This is a crucial time in America, Fairfax County, and locally, in Providence District: we are in the middle of unprecedented growth and development and we need to get things right from the start! I am appalled to see that some of our urban centers are laying the parochial 5-foot wide sidewalk in our new downtowns, beside buildings made for thousands of tenants and workers. This is not acceptable. We need urban sidewalks in urban centers.
There are no clear requirements or deadlines to eliminate single use plastics or non-biodegradable materials like Styrofoam, no serious commitment to achieve gas neutrality and we are running out of landfill space. We need a zero waste policy in grocers and restaurants; we need a Green New Deal and we need to manage waste for the health of our future generations.
Young people, young families and seniors are struggling to find a place to live or to maintain residence in our area because the cost of living has increased considerably and wages have not. Currently, 52% of families with children pay more than 30% of their income on rent to live in Fairfax County. We need more mixed income housing and creativity to create more affordable housing options for all needs.
I have volunteered for most of my life. Teaching English to immigrant adults, working for Human Rights and arms control campaigns, women’s rights and temporarily alleviating basic needs for homeless populations… I have worked helping at-risk youth, I have cleaned plastic from water streams and invasive species from yards and parks.
After all this time I realize that volunteering is great to change one thing, one day at a time. But running for office is the only way to sit at the table where permanent decisions are made; where real change is possible. If you live in the Providence District of Fairfax County, I ask for your vote on June 11! If you can’t vote for me, PLEASE consider making a donation to help my campaign so I can reach voters in my district and pursue the greater good for the greater number of people.
I hope you visit my website at www.ErikaforSupervisor.org! Now available in English, Spanish, Hindi and Arabic.