PEOPLE FIRST.

As a homeowner, I've felt the out-of-control costs of property insurance, and I'm not alone. 70% of Florida homeowners cite property insurance as their biggest issue. Our representatives need to look into solutions that put people first and not the insurance companies. We need to explore and expand state subsidies and incentives for home hardening and wind mitigation. As someone who's experiencing these rising costs myself, I will be focused on finding answers and making sure people come first. Politicians will tell us "they're working on it." But that's hard to believe when they're busy cashing checks from those same companies.

District 118 is going to see even more development in the next 5 years. High rises and commercial properties are being planned as you read this. In 12-15 years, we will likely see another major airport expansion at Miami Executive. This will bring more traffic and population density to our neighborhoods. As a Community Board member, I saw firsthand how these special interest developments hurt our way of life. I voted against the waste facility station in West Kendall, and I opposed the Calusa Golf course development. And I will oppose any project that does not benefit our people first. As I once told a developer: "I work for the residents, not you."

Rent burden in Florida is #1 in the country. NUMBER ONE. 68% of us in District 118 are renters. In the last 8 years, rents have DOUBLED. That is not sustainable. It's ridiculous that we're now seeing virtual open house tours of efficiency apartments like it's normal. And again, these politicians are clueless about how we live day to day, trying to make ends meet.  Regular working people need a place to live that they can afford. If we don't address this aggressively, we will lose the people that make our community run. In fact, we already are, we're seeing middle-class residents leaving the state and cost of living is the main reason.  Everyone in South Dade knows someone who is moving upstate or out of state due to rising costs. If middle class families do not have access to affordable housing, the economy will suffer.

PAY OUR TEACHERS.

Florida ranks last in the country in average teacher pay, while Miami remains one of the most expensive cities in the country to live. Teachers should not have to work second jobs just to survive in the communities they serve.

Investing in public schools is not wasteful spending. It is an investment in our children, our workforce, our neighborhoods, and our economy.

But right now, Florida is sending billions of public education dollars into private school vouchers while our public schools are still underfunded. The voucher system has expanded to families regardless of income, meaning taxpayers are now helping pay private school tuition for families who may have already been able to afford it.  After Florida removed income limits, 84% of new voucher recipients in grades 1-12 had already been enrolled in private school.

That is not real school choice. That is a taxpayer-funded discount for private education while public schools, teachers, and working families are left behind.

If a school receives public money, it should meet public standards, follow public accountability rules, and serve the public good.

Fix the voucher system. Fund our public schools. Pay our teachers.

As a member of the Transport Workers Union, I’ve seen how investing in transportation infrastructure can reduce traffic, improve the quality of life, and create good-paying jobs.

But too often, politicians approve developments that benefit developers while ignoring the needs of the people who actually live here. We need to explore practical, creative solutions that put residents first.

District 118 has some of the longest commute times in the state, yet partisan politics continues to delay funding for both capital and operational transportation projects.

There is a lot of discussion about future commercial development, but that growth must be paired with real traffic mitigation and long-term public transit solutions.33333.3.

Florida ranks 4th in the nation for uninsured individuals, yet we lead the country in ACA enrollment. That’s a warning sign, not a success story.

We need lawmakers who refuse corporate PAC money and put people before politics.

Programs such as Medicaid must not be utilized as instruments of political leverage. Such programs provide essential services upon which vulnerable populations, including seniors and persons with disabilities, rely for their health, safety, and continued well-being.