Challenger running for City Council for the first time

The candidate’s website | Facebook | Twitter

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Focuses: Housing stability, food security and youth and young adult Investment

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Q&A

From A Better Cambridge, Sept. 19: What’s the No. 1 strategy or policy you want the next City Council to pursue on housing?

Housing should be the No. 1 issue that the council should address. It’s heartbreaking to see unhoused people on the streets of Cambridge, considering this is a resource-rich community. Even though the council has committed to affordable housing, it has fallen short with affordability; there’s no way a gainfully employed working-class person can afford to buy a home of any kind in Cambridge, the average market-rate apartment rent is $3,243, and that’s 6 percent more than it was last year. Our inclusionary zoning goal for affordable units in Cambridge needs to be 50 percent at a minimum, and we must insist the city partner with a nonprofit developer they can meet or exceed that goal.

From the Cambridge Nonprofit Coalition: How would you increase the diversity of voices on city projects and as members of Cambridge boards and committees?

Most people in our community do not have the luxury of time to serve on city boards or commissions, or to participate in the processes that are laid out by these groups. We will need to ensure that the people staffing these organizations meet the people who can’t be there where they are and listen to what they have to say.

From the Cambridge Citizens Coalition, Sept 26: Cambridge is about to hire a city manager. Describe your ideal city manager for this time and their qualities.

I would look for a person who is open to hearing the concerns of elected officials as well as the residents of Cambridge.