Why take on the issue of homelessness?  It is a problem that everyone is talking about, which doesn’t seem to be getting better despite the resources being invested.  

The League of Women Voters of Tacoma Pierce County spent almost a year building partnerships to collaborate on community forums on the issue of homelessness.

After holding a series of successful civil conversation forums, the League of Women Voters of Tacoma-Pierce County and their community partners NAACP, AAUW, and RAD (Restoring the American Dream), decided to do a deep dive and some actual problem solving around the issue of homelessness. 


Homeless CoLab Workshop  – October 20-21, 2017

Led by League member Larry Seaquist the groups tried the “Community Laboratory” (CoLab) model  – a new method of engaging the public in a civil problem-solving strategic planning session. Based on role playing, the model gets to the heart of the matter very quickly.

Using the CoLab model, LWVT-PC and partners held a session at which approximately 40 stakeholders currently involved in the homelessness issue met.

The participants included shelter providers, city and county government officials, realtors, churches, McKinney-Vento Program liaisons, United Way, educators, library representatives, economic development experts, law enforcement, people experiencing homelessness and others.

Working in mixed groups, each table was assigned a role: Opportunity-Makers, Homeless Communities, Rule-Makers, Housing Owners and Makers, Community Protectors and “Ministers of Chaos” (nay-sayers).

Together, these stakeholders arrived at four consensus recommendations:

1. Declare an emergency in the county and conduct a marketing/education campaign within the Pierce County community
2. Establish a core group, a multi-jurisdictional, multi-sector hub, responsible for homelessness countywide.
3. Provide support in the form of transit passes, access to hygiene and cell phones with expanded data service.
4. Create a super-village of housing plus support services and a system to graduate people from homelessness through a phased approach back to permanent housing.  Use vacant commercial buildings to create this and employ homeless people to do part of the work.

The stakeholder participants asked the LWVT-PC to take the lead on implementation of these recommendations. 

As LWVT-PC began working the issues within the political system, an opportunity arose in partnership with the State Historic Museum to use the Tacoma Convention Center for an event and a forum was scheduled.

Facing Pierce County Homelessness: Creating "HomeFULLness”  - April, 28, 2018.

In line with the previous year’s activities, the partnership of four organizations, under leadership of LWVT-PC, held a public forum on the issue of homelessness, calling attention not only to the problem, but also to potential solutions.

The one-day session included two plenary sessions, one at the beginning and one at the end, a keynote speaker from the Gates Foundation, and two sets of four concurrent sessions on specific issues:

• Hard Times in Hooverville:  Homeless Settlements During the Great Depression
• Closing the Affordable Housing Gap
• Addressing Homelessness through Community Organizing
• Road to Nickelsville (film and discussion)
• Health Care and Homelessness
• Racial Inequity in Homelessness
• Coordination of Services for People Experiencing Homelessness
• Homeless Youth

There were 47 speakers and moderators involved in this program as well as 35 volunteers to support it.  Approximately 300 members of the public attended. Funding was provided by a number of community organizations.

The next step, political action, was taken when LWVT-PC sent a letter to the Pierce County Council outlining the recommendations stemming from the public feedback at the event. LWVT-PC then presented to the results of their work to the Pierce County Council's Human Services Committee. You can see their presentation online (starts about 20 minutes in).

If you have questions about these event or about holding events like them in your community, please contact Cynthia Stewart, President, LWVT-PC.

With increased public support for stricter gun laws after the Parkland and Mukilteo school shootings, the Alliance for Gun Responsibility filed an initiative to the people to enact safety measures the legislature failed to follow through on.

 

Thurston County Leaguers participate in the March for Our Lives

The initiative incorporates several gun safety measures – all of which League positions support – under the umbrella of increasing public safety.  Key provisions include:

• raising the minimum age for purchasing an assault-style weapon from 18 to 21
• requiring an enhanced background check, as required for handguns
• waiting period up to ten days
• disclosure of potential risks of guns in the home to be signed by buyer
• require gun dealers to make safe storage devices available to buyers
• Dangerous Access Prevention to prevent children and persons prohibited from gun ownership  vfrom obtaining unsecured weapons. This provision has the highest potential for saving lives, especially suicides. Twenty-eight states now require safe storage
• mandatory safety training for assault-style weapon buyers
• mandatory reporting of lost and stolen weapons.

