Back to the Basics
During my 10 years as a teacher, I learned that the basics matter. Creative lesson plans, new technologies, and innovative projects are exciting. But, if my students could not master reading or writing, speaking and listening, I know I would have failed them. The basics matter because, without them, nothing else is possible.
Getting back to the basics, not jostling to make headlines – that’s the biggest challenge I see for our city government. As a city, we must focus on delivering the core services to our residents. We need to focus on the basics and master them. We must do the often tedious but critical work of picking up trash, filling the potholes, issuing permits, and powering our homes. Our city must focus on doing the necessary and critical in order to empower our residents to do the innovative and beautiful. By mastering the basics, our city will attract new investment and encourage shared prosperity.
I believe our city has lost sight of its critical role. Like a classroom in which students have access to the latest technologies yet struggle to read and write, we have become too caught up in what makes headlines. Much too absorbed in what sounds good politically or what meets the demands of one group or another, our city is failing to do the basics. We are failing to provide the services that only the city can provide to residents.
Focusing on mastering the basics is not easy. It means resisting the temptation to chase the latest political “fashion” and, instead, devote resources to doing our day-to-day work extremely well. With leaders willing to stand up as advocates for mastering essential city services, I believe we can improve all our neighborhoods, build trust in our city, and benefit all residents.
If elected, I commit to going back to the basics. I commit to being a voice on the city council that focuses on making sure we do the necessary work of a city every day. I will ensure that we serve all parts of the city equitably. I will fight to ensure all neighborhoods receive the services that they pay for and expect from the city of Tacoma. My work will not be about making headlines but making an impact. My work will not be about politics, but about serving the people. My work will ensure that our city masters the basics needed for a more prosperous future.
