Richmond councilmembers receive endorsements from the East Bay DSA in upcoming council race

Candidate Name: Claudia Jimenez 

Office: Richmond City Councilmember, District 6 

Election Date: November 5, 2024 

Election Type: General, with plurality voting 

You & Your Campaign 

1. Briefly tell us your background or biography. 

I was born in Colombia, where I worked as an architect and focused on building affordable housing. My journey led me to the rural Andes, where I collaborated with farmworkers to design and construct their homes using locally-sourced materials. I then helped these farmers form collectives, empowering them to negotiate with the federal government. Upon immigrating to the United States, I

taught myself English and earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Planning from UC Berkeley. 

I have since worked as a community organizer, dedicating myself to advocating for immigrant rights, resisting deportations, and campaigning against ICE. In my role as a community organizer, I played a pivotal role in making Richmond a sanctuary city and passing local rent control measures. Today, I proudly reside in Richmond with my husband and two children, serving as a progressive Latina City Council Member since 2020, rooted deeply in fighting for marginalized people to have stable housing, safe workplaces, and a beautiful and dignified community to enjoy. 

2. Why are you seeking this office? 

I first ran for Richmond City Council because I believe public resources should benefit the community, especially those who have been historically under-resourced and marginalized. 

During my first term, I've worked to support renters through a more robust rental inspection ordinance and pandemic funding; championed police accountability and police budget reallocation; taken on predatory credit swaps in the City’s budget; 

Richmond is now safer and better resourced than ever. Last year, we recorded the fewest homicides in our city's history. We've had a budget surplus for three consecutive years, allowing for more city services and improvements. This financial health was partly due to my initiative to resolve our practice of taking out predatory loans in the form of credit swaps. The passage and support of Measure U, a progressive tax on big corporations, also contributed to our success. 

There's still work to be done. I'm running for one more term to continue improving our city—expanding services and affordable housing, fostering green jobs, enhancing public spaces, and ensuring that our city meets the community's needs. 

3. What movements are you connected to in your community, and what is your level of involvement with them? What organizations are you involved in or connected with?

I am most connected to organizing work around police accountability, police budget reallocation, environmental justice, and tenants’ rights. I am the Steering Committee Co-Chair of the Richmond Progressive Alliance and a founding member of Reimagine Richmond; I often work with APEN and CBE on environmental issues and ACCE on tenants’ rights issues. 

4. How do you differ from your opponents in this race? 

My opponent in this race is Shawn Dunning, who is relatively new to Richmond; his profession is in the private sector as a “conflict mediator.” His public comments during City Council meetings and on social media indicate that he supports significantly expanding the police budget and opposes the 73% voter-approved gross receipts tax on big corporations. He has called Richmond rent control “draconian” and opposed Richmond’s Gaza ceasefire resolution and recent divestment policy. 

5. From which other organizations and individuals are you seeking endorsements in this campaign? Who has already endorsed you? 

Seeking endorsements from: 

350 Bay Area Action ACCE Action 

AFSCME Local 3299 ATU 1555 

CAIR Action California Nurses Association (CNA) CBE Action Contra Costa Labor Council Contra Costa Young Democrats East Bay DSA 

NUHW Our Revolution East Bay SEIU UHW Sierra Club 

Unite Here Local 2 United Steelworkers (USW) Local 5

Already endorsed: 

Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) Action League of Conservation Voters of the East Bay Firefighters Local 188 IFPTE Local 21 

Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA) SEIU Local 21 

SEIU CIR United Teachers of Richmond (UTR)

Working Families Party 

Pinole City Councilmember Devin T. Murphy Richmond City Councilmember Doria Robinson 

Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez Richmond City Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin 

Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia AC Transit Director Jovanka Beckles Richmond City Councilmember Melvin Willis 

6. Are you registered to vote with a party affiliation? Which party? Will that be the same when you run for office? 

I am registered to vote as a Democrat. City elections are non-partisan.

