Author: lcatali

As I have said many times before, there is nothing like seeing things firsthand.  And sometimes that goes for smelling them, too. How do we know how long our landfill will last?  How do we help our community change some long-established habits?  How effective are our recycling programs? How would you answer these questions? For most of us these are hypothetical questions - but these answers are critically important for our Planning & Public Works Solid Waste Team.  They are responsible for both how we manage our trash and recycling today, as well as planning decades into the future. I recently joined Karen Hultgren and Kari Ann Elling from our Solid Waste Team on a “garbage audit” at the Hidden Valley Transfer Station near Graham.  You may remember them (along…

I would guess nearly all of us have had a family member or friend who have faced a substance or behavioral health challenge. Helping them face the challenge and hopefully get well is difficult. But the consequences of not addressing it can be devastating. That’s why I turned to one of our local experts for guidance and advice. I first met Chantell Harmon Reed when she applied to be the Director of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department last March. Her passion, compassion, experience and perspective impressed me. There was no question in my mind that she was the right person to lead the Health Department and our community to a healthier future. Since she assumed the role of the Director of Public Health last March, my initial perceptions have been validated! So, I…

Because Hispanic Heritage Month began this week I’ve asked Joy Sauer, the chair of the Juntos Employee Resource Group, to share with you a little bit of her personal story.  I am sure, like me, you will be thankful she agreed. Bruce ------------------------------------------------------- As a granddaughter of Mexican immigrants, I share a common story with American-born children with Mexican heritage. We are seen as Mexican by non-Mexican people and not Mexican enough by family and friends who were born in Mexico.  Ay ya yi! (pronounced ī-ya-yī)  (This term is usually followed by a head shake and a sigh.) Growing up in a Brown neighborhood in Southern California the idea of being “other” never occurred to me. My friends were predominantly Mexican, my classmates were predominantly Brown. The customers in the…

Technically the summer ends with the autumnal equinox on September 22.  But when I talk to people, I get very different answers.  For some, it ends on Labor Day weekend. For others, it hinges on when their kids go back to school.  Some are excited for the beginning of the new football season. In Puyallup, it often centers around the Washington State Fair - including recalling how to drive through town and avoiding the Fair traffic.  A good friend stands by his premise, that with our awesome late September weather, that summer ends on October 1st. Regardless of your answer, it definitely marks a transition from one season to the next.  The hot dry days are behind us and the heavy dew and changing leaves foreshadow a new season. We…

As Executive, I have several celebrations that I really look forward to each year. The list is long and includes New Employee Orientations and Sheriff’s Department Commissioning Ceremonies; our Volunteer Recognition event; our Job Fair; ribbon cuttings; and more! But no list would be complete without including the Employee Incentive and Recognition event! Honoring our employees with long-time service and celebrating great work done by our colleagues ranks at the top of awesome experiences for me.  It is all about living our values in the service of our community. This year is no exception and I think you’ll agree our honorees are amazing.  Please join me in congratulating this year’s Standing Ovation Award winners! Effective Government Individual Lisa Thornton – Budget & Finance Office (BFO) Leadership Leadership often requires stepping…

Taking care of Puget Sound and our rivers and streams is critically important for many reasons. Our waterways are spectacularly beautiful and a vital part of our natural environment and heritage.  But they also are important economically, recreationally, and provide crucial habitat for fish, orcas…..and bugs! I found out how important bugs are as harbingers of water health when I spent time learning about our work to help recover the salmon runs in Pierce County. Gopal Mulukutla, a Water Quality Specialist in Planning & Public Works, shared how bugs provide many clues about the health of the places where salmon live.  Thanks to his work, and that of his colleagues, we are helping our salmon, streams and natural environment recover. I was reminded of the field trips my boys took…

