Tacoma

Over the past two years in Tacoma, the name of one voter-approved citizens’ initiative — the Landlord Fairness Code — has garnered both cheers of support and cries of opposition.

All around Washington, cities are having to figure out how to create more housing.One way Tacoma is attempting to meet this goal is through a policy called Home in Tacoma, which changed zoning allowances in the city to allow for more houses on one lot.

NWPB reporter Lauren Gallup joined host Phineas Pope to discuss Tacoma's 2023 Landlord Fairness Code and its impacts on affordable housing providers today.

An affordable housing complex has put a financial strain on the YWCA Pierce County. The nonprofit attributes the strain to Tacoma’s Landlord Fairness Code.

A mini forest has been planted at the University of Washington's Tacoma campus. Participants are hoping this will help to improve the city's tree canopy — and provide green space on campus.

Parks Tacoma, the parks and recreation district in the city, is dealing with less money coming in than they expected and more costs to pay for.

Parks Tacoma, the city’s parks and recreation district, is dealing with a combination of less revenue than expected and more expenses, making for a shortfall of $8 million dollars. In response, the district cut some jobs last week.The district laid off 14 staff members, and another 10 employees opted to take voluntary separation packages. The district also paused filling 25 vacant positions.

The battle over letting voters decide on a higher minimum wage and new workplace protections in Tacoma continues.Now, the city is challenging a Sept. 9 order from a Pierce County superior court judge to put the initiative on the February special election ballot. The city filed a notice to appeal the court’s decision on Friday.

Cooper’s Food & Drink, located in Tacoma, was among 18 restaurants where kids in Tacoma, Seattle and even Denver, Colorado, could come and get a free meal.

Behind wooden and chain-linked fencing in South Tacoma, 60 brightly painted tiny homes stand in neat rows on a gravel lot. This is the home of Kingfisher Village, which opened at the end of July, is the newest tiny home community that the nonprofit, Low Income Housing Institute, has established in the city.