Pictured above is far left Pierce County Executive, Ryan Mello posing with some friends. If the Left has their way, Mello will essentially become our Sheriff. Amendment proposal 53 proposed to remove our elected Sheriff and give that power to the Executive to appoint a new one.

NOT A FAIR FIGHT

The thing that bothers me the most about this contest is that the voters of the City of Tacoma will probably provide the deciding vote if it goes to the ballot. They are not represented by the Sheriff having their own police force but will still vote on the measure. Plus, currently, the Sheriff can be subjected to a recall, but an appointed one cannot. Much of Tacoma is like Seattle, FAR LEFT. Is that fair?

The Current Battle

This Friday, Sept. 4th, a lawsuit to invalidate the Amendment Proposal will be heard in court. A web site with details can be found at REJECT AMENDMENT 53

The petition was filed August 21 by former Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag, a Democrat who previously served as Pierce County clerk and auditor; Jeff Joseph, one of our Republican PCO’s; and Hollie Rogge, who served on the Charter Review Commission.

Here are the latest details and how you can help:

To All Friends and Supporters of Void 53,

Our hearing is set for 9 AM on Friday, September 4th at Thurston County Superior Court 2000 Lakeridge Dr SW Bldg 3, Olympia, WA 98502.

Our judge is Kelly Wood, recently appointed by Governor Ferguson. We want to fill the courtroom with our supporters. Our hope is that despite his service in the State Attorney General’s office that he will give us a fair hearing especially knowing that he will eventually have to face an election to retain his position.

We hope to see as many of you next Friday as possible.

Thank you again for your support.

Directions HERE

Here is a word from Jeff Joseph

Lawsuit filed to keep the Pierce County, WA sheriff an elected position - YouTube

MORE INFORMATION

Reject 53 Website: https://reject53.org/

Sign up for thier updates and to help out: https://reject53.org/#signup

Donate: https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/VOTENOONAMENDMENT53

========================

Initiative Campaign

There is also an initiative being drafted to clarify and establish the OFFICE of Sheriff as a Constitutional, elected office. Here is a short video of Keith with details as well as some review of the lawsuit above.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) is attempting to rewrite the rules concerning yard waste burning.

https://www.pscleanair.gov/723/Upcoming-Rulemaking-for-Residential-Yard

You have until this Monday, August 31st, to comment and take their survey.

Click HERE to go to the survey

PSCAA Survey

The proposed new rules would apply to King, Kitsap, Snohomish and Pierce counties. Currently, vast portions of all these counties are very rural. See the map below. Blue is the remainder of all 4 counties proposed to be included in the burning ban.

You can also view this map at: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6ed8bc3730cc4c829761e4eaac0885bc

NOT A SAFETY ISSUE

To be clear, this is not related in any way to burn bans instituted for safety reasons. This is a direct result of the Washington Clean Air Act which does call for periodic reviews but does not prescribe specific actions, leaving that to the unelected bureaucrats in the PSCAA to interpret and enforce.

Here are the specific RCW’s relevant to the proposed rule making:

RCW 70A.15.5070: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=70A.15.5070

The specific section the proposed new rules revolve around is section 6":

(6) Burning shall be prohibited in an area when an alternate technology or method of disposing of the organic refuse is available, reasonably economical, and less harmful to the environment.

I have some questions:

1. 1. These points are all VERY subjective and destined to be decided by unaccountable bureaucrats.

2. 2. Alternative technology could mean transporting leaves, etc. to a landfill and paying the fee. What if I don’t have a truck or other vehicle to do this?

3. 3. Our landfill costs are already some of the highest in the nation. What does “reasonably economical” mean?

Here are the Pierce County rates

https://www.piercecountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/141456/Price-Sheet-HV--7-1-24

ENFORCEMENT

Note that at the bottom, under section 9, local fire districts are not required to enforce, but can enter into special agreements to do just that. I have sent in a request for a list of any fire districts which have done so but have not heard back yet.

(9) Nothing in this section shall require fire districts to enforce air quality requirements related to outdoor burning, unless the fire district enters into an agreement with the department of ecology, department of natural resources, a local air pollution control authority, or other appropriate entity to provide such enforcement.

Take a moment to consider the controls being proposed on a vast rural area of Washington state, then take the survey and let them know what you think.

Click HERE to go to the survey

PSCAA Survey

Emily did a video on this a while back you might appreciate:

For anyone just tuning in, here are some basics. These will be updated as we go along

1. The Basics – District maps, Commissioners, Links

2. Procedures – Steps that Amendments must go through

3. Amendments – Updated table of Amendments to date

4. Progression – Where each Amendment has progressed

=============================================

https://www.youtube.com/@emilyanderson8854

NEXT MEETING

The rest of the meetings will be at the Pierce County Annex.

WHAT: Charter Review Meeting

WHEN: Monday, June 8^th @ 6:00 PM 

WHERE: Pierce County Annex

2401 S. 35th Street

Tacoma, WA 98409

More info - HERE

Directions - HERE

Zoom: https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/92844977008

============================================

Mondays Agenda

Click HERE for the full packet

Here is Emily with a summary. Text below with links to each Amendment.

The process the Amendments must go through

Second Reading

These are all on second reading. They can be voted on to advance or die here.

The only ones I support are C-32 Initiative Signature Gathering Timelines and P-2 Qualifications for Office The rest are either inappropriate for the Charter and should be pursued as legislation or are outright evil and destructive.

· C-26 Community Stewardship

· C-27 Housing Stability

· C-30 Sherrif Ombuds

· C-39 Public Safety Accountability and Transparency

· O-2 Amendments to Council Legislation Must be in Writing

· O-1 Financial Procedures Modernization

· C-24 Veteran’s Affairs

· C-29 Young Persons Commission and Office of Children and Youth

· C-32 Initiative Signature Gathering Timelines

· C-34 Increase Size of Council to Nine, Increase Size of Charter Review Commission to Twenty-Seven

· C-36 Modernization of Anti-Discrimination Language

· C-37 Affirmation of Constitutional Rights and Protections

· C-42 Eminent Domain

· P-7 Campaign Finance

· P-2 Qualifications for Office

You can testify on any of the Amendments overall, but the ones on the agenda would be most relevant.

=============================================

Last Weeks Meeting

Public Testimony

Video feed is still being cut during public comment on the County recording so you cannot tell who is testifying. Thanks to Emily we have this recording:

June 3^rd

Keeping you silent – 7:41

Vote to return to 3 minutes for public comment failed.

*** Sorry if I get some of the names misspelled

Tim Teker – 8:05

Powerful testimony calling the commission out as fascists

Ken Paulson – 20:41

Pointed out hypocrisy of restrictions on the Sheriff but no other elected offices including the Commission itself.

Ian Armstrong – 24:59

Ian called out Commissioner Rydell Kelly for his free Palestine comments. Chair attempted to stop him but he pushed on. Good job Ian.

Maria Shey – 27:30

Called the Commission out for tyranny and radical sponsored members of Indivisible.

Jeff Joseph – 29:50

Spoke against appointed Sheriff and called out the Commission for attempting to run legislative initiatives.

Nina Swank – 36:39

Spoke against appointed Sheriff and called for ALL elected officials be appointed rather than elected including the Commission itself

Jon Higley – 38:11

Spoke against C-42. Expressed the slap in the face it is after serving his county to have a proposal like this to take private land.

Keith Swank – 40:12

Keith spoke in opposition to C-40, correctly identifying the opportunity for abuse by the prosecutor and pointed out the prosecutor themselves would be immune from the reach of the proposal.

Elise – 42:25

Elise spoke against P-14 which proposed to give nature legal rights. Well spoken.

Emily Anderson – 45:25

Spoke against C-42 which would allow confiscation of private property. She pointed out the anniversary of Kill Dozer who was pressed to the limit by government.

Jennifer – 47:55

She read her online submitted comments which encouraged people to file complaints with the state auditor against the Charter Review Commission for its failures.

https://sao.wa.gov/report-concern/how-report-concern

or call 866-902-3900

Dawn Land 49:46

Dawn spoke against C-36 and the introduction of more protections for deviant sexual preferences. She cited Title IX pointing out the protections it includes vs those that are being proposed.

HANDOUTS

I have been preparing a handout for the Commissioners and the public related to my testimony. I haven’t been publishing those for you and thought you might be interested. Here are some past ones:

Handout - Conflict of Interest - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Conflict.pdf

Handout - Challenge - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Conflict.pdf

Handout – Fallacies - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Fallacies.pdf

Handout – Secret - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Secret.pdf

Handout – Consistency - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Consistency.pdf

Handout – Pantheism - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Pantheism.pdf

===============================================

Take Action!

· Read and understand the proposed Amendments

View the table of Amendments HERE

Proposed Charter Amendments

The individual Amendment pages have bullet points to aid you in focusing your comments.

· Send your comments to:

· Email the Clerk at: katey.hobbs@piercecountywa.gov

· Or use their online form at:

Provide Written Public Comment

· Attend the meetings

o There are many Amendments moving through the process.

o If you can, pick one and testify for or against it.

o It is important we bring a show of force. If we don’t, they will.

· Prepare and offer testimony.

o This Monday is a key opportunity. Make sure your testimony is part of the record. In person or Zoom.

============================================

Past Messages

The Basics – The Charter, Representatives, Maps, Meetings, Procedures, Amendments, Testify, Take action, Links

First Review - Process deficiencies, The process, Table of Amendments, The progression.

Update 3-14-26 – Process deficiencies, Current Amendments, Listening sessions.

Update 3-22-26 - Amendment updates, Previous week review

Update 3-28-26 – List of Amendments and review

Update 4-4-26 – Conflict of Interest

Update 4-9-26 – Law Enforcement

Update 4-11-26 – Regular update

Update 4-16-26 – Last minute location changes

Update 4-19-27 – Regular Update

Update 4-26-26 – Challenge

Update 4-28-26 – You have been silenced

Update 5-2-26 – You have been silenced (Continued)

For anyone just tuning in, here are some basics. These will be updated as we go along

1. The Basics – District maps, Commissioners, Links

2. Procedures – Steps that Amendments must go through

3. Amendments – Updated table of Amendments to date

4. Progression – Where each Amendment has progressed

=============================================

https://www.youtube.com/@emilyanderson8854

NEXT MEETING

This one is in Gig Harbor. If you can’t make it, do you know anyone in the area that can? Forward them this message.

