My husband Marcelo and I stretched to buy our home. Today, that just isn’t possible for too many working families like ours. And the way things are headed, it probably won’t be possible for our kids, either. For far too long, City Hall insiders and special interests have stood in the way of making housing more affordable. I’ll stand up to them so we can build a more affordable San José.

Our streets are for everybody, but they shouldn’t be anybody's home. San José is facing a homelessness crisis, and I bring the right experience to address it. As a mental-health professional and former police officer, I know that real progress requires compassion and accountability.

When you’re the victim of a crime, it doesn’t matter that San José was just named America’s Safest Big City. That’s an important title, but we still have work to do until everyone feels safe on our streets. As the only candidate in this race who’s walked the beat, I have a common-sense plan for a safer San José.

Too often, City Hall insiders and special interests block progress. They’re distracted by old ideological battles and aren’t focused on results. As a hostage negotiator, therapist, and small business owner, you learn to cut through the BS and get the job done. I’ve got a plan to do that on City Council.