The Supreme Court has spoken. Time for Tacoma to get tough on public camping | Opinion
Camping ban
Last week, in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that local camping ordinances are perfectly legal and that a right to vagrancy does not exist under the Constitution. Accordingly, the Tacoma City Council can no longer hide behind previous rulings in refusing to reimpose our camping ban, and it must do so immediately.
Just this morning, I witnessed a man sprawled out in a sleeping bag, smoking drugs from a glass tube, on the sidewalk near Washington Elementary. These scenes degrade our quality of life, to say nothing of the impact they impose on our children.
More and more residents are growing tired of the City Council’s reliance on activist demands when crafting policy. Fewer among us are buying the line — repeated like a mantra — that those living on the streets, doing drugs and destroying property are simply short of rent.
We deserve better. We deserve to have clean streets and sidewalks that are safe for pedestrians.
The Supreme Court has now removed the Tacoma City Council’s fig leaf on this issue.
It is time for substantive change.
Greg Taylor, Tacoma
Student debt
I was shocked to read a recent column by The News Tribune’s Matt Driscoll that described a $10,000 student loan he dragged out repaying for roughly 20 years.
Driscoll gleefully told us how “Uncle Joe” wiped that debt away and, in fact, reimbursed him the $10 per month payments he had already made since enrolling in the SAVE repayment plan.
A $10,000 student loan is not “crushing debt.” Dragging it out over 20 years is not a financially responsible thing to do.
Paying $10 per month makes it clear Driscoll never intended to pay that off anyway. \
I do believe that the current student lending debacle needs major overhaul and regulation. I also believe that taking care of your obligations is the right thing to do. Hearing Driscoll boast about this accomplishment made me feel like the sap waiting to pay for my purchases in the grocery store or Home Depot while some person simply walks out of the store with what they want - having decided the rules should not apply to them.
Driscoll walked out with his own armload of free stuff — and laughed in our faces as he did so.
Lisa Hamill, Tacoma
Wit and Wisdom
I was enormously disappointed that a recent News Tribune article titled “Contentious K-5 reading curriculum will be tested in Pierce County. What does it teach?” failed to mention the reason why Mom’s For Liberty opposes the “Wit and Wisdom” curriculum in the Penninsula School District.
One of the children’s books in the “Wit and Wisdom” curriculum Moms for Liberty opposes is “Johnny Appleseed” by Aliki. The group opposes the book because it shows “mean” and “angry” white people chasing Native Americans from their homes.
“The Buffalo Are Back” by Jean Carolyn Craighead George is another book opposed by Moms for Liberty. The group dislikes this book because they believe teaching students that white settlers stole land from Native Americans, killed large numbers of buffalo and forced tribes onto reservations might make white children feel bad about themselves and their Government.
While some members of extremist political groups might not like the accurate teaching of history, it is incorrect to label its teaching as “contentious.”
The vast majority of Americans want these subjects taught in our schools, regardless of how the facts make us feel.
Matt Hildreth, Gig Harbor
Presidential debate
I never thought I was smart enough to be president of the United States, but after watching the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden last Thursday evening, I may be the perfect candidate.
I’m over 70 years old. I’m a little forgetful at times. As hard as I try, sometimes I lose track of the topic — but I don’t ignore the question and change the subject just to avert an answer.
I know some serious stuff is happening in America that needs to change because what was good for America 200 years ago is not good for America today. More security at our borders is needed. More control over pharmaceutical drugs is needed. Countries buying land in the U.S. must stop. These three subjects would be my major platform.
People in the age range of 30 to 60 should be taking their country seriously, for themselves, their children, their grandchildren and anybody they care about, even the old folks they love.
The debate was a wake-up call for all of us: Younger people are needed to guide America.
Deana Veldhuis, Edgewood
