TACOMA, Wash. — Born and raised in Tacoma, Mayor Victoria Woodards has spent most of her life serving the city.
After six years in office, she still views it as a privilege.
“I’m still so honored to do this job here in the City of Tacoma.”
During Woodards’ tenure, Tacoma has seen several tumultuous moments, and 2023 brought endings and new beginnings for the city.
“I’ve learned that government can still work, and we can still get through those challenging times,” she said. “But I would not be telling you the truth if I didn’t say it hasn’t been difficult.”
Late last year, Tacoma entered a new phase to address the challenge of housing and homelessness.
In the past, the city has struggled to meet the rising demand for affordable housing.
Many of Pierce County’s resources focused on Tacoma, attracting those struggling with homelessness from across Pierce County.
“I don’t have data that will tell you twenty people that were homeless came from that zip code, I don’t have that kind of data,” she admits. “But it absolutely played a part in exacerbating the issue we saw here in Tacoma.”
According to the 2023 Point-in-Time Count, homelessness in Pierce County rose by 14% from 2022 and is expected to increase this year.
Tacoma voters approved a new initiative last November designed to provide stronger protections for tenants and keep them housed.
Now, Woodards says the goal is to educate Tacoma’s renters.
“It’s great to pass Prop 1, it’s great to pass our policies, but if people don’t understand how they work and what their rights are and how to use them, then we’re doing a disservice to those who need them,” she said.
Tacoma also saw the end of a high-profile trial three years in the making.
In November, three Tacoma Police officers stood trial for the death of Manuel Ellis on March 3, 2020.
Ellis’ death sent shockwaves across the city after video emerged that appeared to contradict the Tacoma Police Department’s account of events.
“Of the 220,000 residents that live in Tacoma, I think somehow, someway, every person was impacted by what happened,” she recalled.
The incident led to police reform throughout Washington state.
The state launched its own investigation into Ellis’ death, charging three police officers for their actions that night.
Meanwhile, Woodards and Tacoma waited for answers.
“When I heard and saw and talked to people, even when I thought about the Ellis family, it wasn’t easy,” Woodards said.
The jury acquitted all three officers, who have since left the force.
Since Ellis’ death, Woodards says the city has adopted essential reforms, such as re-writing the use of force policies for the police department, mandating the use of bodycams and dashcams, and establishing community service officers to provide alternative responses to emergencies.
Now, with only two years left in her term, Woodards has advice for the next person to sit in her chair:
“When they say anything can happen, anything can happen. So be prepared.”