By Norma Iwamoto.
To: Don Anderson, Mayor, City of Lakewood, Connie Ladenburg, The Suburban Times, Tacoma Weekly
I have lived in Tacoma for 50+ years. My mother lives in Lakewood on Steilacoom Blvd. Her house is located two blocks north of Western State Hospital. I often take her to the casino in Yelm on Saturdays and we drive past Western State. We comment to each other about the large number of cars parked at Western State on Saturdays and sometimes other days of the week.
We assumed that there were just a lot of visitors for the patients there. We also commented about the once nice little houses on the grounds of Western State that are now vacant and boarded up. These houses could be fixed up and restored and would make great homes for an employee with a small family. Instead they are decaying and sinking into the ground. Such a waste.
If Western State staff were allowed to live in these houses (after being restored of course) they would be spared a (probable) long commute from elsewhere –and wear & tear and the expense of gas on their vehicles.
I found out that most of the cars parked at Western State Hospital belong to staff. I don’t understand why the state doesn’t fix up the scattering of houses on the grounds and make them available to rent to staff. An apartment complex could be built on the vast grounds of Western State Hospital that could be rented to staff which would also save the employees time and the expense of commuting from who knows where.
There are probably 200+ cars parked at Western State at any given time. I believe staff would be happy to live near work, especially in that particular area of Lakewood. There is Waughop park across the street, a grocery store, strip mall shopping, restaurants, gas stations, a high school, Pierce College, Steilacoom waterfront, and so much more. I am sure there could be a financial benefit for Lakewood as well from a scenario such as I have described above.
Thank you for your time.
Some dude. says
There are around 2600 staff members that span three shifts 24/7. During normal business hours on weekdays, there is typically more people on shift so more cars. Weekends have less vehicles, unless there is some type of event. The campus hosts a historical society and the state/union have events for staff on weekends. The hospital also incentives ride share programs for staff to limit unnecessary emissions and ease parking. Unfortunately the cottages were condemned for asbestos at a time when the State didn’t have the money to abate it. Over time they fell into disrepair and are completely uninhabitable. They are also very old. However, you will be pleased to know that the hospital has a very comprehensive emergency management plan that anticipates the need to house staff members. So, there is available space in well maintained buildings for the few that may need a place to stay in bad weather or disaster. Also, the five year plan for the hospital is to serve only Forensic patients (criminally insane) as stated by the Governor. Which means that the risk is going to be raised by serving higher risk and more acute patients. That means the hospital must improve on the existing structures or rebuild. Either way, with the recent loss of federal funding means the state’s budget needs to be focused very tightly on improving our mental health system. Not building apartments out of old broken down houses. The employees get paid well enough to afford housing all over the surrounding community anyways.
dc says
Why not have those homes supervised by state employees for the sex predators instead of releasing them to AFH’s? Damn DSHS!!!
Dave Shaw says
Perhaps restoration of those houses could benefit the homeless in our community.
P Rose says
Haven’t you heard that WSH is downsizing? Why spend mega tax dollars on something that will be boarded up again in a few years.
As for the homeless, they can’t come up with the deposit or insurance, and would do better if you put them up in your back yard.
Fran says
I baby sat for families there in the 1970’s. Those homes served the hospital well for many years . Let them go or pick one to repair. Those homes were old in the 70’s and the small amount of money the state has could be spent better.