Goals
Housing
Smart growth begins with smart planning. As your city councilor, I am committed to a broad range of housing solutions. This means addressing both the supply and demand sides of the housing market while working towards what’s best for individual neighborhoods. Here’s what works:
Providing Housing Solutions: Preserve existing affordable housing from predatory development. Direct growth to metro-adjacent locations to reduce traffic on streets. Preserve greenspace and open areas in residential neighborhoods to prevent flooding. End experimental changes to the zoning code. Provide comprehensive support services that empower residents to overcome housing barriers and build brighter futures for themselves and their families.
Preserving Historic Areas: Focus on preserving what makes Alexandria unique. Champion smart growth initiatives that prioritize the conservation of historic areas, protecting them from overdevelopment that can erode their distinct identity. Advocate for development policies that respect the architectural heritage and cultural significance of these neighborhoods. Encourage community-led planning processes that empower residents to shape the evolution of their environments, maintaining the delicate balance between modernization and tradition.
Preventing Stormwater Overload: Focus on sustainable urban planning to address the critical issues of lot coverage and stormwater management. Advocate for the development of permeable surfaces in new housing to improve water absorption and reduce runoff. Revise lot coverage ratios to ensure balanced development that includes ample green spaces. Support community education programs on the importance of sustainable land use and its impact on the urban ecosystem. Secure federal grants to fund stormwater projects that improve our city's resilience to a changing climate.
Promoting Environmental Sustainability : Encourage building practices that promote renewable energy use to reduce our overall carbon footprint. Promote use of energy-efficient materials, installation of solar panels, and design houses that take advantage of natural light and ventilation. Enhance urban greenery through the creation of parks, green roofs, and urban gardens. Leverage use of federal grants to design and build convenient and efficient electric vehicle charging stations throughout the city.
Public Safety
We all deserve to be safe. As a former city magistrate, I have worked closely with APD to enforce laws in a fair, impartial, and ethical manner. As your city councilor, I will enact commonsense policies that keep our neighborhoods protected. Here is how we can do it:
Promoting Community-Based Policing: Get more police on the street and walking the beat in our neighborhoods by reassigning administrative duties to support staff. Promote community and alternative policing resources that address the root causes of crime. Collaborate with various stakeholders in the criminal justice system, along with non-profit organizations and community groups, to create initiatives aimed at reducing repeat offenses, with a particular focus on after-school programs tailored to youth. Prioritize addressing these underlying factors to prevent crime before it occurs.
Awarding Merit Retention Bonuses: Advocate for the introduction of a merit retention pay system within the APD, designed to reward officers for exemplary service, community engagement, and adherence to high standards of conduct. This system would evaluate performance based on a combination of peer reviews, community feedback, and measurable achievements in public safety and community relations. Incentivize excellence and promote a deep commitment to community values to encourage a culture of professionalism and respect within the force. Implement merit-based incentives to assist in retaining experienced and dedicated officers, ensuring the APD remains staffed with individuals committed to positive change and community well-being.
Supporting Those Who Serve: Expand comprehensive training programs, continuing professional development, and access to health and wellness programs for police officers. Invest in ongoing education and support services ensures that officers are equipped with the skills and resources necessary to effectively respond to evolving public safety challenges. Prioritize the mental health of our dedicated first responders to enhance the well-being of our officers and promote their ability to serve the community with empathy and professionalism.
Education
Alexandria’s future shines brighter with every child's success. I am dedicated to fostering an educational environment where every learner can flourish, where our teachers thrive, and our schools are safe. As your city councilor, I will work to expand educational opportunity in Alexandria. Here’s how we improve:
Promoting Best Practices: Focus on teacher recruitment and retention through designing a collective bargaining agreement that gives teachers a reason to choose ACPS. Commit to a capital improvement plan that not only expands and modernizes educational facilities but also integrates building practices that prioritize sustainability and the creation of healthy learning environments. Seek federal grants specifically targeted at capital improvement projects, reducing long-term operating costs and showcasing Alexandria's commitment to educational excellence.
Expanding Apprenticeship Opportunities: Forge partnerships with private sector organizations to expand apprenticeship programs for students. Provide hands-on training and mentorship in various industries to equip students with the practical skills and valuable experiences that prepares them for the future of work. These partnerships would not only enrich the educational experience but also strengthen ties between schools and local businesses, fostering relationships that benefit both students and the community.
