ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Housing is a policy area that I’ve been involved with throughout my career in public service. It is the obligation of the national and state governments to ensure that all Americans have access to safe, clean, affordable housing. All Rhode Islanders deserve to live in quality homes in safe and thriving neighborhoods. We must address the regulatory impediments to home construction and be creative and deliberate in our approach to development.

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PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT

The East Bay--with its miles of beautiful coastline--is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. We must take action now to protect our natural resources, plan for recovery and boost our communities’ resiliency.  This means not only disaster relief and shoring up our beaches, but also moving the state towards a renewable energy future.   And, I will work to preserve agricultural and open space and ensure that all Rhode Islanders have access to drinking water that is clean, reliable, and affordable.  I will continue working to ensure that toxic chemicals, like PFAS,  are identified, acknowledged and removed from our land, our air, our food and even the gear that our firefighters wear when they are protecting us and our homes
 

PRIORITIZE EDUCATION

Recently released standardized test scores paint a disappointing picture for our schools. I know that teachers, students, and families are working hard to ensure that our children have the best education possible. The General Assembly must support their efforts with a school funding formula that does not leave anyone behind, with increased emphasis on mental health support to help kids thrive and learn; and with resources for our teachers to focus on what they do best. 

 

PROMOTE WOMEN'S ISSUES

From pay equity to equity in health care and insurance coverage to adequate funding for child care, I maintain my commitment to ensuring that women do not have to choose between caring for their child and working, and face no discrimination in law, at work, or at home.

PROTECT LGBTQ RIGHTS

We must take action to ensure that no one in our state experiences discrimination based on who they are or whom they love. I will continue to stand with our LGBTQ community as they fight back against increasing threats to their rights.

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ADDRESS THE OPIOID CRISIS

The substance use crisis continues to be the greatest public health issue facing our communities today. It is a treatable medical condition, and evidence-based treatments exist and succeed. We must direct more funds towards expanded treatment options including medically assisted recovery, which are proven to save lives.

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PASS COMMON SENSE GUN LAWS

We all agree that our children should be safe when they go to school, that we should be safe at the movie theater or concert hall, and that no one should lose a loved one to suicide.  We must continue to address the problem of gun violence head on. We need to fund behavioral health services to support children who are at risk, including those on both sides of bullying behavior. We must keep military-grade weapons out of the hands of civilians, and we must do this in a way that respects Rhode Islanders’ 2nd Amendment rights.

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PROMOTE SMALL BUSINESSES

Small businesses are the backbone of the East Bay economy and the source of jobs for thousands of residents.  I will work to ensure that regulatory and tax policy make sense for small business owners, and that RI economic development policies focus not only on the much-needed big construction projects, but also on Main Street rebirth and small business development.  Through enhanced oversight and an insistence on accountability, we must make sure that there are no more massive infrastructure failures like the Washington Bridge, which continues to have a negative impact on our small businesses

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ENHANCE SENIOR SERVICES

The State of Rhode Island must have policies in place to ensure that seniors can stay in the communities they love and that they have helped nurture and build.  Housing policy should allow for the creation of housing units, like accessory dwelling units, that are consistent with the needs of seniors.  We must enact policies in support of in-home care, including pay increases for home health aides, and ensure that nursing homes have appropriate staffing levels, well-paid staff, and safe, accessible facilities.