My Platform & Principles

Building the Local Economy

As a community arts organizer, my work has brought tens of thousands of visitors, and millions of dollars into the area.  I’ve worked with national, state and local funders, winning grants and sponsorships which showcase the best parts of our community to the world.  Our wealth is in the grassroots here, diverse, resilient, community minded businesses and consumers focused on building local prosperity.  Let’s keep building on what’s unique about Eureka, and grow our economy with the strengths we have: community, creativity, geography, ecology, culture, and horticulture.

Houselessness

When I was working as a community health outreach worker for the Youth Service Bureau’s RAVEN Project, I got to know first hand the people you find on the streets of Eureka.  Mental illness, physical disability, and drug addiction are a big part of the picture.  Also in that picture, but less visible are LGBTQ youth who have been driven out of their homes, whole families living in a vehicle because they were one paycheck away, traveling workers of all races moving up the coast in search of seasonal jobs.

I’m proud to say Eureka is leading the way for cities our size addressing the symptoms of poverty and the effects of homelessness: Rapid Housing with support, The Up Lift Program, EPD’s CSET team, our partnership with the Betty Chin family of services, the city’s no barrier emergency shelters during bad weather, we even have a licensed clinician on staff and on call to help with mental health crisis intervention. If elected for a second term, I would continue to support these ongoing efforts and work with our field experts to evolve programs and seek funding.

Housing Crisis

The City of Eureka needs to be doing everything it can to make sure that adequate, affordable housing is available, and that renter’s rights are protected at every turn.  We need to move forward with the General Plan’s Housing Element already approved by the State, wielding a variety of tools to address housing needs at all levels. Part of that plan is dictated by state law like the ability to split lots smaller and smaller, as well as “density bonuses” allowing taller and more packed in housing in the middle of traditionally single family home neighborhoods. Eureka also has a program for financing ADU’s / “in law” units to be used as rentals. We are also working to turn some public land currently being used for parking into affordable housing. All of this comes with improvements to public transportation as well to help serve the denser population.

I oppose Eureka Ballot Measure F.

Measure F is a deliberately confusing misuse of the ballot initiative process funded by Rob Arkley’s Security National, a property development and mortgage servicing company. Measure F will stop affordable housing from being built, and cost the City of Eureka millions of dollars in fines and legal fees. Not only that, but we would have to return tens of millions of grant dollars for housing we’ve already been awarded. Eureka would also lose its “Pro-Housing Designation” making us ineligible for many grants to build more housing and improve public transportation.
At the old Jacobs campus in Ward 2, Measure F would NOT build any housing, but it would eliminate the public part of the development process, allowing “by right” (meaning, they don’t have to ask the neighbors) anything allowed in Downtown, Public Facilities zones and more. Jacobs is currently owned by Eureka City Schools who intends to sell it to the California Highway Patrol. Neither ECS or CHP would be affected by Measure F.

Measure F pretends to move affordable housing out of Old Town and up to Jacobs, but it really just moves affordable housing out of reach.

For more arguments against the Measure go to: realhousing4eureka.com
There is also a neutral impact report from City Staff here: eurekaca.gov/944/Measure-F

Drug Abuse & Addiction

Addiction is a disease which requires treatment, not a crime which should be punishable by death.  Denying individuals and families access to help because they suffer from a disease is not only cruel, it is short sighted.  Preventable drug related illnesses put strain on our social service networks, make whole families dependent on welfare, and create unnecessary burdens for our overworked rural healthcare system.

If there is something we can do to help a person with addiction survive long enough to get clean, I think that’s something worth doing, even if it is complicated or difficult. When HIV, Hepatitis C, and other drug related diseases spread around our community, they don’t only affect addicts themselves, they affect us all.

Opportunities for Youth 

My entire adult life, I have worked to put opportunities in front of young people.  I am the director of an empowering summer camp for adolescent girls that never turns a camper away because they can’t pay.  Each summer, we help dozens of local middle schoolers find the confidence to make healthier decisions for themselves.  The kid’s kinetic event I founded challenges artists and engineers as young as kindergarteners to go for Glory with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math.) As a media production mentor and program manager, I helped connect at risk youth to free audio and video production training.  As a grantwriter, I have helped bring money into the area to connect mentors with youth involved in the juvenile justice system, so teens who might be written off as thugs get real marketable skills for a better future.

Representing ALL the people of Eureka

For many years, I have worked to serve the youth, young adults, and families of Eureka.  I believe that individuals know what’s best for them and their families.  I will work to connect the people of the Second Ward with their local government to better harness the strong bonds and vibrant community spirit I see in my neighbors.

Decreasing Crime & Poverty

Complex problems need compassionate, creative ideas. I believe public resources should go towards real, long term solutions which treat the roots of inequality.  We lessen crime with housing, education, dignity, and full bellies. We reduce abuse with direct connections, and open communication. We relieve the suffering addiction causes by putting judgment aside and helping the humans involved.