People’s Platform for Orlando

Orlando is in a housing crisis. Surging rents and home prices over the last decade have made housing unaffordable and unattainable for too many hard-working residents. This crisis has deepened economic inequality, pushed families into unstable situations, and contributed to a rise in homelessness.

Our housing crisis demands bold, innovative, and community-centered solutions. It’s not enough to rely on outdated models or hope the private market will solve the problem on its own. We need leadership grounded in compassion, creativity, and real policy experience. This crisis is also directly tied to our transportation needs, and you’ll see a constant connection between housing and transportation in all that we do in the years ahead.

As a State Representative, I’ve made housing affordability a top priority—because every Floridian deserves a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. I’ve filed and supported legislation to protect tenants, rein in predatory landlord practices, and expand access to affordable housing. Alongside Senator Victor Torres, I introduced the Keep Floridians Housed Act—a comprehensive bill to outlaw abusive fees, strengthen legal protections against unjust evictions, and establish a state Department of Housing and Tenant Rights to coordinate housing policy and enforcement. I’ve filed additional legislation to cap security deposits, require landlords to accept more payment options, and ensure protections for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. I currently serve on a special Select Committee on Property Taxes, and we are actively exploring ways to reduce the cost of property taxes, especially for those on fixed incomes and first-time homebuyers.

But I haven’t stopped at filing good bills—I’ve also fought back hard against bad ones. Year after year, Republican leaders in Tallahassee try to preempt cities like Orlando from passing tenant protections like rent stabilization and eviction notices. I’ve proudly led the opposition to these efforts, standing with our local governments to defend their right to respond to the needs of our communities. And when Governor DeSantis signed HB 1365 into law—a bill that criminalizes homelessness instead of addressing its root causes—I spoke out forcefully: housing is a human right, and we should invest in solutions, not punishment.

Outside the Capitol, I’ve taken direct action to help families in crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I donated my entire state salary to support unemployed Floridians. We also helped more than 60,000 residents access their unemployment benefits, and I have raised thousands of dollars to pay off hotel debts so families wouldn’t be forced onto the streets. Our legislative office continues to support constituents facing economic challenges and I plan to lead with that same solution-orientated approach at the micro and macro levels for Orlando.

This work is personal to me, as I grew up in a working class family and we constantly struggled to make ends meet. I’ll never stop fighting for the dignity and security that everyone deserves.

Which is why as Mayor, I will bring that same urgency to City Hall. We’ll take creative, evidence-based steps to increase housing options, prevent displacement, and support residents at every income level. That includes reimagining how we use space—transforming vacant hotels, motels, office buildings, and big-box stores into affordable housing through streamlined permitting and incentives for adaptive reuse.

We’ll expand the development of tiny home villages, modular housing, and other nontraditional models that provide dignity, safety, and affordability—especially for people exiting homelessness. These models are faster to build, more flexible, and ideal for both transitional and permanent supportive housing.

To spur the creation of deeply affordable housing we’ll offer incentives like expedited permitting, tax abatements, and density bonuses tied to local income data. We’ll also pursue thoughtful zoning reform that allows for more duplexes, triplexes, and multi-family homes in areas currently zoned for single-family use. That includes re-evaluating minimum parking requirements while expanding access to public transportation—so we can build more housing without increasing traffic.

We’ll explore policies like a local version of the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), which gives renters the first chance to buy their building if it’s up for sale—allowing the conversion of rental housing into co-ops, nonprofit ownership, or affordable housing under a Community Land Trust.

We’ll ensure tenants have access to rental assistance programs and legal representation when facing an eviction. We’ll also tackle the housing-related costs that make it hard for people to stay housed, like rising utility bills and property insurance. I’ll work with OUC to make larger investments in renewable energy and push to ensure residential customers don’t pay higher rates than big businesses. Through citywide investments in stormwater infrastructure and resilience planning, we can reduce flooding and lower insurance burdens for homeowners.

Too many Orlando residents live in homes that are aging, unsafe, or inaccessible because they simply can’t afford repairs. As Mayor, I’ll launch a city-backed home repair grant program in partnership with local nonprofits to help seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities afford essential repairs. We’ll also explore zero-interest and forgivable loan programs for working-class families to cover urgent needs like roof replacements, electrical upgrades, and plumbing. These programs will center safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency. We’ll expand weatherization incentives for storm-hardening improvements that lower utility bills, property insurance premiums, and strengthen resilience. And through public-private partnerships and a volunteer-based repair corps, we’ll bring down costs and deliver critical repairs to those most in need.

We must also confront homelessness with compassion and urgency. That means expanding access to Housing First programs, mental health care, addiction treatment, and support services. We need more drop-in centers and shelter space, but these must be developed with meaningful community input. Our focus will be on connection, collaboration, and stability long-term.

Throughout my time in the Legislature, I’ve helped preserve the Sadowski Affordable Housing Trust Fund, advocated for local control on renter protections, supported tiny homes and ADUs, and even worked across the aisle on key provisions of the Live Local Act while opposing some elements that are preemptive to our communities.

These creative and collaborative strategies reflect our values: that housing is a human right, and government has a responsibility to make sure every resident of Orlando has a safe, stable place to call home. None of these solutions or approaches will be possible without coordination and buy-in from our nonprofit partners, faith-based organizations, and private sector leaders. We look forward to ensuring collective prosperity through these partnerships.

Too many Orlando residents are working full-time and still living in poverty. Wages haven’t kept up with the cost of living, childcare is unaffordable, and systemic barriers continue to hold back communities of color. As Mayor, I’ll take our fight from Tallahassee to City Hall for bold, local action that will break cycles of poverty and build a city where prosperity is truly shared. As the Ranking Member of the Ways & Means Committee in the Florida House, I play a leading role in crafting tax policy that gives tax breaks to consumers while ensuring corporations pay what they owe. One of our legislative successes was permanently ending the sales tax on children’s diapers and adult incontinence products, and today we continue to fight for statewide tax relief. 

At the city level, we’ll start by championing access to no-cost financial empowerment services, including credit repair, debt counseling, and small business advising, through neighborhood-based financial empowerment centers. These hubs will help residents navigate everything from predatory lending traps to homeownership preparation to debt management. We will also ensure access to rental and utility assistance programs, and pilot additional income enhancement initiatives. We’ll lean on our own outreach efforts to ensure clear access to these programs, but will also empower community partners, multicultural organizations, and interfaith leaders to spread the word — ensuring those who need these programs are able to access them.

