MY PRIORITIES

FOCUSED ON PUTTING HUNTINGTON BEACH RESIDENTS FIRST

My top priority is to refocus the City Council’s attention back on local issues. As your City Councilmember, I would work to address our aging infrastructure, ensure tax dollars are being spent on local investments instead of lawsuits, invest in our local libraries and parks, and most importantly, help change the narrative around Huntington Beach’s reputation. 

Another key focus of mine will be to earn back the trust of the community by strengthening transparency and accountability. There are so many things happening in the City that we just do not know enough about - where are our property taxes going, how much has been spent in total on various lawsuits, what are the financial implications of the Air Show Contract?

I know not everyone will agree with everything about my point of view—and that’s okay. What’s not okay is the division, name calling, and hostility that have become commonplace in our local politics. Huntington Beach deserves leaders who treat people with respect, even when we disagree.

Our city is stronger when we reflect the voices of all residents and encourage understanding instead of outrage. That means a City Council that welcomes different perspectives, an Interfaith Council that represents all faiths, and a Human Relations Council that works to promote respect and safety for everyone.

Local government should bring people together—not tear us apart. That’s why I’m running: to put people first, restore accountability, focus on local issues, and return City Hall to a place of real problem-solving.

1. Responsible Fiscal Management & Investing in Our Tourism Revenue

   The City Council has a fiscal responsibility to make decisions for our community that keep our community strong. This means addressing budget deficits and finding ways to generate revenue. 

   Huntington Beach over the years has done an amazing job of making our City, particularly our beaches, a tourist destination. But recent bad press and recent decisions by the current City Council are actively driving people away. How can we claim to be both a welcoming City for new business and visitors when also making people of different backgrounds feel uncomfortable, or at worst, unsafe? 

   Responsible, good governance also means not wasting taxpayer dollars on endless lawsuits. The City continues to lose and then appeal, wasting money on nothing more than headlines. Instead of fighting a losing battle, we must find a way to work with the state and invest those dollars instead into our community. 

2. Public Safety 

   Our first responders must always be provided with the resources, training, support and tools to effectively protect and serve our community. I was glad to hear that the City has already invested in new technology that will make responding to emergencies more efficient. I am also fully supportive of providing all first responders with NARCAN as our community addresses the growing opioid crisis. 

   It is also important for every community in our City to feel like first responders are on their side. This means investing in community building among the police and neighborhoods so every single resident feels like they have support. 

3. Homelessness 

   I am fully supportive of a model to address homelessness that leads with intervention and care. We must have a collaborative system of care that is not piecemeal but actually works to address the root causes of homelessness. And as a city, we must invest in affordable housing that - and this is important - matches the character of the neighborhood. This means that I do not expect a single family neighborhood to support a multi-unit apartment building. But in places that are already high-density, or have a high number of vacancies and can be re-zoned, we must use our ingenuity and creativity to find solutions outside of the usual methods.  

4. Protecting Our Library 

   As a parent, I want the freedom to decide what’s right for my own children, and I believe every family deserves that same freedom. Public libraries are for everyone, and not one political viewpoint has the right to control what books are available.

   Access to knowledge should never depend on who happens to be in power. Whether the City Council leans conservative or progressive, no political majority should decide which ideas are or aren’t allowed.

   I trust our librarians, who are trained professionals, to ensure our libraries remain welcoming, informative, and accessible for everyone.

5. Sustainability 

   One of the many things that bring people to our City are the beaches, wetlands, parks and open spaces. As a former Community and Library Services Commissioner and as a former employee of the Bolsa Chica Conservancy I know exactly how valuable our open spaces are. 

   Sustainability also means more than just investing in green space - it means addressing how our City will address growing climate change concerns - recent flooding has proven just how important this is.