Tacoma is Moving: Public Safety, Housing, and What's Next for 2026
City of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 02/26/2026 09:10 AM PST
The first two months serving as Mayor of Tacoma have reinforced something I’ve always believed: this is a city that shows up. I’m grateful for the residents, small business owners, community advocates, and public servants who have taken the time to share ideas, concerns, and solutions. Your voices are shaping this work. Below, you’ll find an update on how the City Council is aligning priorities for 2026, what we’re advancing on public safety and housing stability, how we’re protecting critical infrastructure and growing economic opportunity, and ways you can stay engaged — including my first State of the City and upcoming office hours.
Last week, the City Council spent a full day getting aligned on where we’re headed in 2026. This was the first step — not the last — in sharpening our shared priorities.
A few themes rose to the top: public safety, housing stability, infrastructure, economic opportunity, and accountability in how we deliver results. The work ahead is serious — and so is our commitment to getting it right.
Public Safety: Smart, Accountable, Effective
We talked about expanding therapeutic courts — programs that hold people accountable while addressing the root causes of repeat offenses. If we want different outcomes, we need smarter tools. That means improving referrals, increasing completion rates, and making sure these courts get the resources they need to grow their proven success.
We also reaffirmed our commitment to carrying out the vision of our Community Safety Action Strategy by:
Fully staffing TPD
Preventing youth violence and supporting justice-involved youth
Strengthening domestic violence prevention and survivor services
Keeping our public spaces clean, safe, and welcoming in every neighborhood
Public safety is about the full picture. It means smart enforcement in tandem with prevention, accountability, and community trust.
Homelessness & Housing: Staying the Course — and Raising the Bar
Housing remains front of mind for residents across Tacoma — and it remains front of mind for us.
We will continue implementing the Affordable Housing Action Strategy, our Homelessness Strategy, and vigorously participating in the Unified Regional Approach on Homelessness in Pierce County. That regional collaboration matters. It allows us to share data, align resources, and reduce duplication of services: that means less bureaucracy, and more people actually getting help.
One of our immediate priorities will also be setting up a plan for extreme weather conditions, as well as getting regional buy-in from our jurisdictional neighbors to provide more helpful services. Stability requires more than shelter. It requires opportunity and meaningful partnership.
In addition, we will continue to engage the building community, affordable providers, and other crucial stakeholders for how we can provide additional housing opportunities for more Tacoma families.
Infrastructure & Economic Development: Protecting What Works, Investing in What’s Next
With uncertainty at the federal level, we need to be proactive. That means securing state and regional funding for critical infrastructure and making sure every dollar we spend delivers real return for the community. It also means having an honest conversation with our community about crucial investments the city itself has to make. Stay tuned later in the year for specific plans on how that will help your own neighborhood.
We also need to make Tacoma more competitive. Economic development in Tacoma has to be more than ribbon cuttings and one-off incentives. The old gimmicks won’t build lasting prosperity. We need a disciplined, strategic approach rooted in follow-through, regional alignment, and a clear understanding of what makes Tacoma distinct — our port, our talent, our industrial strength, our creativity, and our grit. If we focus on what we do uniquely well and stay consistent in execution, we can build an economy that works not just for headlines, but for households.
Other Throughlines
A few priorities carried through every conversation:
Expanding and protecting our urban tree canopy
Clear, accessible communication about the work your city is doing
Strengthening our green workforce and clean energy economy
Responsible budgeting that doesn’t just react from crisis to crisis every year, but sustainably sets a predictable course over the long term
We’re not just planning for next year. We’re building for the next generation.
I’ve now held office hours in every Council district, and the conversations have been thoughtful, candid, and constructive. Your input shapes this work.
Each week, I’ll continue working from a local coffee shop, restaurant, or pub to create space for direct dialogue.
Next up: Wednesday, March 4 at 1 PM at Pizza Time Pub on Sixth Avenue.
Tragically, a month ago we said goodbye to Tacoma’s First Dog, Henrik. He brought joy, energy, and more than a little mud into our home from our frequent forest trail runs at Point Defiance. He was also a rescue from Tacoma’s own Humane Society, and it was a beautiful experience seeing the transformation over the years from scared pound puppy to confident canine. Henrik was family and I deeply miss the guy.
If you’re considering adding a four-legged friend to your own family, I encourage you to visit the Tacoma Humane Society. They help thousands of animals find homes each year. And if adoption isn’t in the cards, consider making a donation to support their work.