I’ll fight for Orlando to become a certified Living Wage City, where city contractors and major employers receiving public incentives are required to pay a living wage, not just the state minimum. We’ll create a Living Wage Employer Certification program that spotlights businesses and encourages more to follow. We will also support our labor partners and ensure all eligible workers have the opportunity to unionize. Workers rights are essential to us, and we want to ensure workers have access to pro-bono legal aid if they experience discrimination, wrongful termination, or wage theft.

To remove barriers to employment, we’ll invest in wraparound services—from access to universal childcare and public transit passes to record expungement clinics. No one should be kept out of the workforce because they can’t afford a bus ride or were charged with a low-level offense years ago.

We’ll also deepen our investment in workforce training and career pathways. That means creating stronger connections between Orlando’s high schools, Valencia College, UCF, and local employers to offer apprenticeships, paid internships, and job pipelines in healthcare, green energy, construction, technology, and management. We’ll make sure training programs are accessible to returning citizens, young adults, and people with disabilities. We’ll ensure emerging technologies are a part of our trainings to ensure our city and workforce do not fall behind.

And we will actively work to close wealth gaps by investing in small community-based businesses, expanding down payment assistance and homeownership programs for first-time buyers, and supporting community land trusts and co-ops that allow working families to build equity outside of the speculative housing market. We will work with community members and historic neighborhoods to prevent displacement.

Finally, we will reform how the city provides economic development incentives. No more blank checks to major corporations. Instead, we’ll prioritize community benefit agreements and ensure every public dollar creates measurable and long-lasting value for local workers, small businesses, and neighborhoods.

Orlando’s growth demands bold, people-first transportation solutions that improve how we move, reduce traffic congestion, protect our environment, and ensure every resident, regardless of income or zip code, can access our city.

As a State House Representative, we have worked in Tallahassee and at the local level on traffic safety initiatives; working alongside the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and local officials on road calming, repair, and modernization projects.

As Mayor, I will champion the full expansion of LYNX and SunRail to make public transportation a true alternative to driving. That means longer service hours—including evenings and weekends—more frequent stops, and real-time route updates. This would also mean expanding our bus rapid transit (BRT) system. Whether you’re a third-shift worker, a student commuting to class, or a senior visiting a doctor’s office, public transit should be reliable, convenient, and safe.

One of the most promising developments is the Sunshine Corridor, a transformative rail expansion project that will connect SunRail with Orlando International Airport and the International Drive tourism corridor. I will ensure that the Sunshine Corridor doesn’t just serve tourists, it must also serve local workers who staff our hotels, theme parks, and airports. I will advocate for affordable fare structures, frequent local stops, and clear coordination between SunRail, LYNX, and new mobility options to ensure connectivity between neighborhoods and job centers across the region.

In addition to regional projects, we must address the everyday transportation needs of our neighborhoods. Right now, the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area has been consistently ranked among the most dangerous metropolitan areas for pedestrians in the United States. In Smart Growth America's 2024 "Dangerous by Design" study, the metro area ranked 18th on the list of 101 largest metro areas for pedestrian deaths. I will continue the investments in protected bike lanes, pedestrian crosswalks, traffic-calming measures, and sidewalk improvements, especially in areas near schools, parks, and transit hubs. A walkable and bikeable city is a safer, healthier, and more connected one. We will also ensure enforcement of traffic laws, working at a neighborhood level to install speed bumps where needed and crossing guards. 

We will also launch a universal transit pass pilot program that provides free or deeply discounted LYNX and SunRail access for students, low-wage workers, and city employees. This not only boosts ridership and cuts emissions, it also puts money back in the pockets of working families.

To support all of this, we must pursue long-term dedicated funding for transportation. I will continue advocating to expand the allowable use of the Tourism Development Tax to include public transit infrastructure and work with regional leaders to pursue sustainable sources of revenue that prioritize riders, not just roads.

Smart transportation is about more than getting from Point A to Point B—it’s about expanding access to jobs, reducing our reliance on cars, and creating a city that is cleaner, more connected, and easier to navigate for everyone.

Small businesses are the heartbeat of Orlando. From food trucks, pop-ups, and family-owned restaurants and shops to artists, independent venues, salons, entrepreneurs, and tech innovators, they make our city vibrant, resilient, and full of possibility.

But too often, local businesses are left out of the conversation—squeezed by rising costs, impacted by local construction projects, buried under red tape, and overshadowed by big corporations. As Mayor, I’ll ensure that Orlando is a city where small businesses are supported, celebrated, and central to our economic future.

We’ll start by making it easier—not harder—to open and grow a business in Orlando. That means streamlining the city’s permitting, licensing, and inspection processes, using technology to ensure these steps are easy, efficient, and accessible. We also need to work with small businesses more intentionally, not just help them open their doors but hear their aspirations and concerns over time, and build an ecosystem around them for success. This includes establishing a Business Disruption Assistance program, to support small businesses negatively impacted by public works projects. It also means working even more closely with our Main Street organizations and directors, empowering them to speak up when city approaches with small businesses need to be improved and responding positively to that feedback.

Access to capital remains a major barrier for too many entrepreneurs—especially those from historically underserved communities. I’ll work with local partners to maintain a City Microgrant Fund that provides startup capital, equipment grants, and emergency assistance for small businesses, with a focus on high-demand sectors. These investments will be coupled with technical assistance programs offering training in business planning, digital marketing, accounting, and e-commerce. We’ll work in partnerships with the Small Business Development Center and local chambers to increase their capacity and not duplicate efforts. And we’ll empower different demographics of business owners, including veterans, women, communities of color, and more.

We’ll also expand language access and cultural competency across all city economic development services. No one should be denied an opportunity to grow their dream because materials or meetings are only offered in English. As a multilingual, multicultural city, we’ll ensure our services reflect our diversity.

To help our local economy thrive block by block, I’ll prioritize neighborhood-based economic development—including pop-up retail programs, mobile vending support, and community markets in underserved corridors. We’ll work to activate vacant storefronts and underutilized spaces by working with property owners to offer low cost leases to small businesses and artists, creating hubs of creativity and commerce in every district.

Orlando spends millions on goods and services each year. We’ll revisit city procurement policies to prioritize local vendors, ensuring that more public contracts go to Orlando-based businesses—not just big out-of-town corporations. We’ll also launch a Local First campaign that encourages residents, institutions, and developers to buy from and hire locally.