DSA and Democratic Socialism 

7. Are you a socialist? If not, why not? If so, what does being a socialist mean to you? 

I am a democratic socialist. I believe that corporate interference in our politics severely undermines the public good. Too often, people either go without fundamental human needs— healthcare, housing, transportation, clean air, food— or feel those needs consistently threatened because of the profit motive. To me, being a democratic socialist means that no one should profit off these basic human needs, and that social and economic equity should underpin political and economic decision making. 

8. Are you willing to run for office publicly as a socialist? 

Yes. 

9. Are you a member of DSA? If not, would you join if you receive the DSA endorsement? 

Yes. 

10. Have you been active in DSA? In what capacity? 

Although my primary organizational affiliation is with the Richmond Progressive Alliance, there has been a decent amount of overlap between RPA and DSA. 

11. Will you publicize EBDSA’s endorsement? 

Absolutely. I would consider EBDSA’s endorsement a huge win for my campaign.

12. Will you be willing to run with other DSA-endorsed candidates as a slate? Absolutely. 

13. Are you open to working with DSA when developing your platform? Absolutely. 

14. Will you allow the EBDSA Electoral Committee to create campaign materials to distribute during its work on your campaign? 

I intend to create my own campaign materials, though I would greatly appreciate being included in any endorsement materials produced by EBDSA. However, I would prefer that my campaign team collaborate actively with EBDSA and review any materials created specifically for my campaign. 

15. EBDSA has a large and active volunteer base. Will you support EBDSA training our own volunteers, running our own canvasses, and campaigning openly as DSA members? 

My hope is that campaign activities will be collaborative between EBDSA and the Richmond Progressive Alliance— and this is a partnership that our campaign team and individual members of the DSA have already begun forging, to our great excitement. I completely support canvassers campaigning openly as DSA. 

16. Will you allow EBDSA to collaborate with you on your field plan and program? Yes. 

17. Will you allow EBDSA to keep copies of all data we collect through voter contact? Yes. 

18. In past campaigns, EBDSA has had teams of member-organizers who work directly with campaign staff on areas such as field, communications, fundraising, data, and legal compliance. Will you agree to this arrangement and guarantee that your staff will build direct relationships with members of our campaign team? 

Yes, and we already have several DSA members working actively on my campaign. We also know that EBDSA expertise and participation was crucial to Richmond Mayor Eduardo’s win in 2022, and we’re hopeful we can replicate those amazing efforts this cycle, too. 

19. DSA supported Bernie Sanders in the 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential primaries. Who did you support in the 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential primaries? And why? 

I supported Bernie Sanders and voted for him in both primaries, as his vision and platform most closely aligned with my beliefs, especially around Medicare for All and higher corporate and wealth taxation rates. 

Goals of Your Campaign 

20. Who will be running your field program? What staff and/or consultants have you hired? 

We have not yet selected a field manager, and no one is official staff right now. So far, my campaign is entirely volunteer-run. 

21. What is your fundraising goal, and what is your plan to reach that goal? How much have you raised already? 

Fundraising goal: $50,000 

Amount raised: $35,000 

22. What is your win number? How many doors will your campaign plan to knock? How many doors will you personally knock? 

Win number: 4,000 

Doors to knock: 5,000 

Doors I will personally knock: 2,500 

23. Will you pledge not to take any campaign contributions from the following sources? 

a. For-profit corporate entities (corporations, LLCs, etc.) 

b. Political committees formed by for-profit entities 

c. Real estate developers and realtors 

d. For-profit corporate lobbyists 

e. Professional landlords

f. Police or prison unions 

g. Charter schools or non-profits supporting charter schools 

I have never accepted, nor will I ever accept, money from the entities mentioned above. As an RPA candidate, the cornerstone of my platform is a strict no corporate contributions policy. 

24. Have you ever previously taken money from the sources listed in question #23? If so, please explain. 

No. 

25. Is public financing available in your campaign? If so, are you using it? Have you ever previously turned down public financing? 

Public financing is not available in Richmond. 

26. What is your profession? Is a significant portion of your income or wealth derived from capital holdings (e.g., investments, rent, etc.)? 

I am a community organizer. No. 

27. Will you abide by the Campaign Workers Guild’s Fair Campaign Pledge? Yes. 

Goals in Office 

28. How do you think political change happens? How will your campaign make political change happen despite the challenges? 

