Don’t Trash Tacoma
Good afternoon! It’s been another busy week and we’re heading into an even busier one. With just under a month to go, the pace is picking up fast. I’ve had candidate forums, interviews, doorbelling, and campaign events back-to-back, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve always been a heat seeker, not a heat avoider and I love the energy that comes with these final weeks.
This week, I want to talk about something I’ve been hearing about everywhere I go: litter, trash, and graffiti. Whether it’s on doorsteps, at community meetings, or during candidate forums, people bring it up again and again. I even held a Trash Town Hall recently where we talked about what the city is doing and what more we can do to keep Tacoma clean. It’s clear this issue matters to residents across every neighborhood, and I couldn’t agree more.
When I joined the council, I helped launch Tidy Up Tacoma to get more proactive about litter pickup. I also strengthened our code around illegal dumping, increasing penalties for those who leave trash and debris behind. But as I hear from residents, it’s clear that’s not enough and we need to do more.
That’s why, as mayor, I plan to launch a new anti-littering effort called Don’t Trash Tacoma. It’s not just about cleaning up our streets. It’s about preventing trash and graffiti in the first place. That means cracking down on illegal dumping, securing loose loads, addressing prolific taggers, and reminding all of us that keeping Tacoma beautiful takes everyone. I also want to pair this with more community cleanup days and volunteer opportunities so we can all take part in restoring pride in our neighborhoods.
Because when our city looks neglected, it changes how people feel about it. Clean streets make people feel safer, bring more investment, and build civic pride. I want Tacoma to be a city we’re proud to show off and one that reflects the care and love we all have for this place we call home.
As we get closer to Election Day, I’m asking for your help. If you’d like to doorbell, make phone calls, send texts, or help spread the word online, please reach out. Every bit of effort matters. Together, let’s keep Tacoma clean and let’s go win this thing
