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Tue. September 19, 2006, 07:17am PDT
Winthrop loan and panhandling on the agenda
There's a couple items that may interest some folks on the agenda for tonight's city council meeting agenda. First we have the proposed loan to AF Evans concerning the Winthrop and there's also public hearings to discuss strengthening Tacoma's panhandling laws. First, the Winthrop.
The Winthrop
After last week's council meeting and discussion it seems the city is plowing ahead with little regard for the feedback of folks that want to restore the Winthrop as a grand hotel. It was mentioned that language be added to the resolution stipulating this loan would be given provided A.F. Evans work with another developer that wants to restore it as a hotel. Well, that didn't happen, the resolution wording didn't change and I don't believe the money should be promised to a developer with a less-than-stellar (to put it kindly) record of managing properties in the area. It's unfortunate the city is unwilling to unanimously take a stand for the future of our downtown and create a resolution with some teeth. Instead, it would rather promise $1 million to a company not at all interested in the well-being of Tacoma or any of its properties in the Northwest.
Panhandling
Citing public and traffic safety concerns the council is seeking public comment at a hearing at tonight's council meeting concerning a proposed change to our municipal code regarding panhandling. The change would make it illegal for panhandlers to block sidewalks, roads, to be too close to ATMs, or be aggressive in any way. Sounds pretty good to me but apparently firefighters raising money with those "fill the boot" campaigns would be exempt. No offense, but that's a bit of a double standard. I'm sure the firefighters could be relegated to a large parking lot like so many fund raising car washes rather than wandering through stopped traffic at a busy intersection. Make that more of a drive-through thing. Heck, if not, should we encourage high schoolers to take the carwash into the same busy intersections where they squeegee windshields for donations? Perhaps in the guise of "fund raising" we could convince panhandlers to form a non-profit so they could weave through traffic too. If we ban panhandling for one group, we need to ban it for everyone.
More info in Jason Hagey's article over at the Trib.
Tonight's Tacoma city council meeting will take place at 5pm downtown at the municipal building. [ map ] You can find tonight's agenda here. Hope to see you there!
Comments (4) | To Top
9/19/2006 @ 10:52am
WInthrop
The Tacoma News Tribune had a great editorial on the Winthrop issue today.
The bottom line is that the Winthrop should restored regardless if it is Quigg or not. We wish his team the best.
The council needs to just vote no on the $1,000,000 request to AF Evans so that the restoration efforts can go forward.
by Erik
9/19/2006 @ 8:39pm
Kevin I cannot believe you compared the panhandling issue with the Fill the Boot campaign. Nor the comment about the car wash in the intersection. There are additional comments I could make but, for the sake of our friendship, I am refraining. Dork. (oops! That just slipped out)
by Angela
9/19/2006 @ 9:00pm
Actuallyu, it the potential impact of the proposal on the collection efforts of the firemen has been around for quite awhile.
by Erik
9/19/2006 @ 10:30pm
I hear ya, Angela. But apparently my point was a valid one since it came up in the public hearing tonight when the Deputy Mayor wondered why any exceptions were added to the proposed ordinance changes. Seems like it happened without the council's knowledge and they weren't too happy about it. I agree that tougher panhandling laws need to apply to people whether homeless or firefighter alike impeding traffic and distracting drivers. There's plenty of other ways those guys could raise money and all I'm suggesting is that they don't do it in the middle of traffic.
by KevinFreitas