Issues

Currently, Ohio's economy favors the affluent and large corporations, often overlooking the needs of our working class. State-sponsored tax incentives for big businesses and decimated social programs have exacerbated the deep-rooted inequalities in our great state. The economic progress we've achieved has often bypassed our marginalized communities, and it's high time we prioritize the welfare of Ohio's working families in our fiscal strategies.

That's why I've been a staunch advocate for state legislation that champions a fair living wage and seeks to bridge the growing disparity between booming corporate revenues and the stagnant earnings of our working community. There's no justification for any Ohioan, after dedicating their hours to a full-time job, to struggle to afford a home in their own community.

I am unwavering in my commitment to back the rights of Ohioans to form and join unions, as every worker in our state deserves the benefits and protections that come with union representation.

The historical legacy of our communities in Ohio stands as a testament to the advantages of union membership and the pitfalls of being excluded from it. Yet, we're observing alarmingly low rates of unionization across the state. Unions have consistently proven to be instrumental in bridging wage gaps, enhancing employment benefits, and safeguarding worker rights. I am poised to champion a revitalized labor movement in Ohio that mirrors the diversity of our state in terms of race, gender, and industry sectors. Supporting initiatives like the PRO Act at the state level is crucial because I firmly believe in the empowerment of unions and fortifying the rights of workers to organize.

In Ohio, we continually confront compromised water and air quality standards. While corporate leaders prosper, our communities, especially Black and brown neighborhoods, endure heightened rates of asthma, cancer, and other health conditions. Despite these pressing health challenges, our state legislature has done little to implement essential protective measures against projects that could further endanger our environment and health. As your state representative, I will be outspoken against fracking and will continue to highlight the importance of sustainable job opportunities.

Throughout the years, our local communities have stood strong against the aggressive approaches of fossil fuel companies and their fracking ambitions. I am proud to stand by their side in this fight.

In the Ohio Statehouse, I will champion the Energy Jobs & Justice Act, a pioneering clean energy policy rooted in equity, economic growth, and accountability. After years of energy strategies that predominantly support utilities and fossil fuels, Ohio needs visionary solutions that benefit our economy, our communities, and our collective health. Together, we can make the Energy Jobs & Justice Act the law of the land and offer a promising energy future designed for every Ohioan, which includes more high-paying careers right here in Ohio. 

Furthermore, I will advocate for initiatives to transition our state to a 100% clean and renewable energy system. This includes the cessation of fracking, the accelerated adoption of solar, wind, and battery storage, and the decommissioning of coal fire power plants as soon as humanly possible. Such endeavors should center around communities that bear the brunt of environmental disparities—those dealing with tainted water supplies and high asthma prevalence.

I firmly believe that every Ohioan deserves clean air and safe drinking water. With this in mind, I am committed to ensuring complete funding for the replacement of all lead-contaminated water pipelines. It's untenable for any resident of Ohio to be deprived of clean water. We have the financial capacity to guarantee clean water for all, and it's imperative that we utilize these resources for the betterment of our state.

Throughout Ohio's history, we have seen the challenges of upholding true democratic values. The shadows of historical racial injustices have manifested in our state through voter disenfranchisement, gerrymandering, and voter suppression, often making it difficult for our marginalized communities, especially poor, Black, and brown Ohioans, to exercise their right to vote.

It's imperative that we not only challenge and end racially biased voter ID and suppression laws in Ohio but also work towards strengthening the integrity of our electoral process. Every Ohioan, from those who have served their time to newcomers making Ohio their home, should have a voice in our state's decisions.

Our state legislature should prioritize making voting accessible and straightforward. This means implementing automatic voter registration, expanding early and mail voting options, designating state election days as holidays, and allowing same-day voter registration.

Furthermore, the influence of big money in our state elections undermines the voice of the average Ohioan. We need comprehensive campaign finance reform at the state level to ensure that our democracy remains in the hands of the people and not the highest bidder.

Outdated regulations and laws in Ohio also hamper our democratic processes. It's high time we revisit and reform such regulations to ensure they serve the best interests of all Ohioans. Our state's democracy may have its flaws, but together, we have the tools and determination to create a more inclusive and reflective system for all.

All policy decisions in Ohio should be firmly anchored in a disability justice framework, recognizing its intertwined nature with racial, gender, and economic justice. This approach demands that we collaborate across various sectors and communities to ensure collective accessibility for all. Ableism within our state and its laws has marginalized disabled Ohioans, relegating them to the sidelines.

While nearly 1 in 4 Ohioans live with a disability, this community faces disproportionate representation in incarceration, instances of police violence, and poverty.