I subscribe to the framework of co-governance, in which grassroots movements and politicians collaborate on policy-building and exercising political power. Rather than merely working to elect someone every few years, organizers must build social movements through protracted engagement with politics at every level of government, beginning with even seemingly minor government positions. 

29. If elected, what are your top 3 priorities? 

1. Make Richmond’s streets into the streets of the future so they are safe, accessible to all, green, and equitable.

2. Protect public land for the public good so that all city resources are used for purposes that serve the community. 

3. Continue to invest in violence prevention and community safety by investing in holistic and life-supporting services. 

30. How would you seek to increase democratic involvement and representation within your district? How would you make use of constituent services staff to achieve this? 

● I have led efforts to expand voting rights to non-citizen residents in Richmond. This effort is ongoing, and we are closely tracking a court case that is litigating this issue in San Francisco. 

● I am supporting a measure for ranked choice voting on this year’s ballot for Richmond’s future elections. 

● In Richmond, councilmembers do not have dedicated constituent services staff. However, I make a point to take on young interns who I mentor extensively, train to organize, and also provide constituent services. Two of my former interns helped build the coalition and sculpt the policy for non-citizen voting rights, and my interns and I regularly doorknock in my district. 

31. Will you agree to meet monthly with an EBDSA liaison? 

Yes. 

32. Would you be willing to meet regularly with other DSA endorsed elected officials? 

Absolutely— as a longtime organizer, I believe coalition-building is essential to pass progressive policies successfully. I work with DSA-endorsed electeds in Richmond and across the East Bay regularly and will keep doing so. 

33. How will you be accountable to DSA once you are in office?

I will devote my time and energy to causes supported by the DSA. By maintaining open communication with the EBDSA community and welcoming their insights on progressive policies, I aim to strengthen and nurture my relationship with the DSA and its members. Additionally, I will support other EBDSA-endorsed candidates and elected officials, collaborating with them on local and regional issues. 

34. What do you see as the role of DSA once you are in office? 

The DSA can play a crucial role in shaping my policies and showing both its members and the broader public that progressive efforts can be successful. 

BDS and Palestine Solidarity

35. Do you support the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) to pressure Israel until it complies with international law by ending the occupation, instituting equal rights for its Palestinian citizens and respecting Palestinian refugees’ right to return? If not, please explain. 

Absolutely. I voted to divest Richmond’s investment portfolio from industries supporting war, oppression, and apartheid on April 30th, with one restriction being a ban on certain companies that materially contribute to the Israeli oppression and occupation of Palestinians. I have no hesitation in saying that Palestinians live under Israeli occupation and apartheid, and it is morally urgent that all elected officials support the Palestinian people. 

Environment and Green New Deal

36. What does a "Green New Deal" mean to you? How do you hope to help implement it in office? 

A "Green New Deal" proposes an urgent economic transformation from reliance on fossil fuels to a system that addresses the existential threat of climate change. This plan will require significant investment in public works with union pay and local hiring, worker retraining programs, and community education to integrate sustainable practices into our economic development.

37. What does a "just transition" for fossil fuel workers and frontline communities mean to you? 

I support a Just Transition for Richmond, meaning shifting from extractive industries to a local economy that is environmentally sound, socially responsible, and economically viable, including creating clean-energy jobs with living wages. 

38. Should utility monopolies like PG&E be publicly owned? If not, please explain. 

Public ownership of essential services like PG&E is crucial because it increases accountability and prioritizes service delivery over profits, addressing issues such as frequent power outages in Richmond that affect accessibility for the disabled, disrupt education, and impose financial burdens on working-class families. These outages highlight the necessity for publicly owned utilities to ensure equitable and reliable service. Additionally, I strongly support Golden State Energy as a step toward achieving these goals of improved service and public accountability. 

Mass Transit

39. How does publicly owned mass transit fit into your vision of a fully realized socialist society? How can it help us transition to that society? 