When we think about diversity, equity, and inclusion, we often consider aspects such as a person’s age, race, gender, or veteran status.  However, there are many more elements to our lives that make us distinct. Take neurodiversity, for example.  It’s a word that has become more common as we work to understand the different ways we process information and organize our work. It may not be a common term to you, so I turned to Google to learn more.  According to the Cleveland Clinic:   The term “neurodivergent” describes people whose brain differences affect how their brain works. That means they have different strengths and challenges from people whose brains don’t have those differences. The possible differences include medical disorders, learning disabilities and other conditions. The possible strengths include better memory,…

“Solving” chronic homelessness is hard and defies easy answers - that is why we need to be smart and invest in proven solutions that get results. When I discuss chronic homelessness, I am referring to the people who are trapped living on our streets in squalor, many with untreated mental illness and addiction.  Most have been on the streets for years, some committing crime and most being victimized by crime.  It is inhumane and unacceptable for anyone. During my time as Executive, I have worked closely with our Human Services team to address homelessness, broadly and chronic homelessness, specifically.  We need compassionate and effective programs that help folks get off the street, get well, and get back in control of their lives. As you might imagine, we need a variety…

2024 has been a year of international turmoil and uncertainty.  We are witnessing wars being waged in many places, elections in major international countries, with some elections considered a sham. I am thankful to live in our country where we decide our leaders with ballots and not bullets - the recent assassination attempt on the former president notwithstanding. While there are still ballots to count from this week’s Primary Election, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and thank the candidates who ran for public office. The vast majority run because they want to make our community better (Mike the Mover being one of the possible exceptions).  Thank you! Having been a candidate a few times myself, I know and appreciate what it takes to mount a campaign and…

For this summer’s vacation I am traveling internationally with family and friends – but not too far from home!  We will be visiting the Canadian Gulf Islands – just across the border from the San Juans! I love to plan these trips - often setting out the plan in early January and completing all the details that go into it before April.  Sometimes, I think planning and anticipation is half the fun! We spent part of the time with my granddaughters and a good friend with his granddaughters.  These six little girls are nearly the same ages and have so much fun together.  Our time with them included a “Disney Princess” dress up party with a cruise around the Marina - where many boaters showed their appreciation for the young…

Thirty-four years ago today, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. In honor of this important milestone, I asked Kris Dowling with Human Services’ Aging and Disabilities Resources group for permission to re-post a blog she wrote to mark the occasion.  I’m grateful for the work she and her colleagues do to serve the needs of our disabled residents. And, I echo Kris' call for all of us take up a challenge. I just watched the movie Speed Cubers - it's a cool friendship movie set against the backdrop of autism and speed cubing! Bruce July is Disability Pride Month When was the last time you reflected on your ability to: Walk down a gravelly path at the park? Hear the voice of a friend? See an eagle…

One of our most crucial responsibilities is to be there when our community needs us most. Whether it is a mass shooting, wildfire, plane crash, train derailment, or pandemic, we need to support our residents on their “worst day." That’s why this week’s Safety Summit, sponsored by the Department of Emergency Management, was so important. This was our second annual Summit and was a big step up from last year. We tripled the number of attendees - driving us to a larger venue at Clover Park Technical College.  We had representatives from across our community including county departments, cities, governmental agencies, law enforcement, fire service,  K12 schools and higher education!  They heard both national and local speakers, learned from incidents in Clark County (Nevada), Joplin, Uvalde, Grays Harbor and others.  Thursday…

Each week when I speak to new employees, I talk about the importance of respect. As public servants, we must treat our residents - no matter their background - with the consideration and regard each of us as human beings have a right to expect. This certainly applies to our interactions with colleagues, too. But in all cases, we are right to insist the respect we give be returned in kind - that’s a matter of self-respect. Unfortunately, this culture of respect we have worked hard to build at Pierce County is going to be tested in the coming weeks and months by politicians of all stripes, who will work to stoke your feelings of moral outrage and convince you there is more that divides us than unites us. In…

