I'm running for the city council because I want to ensure affordable housing, clean air and water, and a more vibrant and flexible education system for the next generation.
THE ISSUES
Housing
We have a housing crisis in our area. Many of our older residents feel stuck and burdened with high property taxes. Meanwhile, the dream of homeownership is increasingly difficult to achieve - particularly for young people. As a longtime renter who has lived with my wife in Centennial for a decade, I understand this struggle. Our younger renters and prospective residents are hardworking and capable of building equity, raising families, and contributing to our community, but many of them simply lack the opportunity.
To solve these problems, we must:
Streamline the approval process for more homes. All too often, we are presented with a false choice between maintaining the character of our communities and providing affordable housing. We should work with partners in the private sector to infill more of our vacant lots and rezone our empty commercial properties to ensure that the workforce that serves our city can afford to live here too.
Rezone some of our commercial and business park districts to allow for more mixed-use developments. This would enable us to build more affordable housing to meet growing demand while maintaining the character of our existing neighborhoods.
Lobby the state legislature for local ability to convert apartments into condominiums, with the option of first refusal by current occupants. These units would become starter homes for residents who would then be able to begin building equity.
Continue to support and encourage accessory dwelling units. City Council made the right choice last year when they voted to allow ADUs on single family lots. This gives older residents the option of downsizing while retaining their privacy and autonomy.
Public Safety
Public safety is vital not only for our community as a whole, but for the peace of mind we need to be the best possible versions of ourselves. It is vital that Centennial remains one of the five safest cities in Colorado. In order to ensure that we maintain this distinction, the City must:
Prioritize road safety. We need safe streets that are easily walkable and that can be shared by different modes of transportation. We should also partner with other state and local institutions to ensure greater access to public transit. This will have the added benefit of reducing road congestion and air pollution.
Maintain our contract with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office. Our relationship with ACSO, built on mutual trust, must continue. This is the easiest, safest, and most cost-efficient way to provide our city with protection.
Support and expand the co-responders program. Law enforcement officers should be accountable and strategically deployed along with co-responder counselors and mental health professionals to optimize the safety of our residents. We should expand our co-responder program to ensure that de-escalation is a top priority whenever possible.
Keep our schools safe. Teaching in a high school where we conduct active shooter drills, I am constantly reminded of the urgent need to address gun violence and rising crime rates. I am dedicated to working with our partners at all levels of government to address the root causes of violence and foster a community built on understanding and support. Children should have a safe learning environment in which they can thrive, and the city must work together with school districts, state legislators, parents and others to devise a plan to ensure that all students feel safe.
Sustainability
We have a caring, thoughtful community full of conscientious people who want to be good stewards of our land and resources. But too often, we face barriers to sustainable practices. Far too much of our recyclable and compostable material ends up in landfills.
To minimize waste and ensure sustainable practices across our communities, we must:
Establish a specific waste-diversion target for the city. Neighboring cities have committed themselves to diverting up to 40 percent of their waste from landfills by 2030. As your city council member, I will push to adopt a similar goal and take steps to achieve it.
Increase access to recycling and compost services. Data shows that the majority of the material that ends up in our landfills is either recyclable or compostable. This is in part because access to recycling services is unequal across our city, particularly as it relates to small businesses and multifamily residential buildings. We should take advantage of state programs to ensure that all residents have access to recycling and composting services at no cost to residents or trash service providers.
Educate our citizenry about recycling and composting practices. We should establish city-wide recycling guidelines. We should publish these guidelines in easy-to-read formats and require them to be posted in prominent places, especially in apartment and condominium complexes. These guidelines should make it clear what materials can be recycled, what can be composted, and what should be sent to landfills.
Economic and Community Development
The economic vitality of the South Denver Metro area is paramount. My focus is on fostering an inclusive and robust economy that not only creates jobs but also protects the work of labor organizing in ensuring fair wages and working conditions. I am dedicated to supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, recognizing them as the backbone of our local economy. This includes advocating for policies that provide them with necessary resources and reducing bureaucratic hurdles. Understanding the rapidly evolving job market, I know the importance of workforce development programs that align with future job trends, particularly in technology and renewable energy sectors. My goal is to ensure that our workforce is equipped with the skills needed to thrive in the 21st-century economy, thereby driving sustainable economic growth in our community.
The charm of Centennial radiates from the variety of small businesses, shops and restaurants throughout our community. They represent the dreams and aspirations of countless visionaries and entrepreneurs, and they showcase the unique character, vibrancy and creativity of our population. But these small businesses are threatened by competition from large chains and high commercial rent. To ensure that Centennial maintains and builds on its vibrancy and that our small businesses are able to pay their workforce a decent wage, we must:
Strengthen and expand the Centennial Spark program. This program hosts roundtable discussions and events for entrepreneurs and small businesses to give them the tools they need to compete and thrive.
Encourage and facilitate owner-occupied business real estate. Many small business and restaurant owners have noted that they are unable to pay their workforce a living wage because of the high rent on commercial properties. We should chart a plan, together with developers and other stakeholders, to give these business owners access to equity in the buildings from which they operate.