On the issues

On the City Council, I will push for policies that grow our local economy and keep College Park competitive. I support expanding the Revitalization Tax Credit and the Business Retention and Attraction Fund, which help attract new businesses into our community and keep existing ones from leaving. We are also seeing new possibilities thanks to the Purple Line, which will bring more visitors through our city. I will work with city staff to create a new online business portal that features a complete inventory of our local shops, restaurants, and service providers, along with their hours and locations, boosting visibility among residents and visitors alike. This platform can also serve as a bulletin board for businesses to promote community events.

If elected, I will advocate for improved bike and pedestrian infrastructure, especially near ongoing Purple Line construction. I will also push for the City of College Park to work with our county and state partners to focus on alternative-use roadways, including bus-only lanes on our busiest roads during peak hours, to reduce congestion, raise bus reliability, and keep our streets safe. Clear signage and enforcement can help keep these lanes exclusive during rush hour, incentivizing the use of public transit. I will work with state agencies and neighboring municipalities to ensure we have consistent infrastructure on shared roads. This approach has been shown to reduce collisions and lower pollution by encouraging more residents to leave their cars at home. Encouraging alternate modes of transportation like buses can also save residents money on gasoline and car maintenance costs.

As the Co-Founder of the College Park Tenants Union, I am acutely aware of the housing crisis facing College Park. Too many residents are struggling to afford to live in our city. On the City Council, I will advocate for a first-time homeowner tax credit. Like our elderly tax credit, this plan will encourage families to settle here long term, contributing to a strong sense of community. I will also push to strengthen the Needs-Based Student Housing Subsidy Pilot Program. I will first seek to formally evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program. If the results show it is working to help our most vulnerable student residents, I will move to make it a permanent fixture in our budget, with expanded eligibility so it can help more renters. This measure will make it easier for students at all income levels to balance their academic and personal lives without being priced out of College Park’s housing market.

The City of College Park has taken strong steps toward environmental sustainability, in part thanks to the dedicated work of the Committee for a Better Environment. If elected, I will push to require city-owned land not in active use to include a variety of Maryland’s native plants. These species save water, resist pests, and reduce maintenance costs—a practical approach that also supports pollinators, translating into better crop outputs, and therefore, economic benefits for our city and county. Additionally, on the City Council, I will advocate for expanding pollinator gardens and green spaces throughout College Park. Native flora cools the city, lowers noise pollution, and cuts energy bills during hot months. By adding native plant requirements into new development plans, we can further support our Bee City USA commitments and help protect at-risk pollinator populations.

I’ve heard directly from College Park residents who are concerned about speeding vehicles and poor visibility near crosswalks. If elected, I will push for improved pedestrian safety infrastructure. For instance, I will advocate for increasing our city’s adoption of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) and other proven solutions like raised crosswalks to slow down traffic and alert drivers to crossing pedestrians. I will also seek greater accountability in areas affected by Purple Line construction. Construction has disrupted established crosswalks, forced pedestrians onto roads, and heightened the risk of accidents. I plan to call for regular meetings with the Purple Line team to ensure they follow through on commitments to provide safe walkways for pedestrians and cyclists.

As a former deputy student liaison to the City Council, I worked to bridge the gap between student residents and long-term residents. If elected, I will push for stronger partnerships between the City of College Park and the University of Maryland. Our city is enriched by the students, faculty, and staff who live here, and we all benefit when the university thrives. On the City Council, I will advocate for open lines of communication between city leadership, university administrators, and the student body. Working together, we can expand successful initiatives—such as the Lakeland STARS tutoring program—and address shared goals like affordable housing, public safety, and transportation. Encouraging students to support local businesses, especially through city-led events, can also deepen the bond between long-term residents and the university community. I hope to work with the university to publicize opportunities that all residents can participate in, from on-campus guest lectures to performances at the Clarice.