Dear Tacoma residents,

I am excited to introduce myself to you as your newest Tacoma City Council Member. In August 2022, the Tacoma City Council voted unanimously to appoint me to fill a recently vacated At-Large Council Member position through this fall. I remain humbled and honored by the kind words they shared during the vote, appreciative of my fellow applicants for their positive energy and collegiality throughout the interview process, and thrilled to bring my experience and enthusiasm for public policy to the table.

Born and raised in Pierce County, I grew up in a military and union household that valued hard work, humor, and family above all else. My parents immigrated to the United States from Guatemala in the 1970s and worked multiple jobs to help realize the American dream for themselves and their three children. With their hard work and sacrifices, I became the first in the family to attend and graduate from college with dual bachelor’s degrees in Latin American Studies and Women’s Studies from the University of Washington.

Throughout my career, I have worked to foster a more reflective democracy and expand access to power through work with local non-profits like OneAmerica and Planned Parenthood, the Washington State Legislature, and candidate campaigns across Pierce County. Over the last 13 years, I have talked to voters in English and Spanish all over Washington, and even a few in Iowa in 2012. I spend most of my spare time building up future civic leaders through key leadership roles. My passion for social justice stems from my all too often experience of being the only person of color in rooms where decisions impacting our communities are decided. It means the world to me to be part of this historically diverse and representative Tacoma City Council.

I am bilingual and encourage you to reach out to me in English or Spanish. You can reach me at Olgy.Diaz@CityofTacoma.org, or on my City cell phone at (253) 533-0980.

Soy bilinge y les invito a comunicarse con migo por correo electrónico en olgy.diaz@cityoftacoma.org o llamada/texto a (253) 533-0980.

In service,
Olgy Diaz
At-Large Tacoma Council Member 

Topics in this newsletter include: 

• CityLine Interview With Council Member Olgy Diaz
• Highlights From Joining the Tacoma City Council
• Legislative Highlights From 2022
• Streaming Recommendation: The Call We Carry

CityLine Interview With Council Member Olgy Diaz

Check out my interview on TV Tacoma’s CityLine to hear about my start on the Tacoma City Council and priorities going forward!

Highlights From Joining the Tacoma City Council

I was sworn into the Tacoma City Council on August 9, 2022 by Wash­ing­ton State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu.

I am learning everything I can about the City of Tacoma. In September, Deputy Mayor Kristina Walker, Council Member Sarah Rumbaugh and I joined Tacoma Fire Chief Tory Green for a tour of City facilities.

Council Member Hines and I joined Tacoma Water Superintendent Scott Dewhirst, Tacoma Public Utilities staff, and City of Tacoma Management Fellows on a tour of Tacoma Water’s Green River Water Filtration System.

At the Hilltop Street Fair with Mi Centro. Be sure to invite me to your community event!

Legislative Highlights From 2022

The challenges and opportunities facing Tacoma are multifaceted and will take time and dedication to address. To that end, I’ve spent a lot of time learning about how our City operates and working on ways to give back to our local community. I have been hard at work since joining the City Council and even passed my first two ordinances in my first 90 days!

I sponsored a contingency fund request in support of the 2022 Celebrando Comunidad at University of Washington Tacoma. The event recognized members of the Latinx community of the South Puget Sound from a variety of categories, as well as those who identify as members of Latinx communities and individuals or organizations who directly or positively impact South Sound Latinx communities. Selected awardees are matched with a story coach and provided the opportunity to share their story. It was an honor to recognize the impact these individuals have on Latinx communities, and to amplify their stories!

I also served as the lead sponsor for providing Council contingency funds in support of the 2022 Santa Parade. The Santa Parade brought residents and tourists to the South Tacoma Business District, and attendees had an opportunity to patronize small businesses and support the local economy. Parades and festivals are economic drivers for local communities. They often serve as a cost-effective point of entry for entrepreneurs looking to get their products in front of the public, or for hobbyists to test an idea that may take them out of the garage and into the marketplace. I am committed to seeing local businesses grow and thrive here in Tacoma, and supporting them in this capacity is one small way we can help them do that.

I passed my first major ordinance on the City Council last November! We added municipal level protections for people seeking abortions or gender affirming healthcare. In an effort to uphold Tacoma’s status as a welcoming and inclusive city, the Tacoma City Council believes discrimination in all its forms should be prevented. This is particularly important at a time when the ability to self-determine pregnancy outcomes, as well as access to services, have been left up to state and local jurisdictions by our federal government. Furthermore, members of our trans community and their families remain under continued threat and attack nationwide. It is my hope that adding municipal level protections for those seeking abortions or gender affirming healthcare in Tacoma will help provide additional peace of mind and enhance public safety. I am so proud to work with Council colleagues who agree we have to keep Tacoma safe and welcoming to all seeking needed healthcare procedures.

Streaming Recommendation: The Call We Carry

We all have been guilty at some point of watching screens for too long, be it work or TV. Especially in these dark winter days, if you’re looking for a free streaming suggestion with a local flavor, I highly recommend the powerful documentary created this summer by the Tacoma Fire Department called “The Call We Carry: Confronting PTSD in the Fire Service.” This deeply impactful film - created, filmed and edited by one of Tacoma’s own fire fighters - highlights the all too common stories of trauma, the difficult path toward mental health resilience, and the heroism of his Tacoma Fire Department colleagues. What started as a directive to create a short informational video about the resources available to our first responders turned into a full length not-to-be-missed window into the lives of some of Tacoma’s bravest. The documentary is making national rounds and it’s my hope that the film will encourage others on the front lines to seek the resources they need as well as educate us civilians to the sacrifices and dedication of our civil servants. Please check it out on your next movie night and don’t forget the box of tissue to go with the popcorn.

If you or someone you know is in need of support, please dial 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. They provide 24/7, confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress.