Dare to Dream: A Vision for Sustainable Transportation in Renton
As we confront the climate crisis, we must rethink how we move through our community and how we design our cities. The transition to electric cars alone won’t solve the problems of carbon emissions, traffic congestion, and long, frustrating commutes. We need bold, forward-thinking solutions that create a transportation system where cars are no longer the default—and where all residents have real alternatives to get where they need to go quickly, efficiently, and sustainably.
I envision a Renton where neighborhoods are connected by bikeable, walkable trails, linking us to accessible, reliable public transit. These connections would extend beyond city limits, ensuring that Renton is fully integrated with surrounding cities through seamless bus and rail networks. With improved transportation options, we can reduce the time wasted in traffic, lower emissions, and make it easier for residents to get to work, school, and community centers.
But the vision doesn’t stop there. We must also align our transportation plans with our housing goals. Imagine a Renton where essential services—grocery stores, daycare, schools, and jobs—are within walking or biking distance from where people live. In this city, families can spend more time together, and children can safely play outside. Seniors can walk to nearby stores, and all of us will have access to clean air and safer streets.
This is a vision of a more equitable, sustainable, and vibrant Renton. A city where public spaces are designed for people, not just cars. Where our streets are places of connection and community, not just thoroughfares for vehicles. It’s a city where our transportation choices reflect our values of health, safety, and climate responsibility.
But to make this vision a reality, we need leadership that is committed to these goals. We need elected officials who will show up at planning meetings and fight for policies that prioritize people over parking lots, accessibility over gridlock. We need leaders who will not only envision a better future but work tirelessly to bring it to life.
Together, we can create a Renton where transportation is not just about getting from point A to point B—it’s about building a better, more connected, and more sustainable city for all.
Let’s Dare to Dream—and make it happen.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966692324002679
https://www.theurbanist.org/2024/12/08/amtrak-cascades-on-track-to-deliver-new-airo-trainsets-in-2026/
Public Safety Policy Proposal for Renton City Council Campaign
Public safety in Renton cannot continue on the same broken path. The old approaches haven’t worked. The “war on drugs” has failed, and we’ve seen firsthand the limitations of a punitive system that doesn’t address the root causes of substance abuse and mental health struggles. Voters have already spoken: the passage of the Crisis Care Center Levy shows that our community is ready for a different approach—one that treats people with dignity and provides the support they need to heal, not punish them for their struggles.
As someone who has personally battled substance abuse, I know all too well that prosecution isn’t the answer. I found my way to sobriety not through jail time, but through compassionate care. I was fortunate enough to find a counselor who understood that the traditional 12-step, faith-based model wasn’t what I needed, and who worked with me to find an alternative approach. That experience changed my life. It’s that kind of care and understanding that I want to bring to our city, which is why I am committed to ensuring that a Crisis Care Center is built right here in Renton—so that people struggling with addiction and mental health issues don’t have to face incarceration, but instead have access to the support they truly need.
1. Redefining Public Safety: A Holistic Approach
Public safety isn’t just about law enforcement—it’s about creating a community where people feel safe, supported, and valued. We need to move away from relying solely on the police to solve every problem. Police play an important role, but they are not equipped to handle every crisis, especially those related to mental health, addiction, or homelessness. Just as we wouldn’t expect medics to handle a robbery or firefighters to respond to a plumbing emergency, we shouldn’t expect police officers to be the first responders to every social issue.
It’s time for a new kind of public safety response: one that includes a dedicated team of mental health professionals, counselors, and crisis workers who can respond to people in distress without the need for police intervention. This will not only provide more appropriate care for those in crisis, but it will also free up officers to focus on calls that require law enforcement expertise, just as we want firemen to show up when there’s a fire.
2. Crisis Care Centers: Compassionate Support for Those in Need
I am committed to making sure Renton is part of the broader effort to implement crisis care centers across the state. These centers are designed to provide immediate, compassionate care to individuals facing mental health crises or substance abuse challenges—treatment, not punishment. The funding is already available, and it’s crucial that we bring these centers to Renton to meet the needs of our community. We have the chance to be a part of a new system that values recovery over retribution, that offers support rather than arrest.
3. School Resource Officers Who Build Relationships, Not Fear
Our schools are vital to the well-being and safety of our youth. However, we must reimagine the role of “resource officers” in schools. I believe we can have professionals who are not police officers—people who are trained in conflict resolution, mental health, and restorative justice practices—serve as the first line of support for students. These professionals can build relationships with students and families based on trust, understanding, and a commitment to supporting young people, rather than creating a culture of fear and punishment. We have funding available for police positions that remain unfilled and recruitment bonuses that have failed to attract applicants. I propose we redirect these resources into hiring professionals who can address the unique challenges students face, while freeing up police officers to respond to situations that require their specific expertise.
4. Accountability for Police: Holding Officers to a Higher Standard
Alongside these positive changes, we must also demand accountability from our police department. When officers are reckless, violent, or abuse their power, it undermines the trust of the community and harms public safety. We need a community council to oversee incidents of police misconduct, a council with the authority to hold officers accountable for violations of public trust. Just as we would never accept a union contract that allows nurses to harm patients without consequences, we should not allow police officers to escape accountability for wrongdoing.
