If we want Bend to be a great place to live, we have to make sure we’re a city that truly welcomes all the diverse communities that live here. Bend needs to be a place where Black lives matter and our leaders take action to break down systemic racism. 

I want to create a concrete, intentional approach to addressing issues of racism in our community head-on. Let’s deliver the message that racism and exclusionary attitudes cannot be part of Bend’s identity. I want to establish a City staff-supported Human Rights Commission with the ability to address incidents of discrimination and to hold City government accountable when it comes to our goals around diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Everyone, no matter how they get around town, should be able to get around safely. I want to increase safety on our streets, increase walkability and bikeability, stop bowing down to car culture and start looking at how to create accessible neighborhoods and travel paths. 

We need to help people be healthy and active while also improving economic development and addressing climate change concerns. I will prioritize safety for our most vulnerable users and work to facilitate multi-modal travel when working on transportation system investments.

In order for our city to continue to grow in smart and equitable ways, we need truly affordable housing. People that work here should be able to afford to live here and avoid lengthy commutes. And for those that don’t have a home, we need a city government that’s actively working on real solutions for them. 

I will take bold strides toward increasing affordable housing opportunities in our city and streamlining the process so we get more units, in the right places, as soon as possible to address our housing crisis.

Our planet faces no greater crisis today than climate change. Our incredible natural environment here in Bend ranks high in importance for both our ecosystem and our economy. I want to follow through on Bend’s Climate Action Plan and work to make Bend a leader on addressing the climate crisis in all ways possible. 

I will approach planning, land use, transportation, housing, and more through the lens of climate change, because our future depends on it.