Question 1: What talent, experience, and expertise would you bring as Congressperson?
The expertise I bring is drawn from both my lived experiences and my public health background. I am extremely data driven and motivated by looking deeply into issues to find the root of the problem. Thus I am a preventionist and I seek to prevent our major issues by fighting them from the root (wealth inequality, racial inequality, gender inequality, etc.) My lived experiences provide me with the knowledge of what it is like to be an everyday person, to survive sexual assault, to have an abortion, to work 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet, to carry student debt. Lastly, my experience within the field of healthcare makes me a deeply compassionate individual who is ready to fight for the resources our city needs to thrive and for all constituents to lead dignified lives.
Question 2: What is your plan to win this election with regards to fundraising, field, and votes?
Move mountains. We have raised over $300K with our eyes firmly set on the horizon of raising $750K-$1M to be able to win. Our universe is massive because my opponent is deeply entrenched and we have a very politically active district. We are reaching out to folks left and right for volunteers to help us contact voters and win their vote. Our universe is 176,000 voters and our win number is 52,000.
Question 3: What endorsements are you seeking or do you have to date, if any?
We have Marianne Williamson, Catch Fire, Blue America, End the New Apartheid, and Penn Justice Dems. We are seeking in district endorsements from wards, progressive unions, and progressive organizations. Out of district, we are seeking endorsements for volunteers or with grassroots PAC money.
Question 4: What would be your three highest priorities in Congress?
Climate, healthcare, and education. I tell people I have five priorities – climate action, universal healthcare, education reform, criminal legal reform, and economic justice. The work will be just beginning upon winning this primary.
Question 5: What steps will you take as a Congressperson to address gun violence?
Resources and gun sense/safety laws. This is a deeply impoverished district as well as traumatized. We need to be looking at gun violence from a preventionist lens – fund our schools, our libraries, our homes, provide job opportunities, mental health and health resources, and really inspire hopefulness in each person that they have a bright future ahead of them.
Question 6: What changes should be made to protect voting rights?
You should automatically be registered to vote when turning 18 and that registration should last a lifetime with updates of any moves. Maintain the right to vote of all currently and formerly incarcerated. Fight any form of voter suppression including automatic voter purges, cuts to early voting, and reduced polling hours or locations. Expand vote by mail. I know a guy working on trying to a get a mobile app for voting established in a few counties/states and I think easy access to safe and secure elections is a very smart, democratic direction for our country to head towards.
Question 7: How do you plan to address housing access, affordability, and equity?
I believe housing is a human right and I support the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act, which invests in the construction of sustainable public housing options priced at affordable real cost or income-based rates. There should be inclusive social housing for people of every race, income level, documentation status, and regardless of drug use or occupation (sex work). In our city, this would focus on revitalizing old and abandoned housing, retrofitting them with high-energy systems and appliances. I support fully funding Section 8 rental assistance program and implementing a nondiscrimination law. I will fight to implement a rent control standard and a “just cause” requirement for evictions. I will fight to end housing discrimination and ensure housing standards for renters. I support the rights of tenants to form tenant unions without retaliation from landlords and will protect survivors of domestic violence from eviction on the basis of their assault. I will challenge racist and classist practices by regulating gentrification, real estate speculation, and exclusionary zoning. I will also implement the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule to identify and end racist housing policies.
Question 8: What should Congress be spending more money on? Less money on?
More money on our people, on our children, our education system, and public resources such as libraries, transit, and housing. We should be reducing the pentagon budget and money being spent on nuclear weapons.