Accomplishments

During 2 terms on Longmont City Council, I hit the ground running and accomplished a lot. There is more to do, but here are a few examples of progress made —

ECONOMIC VITALITY: Collaborating with City staff, the Latino Chamber and the Chamber of Commerce, I have responded to Longmont’s hardships of rising inflation and economic uncertainty with financial grants boosting Longmont small business grants, prioritizing impacted and underrepresented owners. Advocated and supported funding improvements and tax credits via LDDA (Longmont Downtown Development Authority) and Enterprise Zone status. Recognition, training, and support for environmentally and socially responsible businesses through our Sustainability Program. Local purchasing policies, where public contracts prioritize local small businesses. Streamlined permit processing to ease startup hassles. I am also championing efforts to address the gap between wages and cost of living.

MENTAL HEALTH: Many 911 calls are related to mental illness and addiction concerns. As a council member, I have lobbied at the state and national level for funding to expand local resources ensuring first responders are trained and mental health professionals are assisting with these calls for help. I currently sit on the CORE/LEAD Team Steering Committee, working on strengthening and expanding our mental health and rehabilitation services that include diversion, crisis outreach, and case management programs. I have championed for both structural and flexible investment in mental health supports — through ongoing grant funding of local service providers and targeted one-time allocations when available.

ENVIRONMENT: I have built coalitions with neighboring municipalities to help us attain our zero-waste goal, and I’d like to continue my work in exploring a regional composting facility. I’m working with city staff to ensure that air and water quality monitoring continues, as well as holding gas and oil accountable for properly capping wells. I have also brought forward the measure to fund Open Space in perpetuity, ensuring our Open Space program is preserved for generations to come.

HOUSING: I have continually advocated for housing that is not only affordable, but attainable, too, especially for working class folks. I felt strongly that our restructuring of the Longmont Housing Authority (LHA) and its leadership was critical in building sustainability for some of our most economically vulnerable residents. Through the LHA, the Zinnia Project was developed: 55 innovatively-designed Permanent Supportive Housing units, including supportive services for residents. It is important to note that projects were approved before my term began. But during my term, I felt it my responsibility to ensure that projects in process were addressing issues that might not have been apparent, or addressed earlier.

TRANSPORTATION: I’m an avid supporter of Vision Zero as a means of rethinking traffic issues that puts pedestrian and cyclist safety at the core of roadway design ensuring safe mobility for all. But Longmont deserves better from RTD, so I am still committed to Longmont getting an actual return on its 20-year (!) investment. And I have the leadership experience and understanding of government functions to make it happen.

SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE: Longmont’s library, museum, parks and recreation
facilities act as great equalizers for all Longmont communities. Working on the Youth
Council, Library Advisory Board, Museum Advisory Board, and with city staff, I have
served as a bridge for Longmont residents on the essential services and inspiring
programs that these departments provide.