Identifying Teachers of Excellence: Establish a comprehensive merit bonus system designed to acknowledge and reward outstanding educators in Alexandria's schools. This initiative would identify and compensate teachers who demonstrate exceptional commitment to their students' growth, innovative teaching methods, and contributions to their school community. Align teacher incentives with student achievement and professional development to attract and retain high-quality educators. Build a culture of excellence and accountability to ensure that every student benefits from passionate and dedicated teaching.
Transportation
Alexandria is a city on the go. Whether biking along the Mount Vernon Trail or hailing an Uber to the Waterfront, Alexandrians rely on a variety of modern transportation choices. As your city councilor, I will work tirelessly to improve Alexandria's transportation infrastructure. Here’s how we get there:
Designing Safe and Beautiful Bike Lanes: Invest in the expansion and improvement of bike lane infrastructure to create safer, more connected networks for cyclists. Focus on integrating bike lanes seamlessly into the existing transportation fabric, ensuring direct and accessible routes to key destinations such as schools, parks, and commercial areas. Emphasize the importance of safety features, such as physical barriers, clear signage, and bike-specific traffic signals, to protect cyclists and reduce conflicts with vehicles and pedestrians. Engage with cycling communities and stakeholders in the planning process to ensure that the development of bike lanes meet the needs and preferences of local cyclists, fostering a more bike-friendly environment for all.
Prioritizing Routine Maintenance: Commit to significantly enhancing capital investments in the maintenance and improvement of local road networks to ensure they remain smoothly paved and safe for all users. Allocate increased funding for the resurfacing, repairing, and preventive maintenance of streets and highways, addressing potholes and wear-and-tear proactively. Deploy the efficient use of resources for the timely and cost-effective execution of these projects. Employ use of advanced materials and construction techniques to further ensure that roadways are maintained to the highest standards to support the future needs of the community.
Implementing the Vision Zero Action Plan: Enhance the safety and comfort of current sidewalks and intersections, particularly in areas prone to high-crash incidents. Prioritize the improvement of sidewalks to ensure they are available on both sides of major streets and at least on one side of all other streets. Minimize conflicts between different modes of transportation by adopting nationally recognized best practices. Enhance the quantity and standard of off-street connections and upgrading intersections. Create pedestrian access through neighborhoods, new developments, and over significant obstacles like freeways or rail corridors to improve overall walkability.
Elections:
Getting elections right matters. Despite the challenges posed by Virginia's Dillon Rule, which limits the city's autonomy in election-related matters, there are tangible steps that can be taken to enhance the electoral landscape and better serve Alexandrians' interests. As your city councilor, I would begin a conversation on reforming our electoral process. Here are some things to talk about:
Engaging the Community: Any reforms to Alexandria's electoral processes must be grounded in robust community engagement and dialogue. Soliciting input from residents, stakeholders, and experts can provide valuable insights into the unique needs and aspirations of the city. By fostering a collaborative approach to electoral reform, Alexandria can ensure that changes reflect the diverse perspectives and priorities of its residents.
Enhancing Ballot Design: The layout of the ballot plays a significant role in shaping voter behavior and perceptions. By reconsidering the current practice of grouping candidates by party without party designation, Alexandria can promote a more nonpartisan electoral environment. Listing candidates alphabetically or using randomized order could mitigate subconscious partisan biases and encourage voters to focus on individual qualifications and platforms.
Economy
Alexandria is a captivating city that blends historical charm with modern vitality, convenient airport and transit connections, and an exceptional quality of life. As your city councilor, I want to grow our local economy and expand our tax base so that Alexandria can continue to thrive. Here are some innovative solutions:
Completing the Municipal Fiber Optic Network: Prioritize completion of the municipal fiber-optic network to provide access to high-speed internet access for all of Alexandria's residents and businesses. Complete investments in this state-of-the-art infrastructure to equip our community with the tools necessary for today's digital age and lay the groundwork for future innovations. Finish network expansion to support telemedicine and remote learning that will promote Alexandria's commitment to technological advancement and inclusivity.
Promoting Workforce Development Initiatives: Develop a comprehensive workforce development initiative focused on equipping residents with the skills and training needed to thrive in emerging industries and sectors. Establish partnerships with local educational institutions, businesses, and training providers to offer job training programs, apprenticeships, and career pathways. Invest in our human capital to empower individuals to access higher-paying jobs, stimulate economic mobility, and strengthen Alexandria's workforce.