Happy summer! I hope you’re out enjoying our many festivals, farmers markets, and summer spray parks around the city. Here at the City of Tacoma, we’ve been very busy working through important and major milestones, like the One Tacoma: Comprehensive Plan, updating our animal code, and finding funds for two new fire engines. It was a blast to attend the Push-In ceremony yesterday for Engine 8 at Station 8, located at 4911 South Alaska Street. Outgoing Engine 8 has proudly served the south end of Tacoma since 2010, responding to over 50,000 calls during its service lifetime. July is also pride in Tacoma! In addition to the cool stuff below, early this year I sponsored a resolution directing action in support of the LGBTQIA+ community. The Tacoma City Council always stands in support of all individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. In my office specifically, I have been digging into research on how we can increase transparency around grants the City receives and how we can increase our city's labor standards. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out or keep an eye out for more updates. The top constituent concern I hear about right now is immigration and the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC). Tacoma is a city where people try to look out for one another, and I share and have heard the deep concern expressed by our community members about the wellbeing of those detained at federal detention facilities nationwide, including the NWIPC. I bring each concern I hear about to the City Manager and ask for an evaluation of what’s within our legal authority to take action on. I also know this is first and foremost about caring for people. This month I visited detainees at the NWIPC to hear firsthand about their experience in order to better advocate for them at all levels of government. Thank you, Olgy Diaz At-Large Tacoma Council Member  Topics in this newsletter include:

• Neighborhood Connections Coffee Chat series
• Pride Crosswalk Celebration
• Transgender Pride Commemorative Flag Displayed for First Time Above Tacoma Dome and Other City Facilities
• Another Historic First: The City of Tacoma Raises the Juneteenth Flag Over the Tacoma Dome
• Tacoma City Council Statement on National Actions to Strip Federal Employees of Their Collective Bargaining Rights
• Speaking up for our Immigrant and Refugee Neighbors
• Apply for the Tacoma-Pierce County Climate Leadership Cohort
• Tacoma Public Library Strategic Plan
• Council Member Diaz visits Cityline

Neighborhood Connections Coffee Chat series

Do you want to talk about all of these issues and more? Join me at my upcoming Neighborhood Connection coffee chat this Sunday, July 27, from 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Mattice Beauty Supply (3906 S 12th St, Tacoma). Apologies for listing the June date in Monday's reminder email! 

Pride Crosswalk Celebration

This year we came together to kick off Tacoma’s Pride Month and unveil this powerful, joyful, and long-overdue Pride-themed crosswalk in the heart of our city. This crosswalk is a visible affirmation of Tacoma’s longstanding history of uplifting our LGBTQIA2+ and our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The crosswalk is situated in Tacoma’s downtown core—a nexus for culture, education, and commerce near schools, theaters, art installations, transit centers, and the popular Downtown Farmers Market—the Broadway location also serves as an ideal pilot for creative crosswalk installations due to lower traffic volumes and speeds.

The inception of Tacoma's decorative crosswalks began with the City Council’s authorization of $35,000 in one-time Council contingency funds and the adoption of Resolution 41539 last October. The vision was brought to life by the City's Public Works Artist in Residence, Natalie Dupille, who designed the crosswalk. The design was subsequently approved by the Tacoma Arts Commission.

Transgender Pride Commemorative Flag Displayed for First Time Above Tacoma Dome and Other City Facilities

On March 31, in recognition of the Transgender Day of Visibility, the City of Tacoma took the historic step of raising the Transgender Pride commemorative flag above the Tacoma Dome, Tacoma Police Department Headquarters, Tacoma Fire Department Headquarters, and Tacoma Municipal Building.

It’s so important to stand together on March 31 as the world observes Transgender Day of Visibility. Transgender Day of Visibility was born out of trans people daring to proclaim joy. In defiance of all the barriers they face, they have the audacity to thrive in the face of hate and bigotry. The contributions of trans people are endless, and seen here in our city’s rich diversity, economic vitality, and quality of life. Trans joy is worthy of celebration. What we need now is everyone in Tacoma, Washington state, and the United States to stand together and be visible in their support of our trans family and neighbors. March 31 is a moment for us to pause to honor and celebrate the tremendous perseverance and fortitude of trans people of all ages, backgrounds, and professions. This is an opportunity to speak in one voice to say we see you, we affirm you, and there is a community standing in support of you.

This is the first commemorative flag raising directed by the City Council with its recent adoption of Resolution 41642, which required the City Manager to establish and implement a clear and consistent process for displaying commemorative flags at City-owned facilities.

