Affordable housing is not only a requirement for survival, but a right of all humanity. The housing market in Utah has become supply constrained and unaffordable. Not just for the renters who support our most essential industries, but also, those prospective homebuyers who are the skilled workers that support our top industries being built up in locations like the "Silicon Slopes" and throughout the state.

Resolving this problem will require immediate action at all levels of government. As a member of the State Legislature my priorities on this issue would be to create rent control to prevent excessive rent hikes, limit corporate ownership of properties for use as short-term rentals, as well as providing funds to assist homebuyers in being able to afford their purchase.

The Great Salt Lake and the climate of our state, which depends on it, are on the verge of collapse. The lake's record-low levels are exposing heavy metals once covered by the water, which can now be lifted by the wind and turn into toxic dust storms. This is a genuine emergency that the legislature has acknowledged will take billions of dollars to mitigate. Despite that acknowledgment, the legislature continues to try "market-focused" and "business forward" solutions. Unfortunately, no matter what incentives the government tries to provide for businesses to help with the lake, their primary incentive is still their bottom line, leaving them to implement the cheapest options they can get away with. 

Meanwhile, all 10 of the hottest years on record in our state occurred in the last 15 years, and only one of the next 5 is not in the past 25 years. This extreme change in our climate is increasing the impact of wildfires, lowering yield of crops, and causing increased death of our most vulnerable residents.

As a legislator, I would introduce and sponsor legislation to actually take action on both of these emergencies. Direct action by the government as well as changing corporate incentives for cleanup efforts to penalties for actions that exacerbate the issues.

-We are ranked 50th in the country for per pupil spending for the last 3 years

-Increase education funding to public schools by limiting or eliminating the voucher program that has been ruled unconstitutional.

-Reverse bills preventing public unions (including teachers) from collective bargaining and other restrictions aimed at limiting the ability of the unions to function.

-Reverse budget cuts to all sectors of education causing the elimination of programs in all types of schools

-Expanding suburbs and upcoming Olympics require increased ability to move around the Wasatch front.

-Expand FrontRunner and Trax

-Increase bus routes in the West Side of Salt Lake Valley as well as branching into Davis and Utah Counties

-Increase electrical infrastructure to support those trains as well as increasingly electric vehicles