Issues
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Financial Education
Financial literacy is paramount to the success of our young people and older adults. It is critical to address the deficiencies in financial education by partnering with our local organizations to teach foundational items such as banking, certificate programs, and debt management. Some ideas include the following:
- A Central Financial Empowerment Center to coordinate with schools and local centers for promoting these courses
- Kindergarten to College Funds through a Public-Private Partnership with cash match
- An Innovation Academy for Workforce Training focused on upskilling the workforce and teaching technical skills on newer developments, such as artificial intelligence
Environment
The environment is important to me and the people in the City. I want to implement creative solutions and mitigation measures to support people across the socioeconomic spectrum in meeting these goals and engaging with environmental stewardship. Here are some examples:
- A Carbon Rewards Program through an optional partnership between the City and local small businesses, offering rewards/points for those who track and reduce their carbon footprint (including volunteering)
- Maintain and encourage green space in development projects to support walkability and biking routes
- Coordinate with the Urban Forester to develop an Invasive Species Removal Program, following a similar process to the Community Flood Resilience Plan for identifying key hotspots of concern
Community Building
The secret to good government is the involvement of the community and its volunteers. It is concerning that volunteerism has consistently decreased over the years, even prior to the pandemic. It is vital that we reenergize our constituency and support our civic leaders. These include initiatives like:
- A Partnership to establish a service exchange and time bank for volunteers offering hours to assist older adults on various tasks – and in exchange – they can request for assistance in return with the hours they accrued
- Establish a bi-annual trails/parks community walkthrough led by City Council members to explore and discuss likes and potential improvements to our great city
- Establish a publicly accessible HOA Map
Homelessness
Based on feedback from talking with community members and observing the Homelessness Task Force meetings, homelessness is an issue on everyone’s minds as we move forward. Addressing the prevalence of homelessness and the stigma surrounding it requires a multi-pronged approach that is expected to be set in the strategic plan being drafted. My priorities include:
- Issue municipal ID cards (in partnership with organizations like the Lamb Center) for those without a driver’s license to access benefits and open a bank account for financial education
- Promote employment and training programs for upskilling and community service
- Targeted relocation assistance for veterans, victims of domestic abuse and human trafficking
Business Development
The small business community is what drives our economy and the Economic Development Authority does an excellent job. They are staples of what many of us love about the City of Fairfax. I want to not only preserve that but expand it further. This includes:
- The creation of an innovation loan fund to support businesses with innovative ideas to implement them based on specific criteria, including affordability and feasibility
- Supporting the development of workforce affordable housing for our first responders, teachers, and public-based positions
- Create a business permit checklist to streamline the process of starting a business in the city
Creative Affordability
Affordability is a critical issue in Northern Virginia, driven by high construction costs and increasing tax burdens. It is even more difficult for our young workforce and older adults that rely on fixed income. We need to get creative with how we can make things more affordable in the city by exploring options like:
- Establish guidelines and incentives for a HomeSharing Program in the City, encouraging young adults and families to reside and assist older adults at a reduced rental rate
- Explore targeted tax deductions when applicable, such as a tiered Homestead exemption based on how long a resident has stayed in the city
- Refine zoning procedures to a streamlined process and checklist for both residents and developers
- Encourage diverse housing types aside from townhomes, which make up the majority of residential units in the city
