The opioid epidemic has gripped the United States since the 1990s, and it has taken a particularly heavy toll on Pierce County, Washington and the greater Puget Sound region. Between January 2021 and June 2023, more than 800 Pierce County residents lost their lives to drug overdoses, including those involving stimulants. The crisis is most …

By Bryan Dominique & Jaire WinesberryOffice of the Pierce County Council In a 2022 letter to the U.S. Congress Committee on Appropriations, Congresswoman Kim Schrier (WA-08) requested $2 million for a local Pierce County Food Bank, writing, “This program will invest in greenhouse infrastructure to allow for year-round food production, which will lead to lower …

Thank you for your interest and active involvement in the update to the Pierce County Comprehensive Plan through your comments on Resolution No. R2024-158s. The Council greatly appreciate your perspectives, and there will be numerous opportunities for you to share your thoughts and insights between now and the fall when adoption of the 2024 Comprehensive …

By Bryan DominiqueCommunications Manager, Office of the Pierce County Council Nearly 300 people died homeless on the streets of Pierce County in 2023; with that sobering statistic, it’s easy to see why the Point in Time Count is considered one of the most important annual activities the County does. This annual census, organized by Pierce …

By Bryan DominiqueCommunications Manager Anticipation of the Maureen Howard Affordable Housing Act’s impact on the community’s ability to invest in affordable housing and related services projects is buzzing. On Tuesday, Oct. 12, the Pierce County Council was honored with a special recognition from the Tacoma-Pierce County Affordable Housing Consortium for its advocacy for affordable housing …

By Bryan Dominique, Communications ManagerOffice of the Pierce County Council On Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, the Tacoma City Council and the Pierce County Council held a joint study session to discuss coordinated approaches to addressing homelessness. This was the first joint study session between the governing bodies in recent memory and was focused on addressing homelessness as a region. After leaving the Army, I found myself working …

By Bryan DominiquePierce County Council Communications Manager At a House Transportation Committee Hearing on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier said of two proposed regional airport sites in Pierce County, “The consequences, the impacts, the negative results for the people of Pierce County, for our environment, for our community are just dramatically …

Bryan DominiquePierce County Council Communications Manager Pierce County has been actively encouraging economic development and completing the New Rhodes Lake Road East corridor is a crucial element in this vision. “Pierce County started planning the Rhodes Lake Road East in the 1990s,” said Pierce County Councilmember Dave Morell (District 1), whose district includes significant portions …

By Bryan DominiquePierce County Council Communications Manager On Saturday, June 28, 1969, the Stonewall uprising, also known as the Stonewall Rebellion, or simply Stonewall, took place, which was a watershed moment for the civil rights movement of Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, and Transgender (LGBTQ+) people. The Stonewall Uprising began as spontaneous protests by members of the …