Tacoma Creates Annual Report 

One of the things that makes Tacoma truly special is our long history of creativity. Even as a proud, hardworking, blue-collar city, we’ve always had a strong artistic spirit and been a community shaped by writers, musicians, painters, performers, and makers of all kinds. That’s why I’m so proud that the City Council voted this fall to reauthorize Tacoma Creates for another seven years. This program has become a key part of keeping arts, culture, heritage, and science programs alive and accessible in every neighborhood. 

As a parent, I see firsthand how important creativity is for our young people. My kids go to Grant Center for the Expressive Arts, and I’ve watched how the arts help them learn, grow, and see the world differently. Long before I served on the City Council, I was a trustee for the Tacoma Public Library, and that work showed me how powerful it is when learning and creativity are open to everyone in every part of our city. Tacoma Creates helps make that possible by supporting the organizations that bring these experiences into schools, libraries, community centers, and neighborhoods across Tacoma. 

The new annual report highlights the incredible reach of this program, from student field trips to workshops in library branches, to free community performances and hands-on learning. Nearly 70 percent of Tacoma Creates-supported programs are free for the public, and they bring hundreds of thousands of people together every year. I encourage you to take a look at the report (available in English and Spanish) and explore the interactive map of programs offered throughout the city. I’m grateful that we are able to keep this work going and continue investing in what makes Tacoma vibrant, welcoming, and uniquely ours. 

Tacoma 2035 Strategic Framework 

At our November 18 meeting, the City Council received a presentation on Tacoma 2035, the new strategic framework that will guide the City’s work over the next decade. This framework builds on what we learned from the Tacoma 2025 plan and brings our many City efforts under a single vision and mission: creating a Tacoma that is safe, housed, connected, working, sustainable, and thriving. Once adopted, Tacoma 2035 will help unify our goals, our direction, and our decision-making across departments. 

The plan is organized around four core values, including Belief and Trust, Fiscal Responsibility, Access and Belonging, and Resilience, and six major goal areas, including Community Safety, Housing and Homelessness, Transportation and Mobility, Jobs and Economy, Climate and Environment, and Placemaking and Experiences.  

But as I said during the meeting, plans only matter if we deliver on them. The most important part of this work is not the document--it’s the real results our residents experience in their daily lives. People need to see the impact of these goals through safer streets, more housing, cleaner neighborhoods, better services, and a stronger economy. With my remaining time on the City Council, I will continue to push for action, accountability, and visible progress. Building belief and trust comes from doing the right things and making sure people feel those changes, and that is what I will stay focused on. 

Details on the Tacoma 2035 strategic framework, including ways to engage in the process, are available here. 

Planting Trees at the Fire Communications Center 

This month I had the chance to join Council Member Kristina Walker and City staff at the Fire Communications Center to help plant new trees as part of our updated Right-of-Way Tree Code. Under this new code, anytime we build or rebuild sidewalks or other right-of-way infrastructure, new street trees are required, no exceptions even for the City. That means when we improve a site like the Fire Communications Center, we have the same responsibility as private developers to add trees that strengthen our canopy and improve our neighborhoods. 

I hear often from residents about the importance of trees for providing shade, enhancing air quality, reducing stormwater runoff, and bringing beauty to our streets. I was proud to be out there digging holes, planting alongside City staff, and learning more about how our Urban Forestry team is working to expand Tacoma’s tree canopy in every part of the city. Opportunities like this one are a good reminder that building a healthier tree canopy starts with steady, consistent action, project by project, block by block. 

Connecting with Seniors Across the City 

I also spent time this month visiting with seniors and celebrating the holiday at the Point Defiance–Ruston Senior Center and People’s Community Center. These conversations are always meaningful to me. Last December, I hosted a Senior Summit to hear directly about the issues that matter most to older adults in our community, and since then I’ve helped ensure that our committees, boards, and commissions include senior representation. If you haven't had a chance to serve yet, the City is always looking for applicants for its volunteer committees, boards, and commissions. You can learn more and find current vacancies here: Committees, Boards and Commissions | City of Tacoma

Learning from Cities Across the Country 

This month I joined colleagues from across the country at the National League of Cities City Summit in Salt Lake City. As many of you know, I’ve been active for years in national advocacy and have presented at past conferences on issues like homelessness and economic development. This year, I focused on listening and learning.

I attended sessions on improving community dialogue and strengthening public engagement, tools that can help us have more productive, respectful conversations here in Tacoma. I also spent time in workshops on emerging issues like artificial intelligence in local government and how cities are adapting to new technologies and challenges. I participated in multiple sessions specifically focused on homelessness, including a deep dive into the work Salt Lake City has done to address unsheltered homelessness and expand housing options. It was valuable to continue hearing how other cities are coordinating services, improving data systems, and building stronger partnerships across agencies. These gatherings aren’t about the travel--they’re about bringing home ideas that can help us better serve our residents. 

Along with all of that, I met with the Association of Washington Cities Board, where we discussed the needs of cities across our state and how we can better support each other. Tacoma has led on many issues, but there is always more we can learn.

I’m looking forward to sharing what I learned with our team and finding ways to apply those lessons here at home.