The initiative will be known as I-1639 and petitions will be available May 7. The state league board will consider endorsement of I-1639 at its May 18 meeting.

The League endorsed I-594 for universal background checks in 2014 and I-1490 for Extreme Risk Protection Orders in 2016. Both passed by wide margins. This initiative will require 260,000 valid signatures by July 7. 

At League's Council 2018, held in Richland, we welcomed a keynote panel to talk with us about Hanford. The League's own Susan Leckband (LWV of Benton-Franklin Counties) serves as the chair of the Hanford Advisory Board. 

In her presentation she explained what the Hanford Advisory Board is, who's on it, how it makes decisions, and why it exists. 

Susan Leckband joined Alexandra Smith of the Washington State Department of Ecology and David Reeploeg of TRIDEC at the LWVWA 2018 Council 

In her concluding remarks Susan told us, "Given the magnitude and longevity of the cleanup operations, it is imperative that we remain mindful to adhere to our most crucial priority, which is protection of public health and the environment, now and in the future. As a citizens' advisory board, we keep those values in mind as we advise the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington State Department of Ecology to complete the Hanford cleanup mission in a timely, safe, and cost-effective manner."

To read more about the Hanford Advisory Board, please refer to Susan's slides.

The Membership, Engagement, & Leadership Development (MELD) Program Pilot Pod calls have gone well and, with Board and MELD Coach support, we have decided to expand the program state-wide in June. 

On Friday, June 1 in Richland, the day before Council 2018 begins, we are holding a MELD Training Session with the LWVWA Board, MELD Coaches, and representative from all (we hope) 20 Local Leagues. The purpose is to build a strong framework to support the launch of the new Pods. This training session is separate from Council, includes lunch, and there is no cost. 

We have divided our 20 Local Leagues (LLs) into five MELD Pods (we currently have five MELD Coaches). We aimed to create diverse groups with at least one LL from Eastern Washington, one large LL, and one LL who has not recently had a MLD Coach.

2018/2019 MELD Pod Groups

Pod 1: Yakima, Tacoma/Pierce, Cowlitz, Clark

Coach: Judy Golberg, Board Liaison: Judy Davis

Pod 2: Pullman, Snohomish, Skagit, Mason

Coach: Barbara Seitle, Board Liaison: Joanna Cullen

Pod 3: Spokane, Bellingham/Whatcom, San Juan, Clallam

Coach: Kim Abel, Board Liaison: Mary Coltrane

Pod 4: Kittitas, Seattle/KC, Jefferson, Whidbey

Coach: Myra Howrey, Board Liaison: Lunell Haught & Katherine Murphy

Pod 5: Benton/Franklin, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Kitsap

Coach: Lynn Busacca, Board Liaison: Michelle Valentine

Stay tuned in early summer for the launch of the Engaging Notes blog and MELD Page on the LWVWA website.

Who knew a housewife and mother of five could make such a difference?

Certainly not Mary Ellen McCaffree, when she took on the problem of her kids’ ill-funded schools. In this one-woman show, you’ll join Mary Ellen’s deep dive into the legislative lion’s den of redistricting. As she is thrust center stage in the fight for one person - one vote, you’ll recognize political parallels to today – dysfunction, obstruction, partisan ploys, and also leaders firmly focused on We the People. Mary Ellen’s unexpected journey will inspire you to join the fresh voices rising today. On your mark, pick your passion, GO!

Many Maps, One Voice, excerpted from Mary Ellen's book, Politics of the Possible, tracks the redistricting journey of Mary Ellen McCaffree, played by veteran stage actress Jane Fellows (Belle of Amherst, The Trip to Bountiful, Good Morning, Miss America). Timely and timeless, this is a show that's perfect for the 2018 midterms and the next round of redistricting. Many Maps is a call to civic engagement, citizen action and civility in the ongoing voting rights fight inherent in the census and redistricting. 

