The effects from this pandemic will be with us for a long time. My top priority is to address these health and economic impacts. Every aspect of my ten-point platform recognizes this new reality.
1 PUBLIC HEALTH
As your next Council Member, I will ensure City Hall directly informs you about COVID-19 testing locations, fight for new testing locations to be located here in our city, and make certain you receive trusted information based on medical and scientific data, not politics. Our city must recognize physical and mental health impacts in all our policy and program decisions throughout this pandemic. |
2 LOCAL BUSINESSES & ECONOMY
Our jobs and local economy are adapting to this moment. I believe our city should support and promote local businesses, advocate for more grant funds, ensure safety for essential workers, and re-open in ways that keep us safe and our businesses able to financially succeed. We need a City Hall that understands the challenges of working from home. Now is the time to expand city childcare programs and guarantee that every resident has access to reliable and affordable internet service. |
3 PUBLIC SAFETY
Our police department and fire crews are among the best in the county, and they must remain funded. I recognize that public safety aligns with investing in our neighborhoods to create economic mobility, decriminalizing poverty, and always standing up against discrimination. For too long, we have demanded police solve every issue. I support implementing programs such as CAHOOTS, which send medic and crisis workers to help the community where law enforcement is not required, freeing our police to focus on criminal activity and responding faster to keep our community safe. |
4 IMMEDIATELY HELP RESIDENTS IN NEED
Our basic needs require extra help. I believe that City Hall should give residents the rental assistance funds that the State has authorized for that use. I will remain an advocate for legislators to fund mortgage assistance, including freezing interest and late fees. We must also ensure that new housing is affordable so that people who work here full time can also afford to live here. I will continue to seek expansion of food distribution program partnerships and volunteer at our resource center to help people one-to-one. |
5 SUPPORTING OUR SENIORS
Our seniors have unique needs. I am proud of the wonderful staff and adapted programs offered by the Ehlers Senior Citizens’ Center. Our city can further support the mental and physical health of our seniors by providing access to affordable and healthy home meal delivery programs, regular remote contact with others like courtesy check-ins, video technology training that will allow them to better connect with their families and friends from home, walkable sidewalks and accessible parks, and up-to-date information on supportive programs. |
6 CITY BUDGET
The city’s budget is in trouble. As an entertainment-based city, we need a Council Member who supports raising revenue by growing our tax base, not first cutting services or ever raising taxes, especially not continuing to profit from expensive fines like street sweeping tickets during this time of need. We deserve better leadership. I will support expanding our auto center and attracting new development that matches what residents demand, and I will hold failed hotel and entertainment developments accountable. |
7 REIMAGINE THE BUENA PARK MALL
We need a Council Member who recognizes the potential for the Buena Park Downtown Mall property. The former Sears portion of the mall will be developed soon. You can count on me to ensure that you are informed throughout the entire planning process, and have opportunities to engage your opinion, so that we as residents will be proud of the result. I further believe that City Hall must actively seek improvements at the northeastern corner of Knott and Lincoln. We must demand better than more empty buildings and broken promises from wealthy out-of-town developers. |
8 PARKS & PROGRAMS
Park space in our communities should include the many areas under the powerlines that are currently just overgrown with weeds. A walking trail and maintained grass is a simple start that would transform many neighborhoods. Parks like Boisseranc and Peak should continue to have tables and playground equipment sanitized and have more drive-in events consistent with current health guidelines. With families remaining at home, including children doing their distance learning online, our city should promote more digital recreation options, especially those that will keep children active and entertained. |
9 CLIMATE & WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
Climate change is a continued threat. Buena Park is located at the juncture of major freeways, which impacts the quality of our air. I support expanded urban forestry and, as a city Beautification-Environmental Commissioner, I am proud to have helped start an annual Arbor Day tree planting, wrote policies that are decreasing styrofoam pollution, and supported the new residential recycle bins. Our city’s aging water infrastructure needs more testing for water quality directly in neighborhoods and expanded flushing to clean pipe systems, thus preventing costly replacement and keeping rates down for residents. |
10 PROMOTE DIVERSITY & ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT
We are blessed in Buena Park to have a diverse community. City Hall must be truly representational, inviting ideas and opinions from every corner of our community, in order to lift every voice. Only then will we reap the benefits available to our city. This includes recognizing the strength and value of our cultural diversity. As your next Council Member, I will actively engage with you and seek your input before any impactful vote. You deserve to finally have a city council representative who is an independent person who listens to residents, not campaign donors and special interests. |