Occupy Tacoma - How Important is the Park?
Occupy Tacoma, unlike its counterparts around the country, has had a relatively uneventful stay in its chosen public park. Through a combination of good luck and good will the Tacoma manifestation of the national movement has remained in Pugnetti Park on Pacific Avenue for months now, with relatively little disruption.
An article in today’s News Tribune suggests that this may all be changing. The small park that has served as home base for the Occupiers is a unique piece of property, in that while it is located in downtown Tacoma, it is owned by WSDOT, and therefore is under State, rather than City jurisdiction. According to the TNT the State has communicated complaints from local businesses and residents to the Occupiers, and may be beginning to move towards eviction. The eviction process hasn’t been announced yet, but the Transportation Department claims there are concerns that need to be addressed, and it clearly would like the Occupiers to move on. We’ll see what happens next, as the group has no intention of picking up and leaving at this point.
If what now seems the inevitable comes to pass, and the Occupiers are evicted from Pugnetti Park, what will it mean for the movement in Tacoma? How significant is the occupation of the previously little-used park, when members of the movement can continue to occupy the places and processes where decisions get made? Occupy City Council? Occupy elections? Occupy public meetings, public offices and the public conscience?
Read more from The News Tribune.
Filed under: General, pugnetti-park
14 comments
D Doug February 2, 2012
I live downtown and walk past there frequently. I have no complaint with how they are handling themselves. Let them stay. Work on the real problems in Tacoma…not Occupy Tacoma!
R RR Anderson February 2, 2012
if you strike them down they will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.
K kg February 2, 2012
I live downtown and that park used to serve as the place where my toddler and I would kick the soccer ball around and ride his little bike. I am all for freedom of speech, but this has gone too long and is starting to turn me against the movement. Why not “occupy” a piece of land that folks don’t use instead of one our few public spaces downtown? In the future when there is a cause that really warrants a protest of some form, this movement will have lessened the impact that event.
K Karen L. Jensen February 2, 2012
I hope your toddler some day learns that one of his parents didn’t have enough imagination to find another place to play. There are bigger issues that need to be addressed than your convenience and your son could be proud of you some day. Maybe.
R RRS February 2, 2012
How about “occupy a job” or atleast do charity work. Sleeping in a park is a joke and sad….get off your lazy asses and do something besides drinking coffee and smoking weed.
K KjKapp February 2, 2012
Not impressed with the group down there. Are they protesting jobs? (in the amount of time that they’ve been down there… they could have produced something tangible with their own hands, rather than waiting for it to be handed to them) Are they protesting “The Man” (news flash… Tacoma doesn’t have nearly as many commercial headquarters as it once had.) Are they protesting the wars? (they’re winding down… )In the end, this sad group of malcontents will only leave a completely trashed public space and the memory of essentially a homeless encampment “occupied” with folks whose value-set will likely leave them in the same place even once the economy is back on it’s fee.Good riddance.
J Janemckane February 2, 2012
Why is it that a mother and her toddler are the ones who need to use their imagination? Yes, there are bigger issues, but every time I walk by this park, which is daily, i am either treated to somebody being very rude, somebody obviously high, or nobody doing anything at all. It’s not a protest, it’s little more than a homeless camp. It makes me angry because there are legitimate issues behind this movement, and I support those.
R RR Anderson February 2, 2012
taking your toddler to this park is a form of child abuse. Seriously there are a million better parks for kids. This park is in an armpit of busy traffic… noisy and foul smelling. Take your child to wright part… jefferson park. Tollefson!
O Oh, I See February 3, 2012
No. 6 has a good question: what are they protesting by camping? It seems the only thing they can achieve is raising awareness but if after how many months and it’s still not clear, change your marketing technique. Borrow from the Tea Party model and do something.
In other words, kudos to WSDOT for finally making moves to reclaim a public space and end their charade.
J Jesse February 3, 2012
They’ve had a long time to come up with a uniform message about what they stand for, what they’re going to DO about it, and a leader to take charge. After months, they have nothing. Time to move on.
G geargirl February 7, 2012
I totally agree with the previous posters: If they’re not doing anything to forward their cause or educate the public about why they’re there, leave. Get busy or get out.
Don’t sour those who support the original tenants that inspired the “Occupy” cause to those who are genuinely taking a stand for an issue the believe in. Because, right now, nobody down there is taking a stand. They’re just sitting around.
R RR Anderson February 8, 2012
earth to commenters have you ever heard of a sit in? Jezus!
J john February 9, 2012
Spring is around the corner and I can tell the occupy folks one thing with certainty…YOU NEED TO BE GONE BEFORE THE SUN STARTS TO SHINE!!!
This is not “freedom of speech” – It is a bunch of people with nothing better to do. They think they are entitled to something without demonstrating the effort or talent needed to acquire it.
Success is not promised to anyone, but in most cases it is directly proportional to effort and personal habits. It is the culmination of talent, education, drive and competitive instincts. Then there is the matter of luck – thats always nice too.
Allow me to give you a formula that will fit into your agenda. This works for even the least talented and most underprivilaged: 1. Sleep in a tent( Not in the park I want to have lunch in ) 2. Get a minimum wage job 3. Shower at the YMCA 4. Save all of your money for 5 years 5. Only buy food and clothes and necessities 6. You will have saved roughly $50,000 dollars. 7. During this time use government resources to get educated with a trade or degree with a promising future based on due diligence of employment trends. 8. Buy a small car for 5,000 – 10,000 cash. Never get a credit card. 9. Get a JOB or start your own business. 10. Stop complaining! 11. Take a look around you and realize how fortunate you are to live here and not in any of the countries where desparation is REAL!!
I drive past your group and you are too lazy even to demonstrate – as poor as your performance has been in life – you are just as bad as a group of protestors – pitiful!
IF YOU CHANGE YOUR HABITS – YOU WILL CHANGE THE CONDITION THAT EXISTS FOR YOU AND THOSE AROUND YOU!!
Right now you are just wasting your time and, like a guest who has stayed too long, you have worn out your welcome!
J Jenny Jenkins February 10, 2012
I’ve never been bothered by them being down there, but it would be nice to see them elsewhere as well. I agree with a lot of their principles, so it would be good to see them at city council and involved in elections and things.