Well, I'm Sorry If I Hurt or Embarrassed...

Tacoma.I don't think the movers and shakers spend enough time on Neighborhoods...
and small business...
all the small businesses and the new ones that would infill .....would so kick Russell's butt.....and replace them ...and all their money .....So go ahead and go.....or not.

Tacoma will Not live or die because of Russell. And the condos.
Wake Up !! Great things got done in Tacoma for years.....
Steph Farber is Right ! Enough with the stupid consultants and the outsiders.......
WE already know what we want........Didn't we (Tacomans/Tacowomens) create an Art Oasis..........growing and building from Sheer Force of Will ????? Didn't we get Union Station saved, and the Pantages....and UWT ? Tacoma Dome....The transportation hub in this district....makes perfect sense. Working together with the Tribes....and getting issues settled...........
"That's what saved Tacoma"
Yes we did !!!!
So many people truly love this town......with its warts.
and its sugar.
yes Russell contributed money to those causes, but it would have been done with or without them because the people wanted it..........

And I'll say this again......I am a trickster.....I say almost everything with a wink and a smile.....
I do appreciate Love Tacoma...we're MySpace Friends.....duh!
So kick me. Ignore me. Cuss me out. Hate me. Whatever.
From a blog post and from my criticism......

comes a fabulous conversation........ and I am really impressed that folks publicly and privately came to her defense.
I have so many stories of folks who do not feel included....
and this insane amount of money and attention that goes to developers, the rich and Russell......it is just hated by the people I talk to.
The working class of Tacoma......don't give a flying flip about Russell.
they hire only from a small select pool.....and there is so much more to Tacoma than that.
The working class could care less about expensive condos. They want the potholes fixed....they want good schools....They want Affordable Homes....You know something a person or family that makes 50 grand and Under could buy Today !
They want nice neighborhoods. They want to start businesses.
And Russell's money hasn't kept the streets free of holes. Russell's money hasn't made Tacoma schools better.......obviously......
It is the people who give a good .......damn about life here that did these things.
Enough already.

City fathers and mothers....Invest in the People. Invest in infrastructure.
Help people buy homes at a sensible price. House the homeless. Feed the hungry.
I know Tacoma is smart. Click .......brought the world to me.......
Low utility rates....because of smart management......
Tacoma doesn't need to be the fastest bunny on the Block.....
we need smartness, we need faith in each other, and respect for steadiness, respect for home-grown talent.

Build a strong working class and that's anyone who works for a living.......
It makes far more sense to have 3000 jobs that pay 20 bucks an hour or more,
than 1000 jobs that pay 50 bucks an hour. Rising tides lift ALL BOATS instead of just a few as documented here by Steve Winn . But even the wealthy are nervous.....

If Tacoma is gonna spend, what, 140 million on Russell .......why not spend that much on creating great middle income jobs...and lots of them......financial services is too often a code word for taking fair wages away from the worker and rigging the system for the benefit of the wealthy.
Restaurant work is not a livable wage base.

"Who gets the shortest end of the stick? Coffee shop hosts and cafeteria counter attendants, according to a report by the Center for Economic and Policy Research and the Center for Social Policy at the University of Massachusetts.

Eighty-seven percent of restaurant-host and counter-attendant jobs were categorized as "bad," meaning they paid less than the median wage in 1979, adjusted for inflation, and had neither employer-sponsored health insurance nor a retirement plan. That translates to a wage today of $16.50 an hour or $34,320 per year for a full-time, full-year worker, according to the report."

Rising rents and home prices put people in financial danger. It was and is a stupid idea to use your home as an ATM.
That is not sustainable in a community. C'mon you number-crunchers....

I suggest following the leadership of Van Jones.......
Why can't Tacoma become the Green Center of the Northwest.....let's create green jobs...let's show the world that we build Green.....We recycle....We cut emissions....We have industries that are embracing New Green Ways of doing business.
Do we or do we not live in The Evergreen State?

Buy Green in the Northwest.....

I do see many clothing designers using organic and bamboo and such for new clothes and that's great!!
My choice is to remake from used and vintage, and tossed away stuff.
There is an endless supply....of stuff....

I especially love building with reclaimed wood, windows and such...I do realize any new building must be energy efficient and non-toxic and new technologies can provide that.....here's a link to LEED....

From a Seattle PI article...

