Provide more resources to increase shelter services and safe spaces in our community. Provide additional support to homeless outreach teams, psychiatric emergency response teams, and service providers. Including, basic need support like mobile showers. Increase wraparound services like case management, job training, and mental health treatment.

The number of seniors and families experiencing homelessness and food insecurity continues to rise in our community. Many are experiencing homelessness for the first time. There is a tremendous need to provide and increase intentional services and assistance to seniors and families dealing with economic instability to prevent homelessness and the risks of being unsheltered. Services include food pantries, financial literacy, child care for families, and other direct services.

Creating more affordable housing opportunities is essential in preventing and decreasing homelessness. When housing costs are reasonably priced, and housing opportunities are readily available, we significantly reduce the likelihood of households becoming homeless. When households do experience homelessness, affordable housing can provide them with a faster pathway towards stability, with a greater chance of sustaining that housing long-term. This includes maintaining and protecting mobile home parks in our community. Mobile home parks are a critical form of affordable housing for all populations, especially for seniors.

Partner with neighborhood residents, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, and local government to identify gaps and needs in our community to establish new and enhance existing prevention-based services. Areas of need include: after-school programs, recreation spaces and programs, literacy programs, trauma-informed mentoring programs, restorative justice/diversion programs, drug prevention and violence prevention programs, and other prevention-based and restorative practice services in our under-resourced neighborhoods. Provide additional support to our mental health crisis response teams. All of these resources are vital to a community’s public safety and quality of life.

Ensure first responders have the reources they need to serve our community. Support and promote the current efforts to hire homegrown Oceanside and local North County residents to meet immediate vacancies and sustain long-term department retention needs, as well as increase diversity and cultural representation within the departments. Increase first responder wellness support to address critical incident stress and vicarious trauma.

Support Oceanside Police Department’s current efforts to serve the community under the 21st Century Community Policing model established on the foundation of building trust with the community and ensuring that officers have the knowledge and skills to be culturally responsive and to treat each person with dignity and respect. Implementing community oversight, best-practice policies, accountability, transparency, training, education, and officer wellness.

Provide support for local businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive in our city. A thriving local economy is essential for the overall success of our community. Actively engaging with local business owners and entrepreneurs to understand their needs and challenges, and work collaboratively to develop programs that provide access to resources, capital, and mentorship. By championing the success of our local businesses we can create new job opportunities for our local community.

Provide increased career exploration opportunities to our working class residents, veterans, formerly incarcerated, youth and young adults. Create career opportunities by partnering with institutions and other local entities to increase job training, vocational, and apprenticeship initiatives, as well as workforce development programs that will empower our residents to obtain a career with a livable wage.

Promote and support hiring local initiatives within our city. Partner with local public and private sector institutions and companies to prioritize hiring from our local workforce to strengthen our community’s economy and quality of life.

Reduce plastic use, support smart growth strategies to increase community walkability and enhance environmental standards in building codes, auto emissions, manufacturing, and energy. These efforts are vital to maintaining our community’s identity and the natural beauty of Oceanside. Investing in parks, green spaces, and infrastructure improves the quality of life for our community. By allocating resources towards creating and enhancing parks and green spaces, we are promoting physical fitness, providing opportunities for outdoor activities, improving our air quality, fostering age-friendly communities, enhancing safety measures to reduce crime, and supporting stronger community bonds.

Protecting and preserving our open spaces, such as beaches, natural trails, and recreational areas, which are essential for outdoor activities, health, and our quality of life. By recognizing the importance of sand on our beaches, I will advocate for beach preservation, safety, and shoreline restoration to ensure beach access for everyone and maintain the natural beauty and resilience of our shores.

Oceanside’s current Climate Action Plan lacks enforceable measures to ensure we are reducing GHG emissions. The California Air Resources Board created a scoping plan to guide localities in implementing scientifically sound mitigations to meet our climate stabilization goals. The next generation of Oceansiders cannot afford our inaction.