In addition, we should ensure that police union contracts include provisions that support transparency, accountability, and public trust—because the public’s safety and well-being should always come before the protection of any individual officer who violates that trust.
A Vision for Public Safety Built on Compassion, Accountability, and Community
As your city councilmember, I will work to build a public safety system that is not rooted in fear, but in support. We will prioritize mental health care, addiction treatment, and a more compassionate approach to crisis intervention. Our police officers will be able to focus on the work they are trained to do, while our schools, families, and neighborhoods will have the support they need to thrive. And most importantly, we will hold our public servants to the highest standards, ensuring that our community’s trust in our police is always earned.
I am committed to creating a Renton where safety is defined not by how many police are on the streets, but by how supported, healthy, and connected our community feels. Together, we can build a public safety system that truly serves everyone.
Let’s make Renton a place where everyone is safe—not just from crime, but from harm, neglect, and injustice.
https://undark.org/2024/11/06/are-schools-with-armed-police-actually-safer/
Housing Policy Proposal for Renton City Council Campaign
As a candidate for Renton City Council, I am committed to addressing the growing housing crisis in our city. Too many Renton residents are struggling—watching their rent rise while wages do not keep up with inflation and the rising cost of living. The status quo has failed, and it’s time for an innovative approach.
With recent legislative changes, including the State Budget and the Missing Middle Bill, we have a unique opportunity to make real progress in how housing is developed and distributed in our community. But to seize this opportunity, we need leadership that prioritizes the needs of Renton residents, not the interests of developers or the wealthy. The city council must act boldly to ensure that housing is accessible, affordable, and inclusive for all.
Here’s how I will work to improve housing in Renton:
1. Expand Housing Options for All
I will advocate for policies that increase the availability of affordable housing throughout Renton. This includes introducing pre-approved plans for duplexes, fourplexes, and sixplexes, which will reduce costs for developers and encourage the construction of more affordable units. By offering a range of housing options, we can start to take on the cost of housing issue in Renton which is now on par with the biggest cities in the region.
2. Energy-Efficient Housing for a Sustainable Future
Sustainability is key to ensuring that new housing becomes affordable long-term. I will push to raise building codes to Passivhaus standards, which prioritize energy efficiency, healthier indoor air quality, and greater comfort for residents. These upgrades will lower utility costs for renters and reduce Renton’s overall carbon footprint, creating homes that are both environmentally and economically sustainable.
3. Institute Rent Controls for Residential and Commercial Properties
The rising cost of living affects both renters and small business owners. I will work to implement rent controls for both residential and commercial properties, stabilizing rents and protecting tenants and businesses from displacement. People’s livelihoods should not be at risk to secure the passive income of a few landlords or developers.
4. End Property Tax Exemptions for Landlords
I will fight to eliminate property tax exemptions for landlords who leave properties vacant or underutilized. These exemptions only encourage speculation and drive-up costs for everyone. By ending these tax breaks, we can reinvest the savings into housing programs that directly benefit Renton residents, particularly those in need of affordable housing.
5. Support Public and Cooperative Housing Initiatives
The private market will never provide enough affordable housing on its own. I will push for the development of public housing or worker cooperative housing to meet our community’s needs. Public and cooperative models offer long-term affordability and ensure that housing decisions are made with the well-being of residents in mind, not profit margins.
6. Introduce an Unoccupied Unit Tax
In times of housing scarcity, it is unacceptable for landlords to leave units vacant while rents rise. I will propose an unoccupied unit tax on both rental and commercial properties, incentivizing property owners to put vacant spaces to use. This will help alleviate the housing shortage and ensure that landlords are contributing to the community rather than sitting on empty properties for profit.
7. Address Market Manipulation by Technology
We must confront the growing issue of market manipulation in Renton’s rental market. Washington State has recently joined a federal antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, a company accused of using algorithms to inflate rental prices by manipulating data from landlords. RealPage’s software and software like it, which impacts around 800,000 leases in Washington, could be artificially driving up rents by undermining market competition.
To protect our local rental market and renters from these exploitative practices, I propose the following measures:
- Outlaw Market Manipulation Technologies: I will introduce legislation that explicitly bans the use of market manipulation technologies like RealPage within Renton. Landlords or property managers found using these platforms to set rents will face severe fines.
- Strengthen Oversight and Compliance: I will establish robust enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with these new regulations, including regular audits, penalties for violations, and the creation of a task force to investigate potential abuses.
A Vision for a Fairer, More Equitable Renton
As your city councilmember, my goal will be to ensure that Renton is a city where everyone can afford a safe and secure place to live. I will work to raise the floor of benefits and protections that residents can expect from their local government. Together, we can build a Renton that is affordable, sustainable, and welcoming to all.
I believe in a future where Renton residents aren’t forced out of their homes by rising rents and speculative developers, where the housing market works for the people who live here, not just for those seeking profit. I am committed to making that future a reality, and I ask for your support in this effort.
Let’s make Renton a city where housing works for everyone.