It's imperative that we champion the rights of our disabled community in Ohio by ensuring that they receive fair wages. We must close the loopholes that permit businesses to exploit disabled individuals with sub-minimum wages. Furthermore, we need to enhance and reform our state's disability assistance programs, ensuring that the benefits genuinely support their recipients and eliminate the restrictive regulations that confine disabled individuals to a cycle of poverty.

The COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted the profound disparities in our state's healthcare system, especially for our disabled citizens. While healthcare reform is essential, it's crucial that any changes incorporate coverage for community-based long-term support services. We must prioritize significant state investments in home and community-based services (HCBS) to address the lengthy waiting lists and guarantee that disabled Ohioans and their families receive the care they deserve.

Educational access for disabled students is another critical concern. We need to bolster funding for Ohio's disability education programs, ensuring that disabled students have the necessary resources in public schools.

Additionally, we must continue to strengthen Ohio's commitment to accessibility. This includes introducing state-level legislation that ensures all public transit systems are compliant with accessibility standards, building upon the foundation set by acts like the ADA.

Every child deserves access to a first-rate, free public education - regardless of their zip code or socioeconomic background. Unfortunately, our funding mechanisms for public education are deeply inequitable, leaving behind working-class communities and communities of color.

Public colleges and universities and vocational programs should be tuition-free and all existing student loan debt should be canceled. At the state level, we must fight for our children's rights to the best public school education possible, regardless of zip code. 

I’m fighting for equitable funding for our schools. That means a fair funding formula that guarantees that children will not be punished for growing up in the “wrong” zip code. I also support universal free pre-kindergarten, including early childcare, and dramatically expanding teacher-training programs with a focus on generating high-quality teachers with cultural competency among an increasingly diverse student population.

Like many areas in our nation, Cleveland, Ohio, is grappling with a surge in gun violence. We urgently need measures such as an assault weapons ban, comprehensive background checks, an end to protections for corporate gun manufacturers, and decisive gun safety laws to halt the rampant mass shootings that have tragically become a norm in schools, places of worship, businesses, and cities throughout our country. 

However, in areas like Cleveland, the more pervasive issue is the frequent violence occurring on our streets, predominantly involving handguns. I will introduce legislation to ban assault-style weapons in Ohio. This type of violence stems from persistent poverty and arises in communities that have been consistently under-resourced and overlooked. I will also support measures to allow our cities the ability to decide for themselves what common-sense gun laws will work best to keep their communities safe. It is also crucial that we invest in our educational institutions, after-school initiatives, and holistic community services. 

We must prioritize job creation and advocate for elevated wages, ensuring that every individual has the autonomy to shape their destiny. Addressing gun violence requires a multifaceted approach; it's interconnected with every social service funding reduction, and effective solutions must be implemented at that foundational level.

Mass incarceration stands in direct opposition to our goals of nurturing resilient families and communities in Cleveland. The prevailing criminal and juvenile justice systems pose significant obstacles to social justice and upward mobility, all while draining taxpayer resources. It's disheartening to see America allocate more funds for prisons than for education. This financial commitment detracts from other vital services, including Medicaid, that many Ohioans depend on. We need a paradigm shift: moving away from counterproductive punitive systems and directing our resources toward building a prosperous future.

I am unwavering in my commitment to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. Our educational institutions must serve as nurturing environments where every student can thrive. Entrusting school discipline to armed law enforcement and prosecuting students for minor altercations perpetuates a cycle that funnels youth into the prison system, severely curtailing their potential. Rather than resorting to punitive measures like suspensions and expulsions, it's time we embrace more restorative and impactful approaches.

I strongly oppose mandatory minimum sentencing laws. The tactics deployed in the “War on Drugs” have been devastating, fragmenting families and communities. Such policies disproportionately impact Black and economically disadvantaged communities, and they impede efforts to address the current opioid epidemic in Cleveland. Those in our community grappling with addiction require comprehensive medical care, not harsh penal sentences.

Furthermore, we must confront and eliminate various inhumane practices within our justice system. This includes abolishing the cash bail system, which unjustly incarcerates individuals based on their financial capacity, effectively punishing the economically disadvantaged. We must also end the death penalty and life sentences without the possibility of parole. The state should not wield the authority to terminate a life or confine someone indefinitely without hope of release.

Lakewood, in conjunction with Cleveland, proudly stands as a beacon for the LGBTQ+ community in Ohio. It's disheartening to witness current attempts by the state legislature to sideline and marginalize our LGBTQ+ citizens, and I am determined to counteract these efforts vigorously.

