Housing Stability — Ordinance 24-28

• I supported rent-stabilization legislation to limit rent increases and strengthen protections for tenants, including seniors and residents with disabilities, including disabled veterans.

• My intent was to slow excessive rent increases and help residents remain in their homes. I also support continued evaluation of the policy’s implementation and effects on housing affordability and responsible property maintenance.

• Homeownership Opportunities — Resolution 25-028

• I initiated legislation with my colleagues and the administration to prioritize qualified buyers who intend to live in city-owned homes.

• I paired that work with outreach explaining the application process, available properties, and purchasing requirements so more residents could access homeownership opportunities.

• Housing and Economic Development Oversight — Resolution 25-046

• I drafted and introduced legislation establishing the HED Ad Hoc Committee to strengthen oversight of property disposition, application procedures, backlogs, and follow-through on approved sales.

• Through the committee, I have pressed for clearer procedures, accurate information, adequate staffing, and a more accessible process for residents and responsible buyers.

• Formal Council Oversight Procedures — Ordinance 25-64

• I drafted and introduced legislation establishing procedures for Council ad hoc committees, creating a more structured framework for examining departmental issues and pursuing accountability.

• Trenton Water Works Ad Hoc Committee

• I drafted and introduced legislation establishing the TWW Ad Hoc Committee to provide focused Council oversight of the utility’s operations, finances, staffing, infrastructure, and regulatory compliance.

• As a committee member, I have continued requesting financial and operational records, reviewing capital needs, and pressing for improvements to recruitment, lead-service-line replacement outreach, and intake reliability.

• Independent Trenton Water Works Assessment — Resolution 25-378

• I drafted and introduced a resolution seeking an independent TWW assessment to provide evidence for decisions about operations, finances, infrastructure, and governance.

• My position is that decisions about this public asset must be grounded in a thorough assessment and clear information.

• Entertainment District Operating Hours & Neighborhood Safety

• I introduced legislation to amend operating hours for businesses within Trenton’s entertainment districts, replacing 24/7 allowances with a required daily closure from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

• The proposed change seeks to reduce violence, mitigate late-night disturbances, and address public-safety and quality-of-life concerns for surrounding residents and businesses.
  

I have worked to make city-owned property opportunities easier for residents to understand and access.

• My work includes:

• Over the past 18 months, Council has approved more than 200 property sales with proposed sale prices totaling more than $1 million.

• My outreach, resident education, and committee work helped bring more applicants into the process. These approvals reflect collective Council action, and I continue pressing for completed closings and rehabilitation so the transactions produce lasting neighborhood improvements.

• I have also advocated for stronger management of city-owned properties, more qualified inspectors, and systematic attention to deteriorating buildings.
  

• Creating flyers and brochures explaining application requirements and purchasing procedures.

• Providing property-list links, application links, and QR codes.

• Educating residents about the steps between applying, receiving Council approval, and closing.

• Advocating for qualified owner-occupants.

• Calling for a searchable property inventory and online application tracking.

• Pressing for standard operating procedures and consistent application review.

• Questioning missing applications, backlogs, closing delays, and staffing shortages.

• Requesting information about completed transactions, sale revenue, rehabilitation, and potential tax revenue.

• Advocating for pricing that considers property condition, rehabilitation costs, and the differences between owner-occupants and investors.

I have consistently sought answers about TWW’s operational challenges, financial condition, staffing, and infrastructure.

• My work includes:

• I oppose selling Trenton Water Works. My work focuses on protecting public ownership while strengthening management, accountability, and dependable service.

• Pressing for direct communication between Council and state regulators.

• Helping bring attention to the need for an independent assessment.

• Requesting information about outstanding bills and collection efforts.

• Requesting an itemized accounting of bonds, loans, balances, and financing options.

• Questioning the long-term sustainability of financial practices and reliance on surplus.

• Raising concerns about vacancies and compensation that hinder recruitment.

• Advocating for intake modernization, compressor improvements, pump reliability, and solutions to recurring winter vulnerabilities.

