Talking Trash in Tacoma

It’s been another busy week on the campaign trail with lots of doorbelling, great conversations with voters, and even the chance to throw out the first pitch at the last Rainiers game of the season. The season may be over, but it was a great night for my family and a chance to support such an important local organization.

This week, though, I want to talk trash.

Over the weekend I held a town hall on the topic of litter, trash, and graffiti in Tacoma. It’s an issue I hear about constantly at candidate forums, on doorsteps, and from neighbors across every part of the city. People are frustrated with how our streets, sidewalks, and public spaces look. And I’m frustrated too.

That’s why, early in my time on the council, I helped launch the Tidy Up Tacoma program. I’ve also worked to strengthen our codes on illegal dumping and made sure the city is more responsive when graffiti appears. Because I believe perceptions matter. If our city looks neglected, people feel less safe, businesses hesitate to invest, and visitors are less likely to come here. Cleanliness is not just about appearances, it’s about pride, safety, and opportunity.

But we can’t stop at what we’ve done so far. As mayor, I want to launch new efforts to keep Tacoma clean and welcoming. That includes cracking down on illegal dumping, improving how quickly graffiti is removed, and keeping our business districts free of trash and debris so they remain inviting places for people to shop and gather.

I also believe in the power of community. That’s why I want to start a citywide litter and cleanup campaign and dedicate a year of service in Tacoma to encourage people to volunteer in their neighborhoods. Just as importantly, I want to launch a new initiative called Don’t Trash Tacoma, an anti-littering campaign focused on prevention. Picking up trash is important, but we also need to change behavior and encourage everyone to take pride in keeping Tacoma clean.

Keeping our city clean is one of the most basic things local government can do, and one of the things that matters most to residents. I’ve made progress as a council member, but there’s so much more we can do. And as your next mayor, I’m committed to making sure Tacoma is a city we can all be proud of.

Thanks for your continued support and hopefully I’ll see you out on the doors, and don’t forget to mark your calendars for our fundraiser on Thursday, October 9 at 5:30 PM. More details to come!