WHAT: Charter Review Meeting

WHEN: Monday, June 1^st @ 6:00 PM 

WHERE: Gig Harbor City Hall

3510 Grandview Dr.

Gig Harbor, WA 98335

More info - HERE

Directions - HERE

Zoom: https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/92844977008

============================================

Wednesdays Agenda

Click HERE for the full packet

Here is Emily with a summary. Text below with links to each Amendment.

Here is the progression the proposals move through.

Amendments up for Sponsorship

These need 4 sponsors to advance

· P-2 Proof of Citizenship for Voting

Reading Proposals

These have 4 sponsors and are moving through the 2 meetings for discussion.

First Reading

· C-24 Veteran’s Affairs

· C-29 Young Persons Commission and Office of Children and Youth

· C-32 Initiative Signature Gathering Timelines

· C-34 Increase Size of Council to Nine, Increase Size of Charter Review Commission to Twenty-Seven

· C-36 Modernization of Anti-Discrimination Language

· C-37 Affirmation of Constitutional Rights and Protections

· C-42 Eminent Domain

· P-7 Campaign Finance

· P-14 Recognition of Natural Resources

Second Reading

The ones on second reading can be voted on to advance.

· C-8R Competitive Hiring for Appointed Position

· C-21 Referendum

· C-25 Four Year Balanced Budget

· C-26 Community Stewardship

· C-27 Housing Stability

· C-30 Sherrif Ombuds

· C-39 Public Safety Accountability and Transparency

· O-2 Amendments to Council Legislation Must be in Writing

· O-1 Financial Procedures Modernization

You can testify on any of the Amendments overall, but the ones on the agenda would be most relevant.

=============================================

Last Weeks Meeting

Public Testimony

Thank you Emily for getting the last meeting recorded and posted right away. The county still has not posted their recording yet.

Great testimonies this week!

Alex Rosencamp – 0:00

Very powerful testimony against C-36 protections for illegal aliens.

Emily Anderson – 1:49

Put them on notice again,,,,, for their failures. Will they listen this time?

Jonathan Ames – 6:04

Spoke against C-37 protecting illegal aliens as well as spoke against efforts to control our sheriff.

Jena Breshears – 16:18

Spoke against C-25 Veterans and against proposals for illegal aliens.

David Rose – 18:51

The chair allowed him to ramble on and level attacks on Jerome O’Leary until other commissioners objected.

Michael Shewler- 21:50

Spoke against P-7 Public campaign finance proposal and pointed out the limit of $359.73 which is unrealistic to run any compaign.

HANDOUTS

I have been preparing a handout for the Commissioners and the public related to my testimony. I haven’t been publishing those for you and thought you might be interested. Here are some past ones:

Handout - Conflict of Interest - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Conflict.pdf

Handout - Challenge - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Conflict.pdf

Handout – Fallacies - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Fallacies.pdf

Handout – Secret - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Secret.pdf

Handout – Consistency - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Consistency.pdf

Handout – Pantheism - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Pantheism.pdf

===============================================

Take Action!

· Read and understand the proposed Amendments

View the table of Amendments HERE

Proposed Charter Amendments

The individual Amendment pages have bullet points to aid you in focusing your comments.

· Send your comments to:

· Email the Clerk at: katey.hobbs@piercecountywa.gov

· Or use their online form at:

Provide Written Public Comment

· Attend the meetings

o There are many Amendments moving through the process.

o If you can, pick one and testify for or against it.

o It is important we bring a show of force. If we don’t, they will.

· Prepare and offer testimony.

o This Monday is a key opportunity. Make sure your testimony is part of the record. In person or Zoom.

============================================

Past Messages

The Basics – The Charter, Representatives, Maps, Meetings, Procedures, Amendments, Testify, Take action, Links

First Review - Process deficiencies, The process, Table of Amendments, The progression.

Update 3-14-26 – Process deficiencies, Current Amendments, Listening sessions.

Update 3-22-26 - Amendment updates, Previous week review

Update 3-28-26 – List of Amendments and review

Update 4-4-26 – Conflict of Interest

Update 4-9-26 – Law Enforcement

Update 4-11-26 – Regular update

Update 4-16-26 – Last minute location changes

Update 4-19-27 – Regular Update

Update 4-26-26 – Challenge

Update 4-28-26 – You have been silenced

Update 5-2-26 – You have been silenced (Continued)

As the closing weeks of the Charter Review play out, you can expect the failures of the first 5 months to get even worse. There are 9 meetings crammed into June. Meeting minutes, video, Amendments and the progression have all been up to a month behind. There is no way you will be informed from one meeting to the next what is taking place when meetings are scheduled just two days apart.

https://www.piercecountywa.gov/4498/Charter-Review-Commission

What can you believe?

The Commissions failures have multiplied as they have attempted to post information to the public. For the first 4 months, all amendments and related information was scattered across all the meeting packets for you to hunt and scour for. Now they have 3 different sources for you to hunt and scour through and none of them agree with each other. Seems we were better off with the hunt through the packets.

First we have the folders. This was their first attempt in April to post the Amendments.

Document Center • Pierce County, WA • CivicEngage

It has grown to 5 folders. None of them are up to date, Amendments are listed in random order and there are still many missing. C-33, C-35, C-39, C-40, C-41 and C-42.

Second we have a chart which they just posted a couple weeks ago. This one is close. It has potential but it too is not up to date, is missing a number of Amendments and does not agree with the folders.

List-of-Proposed-Amendments-with-Links-

And third we have a spread sheet which should be the main data set of all the Amendments and their progression.

https://www.piercecountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/156862/Proposal-Tracking---Updated-5182026

It too is not up to date, is missing Amendments and does not agree with either the folders or the chart.

Does any of this make sense to you?

Here is what state law says about this

RCW 42.30.010

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.30.010

The legislature finds and declares that all public commissions, boards, councils, committees, subcommittees, departments, divisions, offices, and all other public agencies of this state and subdivisions thereof exist to aid in the conduct of the people’s business. It is the intent of this chapter that their actions be taken openly and that their deliberations be conducted openly.

The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed and informing the people’s public servants of their views so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created. For these reasons, even when not required by law, public agencies are encouraged to incorporate and accept public comment during their decision-making process.

Do you feel like you have any control over the process when you don’t know what is taking place?

The Cease and Desist order filed with the Auditor has been completely ignored. The Commission is acting with impunity.

Some points of consideration:

1. Who sets the agenda?

· I see nothing in the rules on this.

· This will be the critical power moving forward

· It should be a transparent process!

· Manipulations in secret will most likely be the case

2. Why are amendments accepted after April 13^th (or 27^th per Commission rules)?

· Looks like C-33 through C-42 are after the deadline.

3. Why is no one making an effort to inform the public on the status of the Amendments?

· The three attempts, Folders, Chart and Excell are all out of date and conflict with each other.

· There are 21 members of the Commission. I am not hearing any of them complain.

===============================================

Take Action!

Send your comments to:

Email the Clerk at: katey.hobbs@piercecountywa.gov

Or use their online form at:

Provide Written Public Comment

For anyone just tuning in, here are some basics. These will be updated as we go along

1. The Basics – District maps, Commissioners, Links

2. Procedures – Steps that Amendments must go through

3. Amendments – Updated table of Amendments to date

4. Progression – Where each Amendment has progressed

=============================================

Things are heating up!

I am still remote and depend on you to attend and report on the Commission so I can share with everyone. Emily Anderson continues to lead and has sure brought some heat on the Commission,

She has filed an official “Cease and Desist” against the Commission which has been filed with the Pierce County Auditor.

Read it HERE

Emily has gotten a response from the Commission chair Kelcy Barrens in which it sounds she feels everything is just fine on the website and that everything is very accessible. Hmmm…

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2219098382184261

Sure doesn’t look all good to me as Emily goes over glaring deficiencies and has a call to action for us:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1724944545345111

Make sure and follow Emily on Facebook to get up to date information.

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/emily.anderson.767315

She also posts to YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@emilyanderson8854

NEXT MEETING

The next scheduled meeting is Wednesday in respect for Mondays Memorial Day.

WHAT: Charter Review Meeting

WHEN: Wednesday, May 27^th @ 6:00 PM 

WHERE: Pierce County Council Chambers

1501 Market Street

Tacoma, WA 98402

More info - HERE

Directions - HERE

Zoom: https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/92844977008

============================================

Wednesdays Agenda

Click HERE for the full packet

I have updated my Amendment page adding a column to show the stage in the progression each Amendment is at. I think you will like it.

Amendments up for Sponsorship

These need 4 sponsors to advance

· P-7 Campaign Finance

· C-41 Duties and Responsibilities of the Assessor-Treasurer

· C-42 Eminent Domain

Reading Proposals

These have 4 sponsors and are moving through the 2 meetings for discussion.

First Reading

· C-26 Community Stewardship

· C-27 Housing Stability

· C-30 Sherrif Ombuds

· C-24 Veteran’s Affairs

· C-29 Young Persons Commission and Office of Children and Youth

· C-34 Increase Size of Council to Nine, Increase Size of Charter Review Commission to Twenty-Seven

· C-36 Modernization of Anti-Discrimination Language

· C-37 Affirmation of Constitutional Rights and Protections

· O-2 Amendments to Council Legislation Must be in Writing

· O-1 Financial Procedures Modernization

Second Reading

The ones on second reading can be voted on to advance.

· C-25 Four Year Balanced Budget

· C-39 Public Safety Accountability and Transparency

· C-21 Referendum

You can testify on any of the Amendments overall, but the ones on the agenda would be most relevant.

=============================================

Last Weeks Meeting

Public Testimony

The camera angle is poor but audio is good. Many good speakers.

Click on the time stamp after each one to go directly to that point in the video

Nichole Webber - 2:19

Spoke to the failure of the website and informing the public.

Jonathan Ammes – 4:26

Spoke well countering the proposed amendment C-29 creating a youth council. Pointed out all the dangers of alternative lifestyles and concerns of this being overlooked in a youth council. One of the homosexual councilmembers objected but he made excellent points.

State VFW Commander – 18:39

In a very surprising testimony, the VFW head testified against C-24 creating a new county department of Veterans Affairs. Citing costs, waste and inefficiency,

Eric Lundberg – 21:29

Eric spoke to a number of amendments. Most notably in favor of C-21 which would remove the ability of the Council to use Emergency Clauses which has been highly abused at both the state and county level.

