- Do you support paying a living wage for all City workers including part-time, temporary, seasonal, and contracted workers? (The ACLC defines a living wage as 125% of the Federal Poverty Level – currently $15.08 an hour)
Yes.
- The Gainesville Living Wage Ordinance for contractors has so many loopholes that it applies to almost no contracts the City currently has. To address this issue, the City of Gainesville started to look into updating the Ordinance in December 2015, but no action has been taken until December 2018 when a six-month study was started. What will you do to ensure the timely and effective changes needed to the Gainesville’s Living Wage Ordinance?
As a commissioner, I would move to remove the loopholes to ensure that those who contract with the City are abiding by the spirit and goals of the City’s promise of a living wage.
- What other ideas do you have to help improve wages and benefits for workers throughout our community?
I think the City should continue to partner with programs like Project YouthBuild and Career Source to ensure that we support programs that train and prepare our citizens. I think the City should also look to strengthen our partnership with and adherence to apprenticeship programs to provide jobs and skills building for trade jobs.
- What do you envision as the role of large local employers in Gainesville in helping to improve wages, benefit workers, and reduce inequalities? How have/would you encourage these large local employers to address these issues?
If it were possible to set a city-wide minimum wage, then I would be a strong supporter of such a change. Unfortunately, such ordinances are preempted by the State Legislature. What the City can do at this point is continue to raise the floor for City employees so that the private sector is forced to change their practices and pay a living wage.
- Do you support providing paid administrative leave for part-time, temporary, seasonal, and contracted City workers in the event of emergency work closures (e.g., hours missed due to a natural disaster)?
Yes. I know that this has been addressed in the past, but a satisfactory policy has not been implemented. I would ensure that such a policy is finalized and enforced.
- If you are an employer: Do you pay all your workers a living wage? If you do not: How are you making an effort to do so?
I am not an employer.
- Do you support a “Renters Bill of Rights’” which would: a. Offer an alternative to costly courts to settle disputes over security deposits and damages. b. Protect renters from high utility bills by enacting policies that require landlords to make basic investments in energy and water efficiency. c. Require universal licensing and safety/health inspections of all rental property. d. Offer protections against discrimination based on source of income and citizenship status. e. Ensure greater disclosure of renters’ rights and responsibilities.
Yes. I helped draft and advocated at City Hall for the passage of the Renters’ Bill of Rights. We should have had the ordinances read and approved by now, but City staff has delayed the release of a basic draft despite the current budget having set aside funds to employ new employees and to begin implementation of a policy that received unanimous support from the City Commission. Despite multiple requests for a timeline an estimated time of release for the draft of these policies, we have yet to receive a draft or real timeline on when these measures will be in effect. I am happy to say that the part about anti-discrimiantion passed at the County and is now in effect in the County and applies to all cities within.
- What are some additional policies the City of Gainesville can enact to improve access to quality, safe affordable housing in our community?
The City could, when making zoning decisions, to require developers to offer a portion of the units at a substantial discount from the other units. I hesitate to say that the rent price should be “affordable” simply because affordable is calculated as costing no more than a third of a person’s income. It’s difficult to calculate or predict a price if that is the model used. But developers who wish to do business in our city must assume some responsibility and be conscientious when constructing in our city. We need homes other than luxury apartments and they should help in the production of affordable housing.
- Do you support a local hiring preference that includes the use of certified apprenticeship programs for taxpayer funded projects?
Yes. I think the City has a duty to give preference to local programs that are building up our future masters of trade skills. If possible, all City projects should include local apprentice labor.
- Do you support offering free RTS bus passes for K-12 students and/or making RTS free for all Gainesville residents at the point of service? How can the City of Gainesville improve public transportation for people who rely on it and don’t work for UF?
I support a completely fare-free RTS initiative. I would support a plan that expands the first-mile/last-mile pilot program that is currently in effect. I think we should invest more in public transportation to make it more accessible and intuitive for riders.
- What is your position on SB168, which is the law that requires local governments to comply with ICE and detain people without a warrant?
As an attorney, I believe that this law is both vague and unconstitutional. Its wording is dangerous for victims and survivors of violence. I have spoken out against this law being implemented at the local level and many times asked our current commission to sign on to the lawsuit against this law.
- What would you do to advance healthcare outcomes in black and brown communities as well as racial equity overall in our community? What steps can the City of Gainesville take to address unequal access to quality food?
I would support continuing the GFR Community Resource Paramedic program that provides holistic services and follow-up after a 911 call. With the lack of adequate healthcare coverage facing the country as a whole, programs like this help identify issues in recurrent cases and help provide solutions. While there isn’t much that can force developers and grocery chains to consider opening new locations, the City can look to Baldwin, FL for a potential solution. I would support the City operating a simple grocery store that provided fresh and affordable food to neighborhoods that are otherwise too far from a grocery store.
- What will you do to ensure UF is a better corporate citizen in Gainesville (e.g., payments in lieu of taxes, moving more services to GRU, etc.)?
The University of Florida has only started an open dialogue with the city in the last few years as they have continued to expand downtown. With the expanded growth of ‘preeminence,’ UF should look more to the city to help with issues such as transportation and affordable housing. While there is no magic solution to make UF take a greater role in this community, I do feel that at least having open dialogue is progress.
- How will you work with UF to ensure better access to affordable, quality housing in Gainesville?
I think acknowledging that we are a company town and including the university in future conversations about housing needs would be a good start. Trying to incorporate UF into the City’s vision and attempts to improve
workforce and affordable housing is a must if we are to create positive change.