And we’ll create dedicated pathways for cooperative business models, employee ownership transitions, and social enterprises that reinvest profits into the community. These models build long-term local wealth and help small businesses stay rooted—especially in the face of corporate consolidation and rising rents.

Finally, we must make sure our economy works for the people who keep it running. I’ll fight for a Living Wage Certification Program that recognizes businesses that pay fairly and treat their workers with respect. I’ll ensure that workers in the hospitality and tourism sectors—many of whom power our local economy—have access to workforce development, affordable housing near job centers, and opportunities to move up the economic ladder.

A thriving Orlando economy means investing in the people and places that make our city great. As Mayor, I’ll ensure small businesses don’t just survive—they succeed and lead the way into a more just, inclusive, and resilient future.

Orlando has long been known as a tourism powerhouse, but the COVID-19 pandemic showed just how vulnerable that kind of one-dimensional economy can be. As Mayor, I will lead the charge to build a more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready economy that creates high-wage jobs in every neighborhood, expands opportunity beyond the tourism corridor, and makes Orlando a national model for equitable and sustainable growth.

Our economy can no longer rely solely on hospitality and service work. We must invest in the next generation of industries, like clean energy, healthcare, life sciences, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, digital media, the care economy, and tech—while ensuring that the workers who power those industries are fairly compensated and supported at every stage of their careers.

We’ll start by leveraging our existing strengths. Orlando sits at the intersection of world-class educational institutions like UCF and Valencia College, a growing health and life sciences sector, and close proximity to the Space Coast. We’ll double down on partnerships with these institutions to build talent pipelines for aerospace, clean tech, biotech, and medical innovation—not just in downtown, but in industrial corridors, neighborhoods, and regional job hubs throughout the city.

We’ll also continue to support organizations like Rally, StarterStudio, and others, who build upon public-private partnerships to identify and invest in the next Orlando-based startups and entrepreneurs.

I’ll launch a City of Orlando Innovation & Industry Council, bringing together leaders from business, labor, education, and community organizations to chart a coordinated, inclusive vision for long-term economic growth. This council will help identify high-growth sectors, support workforce training alignment, and recommend city investments that create good jobs and build community wealth. This will be in partnership with already established economic development organizations, community chambers, educational institutions, and consulates, with the goal of working together collaboratively.

We’ll also invest in neighborhood-based economic development. That means supporting micro-enterprises, cooperatives, and creative businesses in corridors like Semoran, Curry Ford, and Mercy Drive. We'll provide technical assistance, grants, and startup support to local entrepreneurs and expand the city’s procurement policies to open up access to contracts with small, minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses.

As part of this vision, we’ll create Job Growth Zones throughout the city, areas that blend workforce training, affordable housing, transit access, and economic incentives to attract employers and ensure residents have a direct path to opportunity. These zones will be tied to local hiring commitments, community benefit agreements, and protections against displacement.

I’ll also work to strengthen workforce development with a focus on both traditional trades and emerging industries. We’ll scale up apprenticeships, reentry training programs, certifications, and credentialing efforts in partnership with employers and unions. Special attention will go to youth, returning citizens, and workers seeking career transitions and scaling-up opportunities.

We’ll promote mini-manufacturing and maker industries, helping turn underutilized spaces into hubs of innovation, whether it’s a co-manufacturing space in a former warehouse or a clean tech startup launching out of a neighborhood incubator. These types of industries build wealth locally and don’t require advanced degrees to enter.

Orlando’s future economy should reflect the brilliance of our people—not just the strength of our brand. As Mayor, I will fight for an economy that values innovation, dignity, and inclusion—so that everyone, in every neighborhood, can build a good life in the city they call home.

Downtown Orlando should be the beating heart of our city—a vibrant, inclusive space where people live, work, shop, gather, and create. But today, downtown is facing real challenges. During the day, too many blocks are quiet, storefronts sit empty, and the sense of connection between neighborhoods is lacking. At night, while nightlife brings energy to certain areas, downtown still struggles with safety, underinvestment, and a lack of economic diversity.

As Mayor, I will lead the charge to reimagine downtown Orlando as an active, thriving, people-first district. We’ll do this by investing in housing, connectivity, economic development, arts, and public services—creating a downtown that preserves historical venues and one that belongs to everyone, not just a few.

We’ll start by expanding mixed-use and affordable housing options so that more people can actually live downtown. That includes incentivizing housing above retail, converting underused buildings into residential spaces, utillizing density bonuses, and ensuring that new developments include deeply affordable and workforce units. The more residents we have living downtown, the more sustainable and vibrant our businesses and public spaces will be.

We’ll also address public safety and homelessness with compassion and urgency. That means expanding 24/7 outreach teams, mental health and substance use treatment, and permanent supportive housing. I’ll prioritize expanding services like hygiene stations, public restrooms, cooling centers, and shelters —ensuring that those experiencing homelessness have access to dignity and care, not criminalization. 

A key part of revitalization is activating vacant storefronts and underutilized buildings. We’ll partner with our CRA to create a Downtown Activation Fund that offers flexible support to small businesses, artists, cooperatives, and nonprofits to occupy empty spaces. Think pop-up shops, live/work studios, food halls, mobile vendors, and social enterprises that bring foot traffic, culture, and economic life back to the street level.

Downtown should also be a place of innovation and inclusive economic growth. With assets like UCF Downtown, Valencia College, and Creative Village, we have the foundation to build a vibrant tech, health, and innovation corridor, bringing high-wage, future-ready jobs into the heart of the city. As Mayor, I’ll work to attract and support companies in biotech, clean energy, medical innovation, digital media, aerospace, and mini-manufacturing while strengthening partnerships with the Space Coast to position Orlando as a launchpad for the next generation of space-related industries.

Connectivity is key to making all of this work. We’ll invest in pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, protected bike lanes, street lighting, wayfinding, and micro-mobility options to ensure residents and visitors can move easily between neighborhoods—from Parramore and South Eola to Thornton Park and Creative Village. We’ll also strengthen LYNX and SunRail service, explore a downtown circulator, and make sure our sidewalks and public spaces are clean, safe, and accessible.

We’ll support our historic venues, artists, and cultural institutions by increasing public funding, streamlining permitting for events and pop-ups, and celebrating the stories that make Orlando unique. From The Beacham and Social to the Dr. Phillips Center and CityArts,  these institutions anchor our identity—and must be part of our future.

