VOTE411 Voter Guide

I will prioritize building community resilience, improve access to housing, particularly for middle and lower income levels. I also support the develop of mulitmodal transportation options to reduce dependency on cars and promote physical & mental health through walking & biking. For the last six years, I have worked in both Nashville TN and Bowling Green Ohio to build resilient strong communities. My work is informed by neuroscientific studies that demonstrate the positive impact safe homes &neighborhoods connected to the natural environment have on lowering the risk of anxiety and depression for a community. Much of my work in BG has centered around my leadership roles as a founder of BG SONG. I spearheaded SONG's Call To Action Meeting which brought close to 70 community members together and resulted in the establishment of our four Call To Action teams. These teams are engaged in advancing projects related to climate resilience, housing and transportation.

This is one of the priorities we need to address identified in the CARIP. The two industries will on board in a few years and we need to have a solution that is in progress at the very least. The development of fresh water reserves could take up to a decade. This need is best addressed through partnership with the appropriate state and local officials to develop an alternative water reserve such as a reservoir or well field for use when drought conditions prevail. Another option is to develop a pipeline for water access directly from Lake Erie. We should also develop a partnership with these industries with the intention to conserve water. For example, the data center could recycle the water used for cooling the data center and the city could promote alternatives to traditional lawns to help reduce water usage across the city. Both industries could create campuses that utilize trees bio-swales and rain gardens to improve ground water return and support our pollinators.

I have been working since helping to establihs BG SONG on improving middle and lower income housing for BG. This includes volunteering for our first "Rock" project which provided lawn and home repair for homeowners who need financial or physical help to maintain their properties. As the team lead for BG SONG's New Housing Action Team, I helped develop a proposal for a "Housing and Neighborhood Commission" which will champion best practices for neighborhood and housing strategies. Our team also is working on a project that will "(Re)Imagine a BG neighborhood". This BGSU collaboration will help inform the community on innovative housing options & promote walking. I will also consider policy that supports mixed income level housing.

Other than secure water reserves I would promote the following; the construction or retrofitting of public buildings as resiliency centers, a comprehensive program for using native plants and tree, increase our tree canopy & implement other green infrastructure elements to help with carbon offset and flooding. I would strongly advocate for increasing reliance on renewable energy sources, promote electric and hybrid vehicles, & improve public transportation to reduce reliance on cars and carbon emissions. Improving our tree canopy, adding green infrastructure and promoting walking and public transportation will promote the physical and mental health of our community members.