Counter intuitive: What began as a concept for a graduate-studies paper by Ameé Quiriconi is now a caressable countertop cast in Woodinville. Squak Mountain Stone Countertops' textured, cement-based composite, mixed with waste fly ash as well as newsprint and other recycled paper, is an alternative to quarried stone. A 30- by 48-inch slab: $420.29. A new line, Trinity, uses recycled glass to mimic smooth granite. Call 425-486-3417 or www.tmi-online.com.

Bee Green: Kim Denend and Aaron Otto combine organic farming and beekeeping to make soaps, salves and lotion bars tested on family and friends. Most of their ingredients are grown on Pragtree, a land-trust farm near Arlington, or come from other sustainable producers. Calendula soap: $5.95; muscle rub with cayenne: $10.95. Moon Valley Organics: 877-652-1819 or www.moonvalleyhoney.com.

Waste not: ELWd ("elwood") Systems, a division of Auburn's Forest Concepts, began replicating woody debris for salmon-habitat restoration and branched out to erosion-control bales, planters, fencing and other products made from wood that would otherwise be wasted. Sets of pole units can be used in place of rock, block or creosoted railroad ties for landscape terraces. A 90-inch unit: $52.99. ELWd Systems SlopeCheck: 253-333-9663 or www.elwdsystems.com.

Major employers in Pierce County & Tacoma

With about 3 minutes of Gooooogling I found out two tiny tidbits, one...in the Seattle PI.......about Russell.........
and down below is the employee count from a News Tribune article.
Russell employs 1035 in Tacoma...and the employees spend about 77 million a year here.
******************************************************************************************************
from the PI....

"From a Tacoma trading floor with 150 people, the company last year conducted $1 trillion worth of trades for its mutual funds and other clients. It has another 1,000 employees in 20 offices from Tokyo to Johannesburg.

How many globe-spanning businesses are headquartered in Tacoma? "It's not a long list of companies," Kendall says diplomatically.

Beyond the cachet, there's the cash. Russell is "by far the best in Tacoma in terms of compensation" among large employers, he says. "These are the kinds of jobs you want ... they are our magnet in that regard." Employees and the company directly spend an estimated $77 million a year in the city."
"What the Boeing 787 meant to Washington state, Russell means to Tacoma," says Bruce Kendall, president of the Tacoma-Pierce County Economic Development Board. The public-private effort galvanized by Russell's potential move is known as Project Destiny."

From the News Tribune:
Here's who is employing whom in our County and T Town
.....um yeah, 2006....
Military, Government (same thing...) Health care....Food & groceries.....
Fred Meyer is larger than Russell.....but maybe not in money earned that then circulates throughout the community.....

