I have written before about governmental agencies being poor stewards of our tax dollars. Here is continued example on this very topic.
Over 7 years ago, when I still lived in Tacoma, I wrote a Letter to the Editor of the Tribune, about a historic building owned by Tacoma Fire Dept. Along with the letter, I also called to voice my concerns to TFD about the neglect to the build pictured, which is downtown on Tacoma Ave.
Yesterday, when out for a lunchtime walk, I just shook my head, as I walked passed the building, which has a plaque noting its historical status. I observed the continued neglect, which was never addressed.
The reason I bring this up is not that it has been over 7 years and TFD has done no maintenance on the building but that I recently saw a news story about TFD seeking to pass a new levy seeking more money. Why would Tacoma residents give additional funds when, it appears, TFD can’t meet their obligations using past funds, to maintain the property it owns?
I fear, like so many government buildings (Lakewood Library for example) that this building will be let go until it is beyond repair and it “has” to be torn down, and replaced with a very expensive new building which will include yet another levy or bond ask.
Very well said.. thank you ☺️… May we get an answer please 😂
Thank You. Well said and to the point.
Sad! Just up the street, the Tacoma Public Schools admin building is suffering the same neglect! The original wood framed windows are rotting because they have not been painted in 30 years!
Good point…it extends to all levels of our government. Consider the current debate over raising the federal debt limit! It seems every time Strickland, Kilmer, Nobles and others, are in the news it is because they’ve spent more of our money!!!
You do know that raising the debt limit is about paying on debt already incurred in previous years by previous administrations – particularly the Trump administration who cut taxes without cutting spending. It’s like paying your credit card debt from last Christmas… not current or future spending on new things…
What’s more important, providing first quality fire suppression and medical aid response, or spending money on maintenance of a surplus building?
Mr. Hall-
1) The longer it is neglected, the more damage occurs during that extended period of time. If it is a “surplus” bldg, as you put it, then either sell the property, using the proceeds to keep the fire and medical aid top notch, or maintain it so it will not cost tax payers more in the long run.
2) If a bldg, that we can see, fails to be maintained what isn’t maintained, that we can’t see, is a question that pops into my mind.
It doesn’t make much sense to me to spend money on maintaining an old building. Perhaps that’s what the fire department feels. With so many more fires occurring everywhere, many due to homeless individuals, I’d rather have my tax money spent on fire suppression. Our firefighters are stretched thin and I will vote to support them whenever it’s needed. God bless each and every one of them!
Pat –
Agreed, Thank You to the Fire Fighters. I hope my submission does not get in anyway confused with the services they provide.
How about the fact that only homeowners are paying for all of this? All the levy’s that are paid by property taxes, that homeowners have to pay, but renters see as “free” and this is why all the levy’s keep getting passed, because renters will of course vote yes because they have no skin in the game.
Don’t complain when rents go up because property owners taxes go up because YOU voted “yes” to “continue to support them “
I agree with sell the building or keep it maintain. The Lakewood library fiasco clearly is a working plan to get a brand new building. It’s obvious the new levy will pass, but when the renters pass it, EXPECT your rent to raise immediately!
Yes, we need a new multi-million dollar public library in Lakewood, so it can host a drag queen story hour for children.
Right?!?!
Has there been a levy in place for the maintenance of this property?
Perhaps start with the Tacoma Historical Society? Perhaps they could advise on what responsibilities are expected from the Fire Department or available resources in Tacoma. .
Definitely some missing knowledge here. The fire dept. does not own its own buildings. The fire dept. leases it’s stations and buildings from the city. The maintenance budget for the stations and buildings doesn’t come out of the fire dept.’s budget. Firefighters and administrators can make requests to the city for maintenance and repair. The requests get queued and handled based on priority. The fire dept. has it’s own electricians but they maintain fire dept. specific stuff like the alerting system.