By offering free, reliable, and high-quality public transportation, we can significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, thereby addressing climate change effectively. Eliminating fare costs increases mobility for all community members, including vulnerable groups like the elderly. It also reduces the need for police involvement in fare enforcement, promoting a less carceral approach to public transit. Additionally, allowing residents to have a say in route planning improves community cohesion and connectivity, enriching the quality of life and fostering greater inclusivity in travel. 

40. What role should transit workers and riders play in decision-making within public transit agencies? How can we move toward the governance model you envision?

Public transit is essential for working-class residents and is vital in combating climate change. Transit workers and riders, who are deeply familiar with and dependent on this infrastructure, offer invaluable insights into policy-making. I intend to regularly consult with local ATU unions in the Bay Area to ensure reliable service, address worker needs, and expand services. 

41. Do you support having a robust transit system with extensive and low- or no-cost bus service — including service connecting working-class neighborhoods without running through business or financial centers? If not, please explain. 

Absolutely, and I have been very vocal recently in my criticisms of AC Transit’s efforts to cut services throughout the region and ignore workers’ demands and recommendations for improved working conditions and higher-quality ridership. 

Labor

42. Are you a member or elected leader of a union? Have you ever been? Have you ever walked a picket line? Please provide specifics. 

None of my workplaces have ever been unionized. But I have incredibly strong relationships with local unions and regularly walk picket lines with striking workers and those negotiating their contracts. Most recently, I joined the picket lines of SEIU-UHW’s ULP strike at the Richmond Kaiser facility. Additionally, I walked the picket line in solidarity with USW Local 5 during their months-long strike at the Chevron refinery last year. 

43. What do you see as the role of the labor movement in political change? 

I view the labor movement as the backbone of political change. Workers hold immense power in shaping society, and collective action through unions is essential for challenging corporate interests and advocating for policies that prioritize the needs of the working class. By organizing and mobilizing workers, we can challenge systems of oppression, address income inequality, and push for policies that promote democratic control over the economy.

44. What support, specifically, do you plan to give as an elected official and public figure to workers in your district who are organizing a union or negotiating a contract? 

I supported efforts by Unite Here to unionize HelloFresh workers, including at a facility in Richmond. Unfortunately, unionization was rejected in a worker vote despite significant safety concerns and low wages. I will support them if this effort is revived in the future. For any future union organizing, I would support as needed through my formal leadership as an elected official, participating in actions and using my communication channels to promote worker messaging. 

Healthcare

45. Do you support Medicare for All in California? Will you pledge to vote for AB 1400 (if relevant)? If not, why not? 

Yes. Healthcare should be free at the point of use. 

Prison & Police Abolition

46. Do you commit to reducing budgets for police, prisons, and other carceral institutions and reallocating that money to social services and alternative programs for building community safety (like violence interrupters and mental health crisis responders)? If not, why not? If so, talk specifically about where this money should go. 

Yes, and I have voted for these proposals while serving as a Richmond City Council member. With this multi-million dollar police budget reallocation, we funded such programs as YouthWORKS, a city-run youth employment program; the Office of Neighborhood Safety, a city-run gun violence prevention and intervention program, including a strong street outreach component; in community based services for unhoused residents, including mobile shower service, trash abatement, and employment opportunities for unhoused residents; and started the Community Crisis Response Program, a non-law enforcement intervention for mental health and substance use crises.

47. What concrete steps will you take in office to end mass incarceration and decrease the power of the police? 

● I recently supported a policy to divest the City’s Investment Portfolio from all arms manufacturers, the border and surveillance industry, the mass incarceration industry, and corporations who support Israel’s apartheid against the Palestinian people. 

● I am the City Councilmember that supports the city’s Community Police Review Commission. Their charge is to hold police accountable and review allegations of misconduct. I dedicate a lot of time to making sure this commission is proactive and effective. 

● I have been the primary champion of Richmond’s police budget reallocation efforts. 

Housing

48. YIMBYs (“Yes in My Back Yard”) claim that overregulation is the primary cause of the housing crisis, and loosening regulation to allow more housing to be built is sufficient to make housing affordable. Do you agree or disagree? What do you think are the main contributing factors to the housing affordability crisis? 