I hope you and your friends and family had a safe and sane celebration of our nation’s independence! Those of us who grew up in the Pacific Northwest know that summer doesn’t really begin until July 5th - as proven by years of experience with cold and wet Fourth of July parades and parties.  This year, however, the heat is on and we’re ready to celebrate. I know for many, like my family, the heat will drive us to the shores of Puget Sound or our amazing lakes.  Before you get too carried away, remember that our waters are beautiful, but danger lurks.  It’s critically important that you keep in mind how to safely enjoy the Sound, lakes and rivers, so your fun does not become a tragedy. Some time…

While much of my adult life has been spent in public service, I must confess that I can be uncomfortable when the spotlight shifts to me. In this blog I much prefer placing the focus on you and the great work you’re doing for our residents! That’s why I’m a little sheepish with this week’s blog topic – which is all about me. Years ago, when we started Inside Pierce County - our video series that takes folks behind the scenes at the County - I didn’t anticipate that I would one day film a segment about what it’s like to serve as the Executive. But I must admit that when I’m out in the community I am frequently asked about what a typical day in my work looks like…

As I have mentioned before in this blog, the Executive Team is moving.  Next Tuesday will be our first day in our new home – 1501 Market Street! To prepare for the move, we’ve been going through closets, cabinets and drawers to determine what items need to make the move with us.  If you’ve moved recently, you can appreciate how much stuff there is to go through - and some of the interesting things you discover.  But the item we found in a hard-to-reach spot really surprised all of us! This silver goblet was awarded to the winner of the 1915 Pacific Northwest Golf Association Women’s Champion – Mrs. T. E. Curran!  It was awarded 100 years before we hosted the USGA Men’s U.S. Open Championship in 2015!  The 1915…

Next Wednesday our offices will be closed.  While a day off is often a cause for celebration, June 19th has much more significant importance: Juneteenth. Juneteenth, observed every year on June 19th, commemorates the pivotal moment when Union soldiers, led by General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865, to proclaim the end of slavery in the state.  This proclamation, arriving over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation and following the end of the Civil War, symbolized not only the legal end of slavery but also the emancipation of African Americans within the region. It marked a profound juncture—a moment of liberation, hope, and the dawn of a new era for countless individuals who had long endured the shackles of bondage. But I think Juneteenth also represents the reconciliation…

Apologies to Sally Field and her infamous Academy Award speech but it feels awesome when outside people or organizations recognize your work. This week’s decision by the Hearing Examiner to approve the Conditional Use Permit and deny the appeal of our SEPA (State Environmental Protection Act) mitigated determination means the Tacoma Rescue Mission's (TRM) Good Neighbor Village for chronically homeless individuals can move forward! The Hearing Examiner wrote a very thorough and thoughtful decision after hearing seven days of testimony from the applicant, the appellant, our staff, and nearly 50 members of the public. His decision is 79 pages in length (excluding more than 350 exhibits), and is exhaustive in detail and description.  It includes 33 conditions, but gives TRM a very clear path ahead with construction starting later this…

The acclaimed video series “The Band of Brothers” follows members of Easy Company in the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment from their initial training in Georgia to their end of World War II at Berchtesgaden - home of Hitler’s mountainside retreat.  The second episode, entitled “Day of Days,” depicts their night parachute jump behind enemy lines as part of D-Day - the allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Next Thursday we will remember the 80th anniversary of the fateful day that marked the beginning of the end for fascist control of Europe.  I have been reflecting on that day - and the men and women who participated in the invasion and all that led up to it.  Not surprisingly, I have been reading a book - “Normandy ‘44 D-Day and…

We have a new addition to the team, and I’m delighted to introduce you to Vacsquatch - one of the most unique “employees” at the County. You may remember we just finished a public truck naming process and Vacsquatch was the winner by a landslide!  As with all our Planning & Public Works (PPW) equipment, it takes a skilled operator and often a team of employees to get the work done - and Vacsquatch is no different.  In this case, it takes a two-person crew - and sometimes flaggers -- to keep them safe on the roadside.  While still new to the work and honing their skills, they have already made quite a mark! I recently had the chance to meet Vacsquatch and try my hand at sucking up litter. …