Environment and Sustainability

Sustainability and the Environment

We are experiencing a climate crisis that will negatively impact almost every aspect of our lives and threaten the future of our planet. Energy costs will get more expensive, food supply chains will be threatened, and temperatures will rise. Every resident, especially low-income and homeless residents, will be put at risk if we don’t act immediately.

The District vowed to meet 100% renewable energy and sustainability goals by 2032, but we need a leader at the Council who will make sure the city follows through. I’ve been an activist on the ground and I’ve built grassroots coalitions for the past nine years to advocate for policies to promote clean air, clean water, and sustainable energy initiatives.

As an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Dupont Circle, I’ve led on issues to incentivize use of sustainable transportation and make walking, biking, and public transportation more accessible.

Building green was at the forefront of my priorities when developers came before ANC2B to pitch new designs. Building green should be the baseline for the future of development, not something to work towards.

As the President of the Friends of Stead Park, I successfully advocated for funding for a 100% environmentally sustainable community center. I am committed to investing in our parks and green public spaces, especially at a time when we’re using outdoor spaces as a safe place to meet and exercise more than ever before.

Incremental change is inadequate to meet the challenges we face in curbing the climate crisis. It’s time for Ward 2 to have a leader with a bold vision to drive efforts to fight climate change and promote healthy communities.

As your Councilmember, I will:

Work to ensure DC meets its 100% renewable energy and sustainability goals by 2032.
Incentivize use of climate-friendly transport and make walking, biking, and public transportation more accessible.
Conserve energy by building green, using less, and building out infrastructure to withstand the challenges of a changing climate.
Increase the District’s tree canopy to improve air quality and decrease heat islands in many parts of the city.

More Issue Areas

Browse the issues below and learn more about those principles.

Education

A high-quality education is a cornerstone to creating opportunities for each individual, and therefore to create an equitable and prosperous Ward and District overall.

Community-Focused Public Safety

The District should approach public safety with policies that are based on evidence. We should not entrust the safety of our communities with purely reactive measures but instead, invest in preventing crime and violence before they start.

Recovering from COVID-19

Since the onset of the pandemic, the city has taken important steps to address and minimize the spread of Covid-19. We know that helping each other stay healthy and safe means taking important steps like wearing a mask and social distancing.

Democracy and Voters’ Rights

The foundation of our democracy is the promise we keep to voters that elections are safe, accessible, and fair. Covid-19 changed many parts of our daily lives and our elections are no exception.

Housing Affordability

The high and rising cost of housing has made it hard for many residents to maintain the life they envision here in Ward 2. Our long-standing residents must be able to remain in their homes and new neighbors shouldn’t be deterred from joining our community by unaffordable housing.

Jobs and Small Businesses

As a former service industry worker and restaurant manager, I know how small businesses struggle to keep their doors open in a tough market and an expensive city. Even before the pandemic, Ward 2’s commercial corridors were dealing with high vacancies as rents went up and business owners pinched and saved to get by.

Transportation and Public Spaces

While we’ve seen some progress towards preventing traffic injuries and fatalities, the District has generally moved incredibly slow at improving our transportation infrastructure and making our streets safe for everyone.

LGBTQ Community Affairs

The District has been a national leader on pro-LGBTQ policies for decades. From repealing the anti-sodomy law in 1993, establishing the Mayor’s Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Affairs in 2006, and legalizing same-sex marriage in 2010, the District has been ahead of almost any other city in the nation.