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Unpacking Tacoma's zoning changes, Washington's middle housing push – Northwest Public Broadcasting

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Unpacking Tacoma's zoning changes, Washington's middle housing push – Northwest Public Broadcasting


By Phineas Pope and Lauren Gallup

Phineas Pope: “For years, the majority of Tacoma was reserved for single family housing development. But the city, as well as the state of Washington, is moving away from that. NWPB’s Lauren Gallup has been reporting on this, and she joins me now to discuss. Hey, Lauren!”

Lauren Gallup: “Hi Phineas, how are you?” 

Pope: “I’m good. So let’s start with House Bill 1110. Can you explain some of the key provisions of this bill?”

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Gallup: “This is a bill that passed last year in the 2023 legislative session. Put really simply, what it does is allow for more housing development and then more housing types in neighborhoods that traditionally would only have allowed for single family housing. Cities of 25,000 to 75,000 people — so some of our like more midsized to smaller cities — have to allow for development of at least two units per lot on all lots zoned predominantly for residential use. So essentially, what that does is say, as a state, all of our cities, we’re moving away from single family zoning.

As the size of the city increases, the number of units allowed per lot increases. There are also more units allowed when the neighborhood is within a certain distance of major transit, and when there are some units reserved for affordable housing.”

Pope: “How does House Bill 1110, then, aim to address the housing crisis in cities like Tacoma?”

Gallup: “It’s really looking to address what we’re calling middle housing. So these are places that are achievable for people with more of a moderate income. Maybe they’re, you know, area median income, they’re hovering right around there. They are not affordable housing. There are provisions to create affordable housing, but that is not the main aim of this bill. So if neighborhoods allow more housing types, like duplexes, for example, the idea is that those are going to be less expensive, more affordable, maybe, you know, as a starter home or for someone to rent while they’re saving up to buy a bigger space.”

Pope: “You’ve attended some City Council meetings in the course of your reporting. What’s been the public’s reaction to all of this?”

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Gallup: “The city council held this public hearing to talk about Home in Tacoma phase two, these zoning changes they’re considering. A lot of people showed up, and a lot of people have a wide range of opinions. There’s some that are opposed, there’s some that are in favor of it. But even amongst those two camps, people feel really differently.”

Pope: “I want to talk about one of the pictures you took of a yard sign. It said, ‘save our homes and tree canopy.’ Can you talk about the environmental impacts tied to rezoning for middle housing?” 

Gallup: “So, when I spoke with Lowell Wyse, who’s the executive director of the Tacoma Tree Foundation, he feels really strongly, actually, that the provisions that are included in this phase, phase two, actually really help ensure protection for existing trees, create more tree canopy and green space when we’re developing.”

Lowell Wyse: “Sometimes it comes down to housing versus trees, but we think that that’s a false choice.”

Gallup: “I think people are rightfully worried that more housing development could lead to loss of these green spaces and tree canopy. We have definitely seen that in Tacoma. We have the lowest level of tree canopy in the Puget Sound. But I will say that a lot of people are happy with what is being proposed regarding to this, because it’s the first time that in Tacoma, there would be regulation of existing trees on private property.”

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Pope: “All right, last question for you, Lauren. Are there any upcoming policy decisions or votes related to rezoning in Tacoma that residents should be aware of?”

Gallup: “Yes. So, the City Council is going to vote on these proposals in mid-November. That’s what’s scheduled, always subject to change. Over this month and into the beginning of November, city council members will get opportunities — they’re called study sessions — to look over what’s being proposed and, you know, do their homework before they make a vote. There was a lot of opportunity for public input. But of course, you’re always welcome to reach out to city council members in the planning commission and reporters like me, you know, to ask questions and just understand what’s going on in your local government.”

Pope: “NWPB’s Lauren Gallup has been reporting from Tacoma. Lauren, thanks so much!”

Gallup: “Thanks, Phineas!” 



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Washington

Denzel Washington says rumors about Oscar winning actor have existed for decades

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Denzel Washington says rumors about Oscar winning actor have existed for decades


Kevin Spacey has had his share of ugly headlines across the past couple of years, but Denzel Washington recently said rumors swirled about him a long time before those reports popped up.

In fact, Washington said, there was talk decades before the “House of Cards” actor, 65, was accused of sexual assault and harassment.

Washington made the revelation in a five-part, first-person essay written in a Nov. 19 issue of Esquire.

Washington remembered attending the 2000 Academy Awards due to his nomination for Best Actor for his performance in “The Hurricane.” While there, he recalled watching Spacey win the award instead.

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“I’m sure I went home and drank that night. I had to,” Washington, who also opened up in the piece about his decision to quit drinking and live a sober lifestyle over the past decade. “I don’t want to sound like, ‘Oh, he won my Oscar, or anything like that. It wasn’t like that.’

