Health Care
Far too many families and individuals in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties go without health insurance because they can’t afford it or are underinsured. The number of Californians without coverage rose to a record 6.8 million people last year – that is equal to nearly one out of every five people living in the state. The current system is broken.
I support State Senator Sheila Kuehl’s single payer health care bill, SB 840. Californians deserve high quality care and reliable coverage that is both affordable and efficient. It is time to get the insurance companies out of health care and replace them with a system driven by fairness not profits.
"Emily's Bakery," the small business I founded 25 years ago, has served as a place where I can put progressive policies into action. My goal has always been to provide a safe work environment where we are honored for hard work. Health care coverage is a key component of an employee’s ability to perform at work. It also is critical to an individual’s ability to thrive in life outside of work. To that end, the bakery enacted forward-thinking health care coverage policies, including paying 100% of healthcare costs for all employees who have worked at the bakery for six months and work over 30 hours a week. I intend to bring my experience in enacting progressive principles on health care to the State Assembly to make sure we treat health care as a right for all and not just a privilege for some.
Global Warming
Santa Cruz and Monterey counties have been on the forefront of environmental protection for years, and we must continue to lead in the fight to stop global warming. As mayor of Santa Cruz, I am proud to have led the city council in its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. I brought together a broad coalition to make Santa Cruz one of the first cities in California to establish a model mandatory "green building" program for all new construction.
Currently, I am spearheading an effort with other regional leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors to set greenhouse gas reduction goals, so that we can implement a coordinated plan for reducing our carbon footprint across the Monterey Bay region. It is this kind of leadership on solving our climate crisis that I will continue to demonstrate in the California State Assembly.
Coastal Protection
As a member of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary advisory council, I have fought for years to protect the Bay. I have been a strong supporter of former Assemblyman Fred Keeley’s Marine Life Protection Act and the Marine Protection Areas established by the bill. I was proud to receive the Ruth Vreeland Award in 2005 for my efforts on behalf of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Our economy depends on tourism, and I believe that protecting the environment will allow us to protect and create jobs. To that end, I have led efforts to bring federal, state, city and private funds to support the construction and operation of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Visitor Center.
In addition, any efforts to protect the coast must include a commitment to fight all new oil drilling off our coasts. As a member of the Assembly, I will lead the effort to protect against new drilling. In addition, I will oppose any proposals to build liquefied natural gas facilities off the coast of California.
Education
I believe that public education is the great leveler in our society and gives every child, no matter their background, a chance at the American dream. California’s educational system was once the envy of the rest of the nation. Today, we are not meeting the challenge of properly educating our children. The job of teaching our children is harder today than it has ever been, and our teachers are not getting the support they need. As a member of the Assembly, I will support more funding for education to provide higher teacher pay, new text books, and better facilities. I support efforts to close the achievement gap for low performing schools by improving teacher training, reducing class sizes, and hiring more school counselors. I will not support any type of school voucher program.
Finally, while we must continue our efforts to get more kids on the college track, we also must improve our vocational education/career tech efforts at the secondary level, so kids who do not want to go to college can find good quality jobs out of high school or even become entrepreneurs, like myself, by starting their own business.
Smart Growth
The growth policies we set in our community and region say a lot about our values. I support policies that protect the environment, create walkable communities that are bicycle-friendly, and promote density in housing along public transit corridors.
Smart growth also means revitalizing neglected neighborhoods by combining affordable housing with new economic development and solid transportation solutions, so people can work where they live. Rail is an important component of these policies. Even in areas where light rail is not feasible, it is important to protect the rail corridors that already exist. Some can be used for bike paths and/or bus rapid transit, some will be useful for rail travel in the future.
Finally, as we evaluate the sustainability of potential transportation and housing plans, I support making carbon reduction a criteria of sustainability.
In our growing region we must create incentives that will reduce sprawl, protect agricultural land and ensure that our community centers are vital and strong. In the Assembly my work will reflect these values.
Affordable Housing
Affordable housing is a major issue for the residents of Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. In Santa Cruz, much like the rest of the state, the housing market has skyrocketed over the last 20 years, particularly with the Silicon Valley boom. Many of our residents travel over the hill every day to jobs in the tech sector. Those working in agriculture, the service sector and other lower paying areas of the Central Coast economy find it more and more difficult to afford a home in our community. In addition, these factors have combined to increase sprawl across both counties.
Since my time on the city council, Santa Cruz has added 900 units of market rate and affordable rental housing units and we are on track to add 100 more units through the conversion of the old Salz Tannery. These types of urban infill affordable housing projects provide a critical alternative to sprawl. I will continue to push for these kinds of affordable housing solutions as a member of the State Assembly.
Transportation
Transportation is a major issue for those of us who live in the 27th Assembly District.
Our priority must be to increase funding for public transit and reduce sprawl by building housing near job centers. As chair of the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit Board, I led lobbying efforts for federal funds to build the new Pacific Station downtown, which will include affordable housing as well.
As a commissioner on the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, I am working to purchase the rail right of way from Union Pacific. Following the example of our neighbors in Monterey County, if successful, we can provide an alternative form of transportation to commuters and reduce congestion on our highways. Our hope is to create a bike and pedestrian system that may include a bus, rapid transit or passenger line that stretches from the north end of Santa Cruz County to the south end of Monterey County.
We need a balanced and innovative approach to transportation. We now know we can’t widen our way out of congestion. Because transportation plays a key role in seriously addressing climate change, new and innovative ways of moving people around will play a major part in any solution. We need a balance of good roads, alternative transportation methods and a strong public transit system with guaranteed funding.
I will take my wealth of experience on transportation issues to Sacramento, where I will advocate for the transportation fixes that are so important to residents of Santa Cruz and Monterey counties while protecting the environment.
Marriage Equality
We have come a long way in ensuring the fair treatment of those in the LGBT community, but not far enough. Past struggles for civil rights teach us that separate is not equal, which is why I support marriage equality. I have fought for marriage equality both as Mayor of Santa Cruz and as a small business owner. I voted in 2004 for a resolution opposing the Federal Marriage Amendment. As Mayor, I made sure that amicus briefs were filed for the city throughout the San Francisco marriage equality court process, and shepherded resolutions supporting same-gender marriage legislation. In Sacramento, I will continue to fight for equal rights for all Californians.
Working Families
Working families have always faced enormous pressures, and today is no different. Workers and their families, it seems, are under attack from all sides. I am against any proposed raid on the pensions of public employees. I will fight against current efforts to contract out work to non-union firms. I will work to ensure binding arbitration for police and firefighters. And I will fight for healthcare for all working families and all Californians and always continue to search for creative ways to build affordable workforce housing.
Finally, I strongly support the Employee Free Choice Act, and urge Congress to pass it. The right to organize is fundamental in any society that values work and workers.
Iraq War
We must end this misbegotten war now. As a mayor, I have led the city of Santa Cruz’s efforts to voice protest to the war. As a member of the Assembly, I will raise my voice to end this immoral war.
