Council Member Latasha Palmer

I was elected to the Tacoma City Council in 2025 to serve in At-Large Position 6, representing all of Tacoma. My approach to governing is grounded in the belief that every resident deserves dignity, safety, and a genuine sense of belonging. In addition, I believe that local government must be transparent, measurable, and accountable in how it delivers those outcomes.

In my work on City Council, I focus on strengthening home and community stability, expanding affordable housing, improving public safety, and growing a green local economy in ways that allow people to remain in and meaningfully participate in the communities they call home. I believe Tacoma’s growth should create shared prosperity, ensuring that the people who contribute to our city’s economy and community life also benefit from that growth.

I am committed to decision-making that centers inclusive participation, local ownership, and long-term stewardship. That means designing policies and investments that support community wealth-building, strengthen neighborhood economies, plan responsibly for future generations, and protect our environment. I strive to pursue solutions that are both effective and efficient, whether conventional or innovative, and to problem-solve in partnership with residents, workers, and businesses.

I currently serve as Vice-Chair of the City’s Building Resilience Against Youth Violence and Exploitation Executive Steering Committee, where I help guide efforts to prevent and reduce youth violence and exploitation. I also serve on the Community Vitality and Safety Committee and the Economic Development Committee. In addition, I represent Tacoma on regional bodies including the Joint Municipal Action Committee, the Pierce County Regional Council, and the Urban Waters Board of Directors.

Before being elected, I served as an appointed member of Tacoma’s Charter Review Committee in 2024, where I worked to expand inclusive public participation and helped develop 24 Charter amendment recommendations for City Council consideration. I am a cum laude graduate of Columbia University, where I studied urban history and design, sustainability, and the politics of othering and belonging, training that continues to shape my approach to governance.

My commitment to public service is rooted in years of community advocacy. I founded and co-chaired the Know Peace Collective, working with families to advocate for BIPOC students in Tacoma Public Schools, and previously helped create and chair the Race and Equity Committee at Bryant Elementary. I also bring small-business experience, having launched Iyami Aje, LLC in 2021, which has strengthened my leadership and understanding of local economic realities.

Born and raised in the Puget Sound region, I grew up mainly in Tacoma and live in the Hilltop neighborhood with my three children and our dog, Kaido. My work on Council is guided by lived experience, deep community ties, and a commitment to building a Tacoma where stability, opportunity, and belonging are shared across every neighborhood.

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