priorities

As a former police officer with over 20 years of service, I dedicated my career to protecting the community where I grew up. Our mission has always been to protect and serve every individual, regardless of their background or beliefs. Unfortunately, in recent years we have seen a decline in support for our first responders, including police officers, firefighters, and ambulance drivers. This has led to severe shortages in these critical roles and a subsequent rise in crime within our community.

To address this, my plan involves a comprehensive approach that encourages collaboration between the community and first responders. We must enhance our recruitment efforts to attract and retain more firefighters, police officers, and paramedics. Rebuilding trust is also crucial. This includes increasing the number of police body cameras, enhancing accountability and transparency within the police force, ensuring financial transparency, and maintaining constant communication.

We must hold each other accountable and work together to make Maryvale a safer place for everyone.

Maryvale was built with the fundamental value that any family can build their American Dream here. I want us to return to that motto by combating this severe housing crisis. Over the recent years, we have skyrocketed rent prices and the increasing cost of homeownership. The city's response has been inadequate which has led to a supply problem. I will champion zoning reform to allow more diverse and innovative building styles, such as casitas and home additions, without the hindrance of excessive red tape.

I also plan to collaborate with developers to construct more multi-housing units in Maryvale. Our community must shift from outward expansion to upward growth. Building more strategically located apartments will increase the supply of affordable homes, driving down rent and homeownership costs.

Additionally, I will advocate for a first-time homebuyer credit to assist community members in purchasing their first homes, making homeownership more accessible, and fostering community investment.

Homelessness has surged across the City of Phoenix, and District 5 has been particularly affected. Individuals experiencing homelessness are visible at almost every major intersection and gas station, relying on the generosity of community members. We need to expand city services for comprehensive homeless outreach and continually evaluate our tactics to ensure effectiveness.

I will advocate for increased investment in our city's dedicated outreach team and push for policies that provide real-time updates on available shelter beds to facilitate daily transitions off the streets. Collaborating with first responders, I aim to move individuals out of alleys, neighborhoods, and parks and into support facilities, low-income housing, or transitioning shelters.

Our approach must balance community safety with respecting the dignity of those experiencing homelessness.

Maryvale's residents need more and better-paying jobs. We must attract businesses of all industries to our community to provide these opportunities. We have the workforce and can fill these positions with well-experienced community members. Despite our dense population, there are underutilized lands and abandoned warehouses that can be transformed into thriving businesses. From union labor to local entrepreneurs, Maryvale is ready for innovative investment.

My goal is to lead this effort by advocating for programs that bring businesses of all sizes to Maryvale and support the growth of our small businesses. As a city council member, I will be the driving force behind economic development and job creation in our community.