And we’ll ensure revitalization doesn’t mean displacement. Through community benefit agreements, new zoning policies, and local hiring requirements, we’ll keep longtime residents and businesses at the center of downtown’s growth—not pushed to the margins.

Downtown Orlando should be alive all day, every day—with opportunity, energy, culture, and community in every direction. With bold leadership and thoughtful partnerships, we can build a downtown that’s as innovative as it is inclusive—and finally realize the full potential of our city’s core.

Everyone in Orlando deserves to feel and be safe—whether they’re at school, walking home, or working a late-night shift. But that’s not the case today. My own twin sister was the victim of a crime in December 2022 in Thornton Park, walking home on a weekday night. The perpetrators were four juveniles—kids who should have been preparing for school the next day, not robbing residents. We must confront these hard truths with compassion, urgency, and clear-eyed commitment to safety for all.

That begins with ensuring we have high-quality, well-trained, and well-paid public safety personnel. But real community safety is more than policing—it means investing in prevention, building public trust, and addressing the root causes of violence, like poverty, trauma, and disconnection. We need law enforcement focused on violent crime, while creating a just and equitable system of accountability for all.

As Mayor, I will lead Orlando in adopting a public health approach to violence prevention. That means recognizing gun violence, domestic violence, and youth violence as preventable issues—not inevitabilities—and working in partnership with communities to stop them before they start.

We’ll expand Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs that empower trusted community members—often called “credible messengers”—to interrupt cycles of violence and retaliation. These messengers often come from the same communities they serve, including formerly incarcerated individuals, faith leaders, educators, and nonprofit workers. By partnering with schools, churches, neighborhood organizations, and peer-to-peer support programs, we will reduce violence in ways that are rooted in trust and lived experience.

We will also launch a Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP)—a proven model where victims of violence are connected with mentors, case workers, and mental health professionals at the moment of crisis, during their hospital stay. These wraparound supports are especially effective in reducing repeat violence and saving lives.

Too often, our neighbors in mental health crisis are met with police when they need trained clinicians. That’s why I will expand non-police crisis response teams, so that mental health professionals—not law enforcement—are the ones answering those calls. This frees up police to focus on serious crime, while ensuring residents get the care they need, when they need it.

Prevention starts young. That’s why I’ll increase funding for youth mentorship, summer jobs programs, and safe recreation spaces. And through school-based partnerships, we’ll provide trauma-informed care, life skills, and conflict resolution training early—giving kids real alternatives to the streets and helping break cycles of poverty and violence.

When it comes to gun violence, we will take every step allowed under Florida’s preemption laws to protect our community. That includes:

• Partnering with law enforcement and nonprofits on gun buyback events
  

• Launching a citywide safe firearm storage campaign
  

• Advocating for and supporting the enforcement of red flag laws
  

• Passing resolutions and internal policies that affirm our city’s commitment to gun safety and survivor support
  

We’ll also restore and strengthen the Citizen Review Board for the Orlando Police Department, ensure greater transparency around police interactions and misconduct, and provide deeper investments in officer training—particularly in de-escalation and cultural competency.

Critically, building trust means showing up for vulnerable communities. We will ensure that city policies do not foster fear of deportation, discrimination, or abuse. We will prioritize community engagement in multiple languages and invest in partnerships with immigrant-serving organizations and legal advocates. Public safety must include everyone—regardless of immigration status or zip code.

To support our first responders, I will establish a First Responder Advisory Council to bring frontline perspectives into city budgeting, staffing, and policy decisions. We’ll fight to protect pensions, reduce burnout through better staffing and support, and ensure long-term financial security for retired police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders.

Community safety must be built with the people—not just for them. As Mayor, I’ll make sure our city’s safety strategy reflects that truth by investing in the people, programs, and partnerships that keep us all safe.

As Mayor, I will lead with a survivor-centered approach to preventing sexual harassment, assault, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking—while expanding access to trauma-informed services and long-term support.

We will strengthen workplace protections across all City of Orlando departments by implementing comprehensive anti-harassment policies, mandatory trainings, and clear, confidential reporting procedures that ensure accountability and protect victims. I will also work with our community partners, multicultural organizations, and interfaith leaders to launch public awareness campaigns focused on consent, healthy relationships, and bystander intervention—while reducing the stigma that too often silences survivors.

For those experiencing violence, we will expand access to emergency shelter, legal aid, and counseling services—regardless of income or immigration status—and ensure non-police crisis response options are available when appropriate. We will also increase investment in long-term affordable housing solutions for survivors, so no one is forced to choose between staying in a dangerous situation or becoming unhoused.

To prevent and combat human trafficking, I will collaborate with local law enforcement, social service agencies, and survivor-led organizations to identify and dismantle trafficking networks, provide safe exit options for those impacted, and ensure ongoing training for frontline workers—including transit staff, code enforcement, and emergency responders.

Every person in our city deserves safety, dignity, and the opportunity to heal—and I’ll work every day to make Orlando a national leader in prevention and survivor support. This is work that I already lead on in Tallahassee and I am honored for the opportunity to continues these efforts in the City of Orlando.

As a graduate of Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) myself, I know that education is the foundation of a thriving, just, and equitable Orlando. We are also home to incredible and historic public schools, that deserve our full support.

While the OCPS District oversees the day-to-day operations of schools, the City of Orlando can and must be a committed partner in ensuring every child has the support, safety, and opportunities they need to succeed.

As Mayor, I will champion a whole-child approach to education that centers not just academic outcomes, but also mental health, safety, enrichment, and family well-being.

We will expand access to high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs through partnerships with nonprofits, community centers, and faith-based institutions. These programs provide students with safe spaces to explore, learn, and build relationships after the final bell rings—while helping working parents keep their jobs and giving young people positive alternatives to violence or isolation.

One of the most effective ways to deliver these resources is through Community Partnership Schools (CPS). CPS models bring together schools, health care providers, universities, and social service organizations to create full-service campuses that support the entire family—not just the student. These schools offer everything from food pantries and tutoring to on-site medical and mental health care. As Mayor, I’ll fight to sustain and expand the CPS model in more Orlando neighborhoods and ensure that the City is an active partner in providing funding, staffing, and infrastructure support to these wraparound schools.

