Priorities

PUBLIC WORKS

Our Public Works Department is the largest department in the city and includes streets, transportation systems and city utilities including water and sewer services:

1. Improve Transportation and Reduce Traffic & Speeding

I have been hard at work to provide transportation options for all. I, like many of you, am tired of getting stuck in the traffic that surrounds us. Two months after I was appointed as a city councilmember in 2015, I was already testifying and advocating for Renton in Olympia before the House Transportation Committee and I have not stopped since then. My priority is to invest in reliable, safe, and equitable transit options for all residents - whether you drive, bike, walk, or take public transit. As Renton Councilmember I have:

Pushed for infrastructure improvements that enhance mobility and safety.
Championed expanded transit service in Renton and advocated for more affordable housing near planned transit stations to reduce sprawl and support walkable communities.
Supported funding for better active transportation connections, including sidewalks, bike lanes, and regional trail system expansion.
Helped shape policies that improve transit and pedestrian safety, as well as advocate for expanding services on King County Metro and Sound Transit ensuring accessible, reliable, and efficient transit options.
Advocated for investments in sustainable transportation solutions that reduce congestion and support economic growth.
Increased investments for improvements and new roads.
Advocated for safe, clean city streets and right of ways to Renton residents, while maintaining these properties in the most cost-effective ways possible.
Successfully lobbied the State Legislature for $2 million to finish the Renton Connector, an amenity and a needed linkage between two regional trails that currently are disconnected – the Lake to Sound Trail and the Lake Washington Loop Trail.
Sidewalk replacements to assist in making Renton a walkable city.
Updating of The Bicycle Master Plan
Supported the King County Target Zero Traffic Safety Coalition to implement and expand education, outreach and enforcement along the stretch of roadway known as 140th Avenue SE from Highway 169 (Renton/Fairwood) south through Kent/Auburn.
Championed Renton's Transportation Benefit District (TBD) to enhance and build more sidewalks, and fix and complete our transportation infrastructure
Comprehensive Walkway Plan - The plan incudes an interactive map to identify neighborhoods needing repair and improvement for better safety and mobility.
Advocated for strong speed limit tools and enforcement.
Metro Connects - Add a frequent service network in growing areas in Renton like the Highlands, Longacres, and the East Valley.
Sound Transit - $200 million will be spent to build a new transit center planned at Rainier and Grady Way and the addition of Bus Rapid Transit along 405, with two stops in Renton. I will continue demanding light rail for Renton and our fair share of services (KUOW - (Slightly) faster light rail approved by Sound Transit - Renton city council member Ruth Perez, outside the Sound Transit board room, says her city is being left behind in the agency's transit plans -KUOW June 2016).
Supported Transit-Oriented Development to help residents live where they work, shop, and go to school.
Made out streets and sidewalks accessible for seniors and people with disabilities.

There is still so much still to do, but I will continue to fight to relieve our traffic woes and get you out of your car and home with your family safe.

2. Promoting Sustainability and Protecting Our Enviroment

Continue saving tax dollars while also improving the environment is my goal. Protecting our environment is essential to the health and sustainability of our communities. My experience growing up in one of the most polluted cities in the world has prepared me to push for bold policies that protect our natural resources, advance renewable energy, and ensure Renton remains a leader in environmental stewardship. As Renton Councilmember I advocated for:

Renton to be one of the first cities in Washington to convert all of its street lights to LED, saving hundreds of thousands annually in electrical costs.
Renton was the first city in the state to implement an automated water meter reading system for over 18,000 meters. To date, this system has detected 4,612 leaks at homes and businesses that prevented the loss of 126 million gallons of water and further damage.
Renton was also one of the first cities in the state to implement a comprehensive recycling and composting program. We have diverted nearly 230,000 tons of recyclables and compostable materials from the landfills.
Renton rolled out its first-ever Zero Waste Plan to address growing waste concerns, especially with the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill approaching capacity in 15 years. The plan focuses on recycling, composting, and reuse, with a 10-year roadmap aimed at sustainable funding and waste prevention.
Implemented Renton’s Clean Economy Strategy.
Improving the health of Renton's watersheds for both local people and fish, while contributing to regional efforts to restore Puget Sound.
The restoration of salmon habitat along our waterways, supporting parks and open spaces, and preserving natural lands for future generations.

COMMUNITY SERVICES, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND HUMAN SERVICES

I will continue supporting quality open spaces and activities for our residents, as well as increase services to support our community. I have supported a number of new initiatives and ordinances to maintain our parks, Senior Center, Community Centers, Farmer’s Market, Renton Museum, and more. It’s impossible to mention all the accomplishments over the past 11 years, but here are some examples:

Successfully lobbied the State for a million-dollar grant for the replacement of the Riverview Bridge over the Cedar River and the repair work taking place at Coulon Park.
Successfully obtained over $7 million In grants for local projects
We began implementation of a city-wide security camera program to help protect city-owned properties
Supported the construction of the Family First Community Center.
Enhanced support systems such as the Renton Health Hub and Renton Promise.
Increased Recreation and Human Services funding.
Funded so much needed upgrades for Renton's Senior Center.
Increased funding to upgrade all parks in Renton, including new playgrounds, walking paths, and jogging trails.

