Seeing our community stand up for Black lives last year reminded me of the disconnect between the lived experience of Medfordians and the rhetoric of our politicians. We’ve heard leaders talk a big game about “diversity,” but we need leaders who truly understand just how damaging racism in Medford can be.

For me, the fight for racial justice is personal. My family would not be here if not for the Civil Rights Movement and Black activists who fought for more just immigration laws. I understand firsthand how one’s skin color determines so much, even in Medford.

Medford deserves a City Council that isn’t afraid to say Black Lives Matter, that doesn’t hesitate to act on racial justice, and that recognizes that racial justice isn’t a zero-sum game. From Black liberation to stopping Asian hate, we are all better off when we tackle racism with the utmost seriousness.

We’ve all watched as racism at the schools and attacks on Asian American elders was swept under the rug in our own city. We’ve watched as our city leaders hesitate to make Medford truly work for us all.

I decided to run because, as a young person growing up in Medford, I realized that all too often, diversity was just a slogan. I saw our Asian community among those systematically excluded from our political process. As your first Asian-American city councilor and your first city councilor in decades, I promise to build a more just, more inclusive city.

• Collaborate with the School Committee to increase the racial diversity of the Medford Public School (MPS) staff
  • According to state data, in the 2019-2020 school year, 40.7% of MPS students were BIPOC compared to only 3.4% of the full-time staff members
  • I fully support the racial equity task force announced by Superintendent Dr. Maurice Edouard-Vincent on January 7th, 2021, and will fight for its success

• Counter all forms of systemic racism, reform policing, and bring a critical eye to policy making
  • In June 2020, Mayor Lungo-Koehn declared racism a public health crisis in Medford. I will fight to ensure this declaration is followed up by appropriate and consistent action.
  • I support funding a comprehensive, community based response to crime and safety issues. When it comes to tackling mental health crises, student conduct, crowd control, and domestic abuse, I believe we can reimagine community safety. That starts by funding social services and allocating responsibilities to specialized responders trained to handle specific cases, such as mental health professionals, clinician-led response teams, and civilian traffic enforcement.
  • I pledge to pass an ordinance establishing community oversight of any public use of surveillance technology given its proven racial bias.
• Fight the rising levels of hate crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population, increase in incidents of White Supremacy, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Black hate in Medford
  • According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), there were 4 reported incidents in Medford last year. We need leaders who will speak out against anti-Semitism.
• Guarantee immigrants’ rights and support immigrants in Medford
  • I promise to uphold the existing non-cooperation policy between the Medford Police Department (MPD) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
  • We should expand translation services and actively engage immigrant residents and communities to understand their needs via targeted clinics and town halls.

Housing affordability has become a central challenge for Medford. As a young person who wants to stay in Medford, this is a challenge I know all too well. We need to expand housing supply in order to meet our demand and fight the effects of gentrification. Medford must be proactive. I will work to create an Office of Housing Stability that will reach out to Medford’s youth, seniors, and other vulnerable residents to provide education on housing and rental rights, strengthen health and safety code enforcement, redesign our city’s zoning plan, and to help make Medford livable for us all.

• Increase affordable housing supply by taking advantage of existing federal and state programs and expanding inclusionary zoning, advocating for transit-oriented, environmentally-friendly densification.
  • I will work with residents to develop a comprehensive zoning plan that ensures the needs of Medford residents take priority over the interests of big property developers and increase affordable units required by zoning in new developments.
• Make housing work for all by recognizing the intersectional effects of social inequality, disproportionate power dynamics, and housing. 
  • I will support renters by passing a tenant’s bill of rights and support tenant unions
  • I commit to fighting systemic racism and housing discrimination, which has plagued Medford. This means using the city’s legal powers to challenge racist housing practices and fighting against measures to keep new and potential residents and residents of color out of our community.
  • I will work to ensure low-income housing in Medford is accessible to people with disabilities.
  • I would support raising the income cap on Senior Tax Deferrals.

Seeing our city fall short on funding our schools last year was one of the sparks behind my decision to run for City Council. As a recent graduate of the Medford Public Schools, I know how crucial education is to children, families, and our wider community. Investing in our schools is investing in our future, and the future of Medford lies in the hands of our children. In order to provide our children and our city with a bright future, we need leaders who will fight for strong schools and against cuts to them. We’re missing a City Council that fully funds our schools and supports our educators and schools. After attending Medford Public Schools for twelve years and working with educators and the School Committee, I can bring unique insight into the problems facing our schools. From funding to achieving equity for students, all aspects of educational justice are central to building strong, safe, and vibrant communities.