Martin Miller – 25:18

Among many who spoke against C-1 appointed sheriff. Martin brought some personal experience with appointed sheriff of the past and the corruption that came with it.

Emily Anderson – 28:34

Put the Commission on notice for their failures.

Ian Armstron – 31:02

Scolded Commission for voting down C-38 requiring 2/3^rd majority to pass amendments.

HANDOUTS

I have been preparing a handout for the Commissioners and the public related to my testimony. I haven’t been publishing those for you and thought you might be interested. Here are some past ones:

Handout - Conflict of Interest - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Conflict.pdf

Handout - Challenge - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Conflict.pdf

Handout – Fallacies - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Fallacies.pdf

Handout – Secret - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Secret.pdf

Handout – Consistency - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Consistency.pdf

Handout – Pantheism - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Pantheism.pdf

===============================================

Take Action!

1. Read and understand the proposed Amendments

View the table of Amendments HERE

Proposed Charter Amendments

The individual Amendment pages have bullet points to aid you in focusing your comments.

2. Send your comments to:

Email the Clerk at: katey.hobbs@piercecountywa.gov

Or use their online form at:

Provide Written Public Comment

3. Attend the meetings

· There are many Amendments moving through the process.

· If you can, pick one and testify for or against it.

· It is important we bring a show of force. If we don’t, they will.

4. Prepare and offer testimony.

· This Monday is a key opportunity. Make sure your testimony is part of the record. In person or Zoom.

============================================

Past Messages

The Basics – The Charter, Representatives, Maps, Meetings, Procedures, Amendments, Testify, Take action, Links

First Review - Process deficiencies, The process, Table of Amendments, The progression.

Update 3-14-26 – Process deficiencies, Current Amendments, Listening sessions.

Update 3-22-26 - Amendment updates, Previous week review

Update 3-28-26 – List of Amendments and review

Update 4-4-26 – Conflict of Interest

Update 4-9-26 – Law Enforcement

Update 4-11-26 – Regular update

Update 4-16-26 – Last minute location changes

Update 4-19-27 – Regular Update

Update 4-26-26 – Challenge

Update 4-28-26 – You have been silenced

Update 5-2-26 – You have been silenced (Continued)

With honor and gratitude

for those who gave the greatest sacrifice

EVENTS

Graveside Flag Placement - May 22nd

Memorial Day Event - May 24th

Memorial Day Remembrance - May 25th

More Events

Memorial Day Events and Observances

The City of Milton honors fallen service members with a community Memorial Day event, from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday, May 25, 2026, at the Milton Fire Station—1000 Laurel Street, Milton, WA 98354. The event is held rain or shine.

• Memorial Day in Sumner – City of Sumner

• Memorial Day Events & Observances | WDVA

• Tahoma National Cemetery 2026 | Travis Manion Foundation

• Mountain View Memorial Park 2026 Ceremony | Mountain View Funeral Home, Memorial Park and Crematory

• City of Roy Memorial Day Ceremony: Monday, May 25, at 1 p.m. at the Roy Cemetery, 211 288th Street South, Roy, WA 98580. A community observance honoring Roy’s fallen service members.

• Town of Eatonville Memorial Day Events: Members of the community and volunteers will gather at the Eatonville Cemetery (209 Fir Ave N, Eatonville, WA 98328) on Saturday, May 24, at 9 a.m. to decorate the gravesites. On Monday, May 25, at 11 a.m. at the Eatonville Cemetery, the American Legion Mt. Tacoma Post and Unit #148 will host the annual Memorial Day Observance, followed by post-event activities until 5 p.m.

• Fir Lane Memorial Service, Spanaway: Volunteer veteran groups, scouts, and local families will convene at the Fir Lane Memorial Park & Funeral Home (924 East 176th Street, Spanaway, WA 98387) on Saturday, May 23, at 10 a.m. to adorn veteran graves with crosses and flags. Anyone wishing to help is welcome, and tools and light refreshments will be available.

• On Sunday, May 24, at 1 p.m., Fir Lane Memorial Park will hold its 57th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony. The event features local guest speakers, an Honor Guard presentation, rifle volleys, and a wreath-laying ceremony in tribute to fallen service members. Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to stay for light refreshments and community time.

Across Pierce County

• Memorial Day at Washington Soldiers Home (WDVA) — Monday, May 25, at 3 p.m. in Orting, 1301 Orting Kapowsin Hwy E, Orting, WA 98360. The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs hosts its annual ceremony on the grounds of one of our state’s most historic veterans’ campuses.

• Joint Services Memorial Day Ceremony — Monday, May 25, 2:00 PM, Mountain View Memorial Park, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood. Hosted by Mountain View Memorial Park and the Pierce County Veterans Advisory Council, this is the county’s largest joint-services observance, featuring a keynote address, presentation of colors, and a wreath-laying ceremony.

• Tahoma National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony — Monday, May 25, 1:00 PM, 18600 SE 240th St., Kent. A regional VA national cemetery observance that many South Sound families attend.

Additional Washington State Observances

The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs has compiled a full list of Memorial Day events statewide. A few highlights:

• Capitol Campus Memorial Day Event — Olympia, 10:30 AM

• State Veterans Cemetery Observance — Medical Lake, 11:00 AM

• Washington Veterans Home Ceremony — Port Orchard, 10:00 AM

• Olympia Thunder Run — Olympia, 10:30 AM

• Fort Lawton Memorial Day Ceremony — Seattle, 12:00 PM

The full WDVA list is available here.

For anyone just tuning in, here are some basics. These will be updated as we go along

1. The Basics – District maps, Commissioners, Links

2. Procedures – Steps that Amendments must go through

3. Amendments – Updated table of Amendments to date

4. Progression – Where each Amendment has progressed

=============================================

Some new options

I will be remote for a while, and I am finding it a bit difficult to bring you all the information that I normally do.

Emily Anderson is doing an excellent job. Please consider subscribing to her channel

The best one in on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/emily.anderson.767315

She also posts to YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@emilyanderson8854

Tomorrow

Right now she has a “Cease and Desist” order drafted that needs your signature. Please consider showing up at tomorrows meeting so you can sign and learn what they are attempting to do TO us.

It is at Rogers High School in the heart of our district.

Here is Emily with more information:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1855905125081061

Tomorrows Meeting info

WHAT: Charter Review Meeting

WHEN: Monday, May 18^th @ 6:00 PM 

WHERE: Rogers High School

12801 86th Ave E

Puyallup, WA 98373

More info - HERE

Directions - HERE

Zoom: https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/92844977008

============================================

Mondays Agenda

Click HERE for the full packet

I have updated my Amendment page adding a column to show the stage in the progression each Amendment is at. I think you will like it.

Amendments up for Sponsorship

These need 4 sponsors to advance

· P-7 Campaign Finance

Reading Proposals

These have 4 sponsors and are moving through the 2 meetings for discussion.

First Reading

· C-21 Referendum

· C-26 Community Stewardship

· C-27 Housing Stability

· C-30 Sherrif Ombuds

· C-24 Veteran’s Affairs

· C-29 Young Persons Commission and Office of Children and Youth

· C-34 Increase Size of Council to Nine, Increase Size of Charter Review Commission to Twenty-Seven

· C-36 Modernization of Anti-Discrimination Language

· C-37 Affirmation of Constitutional Rights and Protections

Second Reading

The ones on second reading can be voted on to advance.

*** This is an important one. It seeks to remove our Sheriff upon accusations.

· C-40 Executive Pro Tempore Vacancies in Office

You can testify on any of the Amendments overall, but the ones on the agenda would be most relevant.

=============================================

Last Weeks Meeting

Public Testimony

We had some great public testimony including a number of you who spoke up for our elected Sheriff. Also some highlights:

Ian Armstrong – 1:08

Spoke well on C-38 requiring a 2/3 majority to pass an Amendment. The commission went on to vote this important proposal down.

Eric Lundberg – 8:20

The Chair attempted to shut Eric down but he prevailed and scolded the Commissioners who refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance.

Emily Anderson – 10:41

You will notice most speakers were rushed to stay within the 2 minute limit imposed by the Commission in April. This is the record of how the commissioners voted to silence you:

HANDOUTS

I have been preparing a handout for the Commissioners and the public related to my testimony. I haven’t been publishing those for you and thought you might be interested. Here are some past ones:

Handout - Conflict of Interest - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Conflict.pdf

Handout - Challenge - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Conflict.pdf

Handout – Fallacies - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Fallacies.pdf

Handout – Secret - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Secret.pdf

Handout – Consistency - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Consistency.pdf

Handout – Pantheism - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Pantheism.pdf

===========================================

Coming up

Next Meeting is this Monday

*** Note location change

WHAT: Charter Review Meeting

WHEN: Monday, May 18^th @ 6:00 PM 

WHERE: Rogers High School

12801 86th Ave E

Puyallup, WA 98373

More info - HERE

Directions - HERE

Zoom: https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/92844977008

In the coming weeks

***May meetings will be at different locations.

May 18^th – Rogers High School
12801 86th Ave E
Puyallup, WA 98373

May 27^th – Pierce County Council Chambers
1501 Market Street
Tacoma, WA 98402

===============================================

Take Action!

1. Read and understand the proposed Amendments

View the table of Amendments HERE

Proposed Charter Amendments

The individual Amendment pages have bullet points to aid you in focusing your comments.

2. Send your comments to:

N Email the Clerk at: katey.hobbs@piercecountywa.gov

N Or use their online form at:

Provide Written Public Comment

3. Attend the meetings

· There are many Amendments moving through the process.

· If you can, pick one and testify for or against it.

· It is important we bring a show of force. If we don’t, they will.

4. Prepare and offer testimony.

· This Monday is a key opportunity. Make sure your testimony is part of the record. In person or Zoom.

============================================

Past Messages

The Basics – The Charter, Representatives, Maps, Meetings, Procedures, Amendments, Testify, Take action, Links

First Review - Process deficiencies, The process, Table of Amendments, The progression.

Update 3-14-26 – Process deficiencies, Current Amendments, Listening sessions.

