Yes/No Questions:
1. Are you a homeowner?
Yes
2. If the City police force was fully staffed, would you advocate for adding more officers?
No
3. Do you believe there’s a need for more housing in Lafayette?
Yes.
4. Do you believe the City should spend more money on homelessness services?
Yes.
General Questions (no more than 300 words):
1. Why do you want to be a council member?
I was teaching high school math for years in Boulder and was not paid a living wage. I started to look for a different way to give back to my community. When I found civic problems, I became excited because I love solving complex problems. Now, I am able to work for myself and serve the people, too. I’m grateful to be able to make a difference and see what I’m made of.
2. When was the last time you paid rent, and where was that?
I paid rent on October 1st. I have two homes. One I own with a co-owner and one I rent. I was a regular Boulder renter for 8 years before I was able to buy something. I know what it’s like to hustle around Boulder trying to balance the fun with the bills. I wish tenants had more rights in Boulder County. I will always be an advocate for tenants’ and tenants’ rights, however, in this campaign I am focusing on the homeless more than those who need affordable housing.
3. Boulder County has experienced extreme natural disasters over the last decade, including flooding and wildfire. How do you plan to address these challenges?
It’s important to be prepared for the natural disasters known to be in your area. Fire and floods require homeowners’ or renters’ insurance. Some people might benefit from emergency plans. Lafayette is lucky as there are no known common disasters.
4. How do you think you stand out from other candidates?
I’m a levelheaded Actuarial scientist. I make decisions based on stats, facts, risks, and figures not emotions or fear. I’m also a yogi and remain calm and present. I’m an expert at propaganda and can see who isn’t in the room, hear what people don’t say, read between the lines, and I smell lies.
I am a systems thinker and keen observer of human nature and human motivation. I think for myself and cannot be bought or influenced. I am brave and will stand up to corporations and make sure they are held accountable for polluting our earth or taking advantage of our people. I am not intimidated by men and people in power. I believe in the American Dream and do not believe that we came to the land of Free just to be treated like corporate batteries. I believe in equality and restorative justice. I’ve completed InVisible Paradigms Anti-Oppression Training and understand how oppression works.
I believe I can unite the divided and help us cooperate for the good of all. I know that kindness is neutral. You don’t have to love everybody to be kind to everyone. I am devoted to the working class, servants of all kinds, dancers, misfits, autistic people, and immigrants. I believe I was born for this.
5. What question would you ask a fellow candidate on the ballot?
Is your campaign bringing you joy?
6. What are your solutions for the growing population of people experiencing homelessness?
Homelessness is a serious issue here in Lafayette, and my solution is to find an appropriate building for a homeless shelter and to devote some housing to the homeless. It has been proven that if you give the homeless a home and increase their rent incrementally over time you can solve chronic homelessness. The inhabitants of the shelter could give back to the community by helping with some community gardening. Gardening is great for everyone’s mental health.
7. What’s your plan for creating more affordable housing in Lafayette?
Here I know a few landlords who specialize in niche markets like my neighbor who rents to ex-cons exclusively and gives them a place to live and a fresh start. Another neighbor and friend carries on his father’s tradition of renting to recently migrated Mexican and Latino families. I wish I could publish a list of these kind souls who are doing great things here in Lafayette for persevering populations. I’m impressed with the heart of Lafayette, the people are colorblind and non-judgmental, kind, and respectful to all. Many of our local landlords make up for what the city might lack in affordability and the residents work with the Council well on all issues.
I’d also like to turn some of the new residential developments into low-income housing. Perhaps we could allocate a certain percentage of all homes built after 2020 for this purpose.
8. How will you address climate change? How do you plan to meet Lafayette’s climate goal of 100% renewable energy by 2023 and an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050?
Climate change from human activity is real. It’s tough to make our goals in a down economy. In general, I feel it’s essential that we outlaw styrofoam in all our restaurants, as well as single-use plastics. Corn plastic cups are plentiful as are paper take-out containers. I would also like us to use paper bags instead of plastic at the restaurant level. Even trash from the mountains can end up in the ocean and it’s time we became used life with less plastic. On a related note, I’d also like to bring back free paper bags to our stores.
9. What are your goals for transportation and how will you achieve them?
I believe I can help speed up the construction project on South Boulder Road. It’s been terribly slow, and I believe it’s time we honor the commute of the East Boulder Residents. I will achieve this by asking Castle Rock Construction to show me their plans. My master plumber friend and I will look them over and together we’ll be able to determine if this project has an end date in sight. It’s been ten years since the project started, which is far too long. We can do better for our hardworking residents.
10. How do you plan to engage non-English speaking constituents?
I may translate my website into Spanish.
11. How does diversity factor into your policy making?
I’m a woman of the people, the common average citizens and immigrants. I serve the working class and so by nature, my policies are good for them. I think about equity issues all the time. In the beginning of the pandy, I was upset when one of my favorite restaurants wasn’t taking cash and thereby preventing people who don’t have a debit card or credit card from eating their healthy food! I truly believe that organic food should be a human right, not a privilege. Not everyone has a debit card or a credit card or a smartphone! Not everyone has Internet access at home. We take so much for granted. I taught Boulder County kids in public schools, and I know that many of us take our parent’s love and time, our nice cars and laptops, entirely for granted. I’ve been serving the underprivileged for 24 years, and will never stop believing in the power of education and the duty of us all to care for those who are less fortunate.
12. How will you reach residents who have different lived experiences than you?
I listen. If they are brave enough to come to and ask for help, I will help them to the best of my ability. While I may not look like I’ve had a rough life, I have lived through things and overcome challenges that may not be obvious to you. I know what you can achieve when you set your mind and heart to a goal. I know what you can overcome in this life when you are brave and true. I believe people’s experiences, in part, because I know how cruel we can be to each other. I believe in the power of Love. I come from a broken family with many generations of divorce and constant moving from city to town to city
in search of a better life. Step families are more than the norm in this country than the rule, and so I feel like I have more in common with everybody than not.
13. Rank your top 5 issues in priority
1. Ending Construction on SoBo Road
2. A new Homeless Shelter
3. Passing all the recent Gun Safety Measures that we painstakingly pushed in many nearby municipalities in 2020-2023.
4. A Styrofoam and Single-Use Plastics Ban.
5. Support of female-run businesses and I’ll try to decrease the commercial rents on our main Roads in an effort to stimulate our economy.