Read more about the show and most importantly, buy your tickets today!

Planning to arrive in Richland on Friday for Council 2018? 

The Benton/Franklin League has arranged a special, free tour of the Hanford Site Friday afternoon, June 1. This will be a road tour of the Hanford Site, with commentary along the tour route by an experienced Hanford Site tour guide.

This tour is exclusive to League members and council participants. Please note: the Hanford tour and MELD training happen concurrently. It is not possible to attend both.

Hanford's B Reactor

The tour bus will pick us up at the Shilo Inn at 1 p.m., where we will be transported to the Department of Energy Visitor Control Office for badging. 

Before the tour can start, visitors will need to show that they are US Citizens, 18 years or older. 

Please consult the Required Forms of Identification for Hanford Site Access which outlines the ID requirements each tour participant must bring to be issued a Hanford Site visitor badge. Please note that anyone without proper ID will be unable to participate in the tour. There are no exceptions. 

For any questions on the badging information, you may call the DOE Visitor Control Office at 509-376-3215.

Following the badging process, the bus will depart for the Hanford Site tour. The tour route will pass by various areas of the Hanford Site, including Hanford projects and operations supporting the site’s current environmental cleanup efforts. The bus will return us to the Shilo Inn at approximately 4:00 p.m.

If you have questions about the tour, please contact Karen Sinclair, Hanford Site Tour Coordinator, by email or at 509-376-2151.

Reservations are required and must be submitted by noon on Monday, May 21.

Sign up today to reserve your spot! (Sorry--to register for both the tour and the rest of Council, you will need to complete two separate registrations). 

Council 2018 is almost upon us. In addition to the Council activities themselves we have several events that are open both to Council registrants and to members of the public.

The League of Women Voters of Washington (LWVWA) is pleased to invite members of the public to three events during our Council 2018: Engaging the Future weekend in Richland, WA.

Friday, June 1, 12:45 pm
Tour Hanford by Bus with Hanford Advisory Board (HAB) Chair and LWVWA Representative Susan Leckband, and technical expert.
No cost; must be 18 years old and have picture ID; RSVPs required. 

Saturday, June 2, 5:15 pm
Social/dinner and keynote address: Hanford: a 360 Degree View
$35; RSVPs required

Saturday, June 2, 6:45 pm
Keynote only: Hanford: a 360 Degree View
No cost; RSVPs required

Sunday, June 3, 1:00 pm 
Book launch/signing of The State We’re In: Washington, the LWVWA Civics textbook for ages 11+

Events will take place at the Shilo Inn Suites in Richland, Washington. For the Hanford tour, we will meet at the Shilo Inn and bus from there. Reserve your space on our event page. Please note that to reserve the Hanford tour and the rest of council, you will need to go through the registration process twice, once for each event. 

Interested in attending council but not sure your friends and family can survive the weekend without you? Bring them along!

The Tri-Cities is filled with fun things to do so you can can fill up your own and your loved ones' free time. 

Polly Parton, President of Benton/Franklin League, has shared some of her favorites.

• The Reach Interpretive Center in Richland
• LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave) Hanford Observatory is a few miles out of town but is excellent. Make sure to check if tours are available.
• The Columbia Center mall in Kennewick provides shopping, food court, theater
• There are many movie theater (some with those nice reclining seats) in Richland, Kennewick and Pasco
• Winery tours are always a favorite – try Tagaris, Barnard Griffin, and Bookwalter in Richland plus many more out of town.
• You'll find a great deli, food gifts and small farmers market at Country Mercantile, just north of Pasco
  
• Hiking!  Badger and Candy offer the best views but my favorite is Chamna Nature Preserve, which is natural and flat terrain
• Urban hiking! There are miles of walking and biking trails along the Columbia River, basically at the back door of the Shilo Inn
• Kayak and bike rentals at Greenie’s (Richland)
• Columbia Kayak provides kayak and stand up paddle board rental and classes in Richland
• Golf courses 
  

In March, leading cyber-security and voting system vulnerability experts joined the League of Women Voters in a timely presentation on national and state election security concerns. What makes a voting system vulnerable? What changes can Washington state make to secure our elections? Check out the video and get more involved by connecting with LWVWA's work on this issue. 

