Guest Contributor

Statement from Olympia Chapter of Showing up for Racial Justice on the death of Timothy Green and letter to CMITT

11

Sep

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Features, Timothy Green

Statement from Olympia Chapter of Showing up for Racial Justice on the death of Timothy Green and letter to CMITT

Olympia SURJ is part of a national network of groups and individuals educating, mobilizing and organizing white people within a multi-racial movement for racial justice: “Through community organizing, mobilizing and education, SURJ moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability. We work to connect people across the country while supporting and collaborating with local and national racial justice organizing efforts. SURJ provides a space to build relationships, skills and political analysis to act for change. We envision a society where we struggle together with love, for justice, human dignity and a…

26

Oct

By Guest Contributor

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Columns, Opinion

LETTER: Lehman Column Contains Harmful Rhetoric

Russ Lehman's recent article in the Tribune entitled "ELECTIONS. VIRTUE SIGNALING. IDENTITY POLITICS. DO ISSUES EVEN MATTER ANYMORE?" is disturbingly racist in its depiction of Talauna Reed's campaign. He asserts that the only reason people are voting for her is because she is a candidate of color, as if there was some sort of Affirmative Action in Olympia politics. This assertion is first ahistorical and not based in any reality that exists in the United States. Candidate of color are not running from a place of privilege, in fact anything, non-white candidates are subjected to more scrutiny, threats of violence and a…

Ballots and Drive-Through Voter Assistance Available for August 3 Primary Election

02

Aug

By Guest Contributor

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2021 Elections, Columns, Features

Ballots and Drive-Through Voter Assistance Available for August 3 Primary Election

News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 29, 2021 CONTACT: Mary Hall TCAuditor@co.thurston.wa.us 360.786.5408 711 Washington Relay Ballots and Drive-Through Voter Assistance Available for August 3 Primary Election 14.83% of Thurston County ballots have been returned in the Aug 3, 2021 Primary Election OLYMPIA – The Thurston County Auditor’s Office reminds voters the deadline to return ballots for the Primary Election is Tuesday, August 3. If you’ve not received a ballot or you’ve misplaced your ballot, you can request a replacement. · Email elections@co.thurston.wa.us · Call the Auditor’s Elections Division at 360.786.5408 · Download a ballot at VoteWA.gov · Visit the Voting Center at 2400 Evergreen Park Dr. SW, Olympia, WA 98502 Return envelopes must be postmarked by Tuesday, August 3, or deposited into one of 29 ballot drop boxes no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day. Drop box locations are listed at ThurstonVotes.org, in the voters’ pamphlet, and in the ballot packet. Voters who mail…

License plate shortage will require Auditor Licensing Services and Subagents to issue paper plates

02

Aug

By Guest Contributor

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Features

License plate shortage will require Auditor Licensing Services and Subagents to issue paper plates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 CONTACT: Mary Hall, Thurston County Auditor TCAuditor@co.thurston.wa.us 360.786.5224711 Washington Relay License plate shortage will require Auditor Licensing Services and Subagents to issue paper plates OLYMPIA – Due to a statewide license plate shortage, the Thurston County Auditor's Office and eight licensing subagents will issue passenger vehicle licensing customers temporary paper permits. The paper permits will be good for 60 days and can be displayed the same way temporary plates are displayed when purchasing a car from a dealer. Licensing customers will also be issued tabs that they can attach to their metal plates once they are available. The shortage is only impacting passenger vehicle licensing customers. Truck, trailer and motorcycles licensing customers are not impacted. Licensing subagents are private businesses overseen by the County Auditor's…

26

Apr

By Guest Contributor

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Features

RELEASE: Local Issues, Local Answers

Thurston communities work with local government League of Women Voters and Thurston Community Media Host Dialogue 6:30pm on Wednesday, April 28 Olympia, WA April 23, 2021: The Thurston County League of Women Voters and Thurston Community Media are sponsoring an evening for local activism. Participants have the opportunity to ask their elected representatives about the issues that most affect local people. Attendees can receive direct answers to their questions, in real time, via Zoom, Wednesday evening, April 28th. Elected leaders from Thurston County, Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater will take questions from the audience and discuss how to be most effective in influencing…

23

Mar

By Guest Contributor

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Columns, Features, Opinion

OPINION: In Support of West Bay Yards

“A five-alarm blaze ripped through a lumber mill on the west side of Olympia early yesterday, causing an estimated $25 million to $50 million in damage and igniting piles of plywood that burned for hours.” A 1996 Seattle Times article paints a vivid picture of what would be the end of the Hardel Mutual Plywood Corporation’s mill at 1210 West Bay Drive. And now, after twenty-five years of blight, this formerly contaminated industrial site has the potential to provide much needed multi-family housing, complete a public waterfront trail system, and be a part of a shoreline restoration envisioned collaboratively by…

The Surprising Economics Behind Going All-Electric (hint, the numbers are pretty good)

13

Mar

By Guest Contributor

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Features

The Surprising Economics Behind Going All-Electric (hint, the numbers are pretty good)

By Deepa Sivarajan Washington and Oregon have some of the lowest-cost electricity in the nation—ensuring homeowners and utility rate payers can access as much of that cheap, clean energy as possible to heat and power our buildings, while also promoting clean energy job growth, is another double-win from all-electric buildings. The most cost-effective way to achieve our GHG goals Washington is committed by law to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 95% below 1990 levels by the year 2050; Oregon Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order in 2020 that directed Oregon agencies to reduce emissions by at least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Washington State’s Deep…

OP-ED: Concerns About West Bay Yards Development Proposal

04

Mar

By Guest Contributor

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Columns, Opinion

OP-ED: Concerns About West Bay Yards Development Proposal

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following letter was originally submitted as a comment to the Olympia City Council. I must express my concerns about the West Bay Yards (WBY) development proposal. Having recently provided public comment re: the proposed (a) relaxation of Olympia's Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) and (b) further development on the Port of Olympia, I had collectively expressed these concerns: The proposed SMP reduction in shoreline buffers (supposedly to provide more amenities for West Bay Park) was likely a "Trojan horse" for other development, which the recent WBY proposal has since revealed to be true.We don't need developments closer to the shoreline…

16

Feb

By Guest Contributor

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Features

Eulogy for Americans by Lennée Reid

General Eulogy for Americans Rest in peace Grandma, Great Gramma, Gi Gi, Nana, Memaw, Abuelita, Nona and Oma. The ones who told stories and baked bread, the ones who couldn't read or cook, the ones whose hugs were the best and the grumpy old ladies. To the ones who took the recipe and every family secret to the grave. To the nurses and teachers we never got to say goodbye to. Go well into the good night. Rise in power Grandpa, Great Grandpa, Papa, Pops, Abuelo, Opa, Old Man. The ones who led their families with honor and the ones…

Pollution is Coming… From Inside the House

09

Feb

By Guest Contributor

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Features

Pollution is Coming… From Inside the House

By Deepa Sivarajan Would you be surprised to learn that our homes and buildings dirty our air, outdoors and indoors? How is this possible? Even as we’ve worked to reduce our climate and air pollution by cutting down on vehicle use and using clean, fossil-free sources for our electricity, we continue to use fossil fuels like fossil gas (still called “natural gas” by the gas industry) to heat and power our homes—raising our greenhouse gas emissions and dirtying our air. Using gas not only damages our health, but puts our communities in harm’s way. We’re at risk of gas leaks and explosions—like the one in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood in 2016, which leveled two buildings, harmed 36 businesses, and created $3 million dollars of damage. While it’s fortunate that no…