ISSUES

 As your City Councilor-At-Large, I will continue to use my knowledge and experience with me as an elected official, community organizer, and a business owner to advocate for resources to help support our vital services for Lynn such as: 

After consulting with the police and fire chiefs, I have prioritized securing funds to sustain adequate numbers of police officers and equipment as well as additional firefighters and fire trucks. Additionally, I remain committed to advocating for increased resources to combat overdoses and prevent illicit drugs from infiltrating our streets.

 After meeting with senior citizens throughout the city, they have helped me be more aware of the hardships many of our residents' face. I strongly support the current state healthcare reform bill, including the committee's provisions to protect coverage for preexisting conditions without major insurance premium increases. Furthermore, I back the state's efforts to control the cost of medications and to keep copays reasonable. I will continue to advocate for funding for nonprofit organizations that help improve the quality of life for all our residents. I will work with organizations, such as the Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development and the Department of Veterans's Services, to ensure that our vets have adequate access to housing and healthcare.

 Based on my discussions with representatives from both charter and public schools, it's clear that there's a willingness to collaborate for the benefit of our students. Moving forward, I am committed to partnering with educators to secure funding for essential programs like STEM, robotics, and the arts. By doing so, we aim to equip our high school graduates with a competitive advantage in the modern workforce, while also fostering the creation of highly skilled job opportunities. Furthermore, I will actively advocate for funding to construct new schools and modernize existing facilities, ultimately aiming to reduce class size and enhance the learning environment.

I will push for government infrastructure upgrades on the waterfront project, e.g. a viable flood drainage plan, reinforcements for the seawall, and the possibility of manmade breakers. These actions to alleviate flooding risk will make the waterfront more attractive to developers and investors. To link the waterfront to Boston and Lynn's arts & culture district, I will continue to work with our state and federal delegations to find long-term funding for the ferry. Infrastructure updates will lead to the true development of the waterfront. Lynn needs a hotel on its waterfront to host visitors and tourists, and an additional pedestrian overpass on the Lynnway to connect the waterfront to the rest of the city and to attract businesses for further development without restricting the flow of traffic. I will continue to advocate for more funds to improve our roads and bridges and address flood issues in several wards of Lynn. I also will continue to work to build on the heritage of Lynn by getting more state funding through our state delegation to improve the historic and art districts.

 Having worked with a human rights organization through the United Nations and authored the ordinance creating Lynn Human Rights Commission in 2012, I will continue to meet with community groups or agencies that have already tackled this issue. I will continue to meet with our representatives in Congress and make recommendations for supporting our new residents here and avoid creating new hardships by breaking up families.

The housing crisis is a nationwide issue that requires immediate and effective action. On June 5, 2024, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a $6.5 billion Affordable Homes Act bond bill, aimed at facilitating the construction of new and affordable homes across the Commonwealth. This marks an essential starting point in addressing the housing crisis in our state. Due to skyrocketing home prices and rent, many Bay State residents are seeking more affordable living options out of state. I proudly support LHA's new initiative to reduce teen homelessness in our city. Drawing on my experience working with the Lynn Housing Authority (LHA) as an elected official, I will continue to work with our state delegation to pursue additional funding to stabilize the housing crisis in our city. My commitment is to work closely with nonprofit organizations to find practical solutions.

I will continue to meet with nonprofits advocating for housing issues, developers, residents, municipalities, and elected officials. Together, we will proactively seek solutions to the housing crisis that affects our community, including:

• Seniors on fixed incomes struggling to pay their rents or mortgages.
• Veterans who, after serving our nation, now face challenges including homelessness.

By investing in affordable housing and working collaboratively, we can lead the nation in housing affordability.