Platform

I recognize small businesses and entrepreneurs as the backbone of our city’s local economy. They are not just businesses; they are families, employers, and interconnected resources. My approach involves providing access to resources for growth, mentorship opportunities, and ensuring the safety of their patrons and physical space. It’s important to foster a thriving budget, ensuring that our city of Eugene grows economically without deficits.

• – Increased support for first time business owners through city investment in workshops for business development and expansion.
• – Establish procurement program that actively supports businesses owned by women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, veterans, and minorities, fostering economic inclusion and diversity in the local business landscape.
• – Investment in business development in every part of the city to promote consistent economic growth across all of Eugene’s unique communities.

In addressing the crucial issue of housing, my focus is on providing housing that is truly affordable and prioritizing concurrent treatment and housing solutions for Eugenians struggling with addiction while experiencing homelessness. I’ll work towards innovative solutions that not only center the needs of those of us most marginalized but support the advancement of the community as a whole by collaborating with stakeholders and reviewing policies to ensure housing is accessible to all residents.

• – Increase the city’s options for temporary shelters, warming centers, and transition homes through adaptive reuse of vacant properties and working with existing entities to identify additional funding resources. Prioritize providing housing and treatment concurrently to those who are experiencing homelessness in conjunction with addiction and mental health issues.
• – Expand awareness of First-Time Homeowner Assistance opportunities to incentivize home ownership in Eugene and establish partnerships with mortgage lenders as well as local agencies to provide home buyer education.
• – Develop additional community land trusts to protect affordable housing and ensure long-term housing stability.

Prioritizing our youth, my vision is to provide comprehensive support for their growth and development through deeper relationships with local school districts and service-based agencies that support them. This includes expanding educational opportunities, mentorship programs, and safe recreational spaces. I am committed to empowering the next generation, ensuring they have the resources they need to thrive.

• – Partner with local school districts to address the student homelessness crisis, highlighted in statistics shared by the Oregon Department of Education.
• – Investment in community spaces and youth mentorship programs to expand access to culturally rich enrichment programs at community centers and give the youth of Eugene, especially those most at-risk, guidance and skill-building opportunities to help them succeed.

A strong educational ecosystem is pertinent to the growth and viability of a local economy. It’s important that the local educational agencies are equity focused, adequately supported, and on par with state and national standards.

• – Partner with local school districts to provide community awareness of gaps in availability of resources and staff and encourage businesses, higher-education institutions, and private and public entities to serve as a collaborative body to support our students.
• – Encourage the expansion of Grow Your Own programs to increase community members becoming educators, with a great focus on diversifying the educational workforce to be more reflective of the current student population and providing assurance that diverse candidates enter workspaces that are safe and welcoming.
• – Expand after school opportunities to address the current need for child-care and ensure that we are expanding feasible options into other sections of the city of Eugene.

I’m committed to expanding mental health support, ensuring accessible resources for everyone, and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in our community.

• – Increased investment in access to mental health services, including expanding mobile crisis teams and collaborating with comprehensive centers that address both mental health and addiction to provide specialized care to individuals facing dual challenges.
• – Implement citywide Trauma-Informed Care training programs for emergency personnel, community leaders and residents to recognize and respond to trauma, understanding its impact on mental health.
• – Launch citywide campaigns to educate the public about mental health, emphasizing that it is an integral part of overall well-being, with an aim to remove the stigma associated with mental health disorders. 

I am dedicated to advancing environmental justice by collaborating with community partners and residents to reduce our carbon footprint, improve building structures with eco-friendly materials, and explore innovative, safe, and cost-efficient transit options. My goal is to make these changes accessible and affordable for all Eugene residents.

• – Partner with local educational institutions and companies to expand training programs for green jobs, empowering residents to participate in sustainable industries and fostering economic growth while contributing to environmental goals.
• – Expand awareness of environmental justice in our community to reflect housing affordability, access to cultural resources, transportation accessibility, and drug abuse under its umbrella.
• – Bring together stakeholders to address the significant impact of environmental injustice on those that are socio-economically disadvantaged in our community.