Community Feedback

 

4th District Speaks Out!

Issues and Concerns:

  • Impact of rezoning neighborhoods for mixed use centers 
  • Car thefts and break-ins
  • Crosswalk signage at 52nd and Yakima is misleading and danagerous-"some child is going to be hit"!
  • Prostitutes
  • Home robberies
  • Speeding along 52nd to and from Pacific to B street--There are no signs and someone is going to get hit!  
  • Need for safe places for young children to play
  • Socialization opportunities for young children
  • Afterschool and summer educational and recreational programs
  • Gang activities
  • Safe places for children to ride their bicycles
  • Property liens for sidewalk repairs
  • Swimming lessons
  • Family wage jobs
  • Concern for isolated elderly
  • Speeding motorcycles
  • Need for car-free walking and bicycle paths
  • Delivery trucks speeding through the neighborhood
  • Drug activity
  • Debris and weeds in our alleys

Quotes from our Neighbors:

 

  • "I sit on my front porch and I tell the kids passing by that if they think that they can jump on the hood of my car or break a window they need to know that I  will find their parents and they most certainly will remember why you don't destroy other peoples property."
  • "Why can't the city reclaim the sidewalk and reconfigure the parking in front of the businesses between 54th and 56th and Pacific? It is very dangerous-- peopple fall, they get entangled in the recent asphalt plugs, and as drivers try to enter or leave there are always car crunches!" 
  • "I am an owner of a construction company and I am not opposed to development. However, I do not understand how Councilman Fey was able to ramrod through major changes to the Mixed-use Center ordinance without giving the affected neighborhoods a chance to respond? Can the city do that?"
  • "According to Beekkeeper Jim the Bell street peacock belongs on 60th and D street. Apparently, Animal Control believes that the Eastside peacock population is out of control!"
  • "We just moved here and I have great neighbors. The spray parks are wonderful but we need more before and after school programs."
  • "We don't have any major issues--we meet monthly with Safe Streets and Officer Williams and we seem to be able to solve our concerns"
  • "I think we should have more community gardens--it would really bring our neighborhood together."
  • ""We are concerned about the after-hours traffic and loitering in parking lots along 38th street."
  • "We need additional traffic patrol coverage so that our children can safely cross over Yakima Avenue."
  • "There is no garbage disposal cans at the bus stop (Yakima and 50th) so I end up picking up the broken glass and debris." 
  • "To avoid the light at 56th and Pacific they speed through Tanglewood to get to C Street and back onto 56th street east."
  • "We need a round-about at C street and Tanglewood to slow the speeding traffic--we have preschool children and this situation is extremely dangerous." 
  • "They moved our skateboard park to Chehalis--no one is going to go that far to skate! Hardly anyone uses the new skateboard park. Instead of getting  someone who knew skateboard park design they used  some "handy"' man." 
  • "Just because I live on the Eastside there is no justification for why my grandchildren and pets should be terrorized by dangerous dogs."  
  • "Explain to me why the Tacoma School District (which has over 40% enrollment of children of color) has not stepped up its recruitment of teachers of color?"
  • "First Creek community is committed to forming partnerships, teaching youth about environmental stewardship, and sponsoring community internships."
  • "Speeding through our neighborhood is a problem when Lincoln Highschool is in session."
  • "It is sad to see the number of empty houses and for sale signs."
  • "My #1 concern is my road - I want it to be fixed.  I want my street to look like any other street in any other neighborhood." 
  • "I love my neighborhood." 
  • "I do not understand why Frisbees Bakery is still closed. Why don't we rebuild the area and bring in new businesses?" 
  • "Our neighborhood has a bad image--stop focusing on the negative and celebrate the positive."
  • "More people are growing their own vegetables."
  • "Through Safe Streets we got to know our neighbors and our children are growing up together."
  • "We are interested in gathering our construction talents and helping to design a rain garden to filter storm water."
  • "I let my neighbors know that I am at home so they do not worry about their children playing on our side of the street."
  • "No one has money to afford a condominium - look at downtown they can't give them away.  We need more affordable housing units."
  • "The city needs to "repaint & repair" the streets.  No one stops for caution lights at 37th & Pacific - it is very dangerous!"
  • "We (my husband & I) moved here from Seattle and I think Tacoma will be the place to be once the economy gets back on track." 
  • "The fireworks patrol was a joke!"
  • "The Eastside needs more inclusive opportunities for our children and particularly our teenagers."
  • "We need more women on the City Council anyway!"
  • "We need community patrols by the Tacoma police department."
  • "I'm glad for the new police station on 56th, but I would like to see more neighborhood patrols."