HISTORIC HOMES TOUR 10
because
tters ma
-2 1987 01 8
com
WEEDLY – HISTORY OF CBD 3
TACOMA RAINIERS 9
muni ty
Because Community Matters.
TACOMAWEEKLY NEWS FREE • SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2019
WWW.TACOMAWEEKLY.COM
TACOMA MALL AREA RESIDENTS DEMAND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS
BY JOHN LARSON jlarson@tacomaweekly.com
Driving around the Tacoma Mall area can be challenging due to the heavy traffic. But walking or riding a bicycle in the area has its challenges as well. The Tacoma Mall Neighbors Pedestrian Access Committee organized a day of action on April 25 to raise awareness of the need for improved pedestrian infrastructure in the neighborhood. It was held at the intersection of South 38 Street and South Cedar Street. Molly Nichols, Tacoma outreach coordinator for Futurewise, has worked with the neighbors on several projects. A community garden at South 40th and Cedar streets is one. With nearly 5,000 residents and 10,000 workers, and large numbers of customers of businesses in the area, there is a need for safety improvements. Nichols said there is a long-term plan for a new off-ramp from Interstate 5. “That might happen in 10 years if we are lucky,” she remarked. A new street that would loop around the area has also been proposed. “It is disappointing I do not feel safe walking to most of the nearby amenities due to the lack of crosswalks and side-
TACOMA MALL NEIGHBORS PEDESTRIAN ACCESS COMMITTEE
Signs that were made for the day of action. walks,” said Nikki Rohloff, a neighborhood resident. “Most of the time I get in my car to drive to the businesses that are literally across the street from where I live. It is a shame.” “We know residents do not feel safe,” Nichols said. While several major intersections do have streetlights and pedestrian crossing lights, many lack
crosswalks. She would like the city to add these, but admitted the process is more complicated than just painting white stripes on pavement. Francesca Siena, a Lincoln District resident, has worked at Marlene’s Market for 21 years. The business is near the intersection of South 38th and Cedar streets. “We have been witnessing a lot
of changes. Some of them good, some not so good.” While many of their customers drive to Marlene’s, some of them are workers at nearby businesses who walk over for lunch. Their pedestrian access “is far from ideal,” Siena observed. Some of Marlene’s employees get u See PEDESTRIAN / page 7
COMMUNITY GATHERS FOR COLORFUL CELEBRATION OF CAMBODIAN NEW YEAR BY JOHN LARSON jlarson@tacomaweekly.com
DARREN PEN
Colorful clothing and traditional dancing are among the ways that local residents celebrated their Cambodian heritage at the event.
Members of the local Cambodian community, joined by their neighbors of other ethnic backgrounds, gathered at Khmer Theravandin Buddhist Temple on April 28 to celebrate the Cambodian lunar new year. The theme for this year is the year of the pig. Traditional food including fried rice, vegetables, beef on skewers and stuffed chicken legs were served. People in colorful outfits performed traditional dances while other people played drums. Children ran around laughing. Their elders performed religious ceremonies. Flags of Cambodia, the United States
and Washington were placed around the complex, which is located on East 44th Street not far from Salishan. Several community and political leaders addressed the audience. Tacoma City Councilmember Anders Ibsen mentioned values held dear by the Cambodian community, including reverence for tradition and caring for the community. He told the audience that their contributions “make America and the city of Tacoma great.” Mike Blair, chief of staff for Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, discussed the refugees from Southeast Asia who came to Washington after the Vietnam War. In the case of Cambodians, they
u See CELEBRATION / page 7
Get ready for Summer WITH OUR NEW 2019’S!
3410 PACIFIC HWY E FIFE, WA | 877-598-7422 | 253-358-8870
W W W. F I F E R V C E N T E R . C O M