Monica believes the need for safety and improvement in Chico’s parks is the top issue for the next City Council. Greenways like the Lindo Channel as well as Bidwell Park are suffering from neglect and abuse. Management of the landscape protects against fire, enhances the local ecology, and provides beauty and shade in more places. 

Monica is especially concerned with the current City Council’s failures of leadership in development. The Valley’s Edge plan faced compelling opposition from the public and the Council majority not only approved the development but did so with no work addressing concerns and no conditions of approval. This has been a pattern of their decision-making. 

Monica will engage at the City Council level to ensure growth is sustainable, meets the needs of the people and businesses of Chico, preserves the streets that we have, and improves the heart of Chico. The success of Downtown and Chico State University uplifts all of Chico. In repairing roads, Monica supports prioritizing safety and comfort for walking and biking as a key to the best future for Chico. 

Monica supports a plan to set a firm line against camping in parks, paths, and near schools. After Chico’s experience in past years, Monica believes that ensuring appropriate shelter options exist for the local unhoused population are the only compassionate or sustainable way the City can keep public spaces clean and safe. 

Homelessness is a problem the City can manage and solve by collaborating with social service providers like CHAT, Safe Space, and North Shelter Shelter Team. Without constructive partnerships for workable shelter solutions the City is just playing a cruel and expensive game of whack-a-mole.

• Take immediate action on Community Choice Aggregation as a first step to reduce electricity rates and divest Chico from PG&E. 

• As a current appointee to the Chico Police Community Advisory Board, Monica supports equipping Chico’s officers with the best tools and training available to solve today’s problems

• Renewing transparency at the City Council level is key to restoring trust in all city departments. 

• Council members should be expected to provide public reports on their board and committee positions and other activities on behalf of the City. 

• Homelessness prevention by adopting protections against rent-gouging in mobile home parks and unjustified evictions.

• Preserving and promoting our community culture by supporting public art, music venues, and life on the streets and sidewalks.