VOTE411 Voter Guide

Two-term incumbency on the Town Board, serving as -Chair, Public Works Committee -Co-chair, Community Services Committee -Past chair, Public Safety Committee -Board liaison, Conservation Board and Tree Council -Town Board rep, BCSD Brighton Believes Council

Service on the Town's -Zoning Board of Appeals -Envision Brighton 2028 Comprehensive Plan steering committee -Brighton Police Department Citizens’ Hiring Panel

Leadership -Brighton Safe Streets for All & collaborative advocacy with Reconnect Rochester - Willowbend Neighborhood Assn -19th Ward Community Assn Board

Chose Brighton in 2007 to raise our daughter for the town's commitment to sustainability, diversity, education, and—under Democratic leadership—the values that we believe make life better for everyone.

As spouse of a person with physical disabilities, I have a distinct perspective on how to bring down barriers to full participation in all that Brighton offers that the community at large may not otherwise see.

The Envision Brighton 2028 Comprehensive Plan states, “In planning for the future, our commitment to the Brighton community will be to actively: promote our sense of community and social equity; preserve and protect our environmental assets; support a vibrant economic climate; and ensure public health, safety, and welfare for all.” It encapsulates the community's desires--the town's priorities--chief among them:

-expanding affordable housing while preserving open space; -revitalizing commercial corridors (Monroe Ave., S. Clinton, E&W Henrietta Roads, etc.) and creating a more village-like feel in Twelve Corners; -making it easier and safer to get around Brighton without need for a car; and -enhancing our parks and recreation offerings and amenities.

I have made progress in all these priority areas, and I remain dedicated to continuing the collaborative work with community members, government at all levels, and private entities that it will take to bring these priorities to life.

Yes. Existing exclusionary zoning impedes growth and access to Brighton. We can amend town code to permit denser single- and multi-family housing, including 1-story no-step entry homes with accessible design and 3+ BR rentals (e.g., cottage courts, row-houses, doubles, quads) and permit/incentivize mixed-use commercial/residential development on commercial corridors while still preserving the unique character of our neighborhoods. Zoning changes could be as narrow as targeting commercial corridors or as wide-ranging as a town-wide zoning code overhaul. We have good examples to follow from neighboring communities, we have expertise among our town’s Planning Department staff, and--most importantly--we have the will of the community as expressed in the Envision Brighton 2028 Comprehensive Plan.

One of my long-time goals is to refresh and revitalize Monroe Avenue, our town's Main Street. Such a transformation is complex, but we know, based on the Envision Brighton 2028 Comprehensive Plan, that this is what the community wants. Sparking an evolution into a cohesive, invitingly walkable, mixed-use corridor with a village-like feel would serve as a catalyst for community pride, economic vitality, and increased environmental and community health. There is exciting potential for partnership with the NYS Department of Transportation, the Brighton Chamber of Commerce, and commercial and residential property owners as well as the business owners of Monroe Avenue. With the NYS DOT’s pending road repaving project on the horizon, with decades of charrettes, redesign studies, and more community input, as well as potential to reshape zoning code in this area, now is the time to bring our community’s vision for our most iconic avenue and center of town to life.

I’ve been a dedicated community leader through my work with Temple B’rith Kodesh, the Brighton Schools PTSA, the Town Planning Board, and previously with Big Brothers Big Sisters. I’ve spent years listening to residents, organizing initiatives, and turning ideas into action. As a parent, I see daily how local decisions impact families. As a Latina who had to build a life from scratch after moving here, I bring a unique perspective to the table. Professionally, after earning an MBA from the Simon School, I’ve spent over a decade in municipal finance, which gave me a strong foundation in overseeing public resources, planning for long-term growth, and driving economic development. On the Planning Board, I’ve helped guide thoughtful and environmentally responsible development in our town. I bring financial expertise, the perspective of an immigrant and parent, and a deep commitment to our community.

Our town should focus on smart growth that expands the tax base to ease the tax burden on our residents. That means updating our code, supporting mixed-use development on commercial roads, and attracting businesses that meet community needs. We must prioritize sustainability: investing in green infrastructure, walkability, and climate resilience. As we grow, we must protect what makes Brighton special while planning for a stronger future.