Update 3-22-26 - Amendment updates, Previous week review

Update 3-28-26 – List of Amendments and review

Update 4-4-26 – Conflict of Interest

Update 4-9-26 – Law Enforcement

Update 4-11-26 – Regular update

Update 4-16-26 – Last minute location changes

Update 4-19-27 – Regular Update

Update 4-26-26 – Challenge

Update 4-28-26 – You have been silenced

Update 5-2-26 – You have been silenced (Continued)

For anyone just tuning in, here are some basics. These will be updated as we go along

1. The Basics – District maps, Commissioners, Links

2. Procedures – Steps that Amendments must go through

3. Amendments – Updated table of Amendments to date

4. Progression – Where each Amendment has progressed

=============================================

Showing their true colors

This week a few Amendments that had no text were finally made available. They reveal the true activists a number of the Commissioners really are.

Click on the Amendment numbers to see full Amendment

C-36 - Modernization of Anti-Discrimination Language

Uses the charter to inject a number of discrimination laws not found in current state or county code encompassing sexual issues.

C-37 - Commitment to Habeas Corpus, treatment of detainees, option for cash bail

Attempts to inject language into the charter to support efforts to eliminate cash bail and provide protections for illegal aliens

P-14 - Recognize protection and stewardship of natural resources in Preamble

Gives the environment standing to all rights and government equal to people. States that the environment is a living thing. This is a religious statement aligned with Pantheism.

The last one, P-14 is very concerning. I have written a separate article on this to shed some light on Pantheism.

View HERE

Progress?

It seems the idea of presenting all the proposed Amendments for you is beyond the County’s capabilities. I have complained for months now. You have sent in comments and what we have is this:

https://www.piercecountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/Index/7165

Now instead of digging through 15 packets to find the Amendments, you only have to dig through 5 folders!

· They are in random order

· Many are repeated throughout

· Many are still missing

· Titles don’t make sense.

Good luck making any sense of it.

Still not posted

None of these Amendments have been posted. They can still be found by digging through 15 different packets though

Meeting minutes are still one month behind.

No meeting minutes have been published this week. They are now over 1 month behind on providing minutes for past meetings. There is no workaround for this. You simply cannot know what has transpired over the last month!

It appears

Your comments are being hidden

Written comments submitted by the public have been included in the packets so far. A number of you have submitted written comments on the failure to provide us with information and have forwarded them to me also. As I look through the packets, I don’t see a number of them. It appears they have been withheld for some reason.

I have been copying and posting all written comments published in the packets to the specific Amendments they are associated with.

For comments that are not specific to individual Amendments like procedural failures and other issues I have created a separate page for them.

View it HERE

If you have submitted non Amendment specific comments, take a look and see if you can find yours. If not, write to the Clerk and ask why they have not been included.

katey.hobbs@piercecountywa.gov

============================================

Mondays Agenda

Click HERE for the full packet

I have updated my Amendment page adding a column to show the stage in the progression each Amendment is at. I think you will like it.

Amendments up for Sponsorship

These need 4 sponsors to advance

· C-24 Veteran’s Affairs

· C-29 Young Persons Commission and Office of Children and Youth

· C-34 Increase Size of Council to Nine, Increase Size of Charter Review Commission to Twenty-Seven

· C-36 Modernization of Anti-Discrimination Language

· C-37 Affirmation of Constitutional Rights and Protections

· P-14 Recognition of Natural Resources in Preamble

Reading Proposals

These have 4 sponsors and are moving through the 2 meetings for discussion.

First Reading

· C-21 Referendum

· C-26 Community Stewardship

· C-27 Housing Stability

· C-30 Sherrif Ombuds

Second Reading

The ones on second reading can be voted on to advance.

· C-28 Replace Coroner with Medical Examiner

· C-31 Executive Pro Tem

· C-38 Voting Requirements Charter Review Commission

· C-39 Public Safety Accountability and Transparency

· C-40 Executive Pro Tempore Vacancies in Office

You can testify on any of the Amendments overall, but the ones on the agenda would be most relevant.

=============================================

Last Weeks Meeting

Public Testimony

Only a handful of people gave comments. They saved less than 10 minutes by reducing public testimony from 3 minutes down to only 2 minutes.

I have been preparing a handout for the Commissioners and the public related to my testimony. I haven’t been publishing those for you and thought you might be interested. Here are some past ones:

Handout - Conflict of Interest - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Conflict.pdf

Handout - Challenge - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Conflict.pdf

Handout – Fallacies - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Fallacies.pdf

Handout – Secret - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Secret.pdf

Handout – Consistency - http://www.25-256.com/Files/CRC/Handout-Consistency.pdf

===========================================

Coming up

Next Meeting is this Monday

*** Note location change

WHAT: Charter Review Meeting

WHEN: Monday, May 11^th @ 6:00 PM 

WHERE: Benston Hall

8120 304th Street East

Graham, WA 98373

More info - HERE

Directions - HERE

Zoom: https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/92844977008

In the coming weeks

***May meetings will be at different locations.

May 18^th – Rogers High School
12801 86th Ave E
Puyallup, WA 98373

May 27^th – Pierce County Council Chambers
1501 Market Street
Tacoma, WA 98402

===============================================

Take Action!

1. Read and understand the proposed Amendments

View the table of Amendments HERE

Proposed Charter Amendments

The individual Amendment pages have bullet points to aid you in focusing your comments.

2. Send your comments to:

N Email the Clerk at: katey.hobbs@piercecountywa.gov

N Or use their online form at:

Provide Written Public Comment

3. Attend the meetings

· There are many Amendments moving through the process.

· If you can, pick one and testify for or against it.

· It is important we bring a show of force. If we don’t, they will.

4. Prepare and offer testimony.

· This Monday is a key opportunity. Make sure your testimony is part of the record. In person or Zoom.

============================================

Past Messages

The Basics – The Charter, Representatives, Maps, Meetings, Procedures, Amendments, Testify, Take action, Links

First Review - Process deficiencies, The process, Table of Amendments, The progression.

Update 3-14-26 – Process deficiencies, Current Amendments, Listening sessions.

Update 3-22-26 - Amendment updates, Previous week review

Update 3-28-26 – List of Amendments and review

Update 4-4-26 – Conflict of Interest

Update 4-9-26 – Law Enforcement

Update 4-11-26 – Regular update

Update 4-16-26 – Last minute location changes

Update 4-19-27 – Regular Update

Update 4-26-26 – Challenge

Update 4-28-26 – You have been silenced

Update 5-2-26 – You have been silenced (Continued)

======================================

Other Events

There are a number of other events of interest coming up in April and May. Check these out on the new Events Page

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/0QjbYEv

Watch for updates. Stay informed. Be a part.

noun

1. A doctrine identifying the Deity with the universe and its phenomena.

2. The doctrine that the universe, taken or conceived of as a whole, is God

Environmentalism, as we have been bombarded with, has its foundation in the religion of Pantheism. Popular in Eastern religions, it proposes god as the universe as a whole and everything in it is therefore god.

Why We Worship Trees

By elevating nature to deity, man is reduced to equivalence with grass, rocks or animals.

It might seem harmless. If someone wants to believe that, it is their right. But how does this play out? If you eat an animal, cut down a tree or dam a river, to the Pantheist, you are harming god. This has risen far above just a personal belief.

Looking back

In the 60’s and 70’s the issue was pollution and rightly so. There were many problems with pollution in our air and water and we have come a long way in addressing those. No one wants dirty air or water and major changes through the years have cleaned things up considerably. But that was just the start.

Climate Change

The issue of climate change is a whole article of its own, but it is inescapable that it has been monetized and normalized to the degree that everyone on earth is being affected. Not by climate change, but by the movement. Regardless of any validity, it has been co-opted by collectivist and authoritarian interests to achieve their goals as well.

Climate protest Earth Strike takes to the street for 2nd Friday

Legislation across the globe has centered on climate change with huge amounts of money involved which has entrenched the belief system even deeper. Not only are we legislating and taxing to fight the carbon boogey man, we are indoctrinating our kids to believe that mankind itself is destroying the planet.

It is a religion

I am not suggesting that every environmental activist recognizes the Pantheistic nature of their beliefs. Whether an unwitting participant or a loyal adherent, it is still the same.

The Earth Law Center proclaimed victory as four cities and two counties voted to support legal recognition of the rights of the Southern Resident Orcas. This included Gig Harbor, Des Moines, Port Townsend, Langley and Bainbridge. Also Jefferson County and San Juan County made similar proclamations.

Proclamation of Rights of Southern Resident Orcas — Earth Law Center

Not just animals, but nature itself, because it is seen as god, has inherent rights. The city of Everett by ballot measure adopted an initiative to give the Snohomish river legal rights as an entity with legal standing.

A River in Washington State Now Has Enforceable Legal Rights - Inside Climate News

Pantheism has revealed itself at the Pierce County Charter Review as well. Two recently filed Amendment proposals, P-14 and P-15 filed by Rachel Kurtz-McAlaine on behalf of Standing for Washington and now sponsored by two Commissioners seeks to establish legal standings for nature. The wording is deceptively innocuous, but a quick look at the organization “Standing for Washington” reveals the true intent.

This should raise alarm bells even for those who have been deceived into thinking they are working to save the planet. If nature has equal legal standing to man, then you are no better than a rock or a blade of grass. To the Pantheist, this is a truth and driving force.

It is ironic that the same people who would propose such ridiculous propositions are the first to demand that Christians provide proof to validate their beliefs (there is tons of proof) but they would really find themselves embarrassed attempting to provide evidence to support their belief.

Beware

This is not a new proposition. Satan told Eve that she could be like God. The rocks and trees are not God and neither are you or I.

“For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God”

Gen. 3:5

More on Pantheism here:

https://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/new-age-movement-pantheism-monism/

The Second Reading Amendments were incorrect when I sent this out.

These will be voted on to advance at Mondays meeting.

· C-9 Deputy

· P-5 Council District Boundaries

· C-25 Five Year Financial Outlook

===============

Keeping you informed

For anyone just tuning in, here are some basics. These will be updated as we go along

1. The Basics – District maps, Commissioners, Links

2. Procedures – Steps that Amendments must go through

3. Amendments – Updated table of Amendments to date

4. Progression – Where each Amendment has progressed

=============================================

YOU are being silenced - Continued

I am going to lead this week with a report on the silencing of the public. See past message on this HERE

Many of you have written in. Thank you. You are making a difference.

I want to give a special thanks to Emily Anderson for putting this message up on social media.

(20+) Emily Anderson - Please share this video and get the word out.... | Facebook

Progress?