I firmly believe that the housing market suffers from severe under-regulation, contributing to the ongoing housing crisis. This crisis stems from several factors, including poor planning by local governments, Costa Hawkins, the absence of nationwide rent control, private equity firms buying residential property, inadequate regulation of platforms like Airbnb, cities imposing weak affordability standards on developers, and a societal view of housing as a commodity rather than a fundamental human right. 

49. Will you support all legislation that requires building owners to negotiate with tenant unions? What other measures will you support that would even the playing field between tenants and landlords? Is there any expansion of tenants’ rights that you would not support? 

Yes, I will support all legislation requiring building owners to negotiate with tenant unions. As an organizer, I both supported the campaign to strengthen rent control in Richmond and helped develop its policy parameters. I also organized for the Fair Chance Housing ordinance (also known as “ban the box”), which

delays criminal background checks in the public housing application process. I’ve also supported policy to stop evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent tenant harassment, including pushing millions of dollars to be allocated to back rent relief. I am not aware of any tenants’ rights expansions that I would not support. 

50. Do you pledge to oppose any upzoning (increasing density of residences) proposal without sufficient affordability requirements, such that it is opposed by grassroots anti-gentrification organizations? Do you pledge to support proposals by such anti-gentrification groups to fix new and existing laws which fail to include such requirements? 

Yes to both. 

Taxation

51. How do you propose to change our budget and tax structure (on the federal, state, or municipal level, as relevant) to better fund public services and redistribute wealth? 

I believe that a government’s budget is an accurate reflection of its values— and I have dedicated my first term to helping Richmond’s budget reflect progressive values. I have supported Measure U, which shifted Richmond’s business tax structure from a payroll tax to a more progressive gross receipts tax. I have led the effort to get Richmond out of its existing credit swaps, which is a predatory lending instrument that many banks shoved on cities during the financial crisis. 

Above all, I will continue to support taxation measures that target profit-making entities over working people.

Candidate Name: Melvin Willis 

Office: Richmond City Councilmember, District 1 

Election Date: November 5, 2024 

Election Type: General, with plurality voting 

You & Your Campaign 

1. Briefly tell us your background or biography. 

I was born and raised in Richmond. I attended WCCUSD public schools and graduated from El Cerrito High School 2008. In 2011, I started working for the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) as a community Leader and transitioned later into Community Organizer. I have been a member of Richmond City Council since 2016.

2. Why are you seeking this office? 

I’m running for re-election to continue to build on the work that I’ve done in the community and to ensure that the constituents of Richmond have a voice on the city council. As Councilmember for District 1, my top priorities are to keep money out of politics by pledging not to take corporate money, build coalitions, increase community participation in all aspects of government, increase affordable housing and protect our environment. 

3. What movements are you connected to in your community, and what is your level of involvement with them? What organizations are you involved in or connected with? 

I have worked as a Community Organizer for six years now and participated in many local and regional struggles during these years, especially as a leader and/or organizer in fighting for tenants. As gentrification and displacement throughout the Bay Area increases, rents in Richmond and throughout Contra Costa I activate with ACCE and played a key role in passing Rent Control and a Just Cause for Eviction ordinance in Richmond! I am also a Steering Committee member of the Richmond Progressive Alliance. 

4. How do you differ from your opponents in this race? 

So far, my opponent is a relatively unknown quantity, as she has never been an elected official and does not have a public platform yet. She also grew up in Richmond, but I am otherwise unaware of her politics. However, Richmond conservatives seem to be rooting for her. 

5. From which other organizations and individuals are you seeking endorsements in this campaign? Who has already endorsed you? 

Seeking endorsements from: 

350 Bay Area Action ACCE Action 

AFSCME Local 3299 ATU 1555 

CAIR Action California Nurses Association (CNA) CBE Action Contra Costa Labor Council Contra Costa Young Democrats East Bay DSA

Firefighters Local 188 IFPTE Local 21 

NUHW Our Revolution East Bay SEIU UHW Sierra Club 

SEIU CIR SEIU Local 21 

Unite Here Local 2 United Steelworkers (USW) Local 5 Working Families Party 

Pinole City Councilmember Devin T. Murphy Richmond City Councilmember Doria Robinson Richmond City Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin AC Transit Director Jovanka Beckles Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia 

Already endorsed: 

Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) Action League of Conservation Voters of the East Bay Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA) United Teachers of Richmond (UTR) Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez Richmond City Councilmember Claudia Jimenez 

6. Are you registered to vote with a party affiliation? Which party? Will that be the same when you run for office? 

Yes, Democrat. Richmond races are nonpartisan. 