We’ll also invest in mental health and school nursing services so that every student has access to care—especially those facing trauma, grief, bullying, or anxiety. No school should be without a full-time nurse or licensed counselor. I’ll work to help fill these gaps in partnership with Orange County Public Schools, local nonprofits, and health providers.

To improve school safety and accessibility, I will work to expand and modernize our crossing guard program, enhance traffic safety infrastructure, and invest in Safe Routes to School, including better lighting, sidewalks, and bike paths near school zones. Kids should be able to walk or bike to school without fear.

We must also address youth violence as a public health issue. I will embed violence interruption and intervention programs into schools and neighborhoods, focusing on mentorship, restorative justice, and trauma-informed care rather than punishment. Students will be connected to opportunities—not pipelines to the criminal justice system.

For our youngest residents, I will lead the charge to expand access to early childhood education and universal Pre-K through public-private partnerships. We’ll streamline city regulations for childcare providers, invest in neighborhood-based early learning centers, and support childcare workers. Every child deserves a strong start, and every parent deserves the peace of mind that their child is safe and supported.

To coordinate all of these efforts, I will establish a City-School Partnership Task Force made up of educators, students, parents, nonprofit leaders, and city staff. This group will help shape collaborative strategies on student health, safety, housing, youth jobs, and educational equity—ensuring our approach is community-driven and accountable.

Orlando’s future is sitting in our classrooms right now. As Mayor, I’ll be a fierce advocate for our students, teachers, and families—ensuring that education doesn’t end at the school doors but is supported by every city department and every neighborhood in Orlando.

Providing universal access to affordable, high-quality childcare isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s one of the smartest investments we can make as a city. Decades of research show that children who receive early care and education are more likely to succeed in school, graduate, pursue careers, and contribute positively to society. They are less likely to end up in the juvenile justice system, experience poverty as adults, or need costly social interventions later in life.

This is also an economic issue. When families can’t find or afford childcare, they’re often forced to leave jobs, reduce work hours, or forgo training and educational opportunities. That reduces household income and drags down the local economy. By investing in childcare, we empower more parents—especially women—to fully participate in the workforce, build wealth, and engage in civic life.

When children are cared for and families are supported, our whole city becomes stronger. Parents have more time to contribute to our workforce, volunteer in the community, attend school meetings, join neighborhood associations, and contribute to Orlando’s social fabric. Childcare access is community development.

Simply put: universal childcare will pay for itself in stronger families, safer communities, lower public costs down the road, and lead to a more vibrant, inclusive economy.

As Mayor, I’ll make this a top priority—not as a handout, but as a public good that lifts every corner of our city.

But childcare doesn’t work in isolation, it has to be embedded in a broader ecosystem of family support. That’s why I will create Family Resource Hubs across the city, co-located in libraries, community schools, neighborhood centers, and housing complexes. These hubs will be staffed and hosted in partnership with local nonprofit partners to provide:

• Parenting classes in multiple languages

• Diaper banks, formula access, and hygiene supplies

• Referrals for prenatal and postpartum health care

• Assistance for our seniors and caregivers

• Support to help families to age in place

• Legal aid and family reunification assistance

• Job readiness programs, resume support, and career navigation

• Workshops on budgeting, tenant rights, and credit building

• Navigation support for SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, and childcare subsidies

Recognizing the stress that many families face, we will embed mental health support in all family service programs—through partnerships with local clinics, telehealth providers, and culturally competent therapists. Whether it's postpartum depression, childhood trauma, or parental burnout, every family should have someone to turn to.

Public health isn’t just about what happens in a hospital, it’s about the health of our neighborhoods, our environment, and our daily lives. In Orlando, far too many residents still struggle to access affordable care, navigate mental health services, or find support for chronic conditions and disabilities. As a State Representative, I had led the fight for healthcare accessibility, mental health funding, veteran services, Medicaid Expansion and so much more. As Mayor I will continue that work because I believe firmly that health care is a human right.

We’ll start by making health care more accessible—especially in underserved neighborhoods. I will expand partnerships with local health providers, clinics, and nonprofits to bring mobile health units and community-based health screenings to every district. These efforts will help detect and treat issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma before they become emergencies. They’ll also help with cancer prevention and detection. We’ll also work to reduce maternal and infant health disparities, particularly in Black and Latino communities, through targeted prenatal care outreach and culturally competent health education. We will also work with Orange County Public Schools and private philanthropy to help ensure that every public school within the city is staffed with a school nurse.

Mental health is a major priority. Too many residents suffer in silence or can’t access timely, affordable support. I will establish a Mental Health Access Fund that provides grants to community organizations offering trauma-informed therapy, crisis intervention, and peer support. We’ll grow our network of licensed providers and train city employees to recognize signs of mental health struggles and respond with empathy instead of stigma. 

To ensure our response is preventative, and not just reactive, we’ll embed mental health support into other city initiatives: from housing and reentry services to youth mentorship, gun violence prevention, and veteran services. We’ll also expand non-police mental health crisis response teams, so when someone is in distress, they get help—not handcuffs.

For residents with disabilities, we’ll work to make Orlando a national model for accessibility, inclusion, and independent living. That starts with creating a fully funded Office of Disability Services, tasked with overseeing ADA compliance, supporting residents in navigating city services, and ensuring people with disabilities have a voice in policymaking. We’ll also conduct a citywide accessibility audit to identify and eliminate barriers in sidewalks, parks, public transportation, and city buildings. We will also work with public safety officials and local schools on elopement prevention policies, ensuring a rapid response if a child with ASD and/or IDD is missing.

We will expand inclusive recreation programs, accessible housing options, and workforce initiatives that prioritize disabled workers, caregivers, and older adults. Every city initiative, from public safety to cultural programming to athletic facilities, will be designed with universal access in mind.

To improve public health across the board, we will also focus on environmental and neighborhood-level health determinants. That includes expanding access to clean air and water, investing in safe and affordable housing, reducing food deserts, and planting trees and shade structures to reduce heat stress—particularly in historically redlined communities. We’ll make it easier for families to find fresh food by supporting urban farms, mobile markets, and healthy corner store programs.

We’ll also advocate for harm reduction programs to prevent overdose deaths and support recovery. This includes increasing access to naloxone (Narcan), expanding treatment options, and decriminalizing survival-based behaviors so people can get the help they need without fear of incarceration.