• Prioritize funding for our schools, which are experiencing functional cuts under level funding in the FY 2021 Budget and which initially saw the layoff of 40-45 educators.
  • These cuts have disproportionately affected students in need, limiting access to reading specialists, vocational programs, and guidance.
  • Even before the pandemic, schools have been underfunded. Since 2007, the school budget has grown by 8.4% less than the whole city budget. 
  • I would advocate for a “hold harmless” provision for charter school reimbursements to prevent up to $8 million in lost public school funding.
  • I will vote down any budget that cuts our education budget even further.

• Improve classroom outcomes by ensuring racial and social equity in the classroom and attracting the best teachers
  • Work with the School Committee to increase support for English Language Learners (ELL) at Medford High School (MHS)
  • According to state data, the MHS drop out rate for English Language Learners is 12.8% compared to the state average of 7.1%. I will fight for increased support for ELL students.
  • We must hire and retain more educators and staff of color, as well as focus on equity for students with disabilities, lower family incomes, and English learners. This means we must increase pay for teachers, paraprofessionals, substitutes, before-school, and after-school staff.
  • We must strive to create an anti-racist curriculum and experience by addressing incidents of racism and the harm that white supremacist systems cause. 
  • More than surrounding school districts, we place financial barriers to accessing arts, sports, and other extracurricular activities. If elected, I would work to eliminate these unjust fees.
• Encourage student leadership and ensure that students receive a proper 21st Century education
  • I would collaborate with the School Committee to audit the MHS sex education program to ensure it complies with the Healthy Young Act a bill that requires comprehensive and medically accurate sex education in Massachusetts
  • I would expand on the Center for Citizenship and Social Responsibility’s (CCSR) initiative to make period products free and accessible 
  • As a founding member of the CCSR, I am passionate about helping students serve our community as leaders. I would work to increase opportunities for students to work in local activism, climate work, and in City Hall

• Commission a study of school infrastructure to guide our investments
  • Our community deserves a building that reflects the quality of our teachers and students. I support commissioning a report on Medford High School’s infrastructure and possible rebuilding to ensure that infrastructure updates are truly fiscally responsible. I believe that we should not be spending money on patchwork repairs if a complete overhaul makes more fiscal sense.

Environmental justice is a top priority that has gone under-addressed for far too long. It is a pressing issue facing us, our families, and the planet. In Medford, we must do our part to combat climate change. This means reducing greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable development, avoiding “green gentrification,” and recognizing the intersectionality of environmental issues with other challenges of justice. This means treating environmental action as an opportunity to create good, union jobs here in Medford.

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and usage of non-green materials in Medford 
  • To tackle the climate crisis, we must prioritize an environmental lens in all future capital projects and capital plans.
  • I support creating a net-zero/carbon-neutral requirement for new developments, incentivizing the use of solar and renewable energy, and supporting and encouraging green renovations of existing structures. I would support powering all publicly owned or operated facilities with 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and a municipal-wide commitment to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2035.
  • I would restrict usage of municipal funds for natural gas installations, invest in electrification, install electrical vehicle charging stations, and ease out natural gas use in municipal buildings, staffing these new green projects with union jobs and union workers.
  • I believe in a city government that holds companies accountable to our residents. I would support requiring gas companies to check for and repair all gas leaks, protect consumers from paying for leaked and unaccounted for gas.
  • I would support changes to vehicle purchasing policies to downsize municipal fleet vehicles and reduce emissions by converting Medford’s municipal fleet to 100% electric by 2035.
  • I will fight to ensure the Medford Polystyrene Ban is upheld. 
  • In 2018, the City of Medford collaborated with Select Energy and PowerOptions to install a 235-kW solar energy system on the roof of the Department of Public Works Building. These panels were anticipated to save the city $11,000 in the first year, and produce almost 100% of the Department of Public Work’s annual energy. I support the continued use of solar panels. 

• Support a Green New Deal that will repave our streets, improve city infrastructure, establish climate resiliency, and increase transit access
  • Fund the Department of Public Works to repave our roads (while making them safer for all) and to have more consistent park and street clean up
  • We should have a comprehensive plan to repave streets with safe walking and biking infrastructure, advocate for free and expanded MBTA transportation (like bringing back Route 325-326 Bus service), ensure transit stops are accessible to people with disabilities, and clear priority sidewalks and crosswalks during and after snowstorms.
  • I support expanding our green canopy, which will reverse the effects of heat island, which disproportionately affect poorer neighborhoods, and create more livable communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the national and local economy. We have a chance to rebuild our local economy, a chance we must take. In order to improve the lives of Medford residents, we must revitalize the economy and recenter our local economy around working folks. As small, local businesses are the backbone of Medford’s economy and the community, it is exceptionally important that we provide as much support as possible during these difficult times.

