PLATFORM
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HOUSING CRISIS
The housing crisis impacts all levels of our community. Housing first is key. We need to consider and act on as many options as possible. I will work to create ways to incentivize in-fill development and the refurbishment of existing housing of individuals and families. If elected I will support creating the opportunities for local governments to enact rent control as they see necessary. REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM Abortion and reproductive autonomy needs to be respected and protected. If elected, I will cosponsor legislation to codify abortion rights into the New Mexico Constitution. CRIME Healthy communities require good jobs, good housing, good healthcare, and good schools. We must consider the root causes of crime to understand how to create an environment which is safe for our diverse community. I support the Albuquerque Community Safety program and believe it is an important program to fund. EDUCATION We must invest in education from pre-k through higher education, expand free education, including PhD programs. I support prioritizing increased funding for teaching professionals and for child development. I believe in creating more adult literacy programs, including financial and health literacy, as a pathway to a better quality of life in our community. I strongly support Constitutional Amendment #1 as a way to provide actual support for education and our children. EARLY CHILDHOOD We must invest in universal access to childcare and universal early education to change the outcomes of poverty for our children and families. ECONOMY Our economy should support our small businesses while also ensuring the creation of great jobs for our community. I believe in the investment of trades education and adult literacy. Instituting a State Public Bank will make it easier for small and community business ventures to obtain loans from community banks and credit unions, allowing for more diverse economic development. TAXES We need fair taxation that supports families and elders to stay above the poverty line. An approach I support investing in is the Earned Income Tax Credits as a mechanism to reduce child poverty. I oppose any legislative effort to impose a tax on food and groceries, as those taxes are harmful to public health. MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) Our community has disproportionately high rates of missing, and murdered, indigenous women. I believe we need a coordinated effort to address violence against women, Indigenous communities, and our unhoused residents. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY Our District 19 has among the highest pedestrian fatality rates in the country. We need to work across agencies to create a pedestrian-safe community by taking these steps: I believe in 1) investing in quality lighting in the community, 2) provide funding and incentives to the City and County to construct and improve existing crosswalks by making them ADA compliant, and 3) improve and maintain striping/painting of roads, repair and improve sidewalks and medians. We need to fund completion of “road diet” efforts throughout our district for public health issues including pedestrian safety, traffic safety, and air quality. |
ENVIRONMENT
The climate crisis impacts our community greatly. As a community dealing with high heat island impact and lower rates of trees providing shade, we need to invest in and support a sustainable urban tree canopy. We need to ensure that the Kirtland landfill, jet fuel spill, as well as emissions caused by traffic to and from the base are addressed. I support a just and quick transition to renewable energy. Creating quality green union jobs will help the working people of New Mexico as well as our environment. I pledge to cosponsor and vote for the Green Amendment, New Mexicans’ constitutional right to a clean environment. I pledge to reject: Oil & Gas lobby campaign contributions, hydraulic fracking in or near ground water resources, storage, and transportation of spent nuclear fuel in NM, and the use of hydrogen as a power source in NM. We cannot have a healthy New Mexico without a healthy and poison-free environment for all. HEALTH CARE We need to strive for full healthcare coverage for all New Mexicans. We need to incentivize and expand health career education to keep more healthcare providers in our state. UNIONS Unions fight for more than wages, paid leave, safe work environments and other benefits. Issues of dignity and respect are important. Workers have the right to unionize and I will support legislation that protects those rights. I support the PRO Act. DEMOCRACY Civic participation is key to our democracy. We need to make it easier to participate with automatic voter registration, more polling locations, and other initiatives. New Mexico is a national leader in this area, and we can improve. I believe in investing in increased community engagement to improve voter turnout. I pledge to reject any legislative efforts to disenfranchise voters. SUBSTANCE USE Substance use has increased during the pandemic. We need to be able to provide more services for those struggling with substance use issues, as well as considering the root causes of substance use issues in our community. MENTAL HEALTH Our mental health system needs to be bolstered at all levels. We need more school counselors as well as increased services for adults. I support expanded funding for school-based health centers. I support providing service options for those dealing with mental health issues, including the Soteria House model for those struggling with psychosis. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT Communities have a high expectation of working in partnership with government agencies to improve our environment. For example, in District 19, we have worked collaboratively on a community-led syringe pickup program as well as a community-based lighting initiative. I believe in relational power and building working relationships with community leaders, elected officials, and businesses to make improvements in our community. HUMAN RIGHTS As your legislator, I will represent everyone in district 19. And I will listen to, respect, and stand up for the rights of those whose voices often go unheard, unheeded, or silenced: women, people of color, the LGBTQIA community, people with disabilities, immigrants and the unhoused. |