I am uncertain if we were going to at least get some help with posting the Amendments. I wrote to all the County Council and got this response back from Jani Hitchen:

===================================

Good day John,

I was there on Monday night and saw you flier and heard your concerns. You are correct, the Council has little to do with the work but we are supporting the staffing. I asked that the team work to update the website with all the current amendments that are still in the works and hope they will be able to get that accomplished before the next meeting. This Commission does not have ANY full-time staff and each Commissioner is also doing this as a volunteer.

We are compiling feedback on the process and plan to put together a comprehensive list of suggestions for the next commission in 2036, as there were some things that could have been established and set up PRIOR to the commission starting their work on January. Times have changed in how governments share information and how the public expects information to be provided since the last Charter Review, and we did not adjust things enough to address that.

Appreciate the feedback and that you are engaging with this process.

Respectfully,

Jani

Jani Hitchen

(She/Her/Hers)

Pierce County Council Chair

Representing District 6

253.798.3308

======================================

A lot of political equivocation there but it appears she was at least going to communicate the concerns to someone.

Still no action though.

• None of these Amendments have been posted. The ones in grey failed without ever being posted.

  

• Meeting minutes are still one month behind.

• Proposal tracking sheet only to 4-20-26

Notes:

*** We did have one small victory. Rank Choice Voting failed.

*** All Commission meetings till June will be at different district locations. See below for locations.

*** Public testimony will still be limited to 2 minutes.

*** Meeting minutes have not been posted beyond April 6^th. As a result, no official record of where Amendments stand is posted.

*** All of the Amendments have still not been posted and those that have are difficult to find.

*** There has been no media coverage of the process that I have seen. Have you?

This Weeks Update:

1. Updates to all Amnendments

· See my Amendment Page HERE

2. Video of last week’s meeting

· Vote to silence you HERE

· Public testimony HERE

3. Upcoming events

· See the County schedule HERE

· Also below with details

============================================

Mondays Agenda

Click HERE for the full packet

Still using my format. The Commissions attempts are a total failure. View theirs Click HERE

I have updated my Amendment page adding a column to show the stage in the progression each Amendment is at. I think you will like it.

Click HERE for the full image with descriptions.

Public Amendment Proposals

Last week the Commission voted to dismiss all Public Amendments on the agenda that did not receive a sponsor. Many were read for the first time, and many were never listed on the website.

Amendments up for Sponsorship

These need 4 sponsors to advance

· C-21 Referendum

· C-24 Veteran’s Affairs

· C-29 Young Persons Commission and Office of Children and Youth

· C-34 Increase Size of Council to Nine, Increase Size of Charter Review Commission to Twenty-Seven

Reading Proposals

These have 4 sponsors and are moving through the 2 meetings for discussion.

First Reading

· C-28 Replace Coroner with Medical Examiner

· C-31 Executive Pro Tem

· C-38 Voting Requirements Charter Review Commission

· C-14 and C-15 Public Safety Stabilization

· C-26 Community Stewardship

· C-27 Housing Stability

· C-3R1, C-4R and C-5R Vacancies in Office

Second Reading

The ones on second reading can be voted on to advance.

· C-9 Deputy

· P-5 Council District Boundaries

· C-25 Five Year Financial Outlook

You can testify on any of the Amendments overall, but the ones on the agenda would be most relevant.

=============================================

Last Weeks Meeting

A lot of last weeks meeting was not captured on video and what did was terrible quality. View HERE

I did get some of it before my batteries pooped out:

Public Testimony

Public Testimony – 4-27-26

The Challenge letter that I sent to all of you was printed and distributed to all the Commissioners and the public.

View HERE

And my follow up message HERE

My testimony on silencing the public at 15:14 HERE

Vote to silence you

They continued to double down when the Public Amendments came up. A motion was made to give them one spot on the Agenda then to remove them from consideration forever. Our conservative Commissioners attempted a follow-up Amendment to extend this to two weeks but it failed along ideological lines.

I separated out that portion and posted it to Youtube for you.

There were many strong objections from the conservatives. Most notably Commissioner Mason Fletcher gave a very concise rebuttal HERE and followed up again HERE

To no avail. The progressives out vote us and took away the Public Amendments from future consideration.

The biggest insult of it all is that all of those Public Amendments are among those never listed on the website!

Amendment for Roads - defeated

I was very disappointed to see Jerome O’Learys proposal C-22 to give roads and infrastructure priority go down to defeat. There are two of the liberal commissioners who are transit activists and serve on boards an commissions to shove transit down our throats. They both railed on against the proposal as expected.

4-27-26 – C-22 - Transportation

===========================================

Coming up

Next Meeting is this Monday

*** Note location change

WHAT: Charter Review Meeting

WHEN: Monday, May 4^th @ 6:00 PM 

WHERE: Dacca Barn

2820 54th Ave. E

Fife, WA 98424

More info - HERE

Directions - HERE

Zoom: https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/92844977008

In the coming weeks

***May meetings will be at different locations.

May 11^th – Benston Hall
8120 304th Street East
Graham, WA 98373

May 18^th – Rogers High School
12801 86th Ave E
Puyallup, WA 98373

May 27^th – Pierce County Council Chambers
1501 Market Street
Tacoma, WA 98402

===============================================

Take Action!

1. Read and understand the proposed Amendments

View the table of Amendments HERE

Proposed Charter Amendments

The individual Amendment pages have bullet points to aid you in focusing your comments.

2. Send your comments to:

Email the Clerk at: katey.hobbs@piercecountywa.gov

Or use their online form at:

Provide Written Public Comment

3. Attend the meetings

· There are many Amendments moving through the process.

· If you can, pick one and testify for or against it.

· It is important we bring a show of force. If we don’t, they will.

4. Prepare and offer testimony.

· This Monday is a key opportunity. Make sure your testimony is part of the record. In person or Zoom.

============================================

Past Messages

The Basics – The Charter, Representatives, Maps, Meetings, Procedures, Amendments, Testify, Take action, Links

First Review - Process deficiencies, The process, Table of Amendments, The progression.

Update 3-14-26 – Process deficiencies, Current Amendments, Listening sessions.

Update 3-22-26 - Amendment updates, Previous week review

Update 3-28-26 – List of Amendments and review

Update 4-4-26 – Conflict of Interest

Update 4-9-26 – Law Enforcement

Update 4-11-26 – Regular update

Update 4-16-26 – Last minute location changes

Update 4-19-27 – Regular Update

Update 4-26-26 – Challenge

Update 4-28-26 – You have been silenced

======================================

Other Events

There are a number of other events of interest coming up in April and May. Check these out on the new Events Page

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/0QjbYEv

Watch for updates. Stay informed. Be a part.

(20+) Facebook - Emily Anderson

She gets out timely updates. Here is her latest on the Charter Review. I will have an update out later this evening or in the morning, depending on when they publish Monday’s packet.

(20+) Emily Anderson - Please share this video and get the word out.... | Facebook

For those just joining in on this topic, I have a page with most of the information the Commission has failed miserably at providing for you:

Pierce County Charter Review - The Basics

Your ability to know what the Commission is doing has been restricted from the beginning. The process of excluding the public has continued and expanded.

This is long but necessary. YOU are being silenced.

TAKE ACTION

I will explain below, but in reverse order of what I typically bring, I want to lead with a call to action. After reviewing my explanations below, I hope that many of you will flood not only the Commission, but also the County Council with your concerns and rebukes.

• Email the Charter Commission

Send your message to the Clerk. It will be delivered to all 21 members of the Commission

Commission Clerk - katey.hobbs@piercecountywa.gov

• Email the County Council

While the Council does not have direct authority over the Commission, they can certainly influence them. I will be sending a message to all of them.

Dist. —— Name ————— Email

1 Dave Morell dave.morell@piercecountywa.gov

2 Paul Herrera paul.herrera@piercecountywa.gov

3 Amy Cruver amy.cruver@piercecountywa.gov

4 Rosie Ayala rosie.ayala@piercecountywa.gov

5 Bryan Yambe bryan.yambe@piercecountywa.gov

6 Jani Hitchen jani.hitchen@piercecountywa.gov

7 Robyn Denson robyn.denson@piercecountywa.gov

The message I sent

This is the message I have sent to the Commission and will also be sending to the County Council. It should give some insight into the actions the Commission has taken against you. I will follow with more details below it.

==========================================

The Secret County Charter Review 4-28-26

The public took a huge hit at last night’s Charter Review Commission meeting. This has been a culmination of a number of maneuvers that cannot be dismissed as unintentional.

Public access to records

I have long complained about public access to the proposed Amendments and their progression. This has gone unanswered in practical terms. Over a month after my initial complaint on 3-9-26 a feeble attempt was made to post the Amendments. Of the 55 Amendment proposals currently filed, only 22 of them are posted. The remainder can be found by scouring through over 1000 pages across 14 previous packets.

Last night the Commission voted along direct ideological lines to dismiss a number of Publicly proposed Amendments without them ever being posted on the website. The public never knew they existed in the first place and were never given the opportunity to bring their support or opposition to them.

This is now confirmed as intentional

I brought these concerns before, during and after the meeting. Speaking with Vice Chair Lanz at the end of the meeting I was told they are in the packets so that is sufficient. This reflects an intentional disregard for public access to the records. I now see this as an intentional, strategic plan to keep opposition from knowing or being able to act upon proposals.

Meeting minutes are a month behind

Using the same rationale that the public has full access through the meeting packets, the Commission has kept the public in the dark on the proceedings as the last Packet for 4-27-26 is almost a month behind on past meeting minutes. How is the public who cannot attend the meetings in person know if any of the Amendments were voted on and what their status is? They simply cannot.

Silencing the Public

In addition to all of the above actions, the Commission voted to restrict public comment to 2 minutes. While this is their prerogative, it works together to silence the voice of the people.

Article 1 Section 1 of the Washington State Constitution states:

“All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.”

This commission has not only disregarded the public in their proceedings, they have acted with malice and intent. I see this commission as illegitimate.

============================================

Some History

For those who have been busy just trying to live your lives without government molesting you, I need to catch you up on what has transpired.

Secrecy from the start

Starting with the first meeting on Jan. 14^th, 2026, the Commission was directed to go into executive (secret) session by the prosecutors office. This proceeded without a vote by the Commission or their official consent.

See the recording of the session HERE.

Watch at the 5:00 point.

This appears to be a violation of the Open Meetings Act.