DSA and Democratic Socialism 

7. Are you a socialist? If not, why not? If so, what does being a socialist mean to you? 

I am a democratic socialist, in the sense that I share Bernie Sanders’ desire to “create a government that works for the many and not just the few.” I think that basic human needs like housing and food should be regarded as rights for all in a modern society and not determined by profitability for a few. 

8. Are you willing to run for office publicly as a socialist? 

Yes, as a democratic socialist.

9. Are you a member of DSA? If not, would you join if you receive the DSA endorsement? 

Yes. 

10. Have you been active in DSA? In what capacity? 

No, but only due to its lack of presence in Richmond. 

11. Will you publicize EBDSA’s endorsement? 

Of course! 

12. Will you be willing to run with other DSA-endorsed candidates as a slate? Yes. 

13. Are you open to working with DSA when developing your platform? Yes. 

14. Will you allow the EBDSA Electoral Committee to create campaign materials to distribute during its work on your campaign? 

I would like my campaign to collaborate with the EBDSA Electoral committee on campaign materials. 

15. EBDSA has a large and active volunteer base. Will you support EBDSA training our own volunteers, running our own canvasses, and campaigning openly as DSA members? 

Absolutely! In my experience with Richmond elections, EBDSA has excellent canvassers and I would be grateful for their insight and time. 

16. Will you allow EBDSA to collaborate with you on your field plan and program? Yes, my team would welcome EBDSA’s expertise. 

17. Will you allow EBDSA to keep copies of all data we collect through voter contact? Yes. 

18. In past campaigns, EBDSA has had teams of member-organizers who work directly with campaign staff on areas such as field, communications, fundraising, data, and legal compliance. Will you agree to this arrangement and guarantee that your staff will build direct relationships with members of our campaign team? 

Yes. 

19. DSA supported Bernie Sanders in the 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential primaries. Who did you support in the 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential primaries? And why? 

I supported Bernie Sanders in both primaries, as I wanted a presidential candidate who cares about the working poor in this country and was committed to developing a stronger social safety net. 

Goals of Your Campaign 

20. Who will be running your field program? What staff and/or consultants have you hired? 

Our slate hasn’t chosen a field manager yet, and we are still an entirely volunteer-run team. 

21. What is your fundraising goal, and what is your plan to reach that goal? How much have you raised already? 

My fundraising goal is $50k, and I have raised $10k so far. 

22. What is your win number? How many doors will your campaign plan to knock? How many doors will you personally knock? 

Win number: 3000 

Total door knocks: 3,500 

Personal door knocks: 1,750 

23. Will you pledge not to take any campaign contributions from the following sources? 

a. For-profit corporate entities (corporations, LLCs, etc.) 

b. Political committees formed by for-profit entities 

c. Real estate developers and realtors 

d. For-profit corporate lobbyists

e. Professional landlords 

f. Police or prison unions 

g. Charter schools or non-profits supporting charter schools 

Absolutely. 

24. Have you ever previously taken money from the sources listed in question #23? If so, please explain. 

No. 

25. Is public financing available in your campaign? If so, are you using it? Have you ever previously turned down public financing? 

I have used public financing in the past, but in recent years the City of Richmond stopped the campaign matching funds program due to a budget crisis. 

26. What is your profession? Is a significant portion of your income or wealth derived from capital holdings (e.g., investments, rent, etc.)? 

I am an organizer with ACCE, and I do not have capital holdings. 

27. Will you abide by the Campaign Workers Guild’s Fair Campaign Pledge? Yes. 

Goals in Office 

28. How do you think political change happens? How will your campaign make political change happen despite the challenges? 

