Issues

The environment is not just the natural areas where we go to relax and enjoy the beautiful world.  It is the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the basis of life.  Protecting the environment is essentially about protecting ourselves – our health and well-being, our economy, and our planet.  The human impact on the natural world is ushering in changes that will shape society for decades to come. We need to be proactive in reducing our emissions and redesigning infrastructure to be more resilient.

As an adjunct professor at two area colleges, I have observed firsthand the impacts of the digital divide on my students. The digital divide includes both the unequal access to technology and the resulting disparity in proficiency with computers. Let’s enhance access to broadband in Monroe County to make our community more attractive to businesses and to prepare our students for success.

Monroe County spends $40 million on mental health services every year, but the current approach clearly is not adequately addressing community needs. Recent investments extend the County’s Forensic Intervention Team to operate 24/7, and the County needs to ensure that the funding is in place to adequately staff and expand this vital program over the long-term.

While some communities, like Brighton, have a variety of housing options, our County has a legacy of racially discriminatory housing practices. Current housing development policy prioritizes luxury over affordability, is fiscally short-sighted for the County, and is bad for homeowners. Reforming our approach to housing will improve people’s lives and strengthen our local economy.