The journey towards LGBTQ+ rights is a pivotal civil rights endeavor of our era. It's imperative for the Ohio State Legislature to enact laws equivalent to the Equality Act, ensuring comprehensive protections for the LGBTQ+ community and their loved ones. Currently, there's an alarming absence of statewide mandates that safeguard LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination in areas such as healthcare, housing, and employment. Beyond these foundational rights, our focus must extend to ensuring authentic representation for the LGBTQ+ community in political spaces. We must be vigilant against potential judicial decisions that might undermine LGBTQ+ rights under the guise of "religious freedom." Additionally, addressing the significant disparities that the LGBTQ+ community encounters in accessing affordable and inclusive healthcare is of utmost importance.

I remain steadfast in my conviction that healthcare is an essential right for every Ohioan. No resident of our state should be anxious about losing healthcare coverage due to preexisting conditions, changes in employment, immigration status, venturing into entrepreneurship, or transitioning out of their parent’s insurance coverage. Our healthcare infrastructure in Ohio is in dire need of reform. Implementing a comprehensive healthcare plan for all Ohioans would not only be cost-effective but would also be life-saving.

Such a statewide public healthcare plan would abolish fees and broaden coverage, ensuring that no Ohioan has to dread the financial repercussions of seeking essential or preventative medical care. The plan would eliminate copays, deductibles, and premiums and would encompass not only medical care but also vision, dental, reproductive, mental health, and long-term care services. In several cities across Ohio, mental health challenges and addiction issues are often met with criminalization rather than the necessary medical intervention. A comprehensive healthcare plan would pledge a significant investment in mental health and addiction services, addressing these crises at the scale our communities require. Furthermore, it would counteract the escalating costs of prescription medications by facilitating state-level negotiations with pharmaceutical companies and promoting competitive pricing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has starkly highlighted the disparities in Ohio's healthcare framework. Black, brown, and indigenous Ohioans face higher uninsured rates than the state average. Concurrently, Black communities in Ohio grapple with elevated maternal and infant mortality rates, increased instances of childhood asthma, and a heightened risk of cancer-related fatalities. For these marginalized groups, the availability of healthcare can literally mean the difference between life and death. As a representative in the Ohio State House, I am committed to advocating for an equitable and all-encompassing healthcare system for all.

The recent decisions by the Supreme Court have significantly undermined our constitutional right to abortion care, highlighting the pressing need for state-level action to safeguard these rights. In Ohio, while we have made strides with the constitutional protection of abortions passed in November 2023, we remain influenced by national events and legislative changes. We cannot be complacent, especially when the rights we've fought for are perpetually at risk.

In our state, it's essential that we not only maintain our commitment to protecting abortion rights but also work towards eliminating barriers like policies that make reproductive care inaccessible for marginalized and low-income communities. We need to champion state-level legislation that solidifies our abortion rights and enhances the accessibility of reproductive health care, drawing inspiration from initiatives like the Women’s Health Protection Act and the EACH Act.

Furthermore, while discussions about the structure of the Supreme Court and the tenure of its justices have national implications, it's crucial for Ohioans to remain informed and vocal about these issues. Any shifts in the national judiciary can have cascading effects on our state-level rights.

It's undeniable that restrictions on abortion and challenges to reproductive rights disproportionately impact marginalized communities, particularly Black and brown populations in Ohio. The stark disparity, where the maternal mortality rate for Black women is considerably higher than for white women, is a glaring testament to this. Additionally, members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans women of color and non-binary individuals, encounter significant disparities in sexual and reproductive health care, leading to exacerbated health challenges. Addressing these inequities is paramount. Every Ohioan deserves access to comprehensive, inclusive, and affordable health care—it's not just a policy issue; it's a matter of basic human rights. As a representative in the Ohio State House, I am committed to ensuring these rights are preserved and enhanced for all.

As an avid cyclist, scooter rider, and public transit user, I am acutely aware of our state's total lack of support for public and alternate transportation. Our leaders have repeatedly cut public transit funding, leaving us in the dust as other states advance.

In my capacity as a City Councilman, we are working with groups like Bike Lakewood and Bike Cleveland to move toward adding more bike lanes and the transformation of our streets, prioritizing pedestrian and cyclist safety over vehicle dominance. But this work needs help from the state! I aim to move Ohio forward by bolstering our urban and suburban transit systems with enhanced bus frequencies, new routes, and a broadened light rail network, thus improving accessibility for millions. The state must commit more funding to pedestrian and bike access as well. To achieve this, we must ensure that organizations like Cuyahoga County's Regional Transit Authority (RTA) receive ample state funding. We cannot continue to lag behind while other states progress, putting Ohioans at a disadvantage in reaching work and school. It's time to reject these failing policies and invest in transportation for our future's sake.