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Pierce County issues Welcoming Week and Constitution Day proclamations; some residents register objections
Summary
Council proclaimed Sept. 12–21 as Welcoming Week and Sept. 17 as Constitution and Citizenship Day. Tacoma Community House and the Daughters of the American Revolution presented; public commenters praised and criticized the welcoming proclamation and raised unrelated concerns about housing and election security.
The Pierce County Council used part of its Sept. 9 meeting to issue two proclamations and to hear community reaction.
Welcoming Week: The council and executive proclaimed Sept. 12–21, 2025 as Welcoming Week in Pierce County. Amy Ku, executive director of Tacoma Community House, described events planned during the week — including a citizenship celebration on Sept. 13 at Chinese Reconciliation Park and a symposium at University of Washington Tacoma on Sept. 19 — and urged residents to support immigrants and refugees as civic contributors to the county.
Constitution & Citizenship Day: Councilmember Yambe read a proclamation designating Sept. 17, 2025 as Constitution and Citizenship Day. Melanie De Leon of the Mary Ball chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution described DAR civic‑education efforts. Pierce County Auditor Linda Farmer (speaking remotely) emphasized the local role in administering secure, accessible elections and encouraged voter education.
Public response: During community forum three speakers addressed the council. One speaker criticized county housing policy and local growth‑management choices; Shannon Zimmerli raised concerns about election equipment certification, county budgeting and homelessness responses; and Eric Lundberg (a pastor) said the Welcoming Week proclamation reflects a pro‑immigration political stance and does not represent some residents’ views. The chair invited the auditor’s office to meet with citizens about election security concerns; the council majority reiterated its support for inclusive policies and expressed dismay about recent social media comments from the elected sheriff that the chair said were divisive.
What happens next: Welcoming Week events are scheduled by community partners (Tacoma Community House and the Commission on Refugee & Immigrant Affairs). The auditor’s office offered to meet with members of the public who raised questions about election equipment and procedures.
