Priorities
Public Safety
Our police department, fire department, and emergency medical system must be adequately staffed, resourced, and trained to ensure effective and safe response times. These are essential services and must be fully funded. Full staffing in these departments is a top priority, and we continue to make improvements. In the last 4 years the crime statistics for Everett have been dropping. I support effective strategies for community policing, overdose prevention, and connecting individuals to recovery services. We must pursue innovative funding sources, including state and federal grants, to meet these needs. Additionally, I’ll work to bring back our park rangers and support the new efforts to increase pedestrian safety, especially at our district’s many unsafe intersections along Evergreen Way, Madison Street, and Mukilteo Boulevard. Speed and heavy traffic loads are becoming a growing problem. I will continue to work with city staff to address this issue and integrate the needs into the Vision Zero traffic safety plan.
Economic Development
Everett is an attractive place for businesses to locate and expand. We should be connecting our city to employers to create new jobs and spur development. We must be constantly looking for ways to make Everett a competitive place for businesses to prosper. I support the creation and promotion of small businesses. I will advocate for protecting working families by advocating for unions, pensions, and a living wage. The city budget is tied to economic growth and is the key to providing new sources of revenue to maintain the current level of services.
Unhoused Population
I support initiatives that are collaborative between our city, Snohomish County government, and the numerous nonprofit organizations that thrive in Everett. I support a strategy to use multiple types of programs depending on the need and the situation and be flexible, including the use of pallet shelters, emergency housing, and outreach and intervention programs.
I support creating and preserving safe public spaces for our whole community. There is a strong need for outreach and enforcement to address issues of homelessness, addiction, mental illness, and criminal behavior. Living outside and/or using spaces unfit for living does not provide a safe quality of life and can adversely affect Everett residents.
Neighborhood Engagement
I’m actively involved in supporting neighborhood groups and successfully bringing back the Neighborhood Watch program to enhance community safety and engagement. Everett Council, District 3, has four active neighborhood groups: Boulevard Bluffs, Harborview-Seahurst-Glen Haven, View Ridge-Madison, and South Forest Park. This is one of my favorite parts about being an Everett Council member. I attend most of these meetings and listen, address local issues and advocate for neighborhood improvements. Our neighborhood associations provide a platform for residents to stay informed about what's happening and encourage connection between neighbors and between neighbors and the City.
Parks and open space
Everett has many under-utilized public spaces, and many that need significant improvements for residents to see them as a quality place to spend time. Public spaces should have the look and feel of a place where people are encouraged to gather including seating, plants, signage, activity space, and easy pedestrian access. I will be looking for ways to utilize these spaces and beautify our city.
Housing
Currently, housing units are not keeping up with job and population growth and this is driving up costs for both renters and homebuyers. Growth should support us, especially our children and grandchildren, and people attracted to our natural beauty and strong economy. We must encourage housing growth, with an emphasis on carefully increasing density to meet state requirements through multi-family developments. I’ve supported streamlining the building permit system while increasing review and inspection resources to ensure quality buildings without unnecessary delays. Additionally, as developers seek to build new housing in Everett, I will be an advocate for the inclusion of affordable units to maintain a mix of income levels and emphasize home ownership.
Environment
Tackling climate change must be a priority of every government. Everett must promote energy efficiency by developing and implementing strategies that improve the efficiency of municipal facilities and operations, set standards for energy efficiency in new developments, and encourage efficiency improvements in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. I support Everett Transit and it's transitioning to a fleet of electric vehicles, including a mixture of hybrid and electric buses. I support a vibrant tree canopy plan and zoning that increases the amount of housing that is not car dependent.