No available records

As the Commission began, I was busy tracking the State Legislature and could not attend. As soon as I could, I immediately recognized a major deficiency in transparency. The procedures they are operating under, the proposed Amendments to date and the status of each of them was no where to be found.

I complained about this way back on March 9^th – HERE

I complained again on March 18th - HERE

After about a month and continued verbal complaints, they initially posted a link to the procedures. HERE

I assumed they were progressing, but they weren’t. As time went on I resumed my complaints and eventually they posted a woefully inadequate listing of the Amendments. HERE

Only 1/3 of the Amendments have ever been posted. They are listed in random order spread across 3 different folders in a very unfriendly format, but this was a start so once again I backed off a bit expecting this new format to expand and be updated.

It has not.

The Silencing Begins

On April 13^th, the Commission took a very unnecessary vote to reduce public testimony from 3 minutes to two. The Chair already had the discretion to make limitations if conditions warranted it, but they voted for it and it and the restriction will remain in place for all of the remaining meetings, no matter how sparsely attended.

I publicly chastised them for this move at the April 20^th meeting which you can view HERE

It gets way worse

I had family in from out of town and was not able to stay for the entire April 20 meeting and needed to update all of you on the status of the Amendments heard that night. I thought, no problem, I’ll look it up in the minutes. To my dismay, the minutes have not been updated since the end of March!

After much searching, I came up empty handed. No information to be had, this started me looking deeper and the Amendment files they were supposed to be keeping available and discovered that out of the 55 Amendments filed, only 22 of them were listed!

My recent message Challenging anyone to find them was my response which I also printed out including QR codes linking to their own mess. I handed these out to all of the Commissioners as well as the public in attendance. Review it HERE

They Doubled Down

Prior to the meeting I spoke with the Chair, Kelsey Barrans and Vice Chair Martha Lantz to air my concerns. Martha was defensive but I can dismiss that if a solution is considered. When public testimony started and I had my meager 2 minutes to speak, the Chair attempted to challenge me as out of order but ultimately allowed me to proceed robbing valuable time from me.

See it HERE

They shut down Public Amendments

They continued to double down when the Public Amendments came up. A motion was made to give them one spot on the Agenda then to remove them from consideration forever. Our conservative Commissioners attempted a follow-up Amendment to extend this to two weeks but it failed along ideological lines.

I separated out that portion and posted it to Youtube for you.

There were many strong objections from the conservatives. Most notably Commissioner Mason Fletcher gave a very concise rebuttal HERE and followed up again HERE

To no avail. The progressives out vote us and took away the Public Amendments from future consideration.

The biggest insult of it all is that all of those Public Amendments are among those never listed on the website!

In Summary

If you have read all the way to here, the trail of actions to limit and outright prohibit public input and participation shows a pattern of abuse that can no longer be dismissed or attributed to ineptitude.

At the end of the meeting I approached Vice Chair Lantz to point out the very Amendments they voted to silence are not on the web site. Her response was that they are in all the packets and that is sufficient.

This tells me all I need to know. This is intentional. They will continue to silence and restrict the public.

Which brings me to the present. I hope you are as offended as I am and will join me in registering your complaints with the Commission and the Council.

Once again here they are:

· Email the Charter Commission

Send your message to the Clerk. It will be delivered to all 21 members of the Commission

Commission Clerk - katey.hobbs@piercecountywa.gov

• Email the County Council

While the Council does not have direct authority over the Commission, they can certainly influence them. I will be sending a message to all of them.

Dist. —— Name ————— Email

1 Dave Morell dave.morell@piercecountywa.gov

2 Paul Herrera paul.herrera@piercecountywa.gov

3 Amy Cruver amy.cruver@piercecountywa.gov

4 Rosie Ayala rosie.ayala@piercecountywa.gov

5 Bryan Yambe bryan.yambe@piercecountywa.gov

6 Jani Hitchen jani.hitchen@piercecountywa.gov

7 Robyn Denson robyn.denson@piercecountywa.gov

For anyone just tuning in, here are some basics. These will be updated as we go along

1. The Basics – District maps, Commissioners, Links

2. Procedures – Steps that Amendments must go through

3. Amendments – Updated table of Amendments to date

4. Progression – Where each Amendment has progressed

=============================================

Notes:

*** Deadline passed for new proposals. We are now in a process of elimination.

*** All Commission meetings till June will be at different district locations. See below for locations.

*** The Commission voted to limit public comments

*** Meeting minutes have not been posted beyond March 30th. As a result, no official record of where Amendments stand is posted.

*** All of the Amendments have still not been posted and those that have are difficult to find.

*** There has been no media coverage of the process that I have seen. Have you?

This Weeks Update:

1. Updates to all Amnendments

· See my Amendment Page HERE

2. Video of last week’s meeting

· Public testimony HERE

· Full meeting HERE

3. Upcoming events

· See the County schedule HERE

· Also below with details

============================================

Mondays Agenda

Click HERE for the full packet

Still using my format. The Commissions attempts are a total failure. View theirs Click HERE

The numbers at each agenda item correlate to their stage in the overall progression.

Click HERE for the full image with descriptions.

1.

Public Amendment Proposals

Public proposals need to get at least one Commissioner sponsor to advance

· P-7 Campaign Finance

· P-8 Sharia Law

· P-9 Sheriff to Hire Constitutional Law Attorney

· P-10 Use of Restrooms According to Sex Assigned at Birth

· P-11 Citizenship for Services

· P-12 Posted Lists of People in Jail and Charged with a Crime

· P-13 Sex Offenders

· P-14 Recognize Protection and Stewardship of Natural Resources

· P-15 Create Office of Watershed Protection

3.

Commissioner Amendment Proposals

These will be read off and offered for sponsorship. Amendments need 4 sponsors to advance.

· C-26 Community Stewardship

4.

Reading Proposals

These have 4 sponsors and are moving through the 2 meetings for discussion. The ones on second reading can be voted on to advance.

First Reading

· P-5 Council District Boundaries

· P-6 Instant Run Off Voting

· C-25 4-year Financial Outlook

· C-28 Replace Coroner with Medical Examiner

· C-31 Executive Pro Tem

· C-32 Initiative Signature Gathering Timelines

· C-38 Voting Requirements Charter Review Commission

Second Reading

· C-22 Infrastructure and Public Safety

· C-23 Initiative

· C-8R Competitive Hiring for Appointed Positions

· P-1 Clerk of Superior Court

You can testify on any of the Amendments overall, but the ones on the agenda would be most relevant.

=============================================

Last Weeks Meeting

To my great surprise, the video of last weeks meeting has been posted. Wasn’t sure if they were going to post it from remote locations.

Charter Review Commission – 4-20-26

I have posted it over to YouTube also which has the advantage of linking to specific points in the video

Public Testimony

*** The Commission voted to limit public speakers to only 2 minutes. See my testimony to them at the meeting HERE

I had to leave early, but did get the public speakers recorded and posted it immediately.

By limiting public testimony, the Commission saved a maximum total of 11 minutes. Here are all the commenters. Click on any time stamp to go direct to their comments.

· Laurie – 0:27

In support of C-22

· ?? – 2:08

In support of C-22

· Ian – 4:27

Oppose C-1 Points to state constitution requiring election of Sheriff

· Alecia – 6:34

In support of C-22

· Carol – 8:59

Sponsored a number of Public Amendments but did not have enough time with the 2 minute limit to speak to them.

· John Leslie – 11:13

Admonished the Commission for cutting public testimony

· Sarah – 12:18

In support of appointed Sheriff. Moved here from King County and voted for Appointed Sheriff there too.

· Matthew – 14:45

Attempted to read a land acknowledgement and the chairs credit, was cut short. Went on to say how much he hates Kieth Swank.

· Roya – 17:33

Supports appointed sheriff

· Christy – 19:41

Supports C-30 oversight of Sheriff

· Jeff – 22:04

Admonished Commission for limiting public comment and asked if written comments will be limited too. Asked about my write up on conflict of interest and spoke in favor of elected sheriff.

Commissioner reports from Listening Sessions

· District 1 Listening Session – 26:00

Commissioner Jerome O’Leary, District 1 offered a summary of the recent listening session in Orting. Wish I could have attended. He reported people were confused by the process and website which I have long complained about.

===========================================

Coming up

Next Meeting is this Monday

*** Note location change

WHAT: Charter Review Meeting

WHEN: Monday, April 27th @ 6:00 PM 

WHERE: Harrison Preparatory School

9103 Lakewood Dr. SW

Lakewood, WA 98498

More info - HERE

Directions - HERE

Zoom: https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/92844977008

In the coming weeks

*** Each of the next 4 meetings will be at different locations.

May 4^th – Dacca Barn
2820 54th Ave. E
Fife, WA 98424

May 11^th – Benston Hall
8120 304th Street East
Graham, WA 98373

May 18^th – Rogers High School
12801 86th Ave E
Puyallup, WA 98373

May 27^th – Pierce County Council Chambers
1501 Market Street
Tacoma, WA 98402

================================

Listening Sessions

There is one more listening session scheduled in District 4. If you are able, record them.

All are posted on the main website HERE

Click on each for details

Wednesday, April 29^th – District 4

· 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

· Asia Pacific Cultural Center
4851 S Tacoma Way
Tacoma, WA 98409

===============================================

Take Action!

1. Read and understand the proposed Amendments

View the table of Amendments HERE

Proposed Charter Amendments

The individual Amendment pages have bullet points to aid you in focusing your comments.

2. Send your comments to:

• Email the Clerk at: katey.hobbs@piercecountywa.gov

• Or use their online form at:

Provide Written Public Comment

3. Attend the meetings

· There are many Amendments moving through the process.

· If you can, pick one and testify for or against it.

· It is important we bring a show of force. If we don’t, they will.

4. Prepare and offer testimony.

· This Monday is a key opportunity. Make sure your testimony is part of the record. In person or Zoom.

============================================

Past Messages

The Basics – The Charter, Representatives, Maps, Meetings, Procedures, Amendments, Testify, Take action, Links

First Review - Process deficiencies, The process, Table of Amendments, The progression.

Update 3-14-26 – Process deficiencies, Current Amendments, Listening sessions.