Equally important is keeping the community’s voice at the center. We need transparent communication and modern tools so residents stay informed and engaged. That includes gathering feedback from diverse groups before major town decisions. Town halls, citizen steering committees, and other inclusive processes to ensure everyone has a seat at the table.

Now more than ever, we must make Brighton more resilient to protect us from rising authoritarian threats at the federal level and ensure our local government remains a strong line of defense.

Yes. Updating our zoning regulations is essential to making Brighton a place where people of all ages, backgrounds, and income levels can live and thrive. We can promote affordability while maintaining neighborhood character by allowing for more diverse housing options, like mixed-use development along commercial roads (where the first floor is for business and the upper floor is for residential) and accessory dwelling units, where appropriate and safe to do so. These changes can help young families, seniors, and everyone in between stay in our community. By aligning zoning with our Comprehensive Plan, we can support smart, sustainable growth while addressing the very real housing needs of our residents.

One major improvement I would like to see is the development of a comprehensive, town-wide economic development plan that focuses on expanding our tax base and ensuring sustainable growth. This plan would include clear strategies to attract diverse businesses, support small businesses, and make the best use of underutilized commercial spaces. By encouraging smart, mixed-use development along commercial roads and modernizing our code to reflect the future we want, we can create new opportunities for jobs, services, and housing. To turn this plan into action, I would advocate to implement the necessary updates to the town code and streamline permitting processes, making sure our regulations align with the vision for our future. I would work closely with town staff, fellow town leaders, professionals, business owners, residents, and partners to craft this plan, ensuring it is inclusive, equitable, adaptable, and aligned with our community values.

I am the most experienced of the candidates, currently serving my eighth year as a Brighton Town Councilmember. I have diligently attended the annual Association of Towns conference, and have held several leadership positions within Local Progress. I have recorded several accomplishments, creating the Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Advisory (IDEA) Board, which led to Brighton hiring one of the only municipal Chief Diversity Officers in upstate New York; I campaigned for and enacted Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), which saved Town residents $1.6M. I serve as liaison to the Town’s Sustainability Oversight Committee, overseeing the Brighton Town Park’s lodge upgrade to a carbon neutral building. As the Chair of the Community Services Committee, I coordinate several events, including Clean Sweep, Electronics Recycling and Secure Document Shredding, and Councilmember On Your Corner. I have a proven track record of listening to and acting on constituent feedback.

Town communication must be increased, modernized, and diversified. With all the amazing things happening in Brighton, we need to ensure that every resident knows about events and happenings in town, has a voice in their development, and a tool for getting timely answers to their questions and concerns. Poor communication has been the root cause of several recent mishaps in Town governance, from the short-lived plan to get rid of the public pool at Brighton Town Hall to the recent changes to recycling pickup by the Town’s refuse districts.

The Town also should continue to upgrade infrastructure to be sustainable and accessible, and update its zoning codes to be inclusive and to provide for more climate-resilient development.

I was instrumental in securing the Town’s allotment of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funding under the Infrastructure Improvement and Jobs Act. This important step laid the foundation for sorely needed updates to Brighton’s zoning codes that will help us meet benchmarks as a Pro-Housing Community. These updates will focus on deemphasizing so-called Euclidean zoning and prioritizing inclusionary zoning, that will be less car-forward. An updated zoning code also would provide for more climate-resilient development.

The Town of Brighton should budget for and plan to construct a Recreation Center. The results of a Community & Recreation Center Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study were introduced to the public in July, 2022. Since that time, no action has been taken by the town. In 2024, the Town attempted to remove the municipal pool and replace it with a splash pad, with no input from the community and no regard for the study recommendations. The community rose up, and I am the only Councilmember to collaborate with constituents to make sure their voices were heard. My advocacy led to funding from New York State, courtesy of Senator Cooney and Assemblymember Clark, saving and upgrading the pool while also installing a splash pad. We were able to save one of the last municipal pools in the area, and create an aquatics center that prioritizes community needs and not the convenience of town staff. I will bring the study's recommendations to a vote, and implement them with input from residents.