Political change happens through grassroots organizing, coalition building, and mobilizing community members. 

29. If elected, what are your top 3 priorities? 

1. Affordable housing, which will be accomplished in part through sound rent control policies. 

2. Environmental protections and careful development of public resources like Pt. Molate. 

3. Economic justice for workers.

30. How would you seek to increase democratic involvement and representation within your district? How would you make use of constituent services staff to achieve this? 

As an elected representative, engagement with stakeholders including residents and community organizations is incredibly important to me. Although I don’t have dedicated staff, I regularly doorknock in my district to speak with residents. 

31. Will you agree to meet monthly with an EBDSA liaison? 

Yes. 

32. Would you be willing to meet regularly with other DSA endorsed elected officials? Yes. 

33. How will you be accountable to DSA once you are in office? 

I would be happy to meet with DSA members regularly to collaborate on policy. 34. What do you see as the role of DSA once you are in office? 

Since many of the solutions to the problems we face go far beyond Richmond, I look forward to working with DSA and DSA members on these broader efforts. East Bay DSA members would be encouraged to approach me with any ideas they think would benefit the people of Richmond. We have found being effective on the council requires a lot of coalition work. 

Issue 

BDS and Palestine Solidarity

35. Do you support the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) to pressure Israel until it complies with international law by ending the occupation, instituting equal rights for its Palestinian citizens and respecting Palestinian refugees’ right to return? If not, please explain. 

Yes, and I have been active in actions against the current genocide in Gaza over the past seven months. 

Environment and Green New Deal

36. What does a "Green New Deal" mean to you? How do you hope to help implement it in office? 

To me, a local Green New Deal would look like focusing on renewable energy infrastructure, green jobs creation, and environmental justice initiatives at the municipal level. It would involve transitioning to sustainable energy sources, such as wind and solar, while retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency. Additionally, it would prioritize investment in public transportation and green spaces, and making sure marginalized people benefit from these initiatives. 

37. What does a "just transition" for fossil fuel workers and frontline communities mean to you? 

A "just transition" for fossil fuel workers and frontline communities means prioritizing their well-being during our shift to renewable energy. It involves providing robust support for displaced workers, including job training, guaranteed employment in renewable industries, and major investment in impacted communities. 

38. Should utility monopolies like PG&E be publicly owned? If not, please explain. 

I support public ownership of utility monopolies like PG&E, as this would ensure that services prioritize people over profit, promoting accountability, transparency, and equitable access to essential services. Public ownership would prioritize the common good and ensure vital services are accessible to all. 

Mass Transit

39. How does publicly owned mass transit fit into your vision of a fully realized socialist society? How can it help us transition to that society?

As with the above question, publicly owned mass transit prioritizes people’s needs over corporate profits. By providing reliable and affordable transit, residents can more fully move through cities with the rest of their community, laying the groundwork for a more just and interconnected society.Mass transit also serves environmental sustainability, which is essential to our survival. 

40. What role should transit workers and riders play in decision-making within public transit agencies? How can we move toward the governance model you envision? 

I believe workers are the primary experts and stakeholders of any industry and that applies to public transit. Workers and riders are most intimately familiar with the needs of public transit infrastructure, and should guide its investments, availability, and development. I find that the multiple Local ATU unions in the Bay Area can speak to these issues best, and I plan to consult with them regularly to help provide reliable service, make sure worker needs are met, and expand services. 

41. Do you support having a robust transit system with extensive and low- or no-cost bus service — including service connecting working-class neighborhoods without running through business or financial centers? If not, please explain. 

Yes. 

Labor

42. Are you a member or elected leader of a union? Have you ever been? Have you ever walked a picket line? Please provide specifics. 

I have not had the opportunity and the honor of union membership. I hope that will change in the future. I walk picket lines in Richmond whenever there is a labor action I’m aware of— most recently, with striking healthcare workers at Richmond Kaiser. 

43. What do you see as the role of the labor movement in political change? 

The labor movement is one of the most powerful forces of social and economic justice by challenging corporate interests and promoting policies that benefit working-class communities. Through collective action and solidarity, the labor movement challenges power and advances progressive agendas.

