San Diego has set the bar for water conservation in California; we should not be the only ones shouldering this responsibility. The state should continue to incentivize conservation like the drought-resistant landscape rebate. 

While projecting water use in the future is difficult, we must learn from the miscalculations that are leading to San Diegans paying higher water rates than other major metro areas. We must find ways to reduce this burden on our residents, and ensure we don’t replicate this problem for families across the state.

California’s drought hurts growers, farmworkers, and vulnerable communities. When my Grandfather first immigrated to the United States, he worked in the fields of Davis just miles from the State Capitol. His sacrifices, hard work, and courage allowed him to live out his American dream. Last year, the drought cost 8,700 farm workers their jobs. Investing in ways to capture and store more water can help the agricultural industry save jobs like the one my Grandfather had.  When farmers hurt, everyone hurts. We all rely in one form or another on the produce harvested in California: be it as food or as a major driver of our economy. 

As I travel through San Diego County, I hear the same issue. Families are stretching their budgets to continue living in the community they love. The life that my father provided for me and my siblings on a truck driver’s salary is no longer within reach for many Southern California families. We need commonsense solutions to ensure every family can make their rent and mortgage payments. I will focus on resources that help families remain in their homes, ending discrimination in the housing process, expanding access to first-time homebuyer loans, and investing in smarter community development.

Growing up, I didn’t alway have the benefit of stability at home. Teachers, counselors, and other school staff provided me with the structure and guidance I needed to succeed. I know firsthand that for so many students across California, schools are more than just a place they go to learn. We must ensure that schools have the resources to provide the wraparound services that our students need. It is unacceptable that California ranks 43rd in the nation for per pupil spending. I fully support increasing per-pupil spending to the average level of the top ten states.

I also believe that Charter schools should be held to the same standards as neighborhood public schools. Charters should not be allowed to cherry pick their students, especially those with special needs or are English as a Second Language students. We also must ensure that charter schools are not diverting funds from traditional public schools. Charter School operators should be required to disclose their finances, especially when taxpayer dollars are subsidizing expensive real estate. Too many point to charter schools as a panacea to issues with California’s education system. The truth is that many of the challenges could be solved just by adequately funding public education. 

I will push to find commonsense solutions that will tackle climate change while delivering high-paying and sustainable jobs to our community. Also, we have an opportunity to strengthen our infrastructure and reimagine what that means for our carbon-neutral future. The roads we drive on, the bridges we cross, the schools our kids attend, and the hospitals that provide crucial care can all contribute to reaching our climate goals. I will work to deliver the funding and projects that will strengthen our communities and prepare them for the future.