Issues
POLITICAL INTEGRITY:
At a time when the public’s confidence in our national institutions is eroding, we need to ensure that our local institutions still command the respect and trust of the people. I will commit myself to honest and transparent leadership that is responsive to the will of Gilroy voters and earns that respect.
PUBLIC SAFETY:
Gilroy’s police and fire departments will be my chief priority as a member of the Council. We need to increase the number of sworn officers and firefighters to meet recommended standards and improve our emergency response infrastructure, including investing in a fourth fire station. We also need to offer competitive salaries and benefits to attract and keep skilled personnel.
My husband spent 40 years in law enforcement so my dedication to our community’s safety is deeply personal and deeply relevant to the challenges of protecting Gilroy’s residents today and in the future.
UNHOUSED CRISIS:
The issue of the unhoused is too big and too complex to be solved by Gilroy alone. It requires a regional approach that includes our neighboring cities. With new laws in place regarding conservatorship for the mentally ill and addicted and new responsibilities for the counties, we should be working to identify potential locations for new treatment facilities. For example, the county owns land near St. Louise Hospital and other areas where appropriate housing can be built. Wrap-around services such as job training should be provided on-site. Once we address the needs of the mentally ill and addicted, we can formulate policies that focus on the needs of working families who are unhoused.
LOCAL CONTROL:
People are rightly concerned about the pace of growth in Gilroy. I am committed to responsible land use and zoning policies that preserve our traditional rural lifestyle and do not permit our city to be little more than a bedroom community for San Jose. I will collaborate with Council as well as other local communities to push back on the state mandates and work to take back local control. I believe Gilroy should determine the growth and feel of our community, not the state.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY:
As a member of the Council, I will be a sound steward of the taxpayers’ dollars. We should embrace responsible budget policies that ensure that waste and inefficiency in city spending is eliminated so that we can redirect more money toward fixing our streets and roads. We need more public transparency and oversight on spending to guarantee that every dollar is spent wisely and for the designated purpose, while at the same time providing for the needs of the community.
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY:
Economic opportunity is a critical component to a thriving, prosperous community. This is why I support reinstituting the Economic Development Corporation and hiring an experienced Economic Development Director with a proven track record. In the past, the EDC and its director were instrumental in securing the Outlets, Costco, Target and most of the commercial development east of Highway 101. We need to have that back in place as we focus on bringing in new revenue-generating business to Gilroy. At the same time, we cannot ignore our historic Downtown. We should revitalize Downtown Gilroy to create new businesses and jobs, while attracting visitors to our restaurants, wineries, breweries, and street festivals.