Co-hosted by the University of Washington Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity.

On April 20, 2018, the Board of LWVWA voted to endorse Initiative 1631, the " Protect Washington Act." This measure would charge pollution fees on sources of the greenhouse gas pollutant carbon dioxide, and use the revenue to reduce pollution, promote renewable energy, and address climate change impacts, with the oversight of a public board. 

The Initiative is sponsored by The Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy, a coalition of 201 organizations, mostly labor, environmental and social justice groups. It will require 260,000 signatures by July 6th. The League supports addressing climate change by putting a price on carbon, and we believe this is the next best opportunity and the place we must start. 

Initiative 1631 – A fee on Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Washington

Initiative 1631 levies a pollution reduction fee in the amount of $15 per ton of CO2 equivalent on fossil fuels used within Washington. The amount increases annually by $2 per ton, capping at $55 ($40 adjusted for inflation). It is expected to initially generate up to $1 Billion annually with the revenue allocated 70% for clean energy (includes retraining for workers and impacted low income programs), 25% for water and forest restoration and resiliency, and 5% for healthy communities. A qualifying light and power business or gas distribution business may claim credits for up to 100% of the pollution fees for which it is liable to invest in approved carbon reduction programs.

Notable fee exemptions include TransAlta coal transition (protected from additional fees by previous legislative agreement to close this plant in 2025), public transportation, state vehicles, aviation, marine and agriculture fuels and other EITEs (Energy Intensive Exemptions) such as aluminum and steel. There are 23 exemptions compared to the Governor's bill (SB 6203) which had 55 exemptions and an initial fee of $12 per ton. The 2016 Initiative 732 levied a fee starting at $25 per ton, was designed to be revenue neutral, had fewer exemptions, but was criticized for not adequately addressing impacted workers and communities.

A 15-member Public Oversight Board, appointed by the Governor, will oversee the implementation of this initiative. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee and Oversight Board shall review and report on the timeliness, efficiency and effectiveness of implementation of the Act. Advisory Panels will create evaluation criteria and make funding recommendations on projects.

Initiative 1631 is currently endorsed by most environmental groups, labor groups and 29 tribes. Signers include The Washington State Labor Council, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, Washington Environmental Council, Washington Conservation Voters, Climate Solutions, Got Green, and One America.

The Washington Retailers Association currently opposes 1631. If the measure makes it to the ballot, it is expected that the fossil fuel industries will oppose it as well, along with tax opponents concerned about price increases on auto fuel, heating oil, and natural gas. The proposed per ton fee would add 14 cents per gallon of gasoline in 2020 rising to over 40 cents per gallon in 2035, provided that the cost is passed through to consumers.

In 2012 the League launched an initiative to urge the President to use executive authority under the Clean Air Act to control carbon pollution in the face of the greatest environmental challenge of our generation: climate change (2016 LWVUS Impact on Issues, p. 60). The LWVUS believes that climate change is a serious problem that requires immediate action and urges initiatives to reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases to reduce the threat of global climate change, combat air pollution, increase energy security and create new jobs (LWVUS Impant on Issues p. 59-60 and LWVWA Program in Action, p. 26). 

LWVWA took steps consistent with LWVUS positions in 2000 for the purpose of bringing Global Climate Change issues to members, other citizens, and legislators’ attention for action. League members recognized that this topic is inextricably linked with energy, water, transportation, forests, clean air, and other issues on which the League has positions and takes action. An off-board portfolio chair was established to address Global Climate Change. Since then, LWVWA has joined local and regional groups with similar goals (LWVWA Program in Action, p.26).

The complete text of the initiative is available online.

To get updates and find signature gathering opportunities go to Yeson1631.org. Sign up to volunteer on the website or email to request signature gathering materials. 

An in-depth analysis of the initiative is available from Carbon Washington.