2nd Ward Candidate Q&A

No, I do not believe that the current criminal justice system is equitable. I support reforms to address issues such as mass incarceration, for-profit prisons and racial discrimination in law enforcement. I support ending cash bail to stop routine pretrial incarceration. I support cutting mandatory minimum sentencing. I believe that the judge selection process needs to be completely revamped to ensure that the most qualified candidates reach the bench. I vehemently oppose the death penalty.

Gun violence is a public health crisis. I’m horrified by Philadelphia’s gun violence epidemic, the recent spike in gun violence, and the irreparable harm it inflicts on our families and communities. I support a multifaceted approach that tackles the issue from both a public safety and public health perspective. Common-sense gun safety reform will be a top priority for me in Harrisburg. I support universal background checks for every gun sale and transfer, reporting requirements for lost or stolen firearms, and a ban on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Gun manufacturers and dealers should not be shielded from liability. In absence of statewide legislation, Philadelphia should be allowed to make our own gun laws to protect our innocent children and families. I would also advocate for more support for gun violence survivors.

The opioid epidemic is a public health emergency in both urban and rural parts of this state. Access to effective treatment for opioid use disorder is essential to combating the opioid epidemic. Access to these treatments is particularly important in Medicaid, because Medicaid covers a disproportionately large share of people with opioid addiction. Therefore, I support continued funding for Medicaid and expanded prescription drug coverage. The issues surrounding supervised injection sites are incredibly complex, and while research has proven that they reduce the number of overdose deaths per year by monitored injections, critics say they undermine prevention efforts and raise safety concerns. Site plans would require tremendous feedback from the community and a commitment to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

I support paid family leave and increasing unionization of workers. With more than a quarter of Philadelphians living below the poverty line and the gulf between rich and poor widening, all of us must come together to confront this issue and stand up for those who are struggling just to get by. I believe that the roots of poverty are complex and intergenerational—from redlining to underfunded schools to challenges with healthcare. On the state level, there’s a tremendous amount that can be done to help alleviate economic insecurity in our city and across Pennsylvania. For example, all children should start out on a level playing field with access to early childhood education and quality schools. No one should go bankrupt because they can’t afford their medical bills. Increased economic mobility is critical not just for individuals or families but for the success of our city and our state as a whole.

I understand that the intention of these laws is to prevent employee misclassification, but in practice they are problematic in many ways for freelancers. I would need to see that these costly implications for freelancers were addressed before supporting any kind of similar legislation in Pennsylvania.

I’m a parent of three students currently enrolled in Philly public schools, and the complacency regarding years of underfunding and neglect that led to this appalling situation is what motivated me to run for office. I will fight every day in Harrisburg not only for the health and safety of my children, but for all of the students, teachers and staff in Philadelphia and other underfunded school districts throughout our state—especially for students and schools with the fewest resources. I will push for a dramatic increase in funding as well as measures to ensure that the money is spent efficiently and in a manner that remedies the situation as soon as possible.

Increased investment in our public schools would be one of my top issues in Harrisburg. Simply redistributing the state’s basic education fund through the Fair Funding Formula is not enough to fully fund all students, particularly those living in poverty, English language learners and students with other needs. I believe that there should be a moratorium on any new charter school funding; however, we should continue to support charter schools that are high-performing and are serving communities where there is a clear need.

Abortion is health care and our legal right, and as a woman who has relied on Planned Parenthood at different times in my life, I’m horrified by the increasing attacks on our sexual and reproductive health in Pennsylvania and other states. I am 100 percent pro-choice, and I will do everything in my power to push back against these dangerous and unconstitutional restrictions.

I understand how vital access to quality healthcare is for women, and how inequitable the system can be for women who are uninsured, underinsured or simply cannot advocate for the care they receive. I will be a fierce advocate of women’s healthcare in Harrisburg and fight to ensure that a women’s right to choose and the decisions that she makes regarding her healthcare remain out of the hands of legislators and stay in our complete control.

I consider clean water and reducing water pollution in Pennsylvania to be vitally important and will absolutely support conservation projects and practices. As far as the responsibilities of different states and the EPA in this particular case, I understand the importance of reducing pollution that washes into the Susquehanna, but I will need to research the lawsuit further to get a full understanding of the situation.

