Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I can’t believe it is already November. The legislative session is right around the corner. Over the past month, I have been busy meeting with constituents, touring facilities, and preparing for the upcoming session. Read on to see what I’ve been up to in our community!
Free the Vote Mural
The right to vote has long been the fight to vote in the United States. Since the inception of our democracy, people have had to fight for their own enfranchisement. In 2021, Washington took on more step toward fulfilling our nation’s promise of self-governance for every citizen by passing the Voting Rights Restoration Act. This law ensures that people who served prison time can register to vote upon reentry. The Free the Vote Mural event celebrated this milestone and acknowledged that there is still work to do. Remember, our vote is our power.
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration in Tacoma
Earlier this month, from September 15th to October 15th, we celebrated Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month. This celebration of the histories, contributions, and cultures of people whose ancestors came from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America is timed to start just before Mexican Independence Day and encompasses the independence celebrations of many Latin countries. This year, Latino’s United for South Sound curated a beautiful celebration in Tacoma, with great food, beautiful performances, and authentic artisan pop-ups. I was in awe of the traditional dances!
Environment & Energy Committee Tour to the Tri-Cities
This fall the Environment & Energy Committee traveled to the Tri-Cities to tour the Columbia Generating Station, the Hanford Nuclear Site, and Pacific Northwest National Labs. We also met with the Yakama Tribe to learn about clean energy.
The tour started with a visit to Yakama Power to discuss clean energy siting, energy storage, and the Hanford cleanup. Afterwards we traveled to Richland to learn about battery technology, the smart grid, and clean energy at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. We ended the day with a work session on the Hanford Site cleanup. The Hanford Site is the home of a decommissioned nuclear production complex, and the location where the plutonium for the first atomic bomb was produced. Today it is the site of a large cleanup to ensure nuclear material does not permanently contaminate the region.
On the second day of the tour, we traveled to the Columbia Generating Station. I am thankful that the federal government continues to prioritize the cleanup of the Hanford Site. The Columbia Generating Station will be a part of Washington’s power mix for years to come.
South Tacoma Air Quality Tour
Our area ranks among the worse for air quality. It is a serious problem that affects all of us but especially vulnerable population like children and seniors. The Greening Research in Tacoma Project (GRIT) is recommending infrastructure changes in South Tacoma, like tree cover, for improving air quality.
I joined the Nature Conservancy, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and local elected officials for a walking tour of South Tacoma to learn more about urban heat islands, air quality, and urban forestry. I am looking forward to seeing their improvements in South Tacoma. And, I am working to bring similar projects to other neighborhoods in our district.
Voting Rights Class at Pacific Lutheran University
Last month, I had the pleasure of teaching a class at Pacific Lutheran University on voting rights and voting history both nationally and in Washington. It was wonderful to engage with college students about voting and to spend time at the university in the 29th District.
Mi Centro
Mi Centro is a community-based non-profit in Pierce County that works with Latino and Indigenous families through educational programs, crisis intervention, family outreach services, and advocacy efforts. I had the pleasure of touring their facility and meeting with their staff along with State Senator Yasmin Trudeau. We learned how we could support Mi Centro programming and what they were hearing as the most pressing needs for the Latino community in Pierce County.
Thank you for reading my newsletter. Hearing from you is the most important part of my job. Please do not hesitate to keep reaching out throughout the interim with your thoughts and ideas.
Sincerely,
Sharlett Mena
State Representative
29th District