Finally, public health also means preparedness. I will strengthen Orlando’s emergency response infrastructure for hurricanes, heat waves, and public health crises, ensuring that vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities, seniors, and low-income residents, are not left behind during a disaster. We’ll create neighborhood resilience hubs with cooling centers, generators, and supplies, and improve multilingual and accessible communication during emergencies.

Health equity is not a side issue—it’s central to our vision of a thriving Orlando. As Mayor, I’ll work to ensure every resident can live a long, healthy, and dignified life—no matter their income, background, or ability.

Orlando’s seniors have spent their lives raising families, building neighborhoods, contributing to the economy, and shaping our city’s identity. As they age, we have a responsibility to ensure they can do so with dignity, stability, and connection. As Mayor, I will prioritize policies that allow older adults to age in place safely, remain active in their communities, and access the services they need to thrive.

We’ll begin by investing in aging-in-place infrastructure. That means expanding the city’s home repair and accessibility retrofit programs, so seniors can stay in their homes safely with grab bars, ramps, widened doorways, and energy-efficient upgrades. We’ll also enhance sidewalk connectivity, improve lighting, and ensure transit stops are sheltered and accessible—because independence starts with being able to get around your own neighborhood.

Orlando must also increase access to affordable and supportive housing for older adults. We’ll work with nonprofit developers and local partners to build more senior-friendly housing units, including co-housing models and developments with built-in care and social programming. These options should be affordable, walkable, and near the services seniors use most—health care, groceries, community centers, and green spaces.

To combat social isolation and improve quality of life, I will expand support for our senior centers and intergenerational community hubs. These spaces can offer fitness classes, technology training, arts programs, communal meals, and connection to local resources. We’ll work to make them more accessible, better funded, and culturally inclusive.

We will also expand home-based care coordination, connecting seniors to mobile health services, in-home aides, and peer companionship programs. In partnership with local nonprofits and health providers, we’ll support wellness checks, meal delivery services, and ride-sharing assistance for medical appointments, grocery runs, and social events.

For caregivers—many of whom are women, immigrants, or older adults themselves—we’ll advocate for city-supported respite care, caregiver support groups, and training opportunities to reduce burnout and increase confidence.

And we will ensure that emergency preparedness and response plans explicitly center the needs of seniors, by distributing cooling kits, providing backup power access for medical devices, and ensuring that evacuation alerts are multilingual, accessible, and well-publicized in senior communities.

Our seniors are a vital part of the fabric of Orlando. With the right investments, we can be a city where growing older means growing more connected, supported, and valued.

As Orlando grows, so does the risk that longtime residents—especially in historically Black, immigrant, and working-class neighborhoods—will be pushed out by rising rents, private equity firms, predatory development, and unchecked gentrification. Growth does not have to mean displacement. As Mayor, I will work to ensure that every resident has the right to stay and thrive in the communities they helped build.

We’ll start by putting tools in place to stabilize housing for renters and homeowners most at risk. That means advocating for stronger tenant protections, including the right to counsel during eviction proceedings, a citywide rental registry with code enforcement, and enhanced access to emergency rental assistance programs that help prevent homelessness before it starts. We will identify landlords willing to expand affordable housing options, and partner with trusted nonprofits and faith partners to support renters in crisis.

We will support the creation and expansion of Community Land Trusts (CLTs) and cooperative housing models, which keep homes permanently affordable and under community control. These tools allow residents to build equity without being vulnerable to the speculative housing market. I’ll also work with community-based developers and nonprofit housing organizations to prioritize deeply affordable housing development on city-owned land. We also will explore converting empty commercial lots downtown into residential properties.

To protect homeowners, especially seniors and multigenerational families in rapidly changing neighborhoods, we’ll expand access to property tax relief, home repair/hardening grants, and legal support for heirs’ property issues that put families at risk of losing homes passed down over generations.

We will also implement anti-displacement zoning policies, like:

• Inclusionary zoning requirements for new development in high-opportunity areas

• Density bonuses tied to permanent affordability

• Affordability covenants on city-subsidized projects

• Limits on speculative land flipping and corporate bulk-buying of housing

To ensure communities are not left out of planning decisions until it’s too late, I’ll overhaul how we do community engagement. That includes early, multilingual outreach, neighborhood planning workshops, and a requirement that major projects include community benefit agreements.

We'll also track the impacts of development over time. I’ll establish a Gentrification Risk & Displacement Dashboard, using data on rents, ownership changes, evictions, and demographic shifts to identify areas of concern and guide policy interventions proactively—not reactively. We’ll expand efforts to preserve historic neighborhoods, ensuring that development enhances our communities rather than erasing their identity.

No one should be forced to move out of their neighborhood because the city they love becomes too expensive to live in. As Mayor, I will fight for an Orlando where growth benefits everyone—and where residents can stay, grow, and pass down homes, businesses, and memories to the next generation.

Orlando is a city of natural beauty—home to more than 100 lakes, an incredible biodiversity of plants and wildlife, and a community that deeply values access to clean air, water, and green space. But climate change, aging infrastructure, rapid growth, and environmental injustice threaten that future. As Mayor, I will lead with urgency and vision to protect our natural resources, build a climate-resilient city, and ensure that sustainability is not just a buzzword—but a lived reality for every resident.

I currently serve as the Chair of the Florida Legislature’s Bipartisan Climate and Energy Caucus, and in that capacity have brought lawmakers together to discuss and lead on important topics of energy, residency, and hurricane preparedness. I’ve also fought back against concerning legislation that eliminates net-metering, destroys the environment, and enables industrial polluters. I am not afraid to have tough conversations and to push for solutions that are balanced and forward-thinking—and I will lead with that same lens in City Hall.

Check out the next three categories to dive deeper into our environmental policy platform:

• Clean Energy & Electrification

• Climate Resilience, Smart Growth & Water Protection

• Zero Waste, Circular Economy & Environmental Justice

We’ll start by increasing investments in clean, affordable, and renewable energy. I will commit to pursuing Orlando’s already established clean energy goals and expand the use of solar, improve energy efficiency in city buildings, and partner with OUC to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. Every household, regardless of income or neighborhood, should have access to affordable, clean power.

We’ll also launch energy assistance programs and scale up efficiency initiatives that lower emissions and reduce utility bills—because sustainability must be accessible to everyone.

Electrification is another critical piece of the puzzle. We’ll expand the city’s electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, convert municipal fleets to electric, and offer incentives for residents and businesses to electrify homes and workplaces. As a voting member on the OUC board, I’ll focus on grid modernization and resilience to ensure our city can support this clean energy future without leaving anyone behind.

