Legislative District 33

To me, public safety means that you can go about your daily lives without fear of harm to yourself or your loved ones based on what you look like, who you love, where you live, etc. We are all deserving of a society that gives us dignity and respect to live.

Some tangible ways to measure:

● What are my constituents, especially people of color, saying about their communities and how do they feel about it. To me, community satisfaction and trust say more than crime rate.

● What is happening in our schools? Do our children feel safe to learn and play?

● What is the data showing for the Office of Independent Investigation for police deadly use of force (HB 1267 in 2021).

● How many calls are diverted from 911 using the new 988 system

● What is the police recruitment like? Do they pick members from the communities they serve / are there culturally competent officers on the force?

I’m a problem solver. The power I have as a state legislator is to convene groups to get problems solved. While I may not know everything, I do know people policy experts. When we think about our communities, we must include our community members – giving them a voice and a platform to speak their truth. I also have some amazing colleagues who work in the field of public safety; I promise to listen to their policy solutions. As a budget chair, how can I invest our state dollars wisely towards decriminalization and destigmatization. I believe our budget shows our values, and Washington state values communities who are happy, safe, and satisfied.

I think of police officers using bikes or walking around the neighborhoods instead of cars to patrol. This creates more of a community connection.