Home municipality
Madison
Home ZIP code
53715
Preferred pronouns
He/Him
Know Your Candidates Interview
I believe that the Madison Forward initiative has been an improvement upon Madison, and am strongly in favor of projects like the Parkside Triangle redevelopment. However, I believe we need to do more, and need to keep ourselves in control of our housing solutions. We need to continue building public housing en masse, as our city grows to have perhaps half a million residents within the coming decades. I envision a city of Barcelona-style megablocks, social housing development perfectly integrated into a walkable, transit focused city. We need lower rents, not more luxury hotels.
I understand worries about new developments having negative externalities, and on the Common Council I will encourage a full understanding of the true effects of our decisions. However, my main concern will always be people's material conditions. If we have the choice between getting people off of the street and into housing or having a neigborhood look perfect, having another parking lot, or having another luxury hotel near the Capitol? I'll choose to house people every time.
Firstly, like everyone else, students are being decimated by the housing crisis. Rent in Madison is too high, and the cost for tenants to hold their landlords accountable is even higher. We're going to build public, affordable housing, by and for the people. We're also going to ensure every tenant has free access to legal counsel when going against their landlord. A concern unique to students is bar raids. Not only do they force students out of safer drinking environments, but the bar raid fiasco is a clear example of the MPD lying to our faces. I'll take on police waste, like bar raids.
Madison doesn't need a man, it needs a movement. I've been an organizer with Y/DSA for almost 5 years now, and in that time I've fought for my teachers' union on my school board, been involved with the UW-Milwaukee Palestine Encampment, worked in the Capitol with Darrin Madison's office, and defended funding for student groups and University Health Services on the SSFC. I've done this all not because of my unique abilities, but because of my committment to and belief in the power of organizing and fighting alongside my fellows. I'm not afraid to fight for my community, I know how to manage budgets in the tens of millions, and know the power of collective organizing.
Home municipality
Madison
Home ZIP code
53726
Preferred pronouns
She/her
Know Your Candidates Interview
Given rent has increased by 47% since 2020, affordable housing is a game of catch-up. While current reports are promising, we need to build more across the city, alleviating students and professionals competing for the same apartments. We need creative solutions, such as requiring discounted beds for students in exchange for developers exceeding the height limit: a win-win scenario for students with lower rent, developers with more capacity. I will push for development on transit routes, in neighborhoods near grocery stores and shops so people can not just live affordably, but conveniently.
Safety will always be the first priority. Pedestrians and cyclists deserve dignity and infrastructure that supports them. To preserve Madison’s character and environment, increasing density is the most effective way to do so because it minimizes land use, reduces car-centric infrastructure, and creates livability through proximity and supports pedestrians. As alder, I’ll promote mixed-use zoning, allowing residents to shop where they live, rather than encouraging sprawl that makes it hard for those without cars to get around and converts our beautiful environment into speedways.
I always hear the same issues. Renting challenges, public transit expansion, and opposing ICE. We struggle as renters because of opaque leases and without retaliation methods against predatory landlords. Beyond affordability, as a student advocate, I will ensure they know their rights and how to keep landlords accountable. I’ll make buses run later, and make routes like a reverse 80 and a campus-airport line. I’m excited for the future Amtrak. I will work with community organizations and mutual aid organizations to stand against ICE, protecting students and our neighbors of color.
Because Chinese American immigrants raised me, I’ve always understood the importance of community service, an ethos motivating me to serve students and Madison. I know how to navigate the city, university, and state government. I’m currently working on a research project for the city’s affordable housing division. From my experience at UW, I can make the city effectively serve its people. I’ve eliminated voting barriers, pushed for the WisCard to be a voter ID, served as an election worker for Madison, and worked for Rep. Francesca Hong. I’ve experienced common struggles–I’ve worked service, been without health insurance, and I went to a 48% economically disadvantaged high school. I’m prepared to be the tireless advocate UW students need.
