Tacoma Citizens Rally to Save the Public Market
Two thousand residents sign a petition to oppose a council-led effort to remove the market sheds, citing the affordability and necessity of the institution.
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Hostility at city hall has driven most farmers away from the public market, but a petition with over 2,000 names—and still growing—is sitting at the market place. The signatories are voicing their protest against the city officials' meddling. While the stalls were full on Saturday, many farmers stayed home today due to the uncertainty created by the city's move to remove the market covering. Patrons are vocal in their opposition: one man noted he saves a day's wages by shopping there, while others questioned the council's hostility toward a service that benefits the working class. Women, who make up a large portion of the signatories, have been particularly enthusiastic in their support, ready to defend the market against further interference. The petition will be presented to the council Wednesday night in an attempt to have the motion to remove the sheds reconsidered.
“Now, I'd like to know, do these councilmen think we are going to come and stand here in the rain and sun to buy our garden truck? Well, we just won't.”
Public markets in Tacoma have long served as vital nodes of affordability and community resilience. The 1908 tension between a city council prioritizing modernization or commercial interests and citizens fighting for access to affordable food mirrors modern debates over the stewardship of public space and the cost of living.
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