• About Jani Hitchen
2022 in Review

2022 in Review

December 19, 2022

Looking Back: 2022 in Review It is truly hard to believe that 2022 is ending. I want to extend my thanks to many in the community that have been part of the work accomplished this year. The number of meetings attended, and emails sent pale in comparison to the face-to-face conversations with community members around …

September 14, 2022
Preparing for a Week Without Driving

Preparing for a Week Without Driving

Recently, the Disability Mobility Initiative group challenged local leaders to take 7 days off from driving. This initiative helps me as a policy maker to spend a week in the shoes of those in our community that cannot drive themselves. It is truly a change in perspective to learn what it’s like to live in …

July 19, 2022
Lights, Sirens & Cells

Lights, Sirens & Cells

Last week I had the opportunity to get some firsthand experiences as to how the men and women that work for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department does the work on behalf of our county. It is not just the deputies in the cars with lights and sirens, but also corrections officers that oversee those who …

May 26, 2022
2022 Priorities and Beyond

2022 Priorities and Beyond

While 2022 is almost halfway over, I started kicking around priorities late in 2021 and looking to the future. There was a great deal of work that was started in my first year in office, but there was still so much to do. To be effective, I had to prioritize. On the day I was …

Veteran Community Listening Session wrap-up

Veteran Community Listening Session wrap-up

March 16, 2022

Thank you to those who joined me March 10 for the virtual community listening session that I held to connect active-duty military, veterans and their families with information about available resources in Pierce County. At the event I was joined by Pierce County staff, Joint Base Lewis-McChord representatives and community members, which resulted in good …

Public Safety and Community Frustration

Public Safety and Community Frustration

February 2, 2022

As I sit in my office, I am listening the sounds of emergency sirens (for the second time this morning) and wondering what they are responding to. I have seen the posts on Facebook, read articles in the newspaper and seen the highlights on TV: Increased public dumping and vandalism, increased arsons, increased car thefts, increased …

January is Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month

January is Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month

January 6, 2022

On Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, the Pierce County Council proclaimed January as “Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention” month through Resolution R2021-224. Pierce County is supporting National Human Trafficking Awareness Month this January by putting up posters across our community so that victims of trafficking can learn how to access help. The National Human Trafficking Hotline …

Give Thanks: Reflections on my first year in office

Give Thanks: Reflections on my first year in office

December 13, 2021

It is hard to believe that it has almost been one year since I joined Council, but it has, and I have truly enjoyed working for the community members of the 6th District and Pierce County as a whole. I am thankful to all the people that reached out with questions, ideas or to raise …

Understanding the budget process: What’s proposed vs. What’s approved

Understanding the budget process: What’s proposed vs. What’s approved

October 27, 2021

I have received a lot of feedback around the proposed 2022-2023 budget, and I want to clear a couple things up about the process. First, at this point all documented legislation, fees and ideas have come from the Executive. What is before Council is just a proposal. It is now up to Council to conduct …

Allocating ARPA monies, 2022-2023 budget planning and reflecting on 10 months

Allocating ARPA monies, 2022-2023 budget planning and reflecting on 10 months

October 13, 2021

The Pierce County Council allocated its remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds Tuesday to support area schools and youth programs and increase shelter opportunities for area homeless. Included in the allocation was $4 million to help Pierce County schools respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The money will go to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department to …

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Pierce County Council District 6