Author: senco253

 

Love Transportation? Always wanted to help make decisions about the transportation in Tacoma? Now is your chance!  Check it out & apply below.

About The Bicycle Pedestrian Technical Advisory Group (BPTAG)

Link to the City’s BPTAG website here.

• • The (BPTAG) is Currently Seeking Three New Members
  • – Apply by 11:59pm on Friday, August 13th –
  • South Enders (Council District 4 & 5) are especially encouraged to apply!

BPTAG focuses on making it safer and easier to use active transportation in Tacoma, which includes walking, using an assistive mobility device, bicycling, skating, and riding a skateboard or scooter.

Representatives from City Council Districts 3, 4, and 5, Black and Indigenous community members, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and individuals with disabilities, seniors, immigrants, and refugees are especially encouraged to apply.

BPTAG Board Member Duties and Responsibilities

BPTAG advises the Transportation Commission on active transportation-related matters, and focuses on making it safer and easier to use active transportation in Tacoma, including walking, using an assistive mobility device, bicycling, skating, and riding a skateboard or scooter.

Members of the BPTAG play an essential role in:

• • Prioritizing new bicycle and pedestrian projects throughout Tacoma.
  • Providing feedback on the design of active transportation projects.
  • Developing new policies to improve active transportation safety and access. Giving input on active transportation programs and events.
  • Bringing community concerns to the attention of City staff and leaders.

To apply, fill out the application form at this link.

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on Friday, August 13, 2021. 

Contact the Active Transportation Coordinator, Liz Kaster at lkaster@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5380, if there are any questions about the application process, this information is needed in an alternate format, or accommodation is needed in the application process. 

Information:

If you’re interested in applying for the new G.R.I.T. Guaranteed Income Initiative in Tacoma, or if you know someone who may interested, the applications are open for one week only, so now is the time to apply! Applications are due by 11:59 pm on Monday, August 16th. 

Per the United Way website: “Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, 40% of Tacoma households were struggling to make ends meet… …and the pandemic only worsened these percentages, with many more families facing unemployment, possible eviction and hunger.”

Find out more information by visiting the United Way website & in this TNT news story from May of 2021.

Eligibility:

• • City of Tacoma Residents currently residing in Eastside (98404), Hilltop (98405), South Tacoma (98409) and the South End (98408) Not sure what District you live in? Here’s a map.
  • Single parent or guardian households with children living in the home up to age 17, children with disabilities up to age 21.
  • Meet the Alice definition: Asset Limited, Income Constrained while Employed. ALICE households costs are between 100% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). See below for FPL chart.

BPTAG openings are not district-specific, so this opportunity is open to all Tacoma residents – but increasing representation from District 5 is a priority. The City is committed to creating an equitable and anti-racist community and wants our committees, boards, and commissions to reflect Tacoma’s diverse community. For these vacancies, Black and Indigenous community members, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, individuals with disabilities, seniors, immigrants, and refugees are especially encouraged to apply.

If you have any questions – please don’t hesitate to reach out to the City’s Active Transportation Coordinator, Liz Kaster, at lkaster@cityoftacoma.org or 253-591-5380.

Thank you to everyone at Wapato Park today who took a break to fill out the SNAPs survey!

Congratulations to raffle winner Tanea for a $25 gift certificate to Jubilee Restaurant! Thank you to everyone who entered.

Have you filled out the SNAPs survey yet? Add your input to help us determine our goals for the future of the South End! What areas in the South End generally need improvement? What are the places we value? These questions and a few more can be answered here. Make sure your opinions are counted!

Need help with the survey? Email senco253@gmail & we’ll be happy to help.

At the next SNAPs focus group meeting on Saturday, August 14 at 10am, we’ll be discussing specifics for the areas that need improvement. Join us!
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/2h8juyLPuNsTKNXg7
A zoom link will be sent out to all registered participants.

We hope to see you there!

Liaison Contact Information

TFD  St. #8: 4911 S Alaska St • 253.594.7948 • St. #10: 901 Fawcett Ave 253.591.5737 • tacomafiredepartment@ci.tacoma.wa.us

TPD Sector 3 Substation: 1501 S 72nd St • Sector 4 Substation: 400 E 56th St        Lt. Eric Scripps, Sector 4 Commander                                                              253.594.7948 • eric.scripps@cityoftacoma.org

City of Tacoma Linda Stewart, Neighborhood and Community Services Director 747 Market St Room 836 • 253.591.5225 • lstewart@cityoftacoma.org

City Council District 5 Chris Beale                                                                                                253.312.0550 • chris.beale@cityoftacoma.org

City Council District 4 Catherine Ushka                                                            253.355.1276 • cushka@cityoftacoma.org

City Manager’s Office Ted Richardson, Management Fellow                  253.341.8702 • TRichardson@cityoftacoma.org

Environmental Services Preston Peck, Recycle Reset Project Lead                      3510 S Mullen St • 253.593.7707 • ppeck@cityoftacoma.org

Safe Streets Darren Pen, Community Mobilization Specialist                                  622 Tacoma Ave S • 253.272.6824 • dpen@safest.org

Port of Tacoma Leslie Barstow, Community Relations Manager                            One Sitcum Plaza • 253.428.8662 • lbarstow@portoftacoma.com

Metro Parks Craig Standridge, Conservation Engagement Coordinator          5400 N Pearl • 253.404.3690 • craig.standridge@pdza.org

Pierce Transit Penny Grellier, Community Development Coordinator                      253.589.6886

Tacoma Public Schools Lisa Nolan, Assistant Superintendent                      253.571.1252 • lnolan@tacoma.k12.wa.us

Tacoma Public Utilities John Gaines, Community Relations Manager                3628 S 35th St • 253.260.0065 • jgaines1@cityoftacoma.org

Neighborhood & Community Services (NCS) at the City of Tacoma is currently engaged in discussions with the Tacoma Public Utility (TPU) Board about the use of one of TPU’s properties for a temporary homelessness mitigation site, located at 82nd and Pacific Avenue.

NCS gave a presentation about this issue to the TPU Board this week, and can be found here.

We in the South End are advocates for services that can help in addressing the homeless crisis. We understand the concerns that surround houseless sites in our neighborhoods, and hope you will join us in advocating for better support systems that can help alleviate the need for shelters in the first place.