Major Employers for 2006
Rank / Organization Employees / Industry
• 1. U.S. ARMY, FORT LEWIS (TOTAL) 39,204 Military
• U.S. Army, Fort Lewis (military) 28,730
• U.S. Army, Fort Lewis (civilian) 10,474
• 2. LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS 13,275 Education
• 3. U.S. AIR FORCE, MCCHORD 10,772 Military
• U.S. Air Force, McChord (civilian & Reserve) 6,765
• U.S. Air Force, McChord (military) 4,007
• 4. WASHINGTON STATE EMPLOYEES * 7,649 Government/public offices
• 5. FRANCISCAN HEALTH SYSTEM 3,896 Health services
• 6. MULTICARE HEALTH SYSTEM 3,874 Health services
• 7. U.S. ARMY MADIGAN HOSPITAL 3,231 Military health care
• U.S. Army Madigan Hospital (civilian) 2,075
• U.S. Army Madigan Hospital (military) 1,156
• 8. PIERCE COUNTY GOVERNMENT 3,160 Government/public offices
• 9. WASHINGTON STATE HIGHER EDUCATION * 2,958 Colleges
• 10. CITY OF TACOMA 2,044 Government/public offices
• (does not include Tacoma Public Utilities)
• 11. FRED MEYER STORES 1,689 Retail
• 12. EMERALD QUEEN CASINO 1,688 Casino gaming
• 13. SAFEWAY STORES INC. 1,613 Retail (grocer)
• 14. WAL-MART STORES * 1,480 Retail
• 15. GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL 1,471 Health services
• 16. TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES 1,413 Public utility
• 17. THE BOEING CO. (Frederickson site) 1,395 Aerospace
• 18. MCDONALD’S RESTAURANTS 1,290 Fast food (corporate stores only)
• 19. INTEL CORP. 1,200 Computer electronics
• 20. U.S. POSTAL SERVICE 1,173 Government/public offices
• 21. MILGARD MANUFACTURING INC. 1,118 Glass, window manufacturing
• 22. RUSSELL INVESTMENT GROUP 1,035 Investment management
• 23. COSTCO 980 Wholesale
• 24. STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANIES 965 Insurance
• 25. LONGSHORE LABOR UNION 900 Labor union
• 26. PIERCE TRANSIT 896 Government/transportation
• 27. ALBERTSONS INC. 886 Retail (grocer)
• 28. WASHINGTON STATE NATIONAL GUARD 840 Military
• 29. WALGREENS DRUG STORES 824 Retail (drug store)
• 30. DAVITA 792 Health services
• 31. AAFES 781 Merchandise for armed forces (Army & Air Force Exchange Service)
• 32. COMCAST CABLE 757 Cable TV, Internet services
• 33. VETERANS’ AFFAIRS PUGET SOUND HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS 746 Health services
• 34. GORDON TRUCKING INC. 732 Transportation (includes Washington-based drivers)
• 35. SIMPSON INVESTMENT CO. 695 Wood products (includes Simpson Tacoma Kraft Co., Simpson Timber Co.)
• 36. PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY 670 Education
• 37. UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND 660 Education
• 38. THE NEWS TRIBUNE 650 Printing/publishing
• 39. KEYBANK 600 Bank
• 40. HOME DEPOT 588 Retail
• 41. RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT INC. (REI) 566 Retail
• 42. TACOMA GOODWILL INDUSTRIES 506 Social services
• 43. GROUP HEALTH COOPERATIVE 498 Health services
• 44. REGENCE BLUESHIELD 488 Health services
• 45. ATLAS CASTINGS & TECHNOLOGY 462 Steel manufacturer
• 46. COLUMBIA BANK 456 Bank
• 47. MACY’S 456 Retail
• 48. INTERSTATE DISTRIBUTOR CO. 450 Trucking
• 49. PUYALLUP TRIBE 417 Indian tribe
• (excluding casino, smokeshops and administration)
• 50. ROBERT LARSON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 405 Auto dealership
• 51. CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN INC. 403 Recreation resort
• 52. AVAMERE HEALTH SERVICES 402 Health services
• 53. STARBUCKS COFFEE CO. 387 Retail
• 54. BANK OF AMERICA 385 Bank
• 55. CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES 382 Social services
• 56. MANKE LUMBER CO. 348 Sawmill, planing mill
• 57. CITY OF PUYALLUP 331 Government/public offices
• 58. LOWE’S 324 Retail
• 59. QWEST COMMUNICATIONS * 310 Telecommunications
• 60. NORDSTROM INC. 298 Retail
• 61. LABOR READY INC. 291 Temporary services
• 62. TACOMA LUTHERAN HOME 290 Retirement home
• 63. GENSCO INC. 283 Sheet metal manufacturing
• 64. WILCOX FAMILY FARM 281 Dairy, egg, feed processing
• 65. J.C. PENNEY CO. 276 Retail