Flooding is already a growing concern in Orlando, especially during hurricane season and heavy rain events. That’s why I will prioritize green stormwater infrastructure and flood mitigation as part of every major development and capital project. This includes upgrading stormwater drainage systems, expanding greenways and permeable surfaces, and preserving wetlands and natural water bodies that act as natural buffers.

A core component of our climate plan will be the integration of Low-Impact Development (LID) principles into Orlando’s land use and building policies. LID strategies like bioswales, rain gardens, green roofs, and porous pavement help manage stormwater naturally, reduce the urban heat island effect, and support healthier ecosystems. As Mayor, I’ll ensure our permitting process rewards sustainable design and that new developments are aligned with our climate goals—not in conflict with them.

We’ll fight overdevelopment by implementing smart growth principles that reduce sprawl, promote walkable communities, and protect environmentally sensitive lands. This also means requiring meaningful community input in the development process and strengthening protections for Orlando’s lakes, trees, and wildlife corridors.

We must also prepare for the impacts of climate change that are already here. That means updating the city’s Future Ready Plan with neighborhood-level risk assessments, public education campaigns, and emergency preparedness efforts that include everyone—from renters to small business owners to seniors. We’ll establish a Resilience Task Force composed of community members, climate scientists, and city staff to guide our response and hold us accountable.

Water quality and water consumption are vital issues as well. As Mayor, I’ll prioritize improving water quality by strengthening protections for our lakes, rivers, and aquifer; reducing fertilizer runoff; modernizing aging infrastructure; and supporting green infrastructure that naturally filters pollutants. We’ll accelerate septic-to-sewer conversions in vulnerable areas to prevent contamination of groundwater and nearby lakes, while pursuing state and federal funding to support these critical upgrades. We’ll also lead on water conservation—encouraging native landscaping, expanding water reuse programs, and promoting smart water usage across homes, businesses, and city facilities. From source to tap, we’ll treat water as the precious resource it is and ensure equitable access to clean water for all communities.

I am proud of my environmental track record in the State Legislature and have been effective in bringing millions of dollars in state funding to help with local water quality projects. We’ll lead with that same commitment in City Hall.

A more sustainable Orlando also means radically rethinking how we consume, discard, and reuse. As Mayor, I’ll work with innovative local partners like O-Town Compost to reduce food waste and build a circular economy. By expanding access to organic waste collection, promoting food recovery efforts, and supporting composting initiatives, we can divert waste from landfills, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and create nutrient-rich soil for our parks and community gardens. We'll also explore circular strategies like repair workshops and clothing swaps to help residents save money while reducing waste.

We must take serious action to reduce single-use plastics, which pollute our waterways, harm wildlife, and contribute to microplastic contamination. I will champion policies that limit plastic use at city events, encourage reusable alternatives, and support local businesses in making the transition away from disposables. Reducing plastic and food waste isn’t just good for the environment—it’s cost-effective, forward-thinking policy that builds resilience and saves taxpayer dollars.

We’ll continue our partnerships with organizations like Keep Orlando Beautiful to keep our neighborhoods clean and foster a citywide culture of sustainability and pride.

And through all of this, we will center environmental justice—ensuring that Black, Brown, and low-income communities, which have long borne the brunt of pollution and climate risk, are prioritized in our investments and supported in building resilience. True sustainability means leaving no one behind.

Parks and public spaces are more than just amenities—they’re essential to our health, safety, and sense of belonging. Every Orlando resident deserves access to green space, safe places to play, and well-maintained community facilities that reflect the culture and character of their neighborhood. As Mayor, I will invest in our parks, trails, and recreational programming to create a more connected, active, and joyful Orlando—for every generation.

We’ll begin by ensuring that every resident lives within a 10-minute walk of a safe and accessible park, no matter their zip code. That means building new pocket parks and community gardens in underserved areas, while revitalizing aging parks and play spaces with new equipment, shade structures, inclusive features, and storm-resilient design.

We’ll expand free and low-cost recreation programming for youth, seniors, and families—including afterschool clubs, sports leagues, volunteer opportunities, arts and music classes, wellness workshops, intergenerational activities, and experiences for people with disabilities. We will partner with local libraries, faith institutions, and businesses to open up more activity space. Our city centers and community facilities will be activated as hubs of enrichment, creativity, and care. I will also invest in youth employment and leadership development programs through our Families, Parks and Recreation Department to help train the next generation of civic leaders and stewards of public space.

To meet the evolving interests of Orlando’s diverse communities, we will invest in new and upgraded recreational amenities based on public feedback and community visioning. That includes creating and improving amenities like skate parks, basketball courts, bike tracks, dog parks, gardens, pickleball courts, artistic hubs, and multi-use recreation zones that respond directly to what residents are asking for. We have an incredible amount of public expertise—skaters, coaches, artists, fitness instructors, environmental educators, and more—who know what works and what’s missing. As Mayor, I will also work with our business community to spotlight small businesses throughout our parks and green spaces. I’ll make sure these voices help shape the design, programming, and priorities of our recreation system.

We’ll make the process inclusive and ongoing. I’ll launch a “Design with the People” initiative that builds on participatory planning—holding pop-ups in parks, working with youth councils, and collaborating with neighborhood associations to co-create ideas before decisions are made. From skate park locations to trail extensions to community garden layouts, we’ll ensure residents are not just heard—they’re centered.

To improve public safety, we’ll partner with city staff and neighborhood leaders to increase lighting, visibility, and park staff in key areas, and enhance maintenance and cleanliness across our parks system. No one should feel unsafe walking, playing, or gathering in their public spaces.

We will also prioritize inclusion and accessibility. That means ADA-compliant facilities, adaptive recreation programs, multilingual signage, and culturally inclusive events that reflect the full diversity of Orlando’s residents—from Juneteenth to Diwali to Latin dance nights and LGBTQ+ family days in the park.

Our parks and green spaces must also be a part of our climate resilience strategy. I’ll expand our urban tree canopy, restore wetlands and shoreline buffers, and create more nature-based solutions like bioswales and rain gardens that manage stormwater and reduce flooding. We’ll make our parks more sustainable while also helping cool down our city and improve air quality.

