Strickland Urges Public Comment on Possible JBLM Reductions

Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland is urging residents and business owners to participate in the U. S. Army's public comment period concerning potential job cuts at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). The Army's Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment (SPEA) forecasts a loss of up to 16,000 military and civilian jobs, which could have severe implications for the local economy. Strickland emphasizes that the personnel stationed at JBLM are vital members of the Tacoma community, contributing to local businesses, volunteering, and supporting families.

Drawing on the example of Fort Polk, Louisiana, where over 4,000 public comments helped mitigate significant personnel losses, she encourages the community to make their voices heard. The public comment period concludes on August 25, 2014, and Strickland highlights the urgency of the situation. She asserts that these potential job reductions could adversely affect schools, housing, and economic stability in Tacoma. The community's participation in this process is deemed essential for protecting local interests. Additional information can be found at jblm-growth.

com.