Amber is a multi-decade resident, 41 years old, first-generation Japanese-American, lgbtqia+, 3-year homeowner, three-time city official, director of a regional volunteer program, musician, gardener, and political organizer.

Amber has served 6 years in city government as chair of the Human Relations Commission, chair of the 220 N. Park Community Benefits Committee (CBA), and member of the Housing Affordability & Accessibility Committee. As a public servant Amber has proven effective at making meaningful change and speaking truth to power.

Amber’s record: —Struck historic affordable housing deal as chair of the 220 N. Park CBA committee, mandating for-sale homes to those making $34,000 a year, with 90-day prioritization for residents of Ypsilanti

—Led the passage of a Ceasefire resolution mobilizing a hundred public comments

—Worked at Planned Parenthood as a patient-advocate for youth seeking abortion access

—Led passage of resolution to end 'Right to Work'

A few staff and seven city council members should not make every governmental decision. We can empower thousands more to participate in decision-making by including resident input on important issues via survey and city-wide vote on a semi-annual basis—on issues like what to do with Water Street, the YPD budget, and more.

Amber's record: —Wrote two Ypsilanti City Charter updates to democratize commission appointments, which passed by 77% via city-wide vote in 2020

—Created a Community Benefits Ordinance with Rising for Economic Democracy in Ypsi (REDY) that requires developers negotiate with city residents for community benefits

—Led the largest town hall in 20 years to discuss affordable housing, spurring the community into action

—Organized home buyer education for Ypsilanti renters

—Wrote a repeal to the ban on rent control which was adopted by the MDP Platform

It was announced this year that Ypsilanti is in a 3.7 million dollar budget shortfall, while services stagnate or regress.

Community and gun violence among vulnerable youth is on the rise—reducing poverty via programs to support sovereignty in housing, food, health, etc are proven to increase safety and create opportunity. Along with this, it is unthinkable that 26% of YCS students are homeless, and more are housing insecure. Landlord monopolies in Ypsi are the de-facto regulators of rent which impact thousands of residents—a system we can challenge democratically via supporting our tenant unions, creating new standards for affordable housing via an affordability ordinance, vacancy tax, short-term rentals limits, tenant right-of-first-refusal, banning rental application fees, and a rental registry.

This year along with running for City Council, I am supporting three ballot initiatives by Ypsi BIG that tackle issues of police budgets, renters’ rights, and local election reform.

The people of Ypsilanti are what makes this community special. We can move toward a thriving populace by making life easier for everyone in Ypsi, first focusing on repairing damage to historically harmed communities, while expanding power and voice in critical decision-making to issue stakeholders and everyone. Ypsilanti also has an incredibly rich green and natural world; together we can support and care for the abundant and biodiverse community among us. Some of the ways this could happen is by relaxing lawn ordinances and encouraging native pollinator gardens on public and private property, by appropriately valuing the city’s non-developed land, by improving our climate resiliency infrastructure and municipalizing our resources like power, by incentivizing tree planting and reforestation, by envisioning ways to reduce the size of parking lots and increase the number of green spaces, by prioritizing the magnificent Huron River and surrounding habitat, and many other possibilities.

I have worked in bars and restaurants in the area and have had the opportunity to meet many in the community. I have also been a Libertarian Party leader for years.

My goals would be to focus on what the city needs to be an affordable and safe place to live. I would reallocate resources to necessary city operations and stop funding unnecessary functions.

Housing is very expensive and is a combination of high taxation and too strict zoning and building codes. There is also high crime in Ypsilanti and needs work for them to be effective.

Ypsilanti's greatest assets are its people and its business. We have a diverse community and with that, we have a unique array of businesses in this small city.