For me, 'public safety' means that everyone feels comfortable taking a walk at any time of day, anywhere in Burien. It means that your needs are being met. It means that we have a just police and judicial system. Strategies can be as simple as more sidewalks, better lit streets, and emergency call buttons. We also need more co-response and alternative response options to specific 911 calls where social workers, mental health professionals, or other counselors might be more beneficial to the case.

We have a police and human resources shortage which needs to be addressed with a diverse array of solutions like mental and substance abuse counselors, as well as social workers, to collectively make a systemic impact for those most effected by crime. We must also train our police and other public safety officers on de-escalation and anti-prejudice. But we also need to provide for our employees so it's worth doing their job.

I'd like to implement a combination of social workers, mental health specialists, and substance abuse counselors to help people avoid crime. Additionally, we need safe injection sites so that we can at least educate and regulate the use of potentially dangerous substances. It's also important to have safe use sights so that education and help is that much closer if or when someone wants to stop using or get sober.

Housing instability and chronic poverty can lead people to being forced to steal to acquire food, water, introduce drug addiction and/or substance abuse, or money to be used for things that are seen as necessary for survival. Additionally, the conditions of being unhoused can result in mental health crisis which is most likely for an individual to impact their own safety but can lead to an individual threatening another's safety. Most often being unhoused is the catalyst for otherwise uncharacteristic behavior.

Burien is currently facing a budget cliff. I would like to make swift and thoughtful tax and fee increases that target individuals and businesses that are above the median income. Most importantly, I'd like to engage with voters to hear what solutions work best for them. I'm also attending current city council meetings to hear about solutions being brought to council and to hear about other government projects like the public safety lid levy. Some solutions include raising the B&0 tax, sewer and utilities taxes, and increasing building and permitting fees.