All people deserve their basic human needs to be met. I’ve supported and advocated for policies to invest in HUMAN SERVICES. As a Renton Councilmember I have:

Increased Human Services by 65% to help those in need.
Allocated funding to agencies to provide social services and assistance to Renton residents.
Approved $812,000 for 2025-2026 agency programs serving Renton residents, awarding funding to 46 programs.
In 2020, supported legislation to approve the new .1 percent sales tax to address affordable housing, homelessness, and mental health needs. The funding through authority granted by the 2020 Legislature (HB 1590) generates close to $3 million a year.
Voted to enact the implementing ordinance for its use of SHB 1406 state sales tax credit funding for affordable housing and in 2020, contributed its initial funding toward sub-regional housing and homelessness efforts led by the South King Housing and Homeless Partnership (SKHHP).
Lead the lobbying effort to get 1406 passed and enacted by the State Legislature.
Based on findings from the Renton HB 1590 Assessment conducted in 2021, I supported and approved Renton 10 years plan to support housing, shelter, behavioral health, and facility sustainability.
Supported the Renton Student Health Hub, a prevention and early intervention service to avoid mental and behavioral health crisis.

We all want to live in a safe, friendly place. I believe that engaging our community it is vital to create the kind of place we enjoy living in. I am looking forward to continue visiting every neighborhood and working together to improve community unity and pride.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

I worked at the Consul of Mexico in Seattle protecting Mexicans living abroad for 10 years and, since then, I have been recognized as a strong advocate for immigrants rights. I committed to build an inclusive informed city with opportunities for all. I support values of inclusion, equity, and justice, and have championed policies to remove racial, economic, and social barriers in city programs, services, and hiring. I also promoted using an equity lens in contract awards to prevent discrimination. Addressing persistent disparities is essential to our community’s success. It is important to respect all people and recognize the rights of individuals to live their lives with dignity, free of discrimination because of their faith, race, national origin or immigration status. I will continue our work in making our services and programs accessible and open to all individuals. I am really proud of the work I have done in the last 11 years:

Funded in 2015 the Mayor’s Inclusion Task Force where community members representing diverse perspectives help to build bridges of communication and understanding. I was one of two councilmember working directly with the other task force members to achieve the city's goal of inclusion and equity.
Worked to protect Asian communities from hate speech during the pandemic.
Improved communications and services to communities where English is not their first language.
Requested that all city employees receive diversity and implicit bias training so that we have a much better understanding on how to serve our residents.
Supported going to a “blind” application process that reduces the chance for biases to slip into our recruitment and hiring practices.
Advocated to provide critical and relevant information on a timely basis and facilitate two-way dialogue between city government and our diverse community.
Pushed for the implementation of the Safe Initiative - Launched Safe Place Program to combat Hate Crimes.
Passed ordinances to prevent income discrimination for renters.
Created Equity Commission.
Uplifted and protected our immigrants, refugees, LGTBTQ+ community, seniors, and vulnerable populations.

Advancing equity and inclusion is critical to the success of our communities. In our diverse community, you see people who share values—people working hard to provide for their families and build a stronger economy for all. We want people to know that our community is always willing to extend a hand in friendship to those who want to be a part of it.

PUBLIC SAFETY

I am committed to making our communities safe and welcoming for all. As a member of the Renton City Council and Renton Regional Fire Authority Board, I have supported responsible policing, increased emergency preparedness, and investments in prevention. I backed funding for more police officers, body cameras, and mental health navigator programs, as well as expanding resources for mental health and substance addiction treatment. My focus remains on accountability and addressing the root causes of crime to create a safer community. Having a safe community to raise your family or operate a business is critical to any city. As a councilmember I have supported:

Our first responders: Police, Fire, EMS, and Mental Health professionals.
Ongoing training to avoid the necessity to use force as the norm.
A number of new initiatives and ordinances to build trust and strong relationships between police and the public.
The use of a number of enforcement and investigative tools such as the effective use of drones and body cameras worn by police officers.
The hiring of superior candidates locally and from across the country.
Funding for new police technologies for Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) and a community engagement platform tool called My90.
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
Hiring new police officers.
Expanding investments to pair mental and behavioral health professionals with first responders, helping de-escalate crises.

Public safety will continue to be a top priority. We need safe streets, reliable emergency services, and alternatives like mental health support and crisis response teams and centers. I believe that by hearing the concerns and getting to know our neighbors and neighborhoods we can do a better job of responding to and preventing crime. I am committed to the safety and well-being of our residents, businesses, and visitors to the City of Renton.

ECONOMIC & PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

I support resources for housing and economic opportunity. Attracting and retaining good jobs must be one of our priorities. As Renton continues to grow and change, we need to make sure that we are attracting quality employers to our city. Good jobs are a foundation of a strong community and by developing a strong local economy, we will be able to work where we live.

Housing affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing our region. As a City Councilmember, I’ve supported policies to expand affordable housing, protect renters, and ensure responsible development. I will continue fighting for solutions that prevent displacement and create stable, affordable housing for all. As a Renton Councilmember I have:

My commitment is to support businesses, smart growth, affordable housing, and diversify housing options to:

Ensure all families can thrive successfully in Renton. Advocating and supporting initiatives to diversify housing options are top priorities. Renton should remain inclusive, sustainable, and accessible to all.
Remain affordable. As Chair of the Panning and Development Committee in 2024 I made sure the Renton Comprehensive Plan emphasized affordable multifamily housing development and included incentives such as waiving specific fees for projects meeting affordable housing standards.
Create more opportunities by working with the Renton Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity to development more affordable housing units, such as the Willowcrest Phase II project, Solera Apartments and Sunset Gardens Apartments.
Focus on retaining quality jobs that provide a living wage for workers and their families. We must retain our place as the center of the aerospace industry and I will work to keep those jobs right here.
Ensure that there is enough variety in the kinds of businesses and the kinds of jobs they offer so that every resident can work here.

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