“And you know, there was talk in the town about what was going on over there on that side of the street, and that’s between him and God,” Washington added. “I ain’t got nothing to do with that. I pray for him. That’s between him and his maker.”

Spacey won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in 1999’s “American Beauty” after he won Best Supporting Actor in 1996 for the movie, “The Usual Suspects.” 17 years later, controversy struck and heavily impacted the actor’s career when Anthony Rapp became the first person to come out and publicly accuse him of sexual assault, with more accusers who came forward.

In 2022, a jury in New York found that Spacey wasn’t liable for battery in relation to Rapp’s accusations, and the following year, a U.K. court found him not guilty of nine counts of alleged sexual assault.

Allegations against Spacey have continued to mount, much like in documentaries such as Investigation Discovery’s “Spacey Unmasked,” which was released in May.

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Spacey has denied all claims and has received an onslaught of criticism after coming out as gay in response to Rapps initial accusations in 2017.



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Nick Begich defeats Mary Peltola for Alaska’s lone House seat- Washington Examiner

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Nick Begich defeats Mary Peltola for Alaska’s lone House seat- Washington Examiner


Republican Nick Begich ousted incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) on Wednesday, a victory two weeks after Election Day that will help the GOP pad its narrow House majority.

The Associated Press called the race for Begich shortly after 9 p.m. EST, with 95% of the vote counted. Begich received 48.4% to Peltola’s 46.4% at the time the race was called. Independent John Wayne Howe and Democrat Eric Hafner received 3.9% and 1%, respectively.

After two unsuccessful bids for the seat, Alaska’s ranked choice voting system yielded a result in Begich’s favor. Under the voting method, voters rank candidates in order of preference rather than choosing a single candidate. If no candidate receives 50% in the first round, votes are reallocated as candidates with the fewest first-choice votes are eliminated.

Ranked choice voting last cycle split the vote between Begich and former Gov. Sarah Palin. That, combined with Peltola’s appeal to independents and conservative voters, allowed the now-ousted congresswoman to win both the special and general 2022 elections.

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Begich previously celebrated his election win on Nov. 16, the day Decision Desk HQ projected he would win. The Associated Press took four more days to call the race, which was one of the narrowest in the country. Begich comes from a long line of politicians — his grandfather represented Alaska in the House and his uncle, Mark, was a Senator for Alaska.

“The ranked choice voting tabulation has been completed and has confirmed our win beyond any residual doubt. I am truly honored to have earned your trust and support,” Begich said in a statement Wednesday night.

“Alaska’s potential is unmatched, but much work remains for Alaskans to fully realize that potential. I am committed to fighting for our jobs and economy, protecting our unique way of life, and ensuring that our voices are heard loud and clear in Washington.”

Peltola conceded in a statement saying, “Working for Alaska as a member of our federal delegation has been the honor of my life.”

“The path ahead will not be built by one person or three people working for all of Alaska but by all Alaskans working together to build a future that works for all of us,” she said. Alaska’s congressional delegation has three members.

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CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“Nick, I’m rooting for you,” she said. “Please don’t forget when D.C. people keep telling you that you are one of three. You are actually one of more than seven hundred thousand Alaskans who are ready to fight for our state, myself included.”

Begich will reassume the long line of Republicans in the House representing Alaska, which Peltola interrupted with her two-year term.



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Cybertruck seen in Trump’s motorcade to SpaceX launch – Washington Examiner

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Cybertruck seen in Trump’s motorcade to SpaceX launch – Washington Examiner


The convoy featured a mix of the typical black Chevys and Fords plus the lone electric vehicle. Presidents have long traveled via motorcade but typically use uniform, bulletproof vehicles for the president’s safety. Cybertrucks aren’t completely bulletproof but will protect from lighter gunfire. This inclusion of a Cybertruck was a nod to SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who welcomed Trump to the launch site.

Musk has been tapped by Trump to head the Department of Government Efficiency alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. The Tesla CEO endorsed Trump shortly after the first assassination attempt against the president-elect and started a pro-Trump super PAC. Before the launch, the two were most recently together at UFC 309 on Saturday.

The Washington Examiner reached out to the Trump campaign for comment on whether the Cybertruck will be among the presidential vehicles used once Trump is sworn back into office.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

During the third quarter, the Cybertruck was the No. 3 most popular EV sold. It followed Tesla’s other two models, Y and 3, respectively. Still, Tesla is just shy of 50% of the total EV sales in the United States.

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Influencer Adin Ross presented Trump with a Cybertruck of his own, with a stainless steel frame featuring a photo of the moment after a bullet grazed the former president’s ear. Despite Musk’s nomination, Trump has been public with his opposition to any sort of EV mandate.





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