I was born and raised in the Bay Area, but I spent my summers in Portland. I fell in love with the Pacific Northwest as I explored and played in the pristine rivers and woods with my friends and family. Portland was a second home to me. The culture here inspired my passion for clean air, small creative businesses, and an engaged community.
In the 1970s and 80s, there was a push for universities to open admissions to students that had been otherwise excluded. This enabled folks like my uncle and two of my aunts to attend college, which paved the way for my generation.
I was eager to follow in their footsteps and to return to Portland, so I applied and was accepted at Reed College in Southeast Portland. I graduated with a degree in Political Science and went to work in Commissioner Gladys McCoy’s office. It was under the mentorship of Beverly Stein that I actualized myself as a civil servant.
I have seen Portland evolve from a timber town to a tech hub. I know that while Portland has an incredible foundation, we need to work to be more inclusive and equitable. While Portland has boomed for some, the economic gains have laid bare systemic inequities that have led to historic houselessness, lack of affordable housing, and stagnating working-class income.
These challenges are what inspired me to run for office. I believe the City of Portland is only as effective as those who govern it. Our current City Council is as prepared as it has been in a generation and can address the issues of this historic time. As Commissioner, I want all constituents to know that I, and my staff, are committed to active listening and being responsive. The decisions I make on City Council will be evidence-based and always in the interest of efficient and effective service delivery.
Our strategic priorities are ambitious, and I will work tirelessly to achieve success. My office will prioritize rapid economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. I will work with the community to envision a different way of achieving public safety. Over the next four years, I will work to expand options for the chronically houseless and people living in tents on our streets. Additionally, I will work with my colleagues to open more affordable housing to keep people from becoming houseless in the first place. Finally, it is time that we make strides on protecting our environment; air, water, and everything in between.