Citizen Tacoma

For this episode, we’re joined by two organizers of Safe Homes for All, Zev Cook and Kiss’Shonna Curtis. Zev and Kiss’Shonna talk about their goals for Measure 1, including enforcement, recognition of tenants’ unions, and more. This is a companion episode to our conversation with affordable housing providers who shared some of their concerns about the measure on a previous episode. Consider listening to both episodes as you’re working on your ballot! Links Safe Homes for All Channel 253 membership  

This episode’s guest on Citizen Tacoma is Martha Lantz, former Vice Chair of the Pierce County Charter Review Commission. She’s on the podcast to walk listeners through the questions the commission has put to the voters as citizens consider how to amend the Pierce County Charter. The hot topic is, of course, whether we should elect or appoint our sheriff. But there are many other amendments on the ballot that have some interesting nuance. Listen in! Links Channel 253 membership  

This episode of Citizen Tacoma features Amanda DeShazo and Jason Scales. Amanda is the executive director of the Affordable Housing Consortium. And Jason is the executive director of LASA. These two leaders of nonprofit affordable housing providers in Tacoma and Pierce County join the podcast to share their perspective on the ongoing affordable housing crisis in our community, as well as their specific perspective on Initiative 1 and how it might affect affordable housing providers. This is a companion episode to our conversation with the organizers of Safe Homes for All. Consider listening to both episodes as you’re working on your ballot! Links Affordable Housing Coalition statement on Initiative 1 LASA Channel 253 membership

So…. what’s happening with our ballots in the 2026 election? Normally, we say that Washington is a state where we “mail in” in our ballots. But, what do we do if we don’t trust the post office to deliver our ballots? We dig into these questions with Pierce County’s top election official, Linda Farmer. (Her answer: drop it off.) After the break, she also discusses a scary fraud in which people try to literally steal a house out from someone, and how the Auditor’s office offers a service to help notify you if this is happening to you. Links Pierce County Auditor Pierce County Owner Alert Services Channel 253 membership

This episode, Citizen Tacoma is joined by two community leaders—Joe LeRoy of Hope Sparks, and Dr. Mary Ann Woodruff of Pediatrics Northwest. We discuss the overall state of children’s mental health in Tacoma and Pierce County, and we also dig deep on an innovative model between Hope Sparks and Pediatrics Northwest that attends to children’s mental health as part of regular pediatric visits. This collaboration could be a template for more services to youth in the region and beyond. Links A Team Approach for Behavioral Health Care at Pediatrics Northwest (.pdf) Hope Sparks Pediatrics Northwest Channel 253 membership

Matt Mauer, President of the Board of Commissioners of Tacoma Parks, joins us to talk about the budget challenges at Parks Tacoma. What happened, what is the board doing about it, and what can the public expect going into the future? Links Channel 253 membership

Tacoma City Councilmember Kristina Walker sits on the board of Sound Transit and Pierce Transit. In this episode, we check in on what’s happening with Sound Transit, including the future of light rail connection to Tacoma. We also preview Pierce Transit, a possible ballot initiative in November, and finish up with Tacoma’s grown bike and pedestrian network. Enjoy! Links Channel 253 membership  

On this episode of Citizen Tacoma, we’re joined by Sherrana Kildun, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity. We discuss the housing affordability crisis and what can be done to address it. Sherrana also shares information about the work Habitat is doing in Tacoma and Pierce County around homeownership. And, Habitat is looking for owners for some of their projects! Check out this episode and the links below to learn more. Links Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity Own in Pierce Channel 253 membership

On this episode of Citizen Tacoma, we are joined by Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland. In the first half, we discuss the current government shutdown, the fight over health care, and the rule of law under the Trump administration. In the second half, we look ahead to what Tacoma’s next mayor will face. Links Channel 253 membership

In this episode, we sit down with Silong Chhun, running for Tacoma’s City Council seat representing District 4. We talk about the big issues that voters are thinking about this year and some of the big decisions facing the council next year. Check it out! Links Silong Chhun Support Channel 253 with a membership A note from the host Hello! I’m Erik Hanberg! I’ve hosted the Citizen Tacoma podcast for the last four years. Before this, I served in elected office as a parks commissioner for 12 years and I was the executive director of City Club of Tacoma, where I also helped put on civic events and moderated debates. I deeply enjoy this work. I think of these candidate interviews as a public service to the community. I don’t get paid for this. I’m curious about these candidates as much as you are. Forums and debates are great. But this kind of conversation gives you a different sense of the candidates. I think it’s so interesting to hear candidates speak without a timer. Ok, quick overview of my rules: When I choose a race to cover, I email an invitation to every candidate in the race. I ask every candidate in the race the same set questions, though sometimes I asked some clarification questions depending on their answers. No one got the questions in advance and since I airing them all at once, no one was able to listen ahead. If you enjoy this interview, please check out the interviews with the other candidates at citizentacoma.com or in your podcast app. And don’t forget to vote! Ballots are mailed in mid-October and the primary is November 4.