Climate Action
CLIMATE ActioN
Ten years ago scientists were warning us that future generations would experience detrimental global warming if we did not substantially reduce global carbon emissions. We now know that climate change impacts have come upon us quicker than previously projected and are contributing to the extended regional drought that is rapidly diminishing Ojai’s water reserves. The climate crisis is the most pressing issue of our time and requires swift and decisive action by global and national leaders as well as from our local government right here in Ojai. I’m impressed by the great work that has been done by the climate experts that have volunteered to serve on Ojai’s Climate Emergency Mobilization Committee.
If elected, I will work with my council colleagues, our climate committee, city staff, and community members to rapidly draw down our town’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Here’s how:
Actively pursue federal and state funding to:
Eliminate our city’s mobile emission sources by transitioning our trolleys and other city vehicles to ones that run on clean, zero-emission energy.
Eliminate our city’s stationary emission sources by upgrading all equipment in city buildings to high efficiency, zero emission apparatus
Expand upon work to motivate commercial, multifamily/single family residential property owners to draw upon state and federal incentives to remediate their homes.
Plan a volunteer task force to let residents know about sustainability resources right here in our community.
Connect members of our community with local resources through supporting the efforts being made by our local environmental nonprofits.
Organize more tree-planting to offset carbon dioxide and provide shade along our walking and bike paths
Move Ojai away from single-use plastics
I will work toward moving our city operations to net zero by 2025 and community-wide by 2030. This includes lowering greenhouse gas emissions, phasing out gas in our existing buildings, electrifying our fleet operations, and moving our transportation away from dirty fossil energy. I will also promote bicycles, car sharing, and electric vehicle adoption. Furthermore, I move to make climate a top priority in all city operations and for the council to consider the climate impact for all our city decisions.
We must reduce our carbon footprint while building climate resilience, which means understanding the long-term effects of climate on our local environment, water supply, and fire safety.
We can make changes now by adopting codes that move our town toward clean energy and away from fossil fuels, which are proven to be expensive, a detriment to our health, and a cause of climate change.
We can move away from single-use plastics, plant more drought-resistant trees that shade areas where people walk or bike around town, and move our city spaces toward clean energy.
We have a town full of conscious, caring people. We can be a model for other cities in how we address climate change.
Water supply
We are in an extended drought throughout the western part of the country. As our temperatures rise due to climate change, our reservoirs evaporate faster, and our atmosphere becomes drier.
We are all doing our part to conserve water, and it helps. I support looking at ways to further conservation efforts. If we have extra water through extra rain or conservation, I support replenishing our reserves to protect our supply for future generations.
Affordable Housing:
Preserving an Ojai where all belonG
Housing costs are rising at a rate higher than income levels. Because of that, some of our neighbors are being priced out of Ojai. I'm not against all development, but if we are to support new building projects, they need to be the best projects possible for the future of Ojai. I support creative solutions to preserve the economic diversity of our community by supporting local organizations that buy apartment buildings and update them while keeping rents low and residents in their homes. We need community-led and sustainable plans. None of us want to see our friends and neighbors become displaced.
In that same vein, diversity, equity, and inclusion are important to me as a member of the LGBTQ community. I’ve served on a committee to pilot anti-racism workshops and know how to bring people together.
Community-Building and Quality of Life
We have a good quality of life in Ojai because we have a strong community, which is why we attract so many visitors.
I believe that investing in our town’s infrastructure and public services serves our quality of life now and in the future. If elected to Ojai City Council, I am committed to taking care of ongoing responsibilities like paving the roads and protecting our walking and biking paths.
I also support community-building through recreation and community-focused activities. Tourism supports our local economy, and we want to maintain a balanced approach that prioritizes our residents.
As a small business owner, I understand the needs of other business owners. We have a thriving chamber of commerce. At the same time, we can do more to attract business owners into our industrial-zoned spaces with the goal of attracting more high-paying jobs.
Fire readiness
Building fire readiness is crucial to our town’s safety, well-being, and preservation. We can help mitigate the damage to our homes, our schools, and our town at large, by taking simple steps now to reduce the risk. The two most important things we can do to keep ourselves, our families, friends, neighbors, and animals safe during wildfires and other natural disasters is to thoroughly prepare in advance and listen to first responders when they tell us to evacuate.
What Do you think? Please share!
The role of Ojai City Councilmember is about being your representative in our local government. I have priorities, but my main agenda is to serve YOU, the residents of Ojai. I’d love to hear your thoughts, concerns, and visions for our town.