• Stand up for working folks by:
  • Tackling wage theft
  • Implementing a $15 Minimum Wage for City Workers
  • Establishing a Office of Housing Stability to protect residents and support tenants
  • Supporting union labor and requiring that new development projects use union labor
• Support local businesses and entrepreneurs as they recover from the effects of COVID-19
  • Expand eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 Business Relief Program 
  • Explore zoning that will create 15 minute neighborhoods and allow business growth
  • Work with local businesses to publicize local businesses and create incentives for residents to shop and live local
  • Expand art in public spaces by commissioning local artists to make the city a more vibrant place
  • Expand public transit access to our city squares
  • Partner with neighboring municipalities to prevent a fight to the bottom regarding labor rights and tax rates

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health has become a top priority and challenge. To secure Medford’s future, we must not only address the crisis at hand, but build infrastructure that will allow us to tackle any future public health emergencies. We must also recognize the disparate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on BIPOC and other marginalized communities. We need leaders who recognize that only this approach can keep us all healthy.

• Increase access to testing and vaccinations, while addressing structural inequities
  • To keep us all healthy, we must ensure that all Medford residents have access to safe and regular COVID-19 testing, including hosting free testing clinics when risk levels increase.
  • To tackle the vaccination gap, wherein Black Medfordian are vaccinated at rates 20% behind average, we must ensure all eligible Medford residents have access to the COVID-19 vaccine which includes hosting targeted vaccination clinics.
• Adopt common sense measures to keep us safe
  • Medford must follow all guidance by the CDC, and we should reinstate the indoor mask mandate, regardless of vaccination status. 
  • Now that the Pfizer vaccine has been approved, we should require all municipal workers to be vaccinated.
  • I would actively combat the spread of COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation and reach out proactively to underserved communities, including BIPOC communities, to ensure that all information and support is provided equitably and in multiple languages.
• Prepare for future public health crises
  • I would request that City Hall establish emergency protocols and long-term support for city services and facilities, including schools and nursing homes.
  • I would guarantee proper ventilation in all municipal facilities.

Mental health is exceptionally important and yet often overlooked by the government. According to John Hopkins Medicine, an estimated 26% or nearly 1 in 4 American adults suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder. I am committed to fighting for the mental health needs of every Medford resident. It is time that we develop a long-term strategy to improve mental health services and end the stigma surrounding mental health.

• Destigmatize mental health by with a proactive messaging campaign
• Provide comprehensive Mental Health services to all MPS students 
• Ensure all Medford residents have access to resources detailing how they can obtain affordable mental health services

At the core of city government is its services. We need city leaders who center justice in designing and delivering our city services. To be truly inclusive, Medford must be proactive in reaching out to marginalized communities in determining Medford’s priorities and how we act on them. City Hall must reflect us.

For Medford to be the best place it can, it has to promote services that maximize livability, inclusion, trust, and accountability. From updating technology to evaluating our programs frequently, we should ensure that our city is doing this.

• Advocate for and prioritize increasing accessibility
• Guarantee the upkeep of and evaluate the city’s revamped See-Click-Fix program 
• Fund translation and interpretation for all services and engage underserved communities
• Provide access to pads and tampons in all city facilities
• Provide access to gender-neutral bathrooms in all city facilities 
• Ensure all city facilities comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and center disability justice in capital projects/services
• Collaborate with Medford Recreation and Medford Arts Council to increase access to sports and arts opportunity and education, especially for those with lower incomes
• Promote a culture of trust and accountability in our city departments
• Evaluate sidewalk cleaning processes

In order to build a truly inclusive Medford we need to ensure that our LGBTQIA+ population is safe and taken care of.  While the past decades have seen monumental strides in LGBTQIA+ rights, there is still widespread discrimination across the United States and here at home.

Based on FBI statistics, hate crimes based on sexual orientation account for 16.7% of all hate crimes, making it the third largest category after race and religion. There has also been a rise in gender identity based hate crimes. 

According to Mental Health America (MHA) LGBTQIA+ individuals also face discrimination in areas such as employment, healthcare and education.

• Provide access to gender-neutral bathrooms in all city facilities  
• Guarantee access to proper resources for all LGBTQIA+ individuals experiencing homelessness 
  • A study from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago found that LGBTQIA+ young people are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their non-LGBTQIA+ counterparts 

• Ensure that everyone can use the bathroom that best aligns with their gender identity 
• Collaborate with the School Committee to ensure that the MHS sex education program is comprehensive and inclusive of all genders and sexualities 
• Provide access to mental and physical health resources to all LGBTQIA+ individuals in need 
  • According to Mental Health America (MHA), 39% of the LGBTQIA+ population have reported having a mental illness in the past year 

• MHA also found that more than half of all LGBTQIA+ respondents reported “providers denying care, using harsh language, or blaming the patient’s sexual orientation or gender identity as the cause for an illness”