The
Issues
Policy
What matters to us
As an educator, my job depends on preparing and providing results. Our Councilmembers must realize that their jobs depend on those same results.
When it’s time to negotiate contracts, to set a budget that affects our community, to rezone properties in our neighborhoods, and to introduce policy, District 2 needs a leader that can mend their trust.
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Housing
This February, we experienced one of the most disastrous environmental crises this state has ever seen. People were begging for shelter, warmth, food, and water - and the city was not prepared to provide any of it. We need to recognize housing as a human right.
My goals for housing include:
- City-owned hotels as temporary shelter
- Establishing a more accurate AMI for affordable and middle-income housing
- LGBT-Specific housing for homeless teens and adults
- Mental health & drug counseling services in all city-funded housing facilities
- Establishing a formal zoning process that redistributes power from developers to residents
- Establishing rent forgiveness for tenants extending from the start of the pandemic through recovery, providing cash and/or tax incentives to landlords
- Rejecting the continued use of public facilities corporations (PFC’s) to achieve affordable housing goals
- Establishing a community-led process for the appointment of Zoning and HDRC Commissioners
- Development of small housing communities for short-term relief
We will invest in our own neighborhood by:
- Increasing solar-powered, downward-directing street lighting throughout district
- Providing Incentives for green building through Tax Credits and the CPS Budget
- Increasing bike lanes and infrastructure that encourages multi-modal transportation
- Establishing tree-planting program in neighborhoods
- Establishing a community food garden in District 2, increasing access to quality produce
- Improving drainage throughout the district to lessen flooding and reduce road damage
- Closing down the Spruce Coal Power Plant (CPS Restructure)
- Amending the Climate Action Plan to commit to carbon neutrality by 2030
- Establishing community agriculture zoning designation
Infrastructure
+ Environment
Our side of town has been taken advantage of by developers and by those looking to exploit our communities, land, and environment for profits. Due to this rapid gentrification of the neighborhood, so many of our neighbors are being priced out of their family homes at the hands of greedy developers, and that is unacceptable.
Healthcare
Wellness doesn’t just mean annual check ups. It’s important to fund specific programs related to mental health causes and important medication such as insulin.
For an overall healthier District 2 we:
To do this we:
- $5.8 million allocated to fill street light gaps and successfully created a streetlight master plan that identified all gaps in the city.
- The City of San Antonio no longer participates in the 1033 program which was previously proven to increase police militarization in SAPD by accepting old equipment from the department of defense.
- Filed the Office of Crime and Recidivism Prevention CCR and funded a position within Metro Health for a coordinator for Crime and Recidivism Prevention.
- Help set the city’s negotiation policy that helped result in a better, but not perfect, police union contract that gives more power to the city to discipline officer misconduct. Incremental changes for accountability and transparency.
- Supports Justice Charter Amendment to decriminalize marijuana at the municipal level
Community Safety
There is no way around the inherent biases police officers show in their disregard for Black lives. We must hold SAPD and the Police Chief accountable, provide more opportunity for civilian oversight, and work toward a more fair and just justice system for all.
accountability
Political finger pointing accomplishes nothing for residents. District 2 has been dealt an unfair hand and this has caused a distrust between constituents and our representatives. For too long, District 2 has been fed hope, but now is the time for action.
I want to mend D2's relationship with the City by:
- Still not taking developer money
- Filled all boards and commission seats in record time according to the City Clerk’s Office.
- Invested in sophisticated constituent services tracking system and is the currently the only office where every member of the staff is trained and using the program.
- Staff and office is represented at every neighborhood association meeting each month.
- Phones are always answered during working hours. It is the office’s top priority.
We lift up our community by:
- Increased the city’s minimum wage to $17.50 per hour
- Filed CCR to expand non-discrimination ordinance
- Vocally supports the unionizing of Council Aides
- Filed the Payday Ordinance CCR to address predatory loans going on in the district
Economic Justice
San Antonio is a historically economically segregated city, especially on the East Side. With so many new businesses in the district, it is important that they employ those in the neighborhood and pay them a livable wage. As a historically Black neighborhood, we will expand on non-discrimination efforts and give our marginalized communities a voice in the procurement process.
Immigration
San Antonio is a Sanctuary City and our undocumented constituents should not have to be looking over their shoulder for ICE agents every day of their lives. ICE and private for profit incarceration entities have no business in our city.
We must:
- Secured more funding for the Municipal ID Program so undocumented persons can continue to have access to valid photo identification.
- Continued to ensure the city maintains no contracts with ICE
- Voiced continued support for the city’s Cite and Release program and is the only Councilmember to support the Justice Charter amendment that would codify it.
- Will continue to oppose any migrant detention centers in District 2
- Will continue to oppose municipal contracts with private for profit entities.
I believe we should:
- Created and implemented the Eastside Youth Content Creator Program where kids from Sam Houston High School learned hard skills in graphic design, film, and media literacy.
- Funded public internet access throughout the district so kids could safely do remote schooling during the pandemic.
- Funded several community gardens in the district
- Secured $20 million for the Peggy Drive Drainage project in the FY 2023 Bond
- Amended the Climate Action Plan and voted to close the Spruce Coal Power Plant by 2028.
- Began groundwork to establish community agriculture zoning designation for community gardens.
Education
We must invest in our children. Our community is home to some of the most brilliant, creative minds, and we must cultivate them. We must invest in more after school programs that facilitate our kids’ output of energy and creativity. We must also protect our teachers. Educators prepare our youth for the future and deserve the right to safety and resources. Together, we can make this a reality.
Finally:
- If a candidate tells you they have all of the answers, they are not being truthful. I am a high school math teacher, not a subject-matter expert on any of these categories.
- I rely on the knowledge, expertise, and advice of others. This list will inevitably expand as I meet with community stakeholders, activists, frontline workers, and constituents.
- I will commit to supporting progressive policies that prioritize the working class and that benefit the everyday citizen.
Contribute
We can’t do this without your support! Any amount is appreciated, if you have the means to help. Your donation will help us reach more District 2 residents while paying our campaign canvassers a true living wage.
