Education

As human beings, we have a basic right, expectation, and obligation to be educated.  One of the keys to our success as individuals and as a community is having access to a strong educational system, and one of the primary responsibilities of civic and political officials is to provide that access.  That is why I am committed to promoting legislation that will improve the educational experiences for the children in our community.  It is my goal to support the development of innovative academic programs as well as school initiatives to increase parental involvement in the educational process.  I am directly opposed to school vouchers and charter schools, as I feel that they undermine our public educational system and that the money would be better utilized for making necessary improvements in our schools.  I intend to fight for fairness in the allocation of resources so that all schools have an equal opportunity to attract qualified educators and to provide a high-quality education to students with modern instructional materials and technology.  My primary goal is to ensure that children in our community receive an education that will contribute to their intellectual and social growth and enhance their opportunities for the future.  This will benefit the community as a whole.

Health Care

I am a firm believer that all people are entitled to equal and effective health care.  However, due to growing numbers of uninsured and underinsured individuals as a result of rising private health insurance premiums and dwindling resources for government-sponsored health programs, many individuals in our community do not have access to such care.  This can have dire health consequences, since it often means that an individual forgoes preventive medical care that can lead to early detection of major illnesses, or worse, forgoes necessary ongoing care for an existing major condition, which can cause fatalities.  It can also be costly financially for those that have limited or no insurance that still seek care, since medical costs continue to rise.   

Health care and the problems that plague it have been major concerns of mine for most of my life.  In fact, this was one of the primary reasons that I obtained my Masters Degree in Public Health and why I accepted an appointment to the Council on Adolescent and School Heath (CASH) within the Missouri Department for Health and Senior Services.  The problems facing the medically uninsured and underinsured individuals in our communities make it essential that we as elected officials work together to find viable solutions.  I intend to promote legislation that will aid in improving access to health care for all citizens.  I also intend to promote initiatives to eliminate racial and economic disparities by advocating improved health education and prevention services.

Crime/Public Safety

One of the primary concerns of all citizens is the safety of our communities.  Year after year, high crime rates have plagued the city of St. Louis, causing fear, frustration, and a sense of helplessness in many of our residents.  Further complicating the issue of crime is the stereotyping and intolerance that often characterizes policing methods in our neighborhoods, such as racial profiling and violence against suspects from the minority community.  I believe that resources should be allocated and protocols put in place to ensure that our police officers are trained to respect diversity and to protect all citizens equally and fairly. 

I support a community approach to crime prevention, which is why I have long advocated the creation of a Citizen Review Board, neighborhood watch programs, and more recreational and educational after-school programs for our youth.  I am an active member of the West End Juvenile Neighborhood Accountability Board for the Family Court-Juvenile Division of the 22^nd Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri.  I also have fought for increased police presence in our neighborhoods for the purposes of deterrence and faster responses to criminal activity.   It is my intention to fight for legislation that will allocate resources to St. Louis City for increased patrols and for community programs targeting crime prevention education and strategies.

Environment

A clean and healthy environment is our most important resource, and we all have a responsibility to protect it for the sake of ourselves, our children, and future generations.  Issues such as global warming, air and water pollution, deforestation, and the depletion of our natural resources can have grave consequences on our individual health and wellbeing, making it imperative that we work together to maintain a clean environment. 

I have invested my time and efforts into environmental justice education and causes.  I also have promoted initiatives to eliminate harmful methods of medical waste incineration in St. Louis City through my participation in what is now called the Health and Environmental Justice Group (formerly known as the Medical Waste Incineration Group), of which I am an active member.  I am strongly in favor of the exploration and use of alternative and renewable energy sources, such as hydropower (water) and solar power, which will meet our energy needs while reducing the impact on our environment.  As an advocate for environmental protection, I will support legislation that outlines clear strategies for maintaining clean air and water in our communities and for combating global warming so that we can all benefit from a safe and healthy environment.

Poverty

Few issues cause us greater stress and anxiety than that of not having the means to support ourselves and our loved ones.  Financial hardship can have negative affects on our health, our relationships, and our general wellbeing.  The growing number of St. Louis families that are living in poverty makes it necessary that proactive governmental measures be taken to combat the factors that are contributing to this increase, such as low job wages, rising costs of living, limited access to education, and unemployment.  As a concerned citizen, it is my hope to see all of the residents in our community gainfully employed and self-sufficient.  As an elected official, it is my responsibility to advocate realistic measures to help those in need to achieve financial independence.  I will support legislation to increase minimum wage to make it more equal to the cost of living, and I will promote initiatives to expand access to comprehensive educational and job-training/placement programs.  I believe that with the combined efforts of state and local government, we can provide the necessary assistance to help the families in need in our community to achieve financial freedom and success.

Seniors

Senior citizens arm us with the knowledge of the past and wisdom for the future.  I am committed to working hard to meet the needs of the seniors in my community, and the protection of their personal welfare and security is of the utmost importance to me.  As Committeeman of the 26^th Ward, I have worked to ensure that the concerns of the seniors in my community are voiced and that their issues have been heard by all state level elected officials as much as possible.  As a State Representative, I would be a voice to advocate ample consideration of seniors when legislation is considered that would impact them in a negative way.   I will continue to meet with my seniors as I have in the past and carry these meetings across the 57^th District.  I truly understand that the senior population is the foundation from which our community has been built and we will not have a secure house, neighborhood, or community without our foundation.