• 66. WELLS FARGO 275 Bank
• 67. MCLANE NORTHWEST 270 Grocery distributor
• 68. COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE 268 Private nonprofit health clinics
• 69. POTELCO 267 Electrical contractors
• 70. EXPEDIA.COM 262 Online travel
• 71. YMCA OF TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY 262 Nonprofit social services
• 72. BROWN & HALEY 260 Confectionery products
• 73. TORAY COMPOSITES (AMERICA) INC. 260 Composite materials
• 74. MANORCARE HEALTH SERVICES 257 Health services
• 75. MELLON FINANCIAL CORP 250 Financial services
• 76. MISSION FOODS 248 Food manufacturer
• 77. RAM INTERNATIONAL 247 Restaurant
• 78. HAGGEN/TOP FOOD & DRUG 242 Retail
• 79. PUGET SOUND ENERGY 242 Utility services
• 80. METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT 241 Government/public offices
• 81. WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK 236 Bank
• 82. SOUNDCARE INC. 233 Health services
• 83. JOHN H. HARLAND CO. 226 Printing
• 84. CITY OF LAKEWOOD 226 Government/public offices
• 85. BUFFELEN WOODWORKING CO. 225 Millwork/wood products
• 86. TACOMA NARROWS CONSTRUCTORS 225 Transportation construction
• 87. SEARS ROEBUCK AND CO. 223 Retail
• 88. BEST BUY 220 Retail
• 89. CASCADE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 220 Education
• 90. HAROLD LEMAY ENTERPRISES INC. 220 Refuse
• 91. MCFARLAND CASCADE 220 Wood products
• 92. FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD LIFE CENTER 219 Nonprofit
• 93. PORT OF TACOMA 218 Government/public offices
• 94. PROLOGICS ** 216 Published product distributor
• 95. PRECISION AEROSPACE/ PRECISION PATTERN INC. 215 Aerospace manufacturing
• 96. BURLINGTON NORTHERN RAILROAD 210 Railroad
• 97. NORTHWEST CASCADE 210 Septic, sewer contractors
• 98. SUPERVALU 210 Grocery distributor
• 99. RAINIER PACIFIC BANK 208 Bank
• 100. TITUS-WILL FORD TOYOTA SCION 208 Auto dealership
• 101. CITY TRANSFER INC. 207 Construction supply
• 102. MORNING SUN 207 Screen printing/sportswear
• 103. RITE AID CORP. * 206 Retail
• 104. ABSHER CONSTRUCTION CO. 205 Construction
• 105. NORTHWEST DOOR 205 Manufacturing/garage doors
• rank / Organization Employees / Industry
• 106. COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH 202 Health services
• 107. CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY CORP. 202 Pre-stressed concrete
• 108. HARBORSTONE CREDIT UNION 200 Credit union
• 109. PIERCE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM 200 Government/library system
• 110. TRINITY GLASS INTERNATIONAL 200 Manufacturing
• 111. WESTMARK PRODUCTS 200 Cabinet manufacturer
• 112. NORTHWESTERN LANDSCAPE CO. 198 Landscape
• 113. GREATER LAKES MENTAL HEALTHCARE 195 Health services
• 114. NORTHWEST METAL PRODUCTS CO. 195 Sheet metal manufacturing
• 115. TRIDENT SEAFOOD 194 Seafood products
• 116. BIRDS EYE FOODS 189 Food products
• 117. CENTURYTEL 189 Telecommunications
• 118. QUALITY FOOD CENTERS INC. (QFC) 186 Retail
• 119. SHERATON TACOMA HOTEL 184 Hotel
• 120. U.S. FOODSERVICE 180 Food/wholesale
• 121. ARMSTRONG IN-HOME CARE 171 Home health services
• 122. AUTO WAREHOUSING CO. 171 Auto warehousing
• 123. KORUM MOTORS 170 Auto dealership
• 124. GLOBE MACHINE MANUFACTURING CO. 167 Manufacturing
• 125. SCI INFRASTRUCTURE 164 Heavy highway construction
• 126. LINDEN GROVE CARE CENTER 162 Health care
• 127. GREAT AMERICAN CASINO 160 Casino gaming
• 128. LUMBERMENS 156 Retail (building material)
• 129. COMMENCEMENT BAY CORRUGATED 155 Manufacturing/corrugated boxes
• 130. GENERAL PLASTICS MANUFACTURING CO. 155 Manufacturing/polyurethane foam
• 131. PORTAC 152 Manufacturing, lumber
• 132. U.S. OIL & REFINING 151 Petroleum refinery
• 133. LIFE CARE CENTER OF PUYALLUP 150 Assisted living/rehab. services
• 134. ORCHARD PARK HEALTH CARE CENTER 150 Health services
• 135. GOLDEN STATE FOODS 147 Distributor for McDonald’s
• 136. HEARTWOOD EXTENDED HEALTHCARE 146 Health services
• 137. METAGENICS 145 Nutritional supplements
