Issues

I facilitate large scale change.

As a subject matter expert in local, state, and federal government operations, elected official for 13 years and a non-profit leader, I’ve influenced public policy development, garnered resources and support, and created dynamic relationships between private and public partners, assuring momentum and implementation to achieve the vision.

Issues

I facilitate large scale change.

As a subject matter expert in local, state, and federal government operations, elected official for 13 years and a non-profit leader, I’ve influenced public policy development, garnered resources and support, and created dynamic relationships between private and public partners, assuring momentum and implementation to achieve the vision.

“If you’re serious about helping people and achieving true social justice we have to meet peoples basic needs.

Affordable Housing

Our current housing crisis has been decades in the making, and responding to it has been my top priority. I have aggressively worked with non profit housing developers to build housing and to develop policies to expedite construction. If you’re serious about helping people and achieving true social justice we have to meet people’s basic needs.

We’re way behind on production of housing for people starting out with their lives – for millennials who are facing the prospect of not doing as well as their parents or for a population that is living longer and might need more housing with support services on site. From my perspective as an executive director for a small nonprofit that engages in infrastructure and economic development projects, we should be bundling economic development incentives to streamline everything from a state perspective. That way, you not only reform their process for incentivizing people to come in and build housing, but you also do it in a way that mobilizes a very effective economic development strategy that doesn’t take away local control. It’s not about needing to be the alpha dog in the situation, but to get housing built.

Affordable Housing

Our current housing crisis has been decades in the making, and responding to it has been my top priority. I have aggressively worked with non profit housing developers to build housing and to develop policies to expedite construction. If you’re serious about helping people and achieving true social justice we have to meet people’s basic needs.

We’re way behind on production of housing for people starting out with their lives – for millennials who are facing the prospect of not doing as well as their parents or for a population that is living longer and might need more housing with support services on site. From my perspective as an executive director for a small nonprofit that engages in infrastructure and economic development projects, we should be bundling economic development incentives to streamline everything from a state perspective. That way, you not only reform their process for incentivizing people to come in and build housing, but you also do it in a way that mobilizes a very effective economic development strategy that doesn’t take away local control. It’s not about needing to be the alpha dog in the situation, but to get housing built.

“If you’re serious about helping people and achieving true social justice we have to meet peoples basic needs.

Planning and Land Use

Having built and defined a path for many communities I know that listening to and interpreting the needs of people creates opportunities for residents and positive outcomes for neighborhoods. The foundation of improving and empowering a community is to recognize this with understanding and sensitivity to history and legacy. Planning is a fluid concept that never stops – planning ahead to take care of people who are aging, young people who need a start in life and everything in between.

As communities expanded and contracted people were able to establish themselves and move forward with their families. If you tear up the very fabric and very basis of a community – single family homes where people have built up equity and created a path to intergenerational wealth -you begin to destroy the community. Then, land speculators come in, acquire property, and flip it. In order to create a level playing field and pursue a true agenda of social justice you have to have the ability to meet people where they are. That is to empower them to use the equity built up in the properties their parents acquired after WWII and to make sure that equity remains in the community and is not lost to speculators or predators.

Land Use
“Make sure that that equity remains in the community and is not lost to speculators or predators.

Land Use

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Land Use
“Make sure that that equity remains in the community and is not lost to speculators or predators.
“For us to impact the homeless population it is going to take a huge effort that must include full government engagement.

Homelessness

For nearly two decades, from inside and outside the system, I’ve continued to push for more housing. I’ve been the voice that said we’ve got to build more, we need to move faster to get people off the street and into emergency, transitional and permanent housing. As councilwoman, I built 5670 units with great urgency. I have the knowledge to continue to respond in the midst of a crisis that is still ongoing. I can do much more.

I have always seen the homeless challenge as multifaceted. It is a public health, mental health service, human resource, housing, and a basic human rights challenge both for the homeless and those coping with the issue.

Most importantly it is a countrywide issue. For us to impact the homeless population it is going to take a huge effort that must include full government engagement in the issue. As one of the greatest examples of expedited construction, The Star Apartments, was built on top of an existing county building. Site control was made quicker. Through means of traditional and non traditional construction techniques the building was constructed and ready for occupancy in record time. Portions of the building were constructed offsite in a modular fashion and then brought to the location at 6th and Wall and put in place.

Homelessness

For nearly two decades, from inside and outside the system, I’ve continued to push for more housing. I’ve been the voice that said we’ve got to build more, we need to move faster to get people off the street and into emergency, transitional and permanent housing. As councilwoman, I built 5670 units with great urgency. I have the knowledge to continue to respond in the midst of a crisis that is still ongoing. I can do much more.

I have always seen the homeless challenge as multifaceted. It is a public health, mental health service, human resource, housing, and a basic human rights challenge both for the homeless and those coping with the issue.

