Fall update from Council Member Olgy Diaz

City of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 11/29/2023 01:55 PM PST

Dear Tacoma Community,

In this season of thankfulness I want to share my appreciation to all of you for my time so far on the City Council, and the four years ahead! I have given my all to these past 15 months on the City Council, and the best is yet to come. This newsletter shares how you can help inform my strategic priorities and what the Council is focusing on before the end of 2023.

Thank you,
Olgy Diaz
At-Large Tacoma Council Member

Topics in this newsletter include:

Join Me for a Town Hall on December 16!
Updates on Key Policy Priorities as We Wrap Up 2023
Transgender Day of Remembrance
Shop Local this Holiday Season
Community Highlights

Join Me for a Town Hall on December 16!

I will be holding an in-person town hall meeting for all residents of Tacoma. We will be meeting on Saturday, December 16, from 11 AM to 12 PM at the University of Washington Tacoma, Milgard Hall 110 (1900 Commerce Street, Tacoma). I am seeking community input to create a community-informed action plan for the four years ahead.

Refreshments and child activities will be provided for event attendees. Encourage you to take the new T Link or for those needing to drive, paid parking is available on campus.

Community is encouraged to register in advance and let us know if you need specific accommodations. We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. If you have questions about this event, please contact Lynda Foster at lynda.foster@cityoftacoma.org.

Your voice is important, and I look forward to meeting you!

Updates on Key Policy Priorities as We Wrap Up 2023

There is a month left in the year, but so much work is still to be done! Stay up to date on some of my key priorities by following along to our Council discussions:

On November 7, we heard from the Tacoma Police Department on their Violent Crime Reduction Plan Quarterly Report.
On November 21, we received a study session presentation on Home in Tacoma Project Phase 2. This will be one of the biggest policy areas we tackle in 2024. We also heard about staff’s work to create a Community Safety Action Strategy. I am excited about the holistic work to increase safety in our city for all Tacomans.
On November 29, we adopted the recommendations for mid-biennium budget adjustments to the City's 2023-2024 budget.
December will bring presentations on our Anti-Displacement Strategy, decarbonization efforts, community event in-kind supports, homelessness services, and our work towards alternative response systems.

I always welcome your emails and comments to share your thoughts on the City's work. You can reach me at ODiaz@CityofTacoma.org.

Transgender Day of Remembrance

On November 14, I hosted the third annual Transgender Day of Remembrance flag raising event on behalf of the City Council. For the third year in a row, Tacoma raised the pink, blue and white flag representing transgender communities in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance, which was observed on November 20. Transgender Day of Remembrance has been observed by LGBTQ communities and their allies for more than 20 years.

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester’s death, and began an important tradition that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

This is a day in which the trans and gender-diverse community mourns and celebrates the lives of those lost each year at the hands of violence. This day is a reminder of the shared responsibility our community has to our trans friends, family, and neighbors, to continue to support them, help educate the public, fight for change, and eliminate hate-filled violence.

As a Council, we invite all members of the community to join us in remembering those lost and working together to improve the safety of our trans and gender-diverse neighbors by promoting acceptance and understanding.

Shop Local this Holiday Season

The holiday season is just around the corner and I am ready for it! This year and every year I keep our local businesses in mind when making holiday choices. Be sure to keep an eye out for our local events and festivals where you can celebrate the holidays! Here are a few to visit.

Holiday Haul Crawl

Celebrate the 8th annual Holiday Haul Crawl in Downtown Tacoma! Dash downtown to enjoy fun events for all ages, festive giveaways, holiday photo-ops, and more merriment from November 28 - December 9. From free horse-drawn carriage rides to discovering the perfect gifts for everyone on your list, experience the magic of an unforgettable holiday season here in Downtown Tacoma.

Santa Parade in South Tacoma

Join the Tacoma community for the 10th Annual Tacoma Santa Parade! The festival is December 3 and begins at 12 PM with holiday shopping, delicious food, entertainment and more! The parade begins at 4:30 PM at S. 50 Street & South Tacoma Way and travels south to S. 56 Street.

Proctor’s Peppermint Place

The Proctor Business District hopes to bring the spirit of the Holidays to their neighbors by lighting the Christmas Tree, wrapping light posts to resemble candy canes, and having merchants decorate their windows so you can enjoy them, as well as vote for your favorite display. Enjoy hot or cold beverages at one of the many food establishments, browse the shops, and enjoy the Farmer’s Market.

Lincoln District Lunar New Year 2024

On February 11, 2024, the streets of Lincoln District will be transformed into the annual Lunar New Year celebration! Lion Dancers will weave through the district and you're invited to follow along. Be sure to eat at one of the many restaurants and shop with district businesses.

Community Highlights

I attended the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) event hosted by Tacoma Sister Cities and 6th Ave Business District. The Dia de los Muertos event brought hundreds of people to the 6th Ave Business District. It increased awareness of our Spanish speaking Sister Cities and introduced the community to a life affirming celebration with music, art and food.

Thank you to all the residents, business leaders, and performers who attended the Inaugural McKinley Hill Honk Fest! What a day of family fun and community building. I had a blast listening to the music and celebrating with our city’s musicians and Eastsiders.

This October, I sponsored a recognition proclaiming October 2023 as Adopt a Shelter Dog Month in Tacoma. Did you know that around 3.3 million dogs enter shelters annually, as stated by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals? To address this concerning issue, the American Humane Association introduced "Adopt a Dog Month" in 1981. We kindly urge all residents to join us in considering the adoption of a shelter dog. Share your heartwarming stories of your adopted furry friends with us—let's celebrate the joy they bring into our lives!

Thanks to everyone who joined us and Tacoma Arts for the AMOCAT Arts Awards & kaleidoscope opening party for Tacoma Arts Month! I joined Tacoma City Council Members John Hines and Kiara Daniels to present the winners with their AMOCAT awards. Congrats to all the winners and nominees!

Thank you to all of our residents for making the Historic Cushman Street Fair an unforgettable success! The day was filled with family-friendly activities, community engagement, and a sneak peek inside with a fantastic video tour from Pretty Gritty Tours. Residents learned about Planning Tacoma's plans to improve the Proctor Neighborhood and the incredible history of the Cushman and Adams Substations.

Welcoming week movie screening of “From Here”

Welcoming Week is a national movement in which communities gather to recognize and celebrate the contributions and sacrifices of their foreign-born neighbors and community members. I attended the Welcoming Week movie screening of “From Here” with two commissioners and the film director. Left to right Commissioner Maurice Lekea, From Here film director Christina Antonakos-Wallace, and Commissioner Thierry Ruboneka.