Yes, I will continue as both a housing developer and board member to engage and consider formerly incarcerated persons. Since 2015, I have served on the Board of Directors for Oakland and the World Enterprises. Our mission is to assist vulnerable community members, especially the formerly incarcerated, in economic empowerment, homeownership, and long-term employment. Our first business, West Oakland Farms, positions us to develop a commercial complex space for other businesses, and 80, 100% affordable housing units. Aside from businesses within the commercial space, we will launch service businesses specifically to accommodate residents of our housing units. Through our work in Oakland, we have established a model for housing in Berkeley, all of California, and the world to create prosperous conditions for all community members, specifically the currently and formerly incarcerated. 

Experts in correctional health and human rights have argued that these decarceration levels are insufficient and raised concerns that pandemic responses could be exacerbating racial disparities.

It is important to improve health-care access and quality after incarceration because many people leaving jails and prisons have poor physical and mental health, including substance use disorders.

1. Provide Stable Housing

2. Ensure Food Security
3. Medical Care
4. Substance Abuse Services

5. Ban The Box.

6. Provide computer and technological tools and training

7. Offer job training and counseling via- the internet

8. Provide on-going counseling and support groups, focused on steps of sustainable re-entry

9. Develop safety-net programs for food-insecurity, homelessness, and lack of money

10. Build positive personal and community relationships

1. Housing: Berkeley’s housing crisis has become more severe since COVID-19. We must deliver housing now for our homeless, low-income, and middle-income residents. The Ashby-Bart Transit Oriented Development will provide mixed-income housing and small businesses within walking distance of each other, with mass transit located at the center of it all. 

2. Police Reform / Social & Economic Justice: Promote an understanding of how historical racism has shaped Berkeley. Implement Community Policing with strong policing partnerships which will foster a sense of purpose, crime prevention, and public safety.

3. Climate Action: The accelerating climate emergency requires urgent and ambitious action. Update the City of Berkeley Climate Action Plan  (drafted in 2009) to match or exceed the University of California or the State of California’s climate goals - to go carbon neutral by 2025 or 2045. At the state level, promote divestment from fossil fuel companies. Support Fossil Free California’s mission of divesting the CalSTRS (state teachers) and CalPERS (state employees) pension funds. Petition state leadership to move toward fossil-free portfolios.

Dismantle Historical Racism and Inequity Through Reform. Call for a $100 million investment in the South Berkeley community ($50 million immediately and the remaining $50 million in ten years), which will be used to subsidize low-income housing and housing for the homeless at the Ashby BART. Provide educational resources and technologies for schools, as well as training programs for job certifications for the formerly incarcerated. Address the obstacles faced by black business owners and the hurdles of unfair credit treatment, discriminatory loan enforcement practices, and high start-up costs. Offer reduced city-imposed application fees for business start-ups. Establish a business development program to bring entrepreneurs from the flea market to their own brick and mortar shops.