Most importantly it is a countrywide issue. For us to impact the homeless population it is going to take a huge effort that must include full government engagement in the issue. As one of the greatest examples of expedited construction, The Star Apartments, was built on top of an existing county building. Site control was made quicker. Through means of traditional and non traditional construction techniques the building was constructed and ready for occupancy in record time. Portions of the building were constructed offsite in a modular fashion and then brought to the location at 6th and Wall and put in place.

Homelessness
“For us to impact the homeless population it is going to take a huge effort that must include full government engagement.

Local government

I have always been drawn to the power of local government to solve problems. My entire career has been based on a community focus to bring solutions that are sustainable and long lasting. As an elected official and long time community activist my vision has been shaped by the people I have helped and the communities I have served.

As a City councilmember, I used the mechanisms of government to improve planning strategies to allow for growth and strengthening communities. My perspective is grounded in hands on experience and implementation that transformed peoples lives for a better outcome in housing, healthcare, employment, small business development, recreation and parks, water management and the environment. I am deeply rooted in what has to be done because of my relationship with people and communities.

Local Government
“I am deeply rooted in what has to be done because of my relationship with people and communities.

Local Government

I have always been drawn to the power of local government to solve problems. My entire career has been based on a community focus to bring solutions that are sustainable and long lasting. As an elected official and long time community activist my vision has been shaped by the people I have helped and the communities I have served.

As a City councilmember, I used the mechanisms of government to improve planning strategies to allow for growth and strengthening communities. My perspective is grounded in hands on experience and implementation that transformed peoples lives for a better outcome in housing, healthcare, employment, small business development, recreation and parks, water management and the environment. I am deeply rooted in what has to be done because of my relationship with people and communities.

Local Government
“I am deeply rooted in what has to be done because of my relationship with people and communities.
Planning
“The only way to be relevant is to listen to what people say, understand what they need and make an all out effort to fulfill their dreams.

Policy Development

The creation of good public policy is a foundation and a place to begin. Nothing gets done in a vacuum. The only way to be relevant is to listen to what people say, understand what they need and make an all out effort to fulfill their dreams. I have the lived experience to bring dreams into reality based on a background of action in planning and land use, legislative development, community organizing, finance and a deep well of understanding of social issues.
The development of good public policy is a constant evolving process that should be fueled by the passion to always do better.

As an example I coauthored Proposition O, a clean water bond, which was designed not only to protect the environment and our water source but to rebuild our infrastructure. It enabled me to create a multi use facility that brought 2 wetlands that I developed in South Los Angeles where previously there was blight now sits two wetlands at Slauson and Compton and the other at for the benefit of communities in those areas.

Policy Development

The creation of good public policy is a foundation and a place to begin. Nothing gets done in a vacuum. The only way to be relevant is to listen to what people say, understand what they need and make an all out effort to fulfill their dreams. I have the lived experience to bring dreams into reality based on a background of action in planning and land use, legislative development, community organizing, finance and a deep well of understanding of social issues.
The development of good public policy is a constant evolving process that should be fueled by the passion to always do better.

As an example I coauthored Proposition O, a clean water bond, which was designed not only to protect the environment and our water source but to rebuild our infrastructure. It enabled me to create a multi use facility that brought 2 wetlands that I developed in South Los Angeles where previously there was blight now sits two wetlands at Slauson and Compton and the other at for the benefit of communities in those areas.

Planning
“The only way to be relevant is to listen to what people say, understand what they need and make an all out effort to fulfill their dreams.

Social Justice

In our country conversations that we needed to have are finally taking place. There have been many times that I felt as if I was howling in the wind and that no one was listening. This is our time of reckoning and our chance to get it right.

In a county where Blacks are less than 10% of the population but over 50% of the homeless clearly there is more work to be done. In a country where Black people are being shot at an alarming rate the roadmap for public safety needs to be rewritten. In a country where income inequality, wage disparity, no safety net for healthcare it’s clear our work is unfinished.

While the Black experience may be the litmus test for how this country treats its people we are not alone in facing those challenges.
If we truly stand for social justice all we need do is grab the very issues that are right in front of us every single day and turn them in a new direction.

Policy Development
“This is our time of reckoning and our chance to get it right.

Social Justice

In our country conversations that we needed to have are finally taking place. There have been many times that I felt as if I was howling in the wind and that no one was listening. This is our time of reckoning and our chance to get it right.

In a county where Blacks are less than 10% of the population but over 50% of the homeless clearly there is more work to be done. In a country where Black people are being shot at an alarming rate the roadmap for public safety needs to be rewritten. In a country where income inequality, wage disparity, no safety net for healthcare it’s clear our work is unfinished.

While the Black experience may be the litmus test for how this country treats its people we are not alone in facing those challenges.
If we truly stand for social justice all we need do is grab the very issues that are right in front of us every single day and turn them in a new direction.

Policy Development
“This is our time of reckoning and our chance to get it right.

Issues to Watch