Update 3-22-26 - Amendment updates, Previous week review

Update 3-28-26 – List of Amendments and review

Update 4-4-26 – Conflict of Interest

Update 4-9-26 – Law Enforcement

Update 4-11-26 – Regular update

Update 4-16-26 – Last minute location changes

======================================

Other Events

There are a number of other events of interest coming up in April and May. Check these out on the new Events Page

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/0QjbYEv

Watch for updates. Stay informed. Be a part.

The Pierce County Charter Review Commission now has 55 proposed Amendments to our Charter before them.

• There have been 38 Amendment proposals filed by Commissioners.

• There have been 15 Amendment proposals filed by the public.

• There have been 2 Amendment proposals filed by County Officials.

Without utilizing any of the solutions I have previously provided, see if you can find any of them using what the Commission has provided.

Link to their web page HERE

https://www.piercecountywa.gov/4498/Charter-Review-Commission

========================

Did you try?

If you take me up on this challenge and manage to find a few of them, see if you can find any of these:

• C-3

• C-4

• C-5

• C-21

• C-24 through C-38

AND

• P-2

• P-4

• P-6 through P-15

AND

• O-1

• O-2

Can’t find them?

You will find that out of 55 Amendments filed, 33 of them are not posted. Oh well. I guess it’s not important for you to know about them.

Here’s another one.

• Can you tell me what the process Amendments go through?

• Can you tell me where any of the Amendments are in the process? (Have they had a hearing? Have they been voted on?)

This cannot continue!

There have been 15 regular meetings so far with only 8 left to go. They are acting on changes to our County Constitution which could be with us for the next 10 years. Appointed Sheriff, Rank Choice Voting and many other ridiculous proposals.

I complained about this way back on March 9^th – HERE

I complained again on March 18th - HERE

What you see now is their feeble attempt to respond to my demands and provide the public with what they are up to. They have failed miserably.

For comparison,

I created my own solution back on March 9th when I wrote my first complaint. It took me all of one day.

See it HERE

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/GjzuqOz

WRITE TO THE CLERK NOW

Your messages will be distributed to all 21 of the Commissioners.

Let me know if any of them take the time to respond.

.

Email the Clerk at: katey.hobbs@piercecountywa.gov

Or use their online form at: Provide Written Public Comment

.

I want to know:

• Where are all the proposed Amendments for me to view?

• Why are all the Amendments not visible to the public?

• Why can’t I know where the Amendments have progressed to?

• Why has this been withheld from us?

.

My update with real information will be out later today.

For anyone just tuning in, here are some basics. These will be updated as we go along

1. The Basics – District maps, Commissioners, Links

2. Procedures – Steps that Amendments must go through

3. Amendments – Updated table of Amendments to date

4. Progression – Where each Amendment has progressed

=============================================

Notes:

*** Deadline passed for new proposals

*** Total submittals now at 55

*** Two Amendments withdrawn - C-12 and C-19

*** Tomorrows meeting location change

*** Commission voted to limit public speaking time

This Weeks Update:

1. This weeks Agenda simplified

2. Updates to all Amnendments

· (See Amendment Page HERE)

3. 12 new proposed Amendments (4 Pending):

C-31 - Executive Pro Tem - Rogge

C-32 - Initiative Signature Gathering Time Lines - Hanek

C-33 - Qualifications for Sheriff – Boyd

P-7 - Campaign Finance - David Rose

P-8 - Sharia Law - Carole Sue Braaten

P-9 - Sheriff to Hire Constitutional Law Attorney - Carole Sue Braaten

P-10 - Use of Restrooms According to Sex Assigned at Birth - Carole Sue Braaten

P-11 - Citizenship for Services - Carole Sue Braaten

P-12 - Posted Lists of People in Jail and Charged with a Crime - Carole Sue Braaten

P-13 - Sex Offenders - Carole Sue Braaten

P-14 - Recognize protection and stewardship of natural resources in Preamble - Rachel Kurtz McAlaine, On behalf of

Standing for Washington

P-15 - Create Office of Watershed Protection - Rachel Kurtz McAlaine, On behalf of Standing for Washington “

4. Video of last week’s meeting

· Public Testimony

5. Upcoming events

============================================

Mondays Agenda

Click HERE for the full packet

Still using my format. The Commissions attempts are a total failure. View theirs Click HERE

The numbers at each agenda item correlate to their stage in the overall progression.

Click HERE for the full image with descriptions.

1.

Public Amendment Proposals

Public proposals need to get at least one Commissioner sponsor to advance

· P-7 Campaign Finance

· P-8 Sharia Law

· P-9 Sheriff to Hire Constitutional Law Attorney

· P-10 Use of Restrooms According to Sex Assigned at Birth

· P-11 Citizenship for Services

· P-12 Posted Lists of People in Jail and Charged with a Crime

· P-13 Sex Offenders

· P-14 Recognize Protection and Stewardship of Natural Resources

· P-15 Create Office of Watershed Protection

3.

Commissioner Amendment Proposals

These will be read off and offered for sponsorship. Amendments need 4 sponsors to advance.

· C-26 Community Stewardship

· C-27 Housing Stability

· C-30 Sheriff Ombuds

· C-31 Executive Pro-Tem

· C-32 Initiative Signature Gathering Timelines

· C-38 Voting Requirements Charter Review Commission

4.

Reading Proposals

These have 4 sponsors and are moving through the 2 meetings for discussion. The ones on second reading can be voted on to advance.

First Reading

· P-5 Council District Boundaries

Second Reading

· C-20 Conflict of Interest

· C-22 Infrastructure and Public Safety

· C-23 Initiative

· C-8R Competitive Hiring for Appointed Positions

· P-1 Clerk of Superior Court

You can testify on any of the Amendments overall, but the ones on the agenda would be most relevant.

=============================================

Last Weeks Meeting

As has been the typical, video of last week’s meeting is still not posted by the County. I was able to record the public testimony and posted it immediately.

Public Testimony

*** The Commission voted to limit public speakers to only 2 minutes for tomorrow’s meeting. The location was also changed and not posted until I complained on Wednesday.

Click on the time stamp for any of the speakers to go directly to the point of their testimony:

• Keith Swank – 19:27

Disparity in legal council allowed to the Sheriff vs other offices

• Shelly Garofalo – 22:38

Sheriff under the State Constitution

• Dawn Land – 29:55

Elected vs Appointed Sheriff

• John Leslie - 8:02

Logical fallacies. Support C-22

===========================================

Coming up

Next Meeting is this Monday

*** Note location change

WHAT: Charter Review Meeting

WHEN: Monday, April 20th @ 6:00 PM 

WHERE: Bonney Lake City Hall

9002 Main St. E

Bonney Lake , WA 98391

Directions - HERE

Zoom: https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/92844977008

================================

Listening Sessions

There is one more listening session scheduled in District 4. If you are able, record them.

All are posted on the main website HERE

Click on each for details

Wednesday, April 29^th – District 4

· 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

· Asia Pacific Cultural Center
4851 S Tacoma Way
Tacoma, WA 98409

===============================================

Take Action!

1. Read and understand the proposed Amendments

View the table of Amendments HERE

Proposed Charter Amendments

The individual Amendment pages have bullet points to aid you in focusing your comments.

2. Send your comments to:

N Email the Clerk at: katey.hobbs@piercecountywa.gov

N Or use their online form at:

Provide Written Public Comment

3. Attend the meetings

· There are many Amendments moving through the process.

· If you can, pick one and testify for or against it.

· It is important we bring a show of force. If we don’t, they will.

4. Prepare and offer testimony.

· This Monday is a key opportunity. Make sure your testimony is part of the record. In person or Zoom.

============================================

Past Messages

The Basics – The Charter, Representatives, Maps, Meetings, Procedures, Amendments, Testify, Take action, Links

First Review - Process deficiencies, The process, Table of Amendments, The progression.

Update 3-14-26 – Process deficiencies, Current Amendments, Listening sessions.

Update 3-22-26 - Amendment updates, Previous week review

Update 3-28-26 – List of Amendments and review

Update 4-4-26 – Conflict of Interest

Update 4-9-26 – Law Enforcement

Update 4-11-26 – Regular update

Update 4-16-26 – Last minute location changes

======================================

Other Events

There are a number of other events of interest coming up in April and May. Check these out on the new Events Page

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/0QjbYEv

Watch for updates. Stay informed. Be a part.

I won’t have a full update until Saturday but you need to know about a location change and a newly added local listening session. This is for you District 1 folks but everyone is affected so show up to learn and share your concerns.

Traffic has been a big concern for District 1 but it affects EVERYONE. Commissioner Oleary has brought proposed Amendment C-22 in response. Read it HERE

Regular Monday meeting has changed

The location for the next regular Charter Review meeting was changed on Monday without notice and was not posted until today.

WHAT: Charter Review Meeting

WHEN: Monday, April 20th @ 6:00 PM 

WHERE: Bonney Lake City Hall

9002 Main St. E

Bonney Lake , WA 98391

Directions - HERE

=================================

Listening Session

We will have pizza, pop and water. We hope to have a good turn out of folks to offer their thoughts, ideas and concerns.

WHAT: 1^st District Listening Session

WHEN: Saturday, April 18th @ 11:00am ~ 1:30pm

WHERE: Orting Library

202 Washington Ave S

Orting, WA 98360

Directions - HERE

Much more to come ….

Here it is...

*** This is just an image with no active links.

*** Make sure and read added info at the bottom.

*** Yellow means Republicans voted for (or against PRO)

.

.

There is a lot more info!

This platform does not offer the formatting that I have used to bring you all the tables with links to more info.

To access all the links you will need to view either as a PDF or Excell.

View PDF HERE

View Excell HERE

• I highly recommend Excell because the full breadth of all my work is available there. Not only the roll calls, but also all the hearings with PRO / CON results and also my full commentaries on each bill.

• Reach out to me if you have any difficulty. I will be glad to help.

I also want to give high praises to the Skagit Ladies for their parallel efforts to bring you the opportunity to vote on legislation.

