Janice Nesamani
Northwest Asia Weekly
Victoria Woodards, Mayor of Tacoma City (middle)
The new semester sounds
For Victoria Woodards, Mayor of Tacoma, being re-elected is an opportunity to continue working. As the city recovers from Covid, there is still a lot of work to do-solving the problem of affordability, homelessness, and bringing businesses and jobs to Tacoma is an important agenda for her.
“The blessing and challenge of being re-elected is that you won’t stop, you just keep going,” Woodards said. Her second campaign was at a critical moment in a city trying to balance affordable housing and real estate booms, and Manuel Ellis’ police-related killings are particularly prominent in public memory.
Elected Mayor of Seattle, Bruce Harrell (right)
Bruce Harrell, who was recently elected mayor of Seattle, may not take office until January, but he has assembled his transition team and government from the ground up and is ready to begin work.
“From day one, we will demonstrate a new urgency to solve our city’s problems with action and compassion-changing the Seattle narrative and making the necessary progress in homelessness, public safety, and economic revitalization. ,” Harrell said.
Building a fair city
Tacoma
Racial equality is at the core of Woodards’ campaign. Tacoma passed a resolution promising to become an anti-racist city.
“This means looking at all the systemic obstacles that prevent people from achieving their destiny. Many times, conversations are around law enforcement and the criminal justice system, but they happen behind the scenes,” Woodards said. She believes that if the city can go upstream and prevent people from entering the criminal justice system, then everyone can thrive.
“I believe in fairness, not equality, and will continue to support our fairness office to ensure that everyone has everything they need to achieve their own destiny.”
She mentioned an ongoing study on home ownership in the city.
“This will tell us what we already know: the BIPOC community is underrepresented in terms of home ownership,” Woodards said. “This research will highlight these differences so that we can focus on them and move on.”
Woodards pointed to Tacoma’s stock index, which will allow her government to overlay various data points and information so that it can make the best decisions about where they can spend their limited resources.
The city’s equality and human rights office will begin outward-facing projects to help Tacoma.
“We also have our Heal the Heart coordination team committed to fairness,” she said.
Seattle
As a person of mixed descent, Harrell understands that representation is important.
“That’s why we assembled the most racially and ideologically diverse transition team in Seattle’s history to ensure that every voice is heard and that every community has a seat,” Harrell said. “This will be a priority for my entire government, celebrating what makes us different, while uniting around common values and common progress.”
Harrell’s work on the city council, including projects such as the Race and Social Justice Initiative, the Great Student Initiative, and the Seattle Pledge, always has a fair perspective like his campaign proposals.
“I lead with a fair perspective, putting opportunity and inclusiveness first. Expanding access to work, housing, education, healthcare, childcare, and healthy food are all key items on my agenda. I also believe that Seattle must be a priority. Guidance and lifelong learning ensure that people have the tools and resources to succeed and thrive throughout their lives.”
“Growing up as a mixed son of two working-class city employees, overcoming difficulties and challenges, and then making history by being elected mayor-this shows that in Seattle, anyone can reach their full potential,” Harrell said. Now, he wants to take a leadership role to ensure that everyone, regardless of background, age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or any other factors, can do this, making Seattle a place with plenty of opportunities place. Everyone is encouraged, supported and able to thrive.
Key priority
Tacoma
The BIOC community has stepped up protests over the past year, and these voices are essential for Woodards.
“I hope those who take to the streets know that they should continue to raise their voices and continue to hold people accountable.
Woodard also wants residents to know that the city has many committees, committees, and ways for people to participate in system change.
“My job is to open the door and make sure there is a place for people to participate, but the job of the community is to be ready to stand up.
Faced with a variety of challenges, Woodards’ mantra for helping her through the storm is: “I regard the 217,000 people who make Tacoma their home as sacred.” One of her guiding principles is to listen to as much as possible. People’s opinions and interactions with them.
“I lead with compassion and believe in partnerships. We will have problems. No one expected a pandemic. It is not necessarily your understanding of a problem, but how you will lead it. This is what you bring to work Principles and values.”
Seattle
In an earlier interview, Harrell explained that in the first six months, his government will build 1,000 housing units and 2,000 units in the first year, moving people off the sidewalks from the playground And parks, into transitional housing. In addition to advancing these new homelessness strategies, he will now focus on reimagining Seattle’s public safety methods and taking actions around employment, open government, and universal healthcare.
“As the mayor, I will have a clear and positive vision for the future of my government and our city,” Harrell said. “Just as important as our solutions to the challenges facing Seattle is how we find these solutions, solve problems, collaborate, set expectations, and analyze and review progress.”
As mayor, Harrell’s priority is to set new standards for accountability, transparency, solidarity, and problem-solving, and to apply this approach to the crisis facing Seattle.
Thanks
During this holiday, Woodards is grateful for the opportunity to serve Tacoma for another four years.
“I am grateful and excited for those who voted for me and those who did not vote for me. I was re-elected as mayor and made sure people unite to make Tacoma the city of destiny for all of us,” Wooda I said.
Harrell thanked his family and was happy to spend time with them during the holiday.
“Their loyal support made this victory possible. Only with their love and continuous support can I become a successful mayor.”
He also thanked the people of Seattle for voting for his vision of building a city that welcomes everyone, responding to challenges with urgency and action, and choosing to promote and celebrate the diversity, culture and heritage of the Seattle AAPI community. Face prejudice and hatred.
“We can bring the same resilience and enthusiasm to the city hall.”
cooperate
Woodards previously worked with Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell on state legislation. He said: “I look forward to working together to become a local, regional and national leader in the Pacific Northwest.”
Since both Seattle and Tacoma have huge problems with homelessness, transformation and policing, Woodards believes she can work with Harrell to obtain support from the state and federal governments.
“Our idea of vying for companies to settle in Seattle or Tacoma is incorrect. We are looking for companies to come to our area,” she said.
“Bruce and I have made a commitment to each other. We will work together because as the two largest cities on the I-5 corridor, we can use each other and have the opportunity to cooperate with other cities in the state.”
Logout
Tacoma
“People always ask me what makes Tacoma so great, and I tell them we have a beautiful city center, waterfront, mountains, wonderful neighborhoods, and businesses. But what makes Tacoma great is its people and The diversity reflected in our city,” Woodards said. “I just want to make sure that everyone who calls Tacoma home really has a chance to be the best of himself.”
Seattle
“I’m very happy to start work, but I can’t do it alone,” Harrell said. He added that in order to make the necessary progress and create a better future, he relies on community members to remain active and involved. “Together we can restore our city and push Seattle forward.”
Janice can be contacted in the following ways info@nwasianweekly.com.
