County Council extends lease of family justice center

The Crystal Judson Family Justice Center’s lease has been extended for five years per an emergency ordinance passed by the Pierce County Council at its June 21 meeting.

The current lease between Seven Seventeen Investors, a limited liability corporation, and the center expires at the end of June, and so to avoid any sort of interruption in service, the council brought up the ordinance to extend the lease.

“There is an emergency as a result, and we certainly want to keep the important work of the Family Justice Center going,” Council Chair Derek Young said.

Established in 2005, the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center provides victims of domestic violence with comprehensive services at a central location in downtown Tacoma.

The center is named after Crystal Judson, who in April 2003 was shot and killed by her husband, then-Tacoma Police Chief David Brame, in the parking lot of a shopping center in Gig Harbor. He then turned the gun on himself.

The murder-suicide took place the day after abuse allegations in the couple’s divorce case were publicized in media reports.

Tacoma and Pierce County each pay half of the lease. The current rent is $16,649 per month. The rent under the lease extension is $15,262 per month.

All five council members present – Young, Dave Morell, Hans Zeiger, Amy Cruver and Ryan Mello – voted to approve the emergency ordinance. Emergency ordinances require a supermajority – five votes – to pass.

Councilmembers Marty Campbell and Jani Hitchens had excused absences from the meeting.

At the meeting, the council also confirmed the appointment of Ginger Peck as a new member of the Pierce County Human Services Citizens’ Advisory Board.