Our Old Site vs Our New Site

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Please note—You are now at the INACTIVE website page of the ORIGINAL 15 Now Tacoma.  The Original 15 Now Tacoma project closed up shop nearly 4 years ago. It lasted from early 2014 until late 2015—roughly 2 years. This page now serves as a record of this historic fight, which for months was the central focus of local politics for a period of months.

But now, we are attempting again to raise the minimum wage in Tacoma, and we have a new site. We’ve learned a lot and hope you will participate. To see our new website, please go here.

Editorial: After the election

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By Alan OldStudent
Friday, Nov 6 2015
Editor and Webmaster
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Right now, I’m feeling immensely proud of 15 Now Tacoma and what each one of us has done. We 15-Now-Tacoma volunteers can hold our heads high and pump our fists in the air. We’ve been fierce and valiant warriors, and we’ve won a partial victory. We’re feeling positive and energized. Stay tuned! We’re not finished yet! We’re discussing what to do next, and we’ll need everyone’s help for the next round.

We may have lost the election, but we WON the argument. Here’s why:

For months, we made raising the minimum wage the central focus of Tacoma politics. No longer can anybody in Tacoma credibly question the need for raising the minimum wage. That’s a sea change from before. It’s a giant step forward for us and for Tacoma’s working class.

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Amanda’s Story: The Faces of 15 Now Tacoma

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As told to Mike Plaid
Wednesday, Aug 26, 2015
Reprinted from a Facebook Post
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I know the stress of having to work two jobs to make ends meet. I worked as a sales associate at a retail store and as a server to support myself and pay off college loans. An increase in the minimum wage to $15.00 an hour would help many people that are in similar situations by allowing them to work only one job and remain financially stable.
I’m the daughter of a single mom and when it was time for me to go to school there was no trust fund or savings account; I had to work and take out student loans. With the amount of student debt I have I could not afford to work part-time at one job and pay for rent and basic necessities, along with paying my student loans.
For younger people like me that aren’t able to find a job straight out of college, the service industry is one of the only opportunities we have to make money.In my retail job, I worked six years and only received a 22 cent raise. Between both of my jobs as a server and retail worker I worked over 40 hours a week; if the minimum wage were raised I know Tacoma workers would feel relieved knowing that they wouldn’t have to work as much, and would be happy receiving the pay that they deserve.

How to Vote Yes on 1— Outwitting the Nay Sayers

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The special interests and the Chamber of Commerce have taken measures that needlessly confuses the voters. It will be easy to vote against Measure 1 and the $15/hour minimum wage by accident. This video explains the pitfalls and how to be a wary and effective voter this November.

Vote YES on Initiative 1!

Dr. Horton: The Faces of 15 Now Tacoma

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As told to Sara Morken
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2015
Reprinted from a Facebook Post

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Health Care Professionals for $15 Now Tacoma! Vote Yes Initiative One in Nov!

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My name is Dr. LeRoy Horton, I am a dentist with two offices and a long time Tacoma native. I primarily practice in surgical reconstructions and implant dentistry. I have been a long term supporter of raising the minimum wage and here is why:

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Sam: The Faces of 15 Now Tacoma

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As told to Mike Plaid
Wednesday, Aug 18, 2015
Reprinted from a Facebook Post

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15 dollars for me means a good start to living the life every American deserves. The ability to provide for myself and not having to struggle to be able to put food on the table, and not have to worry about whether or not I can be able to pay the months rent. 15 dollars means being able to plan for the future, to be able to provide for a family without relying on welfare. 15 dollars is a means to better myself by being able to afford a higher education, to pursue my dreams, and provide more for my community. 15 dollars is a start to a better society.

The Faces of 15 Now Tacoma: About the Stories

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Stories and Storytellers
Here are a few of the many personal stories supporters of the $15/hour minimum wage have to share with you. These storytellers are workers, often low-wage workers. They’re students in debt for life, retirees, the unemployed, the underemployed. They are part-timers, the people who need to hold several jobs. They are parents of young children, struggling to feed, to educate, and to keep their kids safe. They are adults caring for their housebound and elderly parents. They are the face of 15 Now Tacoma. In fact, they are the face of America today.

Here are their stories:

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Brittnie: The Faces of 15 Now Tacoma

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As told to Mike Plaid
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2015
Reprinted from a Facebook Post

For the last 4 years I worked 2 jobs to make ends meet. I work in private home care as a CNA. I regularly work 16-hour shifts. When overtime is available, I can’t afford not to take it, which ends up putting me at 24 hours a day at times. Yesterday was my first day off in nearly 2 weeks. I have to do this even if it means sacrificing my mental, physical, and emotional health. During these times I am constantly in flight mode, on edge, and frustrated because I am running from one job to the next, one client to the other. Needless to say I am unable to find the time to relax and enjoy life. Some days, I don’t have time for a decent meal and have to keep my tooth brush in my purse.

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Kass: The Faces of 15 Now Tacoma

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As told to Mike Plaid
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2015
Reprinted from a Facebook Post

My name is Kass and I’m a systems analyst for a large high-end retailer. I’m really lucky to have my job. For a high school drop-out with a few computer certifications, making upwards of $65k a year is a real blessing, since I am the sole breadwinner in my family of 3. But even then things are tough. We have a mortgage on a very modest house, a car payment, and various bills. The most expensive part is often therapy for my autistic son. Medical insurance does not cover everything.

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15 Now Tacoma IN THE NEWS!!

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For almost 1-1/2 years, 15 Now Tacoma has been making news headlines. With very little money and a lot of energy, we’ve managed to rock Tacoma’s political establishment. For months now, 15 Now Tacoma has been a major topic of political conversation in this town. The Chamber of Commerce, the City Council, and the Mayor are on the defensive.

Doug Nielson assembled a list of just under 60 news stories about us, spanning from early 2014 to the middle of 2015. He originally put this list on an experimental website. Doug has now given 15nowtacoma.info permission to edit and use it. Our editor fixed some of the broken links,  made some minor corrections, and put together this introduction.

Thanks to Doug for assembling the original list, which documents the remarkable news coverage of our story.  We hope you find this list of links to be useful.

————In The News

Matt Driscoll: 2nd ballot measure on wages creates plenty of questions TheNewsTribune.com -July 15, 2015. 15 Now Tacoma has emerged victorious. It’s not the victory the group is ultimately after, of course. In fact, I’m sure they still feel slighted and disrespected, so

Tacoma Voters Will Face Two Minimum Wage Initiatives On The November Ballot KPLU News for Seattle and the Northwest – ?Jul 15, 2015?: Tacoma is ground zero for the state’s next big minimum wage battle. The city council voted 7-1 to put an initiative on the November ballot to hike the minimum wage in phases over the next three years, reaching $12 an hour in January 2018. After that, the minimum wage would rise every year at the rate of inflation.

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