• 138. TACOMA CABINET & FIXTURE CO. 145 Cabinet manufacturer
• 139. THE TRUSS CO. 145 Truss manufacturer
• 140. U.S. BANK 145 Bank
• 141. METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 142 Nonprofit
• 142. PRECISION DOOR & CABINET 142 Production cabinets, doors
• 143. CHARLES WRIGHT ACADEMY 139 Education
• 144. CITY OF SUMNER 138 Government/public offices
• 145. PARAMETRIX 136 Engineering, environmental service • 146. FRANKE TOBEY JONES RETIREMENT 135 Nonprofit retirement community
• 147. RAINIER VISTA CARE CENTER 135 Health services
• 148. THE ODOM CORP. 135 Beverage distributor
• 149. OLD CANNERY FURNITURE WAREHOUSE 134 Retail
• 150. BMC WEST 133 Retail
• 151. FARWEST FREIGHT SYSTEMS 132 Transportation
• 152. KMART 132 Retail
• 153. REGENCY-TACOMA 132 Rehabilitation services
• 154. CITY BEVERAGES 131 Beverage distributor
• 155. PABCO ROOFING PRODUCTS 128 Manufacturing/shingle products
• 156. COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. 127 Beverage bottler, distributor
• 157. BRADTRUD MIDDLETON INSURANCE BROKER 126 Insurance
• 158. JESSE ENGINEERING 126 Steel fabrication, manufacturing
• 159. UNITED PARCEL SERVICE 126 Delivery, logistics
• 160. CHIP’S CASINO LAKEWOOD 125 Gaming
• 161. PONY LUMBER 125 Lumber manufacturer
• 162. THE PEPSI BOTTLING GROUP 124 Beverage distributor
• 163. BELLARMINE PREPARATORY SCHOOL 120 Education
• 164. FIRST AMERICAN TITLE INSURANCE CO. 120 Financial services
• 165. NORTHWEST KINETICS 120 Medical research, development
• 166. TUCCI & SONS 120 Construction
• 167. CARDIAC STUDY CENTER 118 Health Care
• 168. MADSEN ELECTRIC 118 Electrical contractor
• 169. WEYERHAEUSER CO. 118 Paper, allied products
• 170. THE SIMMONS MANUFACTURING CO. 117 Mattress manufacturer
• 171. GENERAL MECHANICAL INC. 115 Construction
• 172. PROVENTUR 115 Restaurant, catering
• 173. GP GYPSUM 113 Manufacturing/gypsum, wallboard
• 174. ASSOCIATED PETROLEUM 112 Petroleum products
• 175. GENTIVA HEALTH SERVICES 112 Health services
• 176. PRECISION MACHINE WORKS INC. 112 Machine shop
• 177. SELDEN’S 112 Retail
• 178. CABLECRAFT 110 Manufacturing/cables
• 179. CARDINAL HEALTH 110 Health care product distributor
• 180. CARLILE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS 110 Transportation
• 181. EMERALD HOME FURNISHINGS 110 Furniture manufacturing
• 182. FRED TEBB & SONS 110 Lumber remanufacturing
• 183. SHINING OCEAN 110 Surimi manufacturer
• 184. GORDON THOMAS HONEYWELL 109 Law office
• 185. HOBART BAKING SYSTEMS 109 Bakery equipment manufacturing
• 186. REGAL LOGISTICS 109 Warehousing, logistics
• 187. FILTRONA 108 Plastics extrusion
• 188. FREDDIE’S CLUB OF FIFE 107 Casino gaming
• 189. CECCANTI INC. 105 Earthwork, site utility
• 190. RENAISSANCE AT NARROWS GLEN 105 Senior living community
• 191. SCHOELLER ARCA SYSTEMS 105 Plastic products
• 192. RANDLES SAND & GRAVEL 104 Sand, gravel
• 193. REEDER MANAGEMENT 104 Property management
• 194. TOYOTA OF PUYALLUP 104 Auto dealership
• 195. TRIWEST HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE 104 Health care
• 196. MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK 103 National park
• 197. SCHNITZER STEEL INDUSTRIES INC. 103 Steel scrap, waste
• 198. GOTTSCHALKS 102 Retail
• 199. COAST ENGINE & EQUIPMENT 101 Locomotive rebuild, manufacturing
• 200. SMITH FIRE SYSTEMS 101 Fire systems
• 201. BJ’S BINGO 100 Bingo
• 202. GIRARD WOOD PRODUCTS 100 Wood pallet manufacturing, repair
• 203. HORIZON LINES TACOMA 100 Ocean transportation, logistics
* FTE count was not available for some employers. Head count used for Pierce College, Rite Aid, Qwest Communications, Wal-Mart, and Washington state employees.
** Prologics is the merger of The News Group and Anderson News.

A Few Things I've Made...

I'm closing the shop and only be open a few days a month.....I may close permanently while I look for new digs in Portland or Seattle...I may never open again....
I shall continue to design.......
Here is a small sample of what I've made recently and not-so-recently......