44. What support, specifically, do you plan to give as an elected official and public figure to workers in your district who are organizing a union or negotiating a contract? 

As an elected official, I have provided vocal support to workers organizing unions or negotiating contracts in my district. This includes publicly endorsing their efforts, advocating for their rights, and using my position to amplify their voices. I commit to making sure labor laws are enforced, fair bargaining practices are upheld, and workers' rights are protected throughout the negotiation process in any way that I can. 

Healthcare

45. Do you support Medicare for All in California? Will you pledge to vote for AB 1400 (if relevant)? If not, why not? 

Yes. A single standard of care, everybody in and nobody out, undocumented residents included, parity between mental health and physical health care. 

Prison & Police Abolition

46. Do you commit to reducing budgets for police, prisons, and other carceral institutions and reallocating that money to social services and alternative programs for building community safety (like violence interrupters and mental health crisis responders)? If not, why not? If so, talk specifically about where this money should go. 

As a Richmond City Council member, I have already supported these efforts and will continue to do so. In the 2021-2022 budget, my progressive colleagues and I successfully allocated $6.3 million to community programs, with $3 million redirected from the police budget. This included expanding YouthWORKS (for youth job training and placement), increasing funding for the Office of Neighborhood Safety (gun violence prevention), investing in services for the homeless, and establishing a Community Crisis Response Program. 

47. What concrete steps will you take in office to end mass incarceration and decrease the power of the police?

Most recently, I voted in favor of divesting the City’s investment portfolio from all corporations that profit from mass incarceration and “border security” in any way. 

I’ve also long advocated for redirecting funds from law enforcement into essential local services. Examples include my efforts on the City Council to decrease the police budget by at least 20% and my work at the county level to reduce the sheriff department’s budget. I also strongly support Richmond’s Citizens Police Review Commission, but I feel that the body needs more power. 

As a City Council member I supported “Ban the Box” legislation so formerly incarcerated residents can more fully rejoin our community and more easily access public housing. I have been one of the leaders in the fight to defund the Contra Costa Sheriff’s department and use the money for social services. I support policies that will prevent people with problems or minor offenses from being drawn into the “criminal justice system.” 

Housing

48. YIMBYs (“Yes in My Back Yard”) claim that overregulation is the primary cause of the housing crisis, and loosening regulation to allow more housing to be built is sufficient to make housing affordable. Do you agree or disagree? What do you think are the main contributing factors to the housing affordability crisis? 

I disagree. In my view, there are several more egregious causes of localized gentrification and displacement: a large portion of the housing stock concentrated in the hands of relatively few people and corporations; corporations like AirBnB transferring housing stock from the rental market into the tourism sector further impacts displacement; and developers seeking to maximize profits by building only for the highest earners exacerbates the housing crisis. 

49. Will you support all legislation that requires building owners to negotiate with tenant unions? What other measures will you support that would even the playing field between tenants and landlords? Is there any expansion of tenants’ rights that you would not support?

Tenant unions are a powerful structure that I wish were more present in Richmond, and I would support all legislation that would enable tenant unions to conduct fair negotiations. 

I would support measures that ban investment firms and corporations from buying residential property in Richmond. I would also support providing a funding stream to housing stabilization bodies (i.e., land trusts) so that efforts like TOPA would actually be achievable. 

I am not aware of any tenants’ rights expansion I wouldn’t support. 

50. Do you pledge to oppose any upzoning (increasing density of residences) proposal without sufficient affordability requirements, such that it is opposed by grassroots anti-gentrification organizations? Do you pledge to support proposals by such anti-gentrification groups to fix new and existing laws which fail to include such requirements? 

Yes to both. I do not think housing supply, regardless of price, is the issue causing displacement and people to become unhoused. 

Taxation

51. How do you propose to change our budget and tax structure (on the federal, state, or municipal level, as relevant) to better fund public services and redistribute wealth? 

On the municipal level, I have supported all progressive tax proposals, such as a gross receipts tax—which reduces the tax burden on very small businesses and increases taxes on big corporations in Richmond— and an increase on Richmond’s documentary transfer tax.