by Kirk Kirkland
For each issue of the newsletter I scan the New York Times and other internet sites for evidence that the tide of chaos created by Trump was turning and there was hope that the madness would be stopped by a well-organized resistance by our elected leaders.
This week an e-mail from the Pierce County Executive reported on all the ways the County Executive and the County Council have been pushing back the rising tide. Here in Puget Sound, there is a strong movement led by the county’s elected leaders who formed an alliance with several county governments and cities who are cooperating with the state Attorney General.
“The past several weeks have been extraordinarily busy,” said Ryan Mello, County Executive. “I want to update you on several actions and express my deep gratitude to the hundreds of people who have engaged on recent council efforts. We’re also confronting many sobering realities about threats from the Trump Administration,” said Mello.
Hundreds of people sent in comments or showed up to speak at the April 29 council meeting when they passed three significant executive-request council actions related to keeping Pierce County safe and welcoming.
“All three of these actions passed on a 4-3 party line vote. This is discouraging,” said Mello.
- E-Verify–O2025-510 – This legislation eliminates requirements for this time-consuming and flawed employment eligibility check that is duplicative of the mandatory I-9 form. In 2022 the council first passed this ordinance, but the previous executive vetoed it. Now this common sense change ends a flawed system that disproportionately affects immigrant and refugee workers.
- Immigration Enforcement Resolution–R2025-139s – This resolution affirms the County’s commitment to upholding the state’s Keep Washington Working Act. It clarifies the County’s limited role in immigration enforcement.
State and federal law are clear that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility. The county’s action clarifies that County departments do not collect or share information about a person’s immigration status or participate in non-criminal immigration enforcement activities.
The Pierce County Sheriff has tried to circumvent immigration enforcement in the state law that prohibits local law enforcement agencies from detaining people for purposes of immigration enforcement, among other things.
The Sheriff has also tried to circumvent our County Charter by refusing to acknowledge the respective roles of the county’s branches of government. He thinks it’s up to him to decide which laws he has to comply with, according to Mello.
Fortunately Attorney General Nick Brown has demonstrated his willingness to enforce that when local law enforcement leaders don’t comply.
Pierce County joined a coalition of eight local governments that are suing the Trump Administration. It prevents cuts to various funding programs. King County and Snohomish County are also part of the lawsuit.
In April, the County’s Human Services department received a draft contract to renew funding for several projects that provide essential housing and support services to folks who otherwise would be homeless. The contract contained new, harmful terms and conditions related to immigration, DEI, health care and more that are unlawful and coercive. These contracts, however, are designed to coerce our participation in an extreme political agenda.
The county’s legal team won a temporary restraining order. “We are hopeful that, in this case, we’ll be able to re-establish this $5 million federal grant soon, said Mello. “Unfortunately, coercive new terms and conditions are appearing in more and more contracts.”
If this lawsuit is unsuccessful, it is possible that the county could lose most, if not all, of our federal funding — $100 million a year, or 6% of our budget. “The county already faces significant budget pressures and can’t backfill this funding,” said Mello.
Strategic Plan Details and Forward Together Agenda
Despite the Trump challenges to the budget and a county Sheriff avoiding state law, the County Executive released a Forward Together strategic plan last month. The mission is to build communities that are safe, welcoming and connected.
“Forward Together is our commitment to work in partnership with the community to continually improve and bend the arc of the moral universe ever closer to justice,” said Mello. “Safe, welcoming and connected communities make it possible for each of our neighbors to pursue opportunities regardless of their zip code, income, language, physical ability, or color orientation.”
“We face serious headwinds, but I feel confident in Pierce County’s ability to navigate these next few years together. The chaos in DC, the slowing of our economy, and increasing costs due to tariffs and inflation mean we need to be very careful with our resources. Our Forward Together strategic plan offers a north star and keeps us focused on actions that have true impact,” said Mello.
Visit piercecounty.wa.gov/ForwardTogether to learn more.