Climate changes and the continuing drought worry many in California. What new strategies do you believe would ensure that California is able to both satisfy its water needs and protect the environment? Please be specific.
The area I live in is home to some of the richest people in the world as well as some of the most impoverished and has a high concentration of minorities. I know these issues far too well and worked the last three years to address clean air and water in impoverished communities. It is the responsibility of the legislature to make sure that when allocating resources for pollution control and water conveyance that we are targeting these types of communities. Special allocations should be set aside and a system of weighing priorities for these areas should be implemented. Much of the reason I am running is because our area has been largely ignored in these issues by Sacramento and I want to work with other local Assemblymembers to provide a voice and action for our region.
Specifically we need to maintain and improve our water storage, delivery and conveyance and increase our recycling capabilities. We must invest in clean renewable technologies to further reduce our carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels. We must explore the new technologies around desalinization and smart irrigation.
What are your top three fiscal priorities, recognizing the need to balance the state’s income with its spending?
1. Allocation of resources to address mental health issues and reducing homelessness and our prison populations.
2. Protecting and enhancing the resources for public education including Pre-K.
3. Allocation of State and Federal resources to address the Salton Sea.
There are a variety of proposals to raise California's minimum wage. Many of these proposals face opposition from business groups who are concerned that they would kill jobs. Do you support increasing the minimum wage in California? In your answer please explain your position on the relationship between wages and jobs with specific reference to the situation in your district.
I am supportive of the recent legislation signed by Governor Brown.
Many Californians are concerned about the influence of money in politics. What can the state legislature do to ensure that decision-making by elected officials is not swayed by moneyed interests at the expense of constituents?
California has some of the strictist campaign finance laws in the country. We must continue to enforce those laws and work towards greater transparency through methods like the Disclose Act. We must work with the Federal Government to overturn Citizens United.