Another Historic First: The City of Tacoma Raises the Juneteenth Flag Over the Tacoma Dome

The Juneteenth Commemorative Flag is in honor of the City, State and Federal Juneteenth holiday. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. By raising the Juneteenth Flag and through other means, the City encourages employees and community members to learn more about this period in our history and commit to working for a society in which all people are truly free.

A huge shoutout to everyone who celebrated Juneteenth with us at Stewart Heights Park! I’m proud to say Tacoma has the largest Juneteenth celebration in the state. Your support and spirit made it unforgettable. Learn more about how Tacoma celebrates Juneteenth on Tacoma Report.

Tacoma City Council Statement on National Actions to Strip Federal Employees of Their Collective Bargaining Rights

I am thankful to the Mayor for collaborating with me to formalize the following statement from the City Council:

“I – along with my colleagues on the Tacoma City Council – stand in strong solidarity with the Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and all workers affected by the March 27 executive order that strips federal employees of their collective bargaining rights. This action is a direct attack on the hardworking public servants who keep our government running and our communities safe.

Dismantling collective bargaining under the guise of national security weakens—not strengthens—our nation. Workers’ rights are fundamental to a fair and just society, and when those rights are threatened, it impacts all of us. Strong unions help build strong communities by ensuring fair wages, workplace protections, and a voice for those who serve the public.

Here in Tacoma, we value and respect the contributions of working people. We will continue to support labor rights and stand against any effort to silence workers. We call on leaders at every level to reject policies that undermine the labor movement and instead focus on strengthening the workforce that serves our nation.”

Speaking up for our Immigrant and Refugee Neighbors

As your Council Member, I am proud to speak up for our immigrant and refugee communities. Council Member Sandesh Sadalge and I co-wrote an op-ed to call on the entire community to stand with us.

It’s a very scary time for immigrants and refugees in this country. Across the nation, there is more scrutiny on immigrants. Actions at the federal level are obfuscating rules and guidelines for immigrants and refugees, which raises concerns in the immigrant community around travel and civil rights.

Tacoma residents experience this fear. Each of us has been pulled aside from a crowd and asked in a whisper whether individuals living in Tacoma are safe.

We hear every day the demand that elected officials lead on protecting our immigrant and refugee neighbors. Tacoma is acting. The City Council passed Resolution 41627 to direct city resources be restricted from use for investigation and surveillance of individuals based on immigration or citizenship status without a court order. The city of Tacoma is in full compliance with the Keep Washington Working Act, which clarifies how local law enforcement engages with federal immigration law. We celebrate Pierce County’s recent ordinance change to end the use of E-Verify, bringing it into alignment with Tacoma’s practices.

We are doing what we can locally to make city services safe and accessible, and the work is ongoing. In America, everyone has the right to due process. Everyone has the right to peacefully protest. It is fundamental to our very democracy.

We champion sharing information about immigrant rights and the right to assemble. As council members, we keep abreast of court challenges to recent federal actions and how all the federal changes will have local impacts in Tacoma. Stand with us in preserving the safety of immigrants in Tacoma.

Apply for the Tacoma-Pierce County Climate Leadership Cohort

The Tacoma - Pierce County Climate Leadership Cohort (TPCCLC) is a program where participants learn climate solutions and civic engagement for our collective climate future. Applications for the 4th cohort are now open through August 1, 2025. Inspired by Tacoma’s Climate Action Plan and Pierce County’s Sustainability Plan and community input, the Climate Leadership Cohort connects frontline community members—vulnerable, underserved, and underrepresented residents—with City and County staff, elected officials, and community organizations so they can take climate action in their neighborhoods and communities! Cohort members will be offered a stipend for completing the program that runs September 12-14, 2025. Apply online and learn more here.

Tacoma Public Library Strategic Plan

Every five years, Tacoma Public Library creates a new Strategic Plan based on input from staff, our Board of Trustees, community stakeholders, and Tacoma residents. Our recent plan was for the years 2020-25, so we are now in the process of building our plan for 2025-30.  We invite everyone who lives in Tacoma to contribute to this process by taking a brief online survey available in English and Spanish. Please complete the survey by Friday, August 8.  This survey helps us determine our community's priorities for services, collections, programs, resources, and our overall direction. We hope to have as many community members as possible take the survey this year. Please help us by sharing it with your Tacoma networks.

Council Member Diaz visits Cityline

I returned to TV Tacoma’s Cityline to share updates on all the work I’ve been doing this year. Watch the show to hear me talk more about the topics in this newsletter and other areas of interest.