• Seeking clear capital priorities, funding sources, and implementation timelines.

• Recommending coordination with housing and rental-registration personnel to contact landlords directly about lead-service-line replacement.

• Recommending school and neighborhood partnerships to improve household outreach.

I have consistently sought answers about TWW’s operational challenges, financial condition, staffing, and infrastructure.

• My work includes:

• I oppose selling Trenton Water Works. My work focuses on protecting public ownership while strengthening management, accountability, and dependable service.

• Pressing for direct communication between Council and state regulators.

• Helping bring attention to the need for an independent assessment.

• Requesting information about outstanding bills and collection efforts.

• Requesting an itemized accounting of bonds, loans, balances, and financing options.

• Questioning the long-term sustainability of financial practices and reliance on surplus.

• Raising concerns about vacancies and compensation that hinder recruitment.

• Advocating for intake modernization, compressor improvements, pump reliability, and solutions to recurring winter vulnerabilities.

• Seeking clear capital priorities, funding sources, and implementation timelines.

• Recommending coordination with housing and rental-registration personnel to contact landlords directly about lead-service-line replacement.

• Recommending school and neighborhood partnerships to improve household outreach.

I organized the “Take Back City Hall” rally on July 11, 2025, elevating concerns about disturbances and safety around City Hall.

• I also worked on a proposed City Hall Safety Ordinance and continued pressing for a coordinated response to recurring problems.

• Following the late-August 2026 Locust Street mass shooting, I participated in community remembrance, requested an interagency briefing, and advocated for coordinated intervention and support.

• I developed a victim, survivor, and community-healing resource guide connecting residents with assistance after violence, loss, and trauma.

Following the fatal fire at Donnelly Homes in June 2026, I requested reinstatement of a dedicated Fire Inspections Division and greater attention to prevention.

• My related advocacy includes:

• Hiring and retaining qualified inspectors.

• Strengthening inspection supervision and quality.

• Tracking dangerous properties and unresolved violations.

• Improving coordination among inspections, fire services, housing personnel, and legal staff.

• Establishing an asset-management approach for city-owned buildings.

• Addressing deterioration before it becomes an emergency.

I have requested clearer financial information and more meaningful opportunities for Council to review departmental needs and spending.

• My work includes:

• Seeking earlier access to budget information and departmental hearings.

• Reviewing vacancies, compensation, overtime, seasonal staffing, and capital expenses.

• Questioning recurring overspending and differences between budget requests and actual costs.

• Requesting information across police, recreation, health, inspections, water, and sewer operations.

• Examining surplus use and the city’s dependence on state assistance.

• Calling for action on outstanding audit findings.

• Advocating for targeted independent financial review where warranted.

• Proposing that resources be aligned with actual service needs, qualified staffing, and effective operations.

I advocated for staggered and extended service hours so residents who work during the day could access essential city services. Extended TWW and tax-office hours were implemented in July 2026.

• My constituent work includes helping residents identify responsible offices, navigate processes, document concerns, and seek follow-up.

• I created an Information Guide for City Services & Civic Engagement in English and Spanish, covering:

• I have distributed information through neighborhood outreach and direct conversations, using intake tracking and casework records to organize concerns.

• City-owned property applications.

• Illegal dumping and maintenance reporting.

• Renters’ rights and housing assistance.

• Council meetings and public participation.

• Voter registration and election information.

Through economic development committee work and conversations with business owners, I have focused attention on Downtown vacancies, underused commercial properties, hotel redevelopment, and opportunities to strengthen the tax base.

• On July 15, 2026, I convened a Downtown small-business discussion addressing safety, parking, vacancies, customer activity, and obstacles to growth.

• I have advocated for:

• These remain areas of continuing advocacy and policy development.

• A Business Action Center to coordinate assistance and recruitment.

• A Downtown Task Force.

• Clearer permitting and inspection processes.

• An organized business attraction portfolio.

• Investment along neighborhood commercial corridors.

• Stronger connections among housing, employment, healthcare, shopping, and neighborhood services.