I believe that climate change is an emergency and that we absolutely cannot continue with business as usual. I support immediate efforts to transition to a cleaner economy, and I understand that there are many details to work out so that workers are not left behind as we make that transition. Tackling this issue will be an incredibly complex process that will involve finding areas of common ground for environmental and labor communities and coming up with innovative solutions.

I support a ban on fracking because I believe that the harmful environmental implications and safety concerns outweigh the benefits. Of course such a ban would have tremendous implications for workers in our state, and the transition would not be quick or simple. We’d need to invest more in clean energy research and development. And I would support solutions such as job retraining, education and other assistance for oil and gas workers.

Because I grew up in rural Upstate New York, I understand where lawmakers from outside of metropolitan areas are coming from. During my career in government relations and public policy, I represented higher ed and healthcare institutions on the local, state and federal level. I have proven experience collaborating with colleagues, elected officials, and stakeholders with diverse points of view to get results. I would focus on the issues that connect us, such as the opioid epidemic and underfunded schools, to find common ground to improve the lives of all Pennsylvanians.

As the daughter and daughter-in-law of immigrants, I am proud to live in a sanctuary city. I understand that politically disenfranchised immigrant communities are especially vulnerable and terrified today, and I believe that it is on all of us—both lawmakers and everyday citizens—to help defend their rights. I would do what I could on the state level to push for releasing imprisoned immigrant families, and I would consider sponsoring legislation stipulating that family separation is an “extreme hardship.”

The E-verify system itself seems problematic because research has called into question its effectiveness and accuracy rate. Considering these issues, I’m not sure that I feel this is a fair and just law. I also believe that it prevents many immigrant and undocumented people from seeking work out of fear of being put directly into the hands of ICE, which is counterintuitive to our status as a sanctuary city.

No, I do not believe that the current system works for everyone. We need to address myriad issues such as deep poverty, hunger, economic inequality and the racial and gender wage gap to begin to work toward a better quality of life for all Pennsylvanians.

Before tackling any tax issues I would need to get a thorough understanding of any proposed changes and their implications for all of my constituents.

I believe that election security is vitally important and that some of the criticisms surrounding the recent voting machine selection process are valid. I would be open to revisiting the functionality of the machines, but I’m not sure that a presidential election year is the best time to begin that process. I’m open to discussing this further.

I serve as an elected Committee Person and Secretary for Ward 5. My husband and I have lived in Center City for the past 15 years, and our children attend Philly public schools. I’m running for State Representative because I believe that the many and varied problems we face—from the severe underfunding of our public schools to the climate crisis—need more urgent action on the state level. Residents of the 182nd District deserve someone who will fight for them every day in Harrisburg and also improved constituent services. I believe that I am well-positioned to do this because of my experience living in the district and sending my kids to school here, coupled with my professional background advocating for diverse groups on the state and local level.

During my career in government relations, I focused on education and health care issues on the local, state and federal level. In Washington, DC, upstate New York, and Pennsylvania. I collaborated with colleagues, elected officials and stakeholders with diverse points of view. At Syracuse University, I worked in government and community relations—organizing students, representing the university in state and local government issues, and engaging with local civic groups. As the Director of Government Relations for the Delaware Valley Healthcare Council of HAP, I advocated for uninsured and underinsured populations in the Philadelphia region.

In 2019, I was one of 13 people appointed by the Philadelphia School Board of Education to the Parent and Community Advisory Council to help amplify the voices of parents and community members. In addition, I serve on the Fund Our Facilities Coalition, a group of elected leaders, labor organizations and others dedicated to securing funds to make school buildings safe and healthy for all students in Philadelphia. I also serve on City Year’s Women’s Leadership Committee, which unites women to support the service of City Year AmeriCorps members in Philadelphia schools while also inspiring women’s empowerment.

The top three issues that I care most about are funding public education, healthcare access for all, and affordable and efficient public transportation.

During my first 100 days in office I would focus on these three issues, especially securing funding to fix unsafe and unhealthy school buildings as quickly as possible. I would also create a robust constituent services program, including mobile offices, to foster an environment where residents of the 182nd District always feel heard and represented in Harrisburg.