Mindy Chambers

Frame, glue, foam, staple, glue, frame, staple, squish, repeat. Inside a 10,000-plus square foot Port of Olympia warehouse, that’s the rhythm of assembly line-style work on 60 8-by-8 foot homes whose final destination is the downtown Olympia tent city known as the “mitigation site”.  Sometime in mid-April, these new dwellings will begin to replace troublesome tents at the site, which the city of Olympia opened in December 2018 as a temporary space for more than 100 people who were visibly camping in various downtown locations, just a mile from and within view of the State Capitol building. “I believe all people…

Wendy D. Carlson recently filed to run as the second challenger for incumbent Lisa Parshley, forcing a primary election. Community activist Talauna Reed also is in that race. Carlson is a former community corrections officer for the Department of Corrections, a PTA and football booster volunteer, and sports coach. Her campaign website lists her top issues as homelessness; public safety/civil safety and affordable housing. Tyrone Brown is running for Position 7 against incumbent Jim Cooper. He has no apparent online presence as of publication, though you can email him at tyrone4council@gmail.com. Entering the race for the council seat left open by Renata…

This year’s Housing and Homeless Hero award recipients, and true heroes they are, are all of the local shelter and camp outreach workers for their humanitarian work during this time of COVID. The award is presented by the Homeless Housing Hub, an arm of the Thurston Asset Building Coalition. Recipients are chosen by their peers and reflect these qualities: Direct housing and homeless service providers.People whose work strengthens the network of providers.People who inspire other individuals engaged in human services.People who by their nature maximize collaboration and minimize competition between agencies in order to better serve those in need. “While traditionally, the award recognizes a single individual, this year…

Although the Aug. 3 primary election is nearly six months away, the race is on for endorsements and cash by Olympia City Council candidates seeking to move on to the November general election. Five seats are open this year, rather than the usual four because recently-appointed Councilmember Yen Huynh will have to run for election if she wishes to retain the seat. She has filed paperwork with the state Public Disclosure Commission indicating her plans to run. Incumbents Lisa Parshley and Jim Cooper also have filed, and Clark Gilman is expected to do so as well. One-term council member Renata…

With a social media post that began a bit cryptically and continued in a way that nearly obscured its intent, Port of Olympia Commissioner E.J. Zita announced she’s not running for re-election. It said: “1. Presidential coup and 2. silencing of public voices “An incumbent president executed a coup and secured a second term, abetted by a loyal second.  “Joe Downing nominated himself for an unprecedented second term as president of the Port of Olympia Commission, despite the longstanding practice of annual officer rotations. (Port Commissioner Bill) McGregor voted with Downing to pass the motion. Vice President Zita was scheduled…