You can view their final summary with lots of good info HERE:

http://www.25-256.com/Files/2026leg/C&S-Final2026.pdf

Keeping you informed

For anyone just tuning in, here are some basics. These will be updated as we go along

1. The Basics – District maps, Commissioners, Links

2. Procedures – Steps that Amendments must go through

3. Amendments – Updated table of Amendments to date

4. Progression – Where each Amendment has progressed

=============================================

This Weeks Update:

*** Monday is the last day to submit new Amendments

*** Two Amendments have failed so far- C-10 and P-3

*** Two new ones added this week

*** Rank Choice Voting advanced

1. This weeks Agenda simplified

2. Updates to all Amnendments

· (See Amendment Page HERE)

3. Two new proposed Amendments:

· C-29 – Young Persons Commission- Conzuelo

No text provided yet

· C-30 - Sheriff Ombuds- Lantz, Leighton, Lykins, Serad and Ginn

Another attack on our Sheriff

4. Video of last week’s meeting and Listening session

· Conflict of Interest was interesting

· Dist. 2 Listening session in Puyallup

5. Upcoming events

============================================

Mondays Agenda

Click HERE for the full packet

Still using my format. The Commissions attempts are a total failure. View theirs Click HERE

The numbers at each agenda item correlate to their stage in the overall progression.

Click HERE for the full image with descriptions.

1.

Public Amendment Proposals

Public proposals need to get at least one Commissioner sponsor to advance

· P-2 Citizenship for Voter Registration

· P-4 Appointment of Executive

3.

Amendment Proposals up for 4 vote sponsorship

These will be read off and offered for sponsorship. Amendments need 4 sponsors to advance.

· C-26 Community Stewardship

· C-27 Housing Stability

· C-30 Sheriff Ombuds

4.

Reading Proposals

These have 4 sponsors and are moving through the 2 meetings for discussion. The ones on second reading can be voted on to advance.

First Reading

· C-19 Charter Review Conflict of Interest

· C-20 Conflict of Interest

· C-22 Infrastructure and Public Safety

· C-8R Competitive Hiring for Appointed Positions

· C-12 Project Workforce and Labor Agreements

· C-14/C-15 Public Safety Stabilization Fund and Lapse in Appropriations Amendment to Proposal

· C-23 Initiative

Second Reading

· None scheduled this week

You can testify on any of the Amendments overall, but the ones on the agenda would be most relevant.

=============================================

Last Weeks Meeting

They have FINALLY caught up and posted the last two weeks of video. Sound quality is terrible. These are my own recordings.

Presentations

We heard from our County Executive Ryan Mello and his staff. While I have no use for Mello, he did have one admonition that I completely agree with at 18:37

Ultimately though, he was there to make a pitch for his proposed Amendments O-1 and O-2 which shift power to the Executive and to the majority on the Council.

His staff followed him each making their pitch advancing these biased proposals but cloaking them in terms of transparency and trivial updates. While they were all skilled speakers, a thinking person could see the underlying premise and the condescending nature of their proposals.

Public Testimony

I sent out an early review on this section as my testimony actually got some traction. A number of the Commissioners recused themselves during one of the subsequent votes as a result.

View my previous article HERE

To link directly to my comments HERE 11:55

Listening Session

We had our 25^th LD meeting the same day as the Listening session. Prosecuting Attorney Candidate Correen Schnepf was appearing and I had some questions for her so I missed the Listening session.

A special thanks to Karla for recording the meeting for me. I have not had time to review the whole thing yet but understand there was some spirited conversations. I have it posted HERE

===========================================

Coming up

Next Meeting is this Monday

What – Regular Charter Review Meeting

When – Monday April 13^th at 6:00 PM

Where – Pierce County Annex

Conference Room A 2401 S. 35th Street Tacoma, WA

Directions HERE

Zoom: https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/92844977008

================================

Listening Sessions

There are still two more listening sessions scheduled in District 4. If you are able, record them.

All are posted on the main website HERE

Click on each for details

Saturday, April 18^th – District 4

N 10:30 AM – 12 PM

N University Place Library
3609 Market Pl W
University Place, WA 98466

Wednesday, April 29^th – District 4

· 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

· Asia Pacific Cultural Center
4851 S Tacoma Way
Tacoma, WA 98409

===============================================

Take Action!

1. Read and understand the proposed Amendments

View the table of Amendments HERE

Proposed Charter Amendments

The individual Amendment pages have bullet points to aid you in focusing your comments.

2. Send your comments to:

N Email the Clerk at: katey.hobbs@piercecountywa.gov

N Or use their online form at:

Provide Written Public Comment

3. Attend the meetings

· There are many Amendments moving through the process.

· If you can, pick one and testify for or against it.

· It is important we bring a show of force. If we don’t, they will.

4. Prepare and offer testimony.

· This Monday is a key opportunity. Make sure your testimony is part of the record. In person or Zoom.

============================================

Past Messages

The Basics – The Charter, Representatives, Maps, Meetings, Procedures, Amendments, Testify, Take action, Links

First Review - Process deficiencies, The process, Table of Amendments, The progression.

Update 3-14-26 – Process deficiencies, Current Amendments, Listening sessions.

Update 3-22-26 - Amendment updates, Previous week review

Update 3-28-26 – List of Amendments and review

Update 4-4-26 – Conflict of Interest

Update 4-9-26 – Law Enforcement

======================================

Other Events

There are a number of other events of interest coming up in April and May. Check these out on the new Events Page

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/0QjbYEv

Watch for updates. Stay informed. Be a part.

Please review the options at the end to support our Sheriff and Law Enforcement.

Some very wise advice

Former Sheriff Paul Pastors recent presentation to the Charter Review offered a lot of wise advice.

His whole speech was quite impressive. He spoke on being an Aerobic Citizen vs a Couch Potato Citizen throughout his talk. You can find those remarks at 16:35

What struck me though was his point about the main advantage of an elected Sheriff at 28:50

I do not recall seeing an elected official do this as much as Sheriff Keith Swank.

I attend or review numerous community events and functions. Most of them after working hours, and who do I see in attendance, Sheriff Swank. I was struck by this after going to meetings every evening during one week and he was there at every one. Sacrificing his personal time even when it had no bearing on controversies about his office. He has upheld Paul Pastors advice like no other.

Working Hours

Recently a TNT reported attempted to call Keith to task accusing him of spending his working hours on Social Media. A subsequent report, while still attacking, tacitly confirmed he spends far more time on the job than just 9-5 and admitted the previous claims were baseless.

Does Sheriff Keith Swank spend too long on ‘X’? Our analysis says not really

Sheriff Swank seeks to intimidate reporter with 70 emails | Opinion

I recall during Keiths election campaign going with him to a Democrat District meeting. This was not a friendly bunch but Keith was willing to talk and listen to them and answer their questions.

Keith has stood his ground but has been willing to talk with anyone. He holds regular community town halls listed below and engages the community at every opportunity.

BUT HE IS ALL ALONE!

There are opportunities to support Keith below, but I want to share the situation that Keith is in, fighting for all of us.

You may be aware of the controversy over Keith seeking an attorney to help advise him. This was met with lawsuits from Pierce County and our County Prosecutor Mary Robnett.

All this, while at the same time our Executive, Ryan Mello has a whole host of attorneys on staff.

In the last budget, Keith was granted one “Strategic Advisor”, but with the caveat that they cannot be an attorney. HUH?

IT GETS WORSE

A group of Washington Sheriffs have filed a suit against the just passed SB 5974 which gives the state authority over all County Sheriffs.

Nancy Churchills writeup on this is very thorough.

(100) Sheriffs Fight Back - by Nancy D Churchill

In Keiths case, he has to get the approval of the County Prosecutor to join the suit. This is unfathomable. Legally, he has to get the approval of the same people who are persecuting him to defend himself! Don’t hold your breath waiting for that.

Brandy Cruz did a recent podcast on the subject and included some interview clips with Keith.

She will be appearing at one of the events for Keith below

WE have to fight back!

1. Attend one or all of the upcoming events below.

2. Send a message to the Charter Review Commission opposing Amendment C-1 attempting to make our Sheriff an appointed position.

Review the Amendment HERE

Send your message to the Clerk: katey.hobbs@piercecountywa.gov

EVENTS

SOS: Save Our Sheriff – April 30^th

Sheriff Keith Swank needs your help

Featuring Brandy Cruz

You stood with me in 2024, and I have stood up for you, especially in 2026 when democracy has been under assault! And right now I need you again.

The Washington State Legislature just passed Senate Bill 5974 and handed unelected bureaucrats the power to throw out your vote and decertify any sheriff they don’t like, including me.

Senate Bill 5974 is a direct attack on the democratic process and the Constitution. And I will be leading the fight to strike it down, and we’re asking you to join us shoulder-to-shoulder, and to stand up in this fight for our constitution.

How can you help? Come to a special evening at Kelley Farm in Bonney Lake and help rally to protect your vote.

20021 Sumner-Buckley Hwy E

Bonney Lake, WA 98124

• Wednesday, April 30

• Doors open 6:30 p.m. – program 7:00–8:00 p.m.

Click Here to reserve your tickets right now.

TAKE ACTION NOW: Your support will help power the courtroom battles that protect every Washingtonian’s right to elect their own sheriff. We can’t do this without you. Seats are limited — please grab yours today.

And thank you for everything.

Keith

=========================================

Checking In with the Sheriff - April 18th

WHAT: Check in with the Sheriff

WHEN: Saturday, April 18th @ 3-5 PM

WHERE: Buckley Library Conference room

123 River Ave

Buckley, WA 98321

Directions - HERE

Hear about what’s going on in Pierce County and ask the Sheriff anything.

This event held on the third Saturday of each month at a different Pierce County Library location brings the Sheriff to your community. You will have the opportunity to meet him, ask him questions, and share your concerns.

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South Sound Ronald Reagan Republican Club Dinner - Apr 23rd

Sheriff Keith Swank has been fighting the good fight to protect our right to continue to elect our Sheriff, while the Democrats push for unelected bureaucrats to appoint our Sheriff. They also are trying to kick him out of office now.

Come hear the latest updates on this front and how you can support him in this fight!

WHAT: South Sound Ronald Reagan Republican Club Dinner

WHEN: Thu, Apr 23^rd @ 5:30 PM

WHERE: La Quinta

1425 E 27th St, Tacoma 98421

Directions - HERE

Tickets - HERE

More info - HERE

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Sheriffs K-9 Support Event - April 10–12

Don’t miss this opportunity to support our Sheriffs K-9s

Five Guys restaurants are supporting our Sheriffs K-9’s by offering a whopping 20% donation from every purchase to the K-9 program.

They will also be hosting our K-9 officers at their locations on this schedule:

4/11- Puyallup at 5pm – Directions

4/11- Lakewood at 7pm - Directions

4/12- Tacoma at 11am - Directions

4/12- University Place at 12:30 - Directions