrique Leon chosen as new school board member

Could later start times become a reality at Tacoma schools? ‘Sleepyheads’ are working on it

Elect Enrique Leon Facebook page

Channel 253 membership

Episode 62: Lisa Keating, candidate for Tacoma school board Oct 13, 2019

Show notes

Lisa Keating was our first interview this year with a school board candidate this year (and our only one with someone with purple hair!). Keating, who founded and heads an organization that advocates for LGBT youth, is challenging the formidable 30-year incumbent Debbie Winskill for position 1 in November.

Keating explains why she decided to run, and we talked at length about equity and inclusion in the school district and her work in Tacoma schools over the last decade. We also vented frustrations with some of the school board’s actions during the strike last year, and she told us how they might have been handled differently.

Check below for some original Channel 253 reporting by Sean Robinson on this high profile school board race. And become a member, everyone’s doing it.

Links

One local school board race typifies generational shifts in Tacoma

A first-time candidate is raising most money in Tacoma school board races. Does it matter?

My Purple Umbrella

Friends for Lisa Keating website

Public Disclosure Commission: Keating Lisa J

Channel 253 membership

Episode 61: Conor McCarthy, candidate for Tacoma City Council Oct 09, 2019

Show notes

Conor McCarthy, Tacoma’s deputy mayor, is running for re-election to the City Council.
He’s pointing to his ability to secure funding for opioid treatment, public safety, homelessness, and environmental testing as he tries to win a second four-year term.
But he’s facing a new kind of challenger: Courtney Love, an outspoken progressive attacking him for his positions on the liquefied natural gas plant under construction on Tacoma’s Tideflats, campaign financing, and other issues.
KNKX Public Radio reporter Will James filled in as host for this episode. McCarthy talked about how he was influenced by his parents, both seasoned politicians, what he learned from trying to help someone out of homelessness, and many other topics.

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