Starting this week, Tacoma residents have a new way to learn what each of the 22 teams working to make Tacoma safe and clean are doing. Daily updates are now being posted on the Safe and Clean Web site at http://www.cityoftacoma.org/safeandclean . The purpose of these updates is to summarize what each team is working on, what has been accomplished so far, what is scheduled to happen next and what opportunities exist for community or employee involvement.

Tacoma’s Safe and Clean effort addresses the first priority in the Tacoma City Council’s strategic plan — that Tacoma is a safe, clean and attractive community. City Manager Eric Anderson asked employees in April 2008 to begin working together with the community in new ways to tackle two major challenges:

— Make Tacoma safer by reducing crime within the city by 50 percent within 14 months;

— Make Tacoma cleaner by removing nuisances, debris and junk vehicles;

There are now 22 teams working to partner with the community to make these positive changes in the city. The City Manager has also instructed teams that they have to accomplish the Safe and Clean work within the constraints of the current budget.

You can track the daily postings of Safe and Clean team reports by checking the Web site or by subscribing to a newsfeed to receive updates through a newsfeed reader or compatible Web browser. Community members can also receive updates on the efforts to make Tacoma Safe and Clean by submitting your name, address and e-mail address to robert.mcnair-huff@cityoftacoma.org .