We’ll enhance and expand the trail and bike network that connects neighborhoods to parks, schools, job centers, and transit. This includes safe bike lanes, pedestrian greenways, and connections to regional trail systems like the Cady Way, Shingle Creek, and West Orange trails. Every park should be safely and easy accessible without a car.

Finally, we’ll engage local artists, youth, and residents to shape the design and programming of their public spaces. That includes murals, sculptures, skate art, interactive installations, and community storytelling projects because public space should reflect public imagination.

Parks are where we come together, where kids grow, families gather, and ideas are born. As Mayor, I will ensure Orlando’s parks and recreation system reflects the energy, creativity, and diversity of the people who live here, and that every voice has a hand in shaping the future of our public spaces.

As a State Representative, I take hurricane preparedness and disaster resilience seriously, knowing that the safety and well-being of our residents depends on strong planning, coordination, and communication before, during, and after a storm.

I will take that same approach as Mayor and with climate change increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather, we must strengthen our city’s readiness by investing in robust emergency response systems, maintaining critical infrastructure, and ensuring that our most vulnerable communities are protected. I will work closely with local, state, and federal agencies to streamline preparedness efforts, improve evacuation routes, and enhance shelter capacity, including for residents with special needs, pets, and those without transportation.

I will prioritize public education campaigns so every Orlando household knows how to prepare and where to turn for help, ensuring that language access and outreach reach all corners of our diverse city. 

We must also recognize that preparedness does not end when the storm passes — recovery is just as important. That means standing up strong post-storm response systems to deliver supplies, restore utilities, clear debris, and help families and small businesses rebuild. As Mayor, I will make Orlando a model of resilience, where no resident is left behind in times of crisis and where we face each storm season stronger and more prepared than the last.

As Mayor of Orlando, I will work to strengthen our city’s role as a regional and international hub for trade, investment, and economic opportunity. Orlando is uniquely positioned — with its location, workforce, and connectivity — to expand its reach not only across Florida but around the world.

I will focus on growing partnerships with international businesses, trade associations, and sister cities to attract new investment, diversify our local economy, and open up new markets for Orlando-based small businesses and entrepreneurs. In partnership with local chambers of commerce, I will champion the creation of small business trade delegations, helping local companies explore global opportunities, build international relationships, and tap into new export markets. 

I will also prioritize improving our airport infrastructure and connectivity, recognizing Orlando International Airport as a key economic engine that supports tourism, trade, and business development. By expanding international flight routes, modernizing airport facilities, and improving ground transportation links, we can enhance Orlando’s position as a global gateway and strengthen our local economy.

At the same time, I am committed to making sure that the benefits of trade and economic growth reach all Orlando residents — not just a few. That means investing in workforce development programs, apprenticeship opportunities, and technical training so that local workers can fill the high-quality jobs that global trade brings to our city. 

It also means supporting our small and minority-owned businesses, helping them navigate supply chains and access the capital they need to scale and grow. By positioning Orlando as an inclusive center for trade, transportation, and economic development, we will build a resilient local economy that lifts up families, strengthens communities, and secures our city’s prosperity for generations to come.

Orlando is one of the most diverse and dynamic cities in the nation—a place where people from every background, culture, faith, and identity come together to create community.

But in a time when fundamental rights are under attack across Florida and beyond, we must do more than celebrate our diversity—we must actively protect it. In the legislature I have been on the frontlines fighting back against attack targetting our diverse community, and as your Mayor, I will ensure that Orlando is a city where everyone is safe, supported, and able to thrive, regardless of race, gender, immigration status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

We’ll start by protecting and expanding LGBTQ+ rights. That means fully enforcing the city’s non-discrimination ordinance, ensuring LGBTQ+ residents are protected in housing, employment, and public accommodations. I’ll also invest in LGBTQ+ health initiatives, create safe spaces for queer youth and seniors, and support the vibrant arts, culture, and advocacy organizations that have made Orlando a national leader in LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion, especially in the wake of the Pulse tragedy that forever shaped our city. We will oppose any effort to erase LGBTQ+ people from public life and ensure that Orlando remains a home for everyone, no matter who they love or how they identify.

We will also stand with and support our immigrant and refugee neighbors, many of whom are essential workers, business owners, students, and caregivers. I will expand language access across all city departments so that residents can fully participate in civic life, regardless of what language they speak. That includes translated city documents, multilingual interpretation at public meetings, and outreach conducted by trusted messengers. We’ll also partner with immigration legal aid organizations to help undocumented residents navigate status changes, access rights-based education, and avoid exploitation.

To create a truly welcoming city, we must also provide meaningful opportunities and second chances to those who have been marginalized by the criminal legal system. I’ll invest in reentry services for returning citizens, including job training and placement, housing navigation, mental health care, and community mentorship. We’ll break down the stigma of incarceration and recognize the full humanity of our neighbors who are seeking a fresh start.

For people with disabilities, we’ll embed accessibility, inclusion, and universal design into every part of city planning. That includes not only ADA-compliant infrastructure but also policies that prioritize inclusive programming, transportation access, and support for independent living. Disability rights are civil rights, and they must be protected as such.

Equity also means building a city government that looks like the community it serves. I’ll work to recruit and retain a diverse city workforce, support employee resource groups, and ensure that our boards and advisory bodies reflect Orlando’s racial, cultural, gender, and generational diversity. We’ll train all city staff on anti-discrimination and cultural humility, and create clear pathways for community accountability and feedback.

And throughout it all, we will center the voices of historically excluded communities in decision-making. That includes hosting listening sessions in multiple languages, investing in grassroots organizing to ensure City Hall is accessible to everyone, and creating participatory budgeting opportunities that give residents direct control over public dollars. Equity won’t be an afterthought—it will be a guiding principle.

Diversity is our strength, and equity is our commitment. As Mayor, I will ensure that every policy, budget, and action taken by the City of Orlando reflects our shared values of equality, dignity, and belonging. Because when we uplift those who’ve been pushed to the margins, we move everyone forward.

Orlando is the tourism capital of the world. Every year, tens of millions of visitors stay in our hotels, enjoy our attractions, and spend billions in our local economy. But the very workers who make this industry thrive—housekeepers, line cooks, rideshare drivers, performers—often can’t afford to live in the city they help power. That has to change.

As Mayor, I will fight for a more just, transparent, and community-centered use of Orlando’s Tourism Development Tax (TDT)—so it works not just for visitors, but for residents too. The TDT generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually, but under state law, these funds are largely restricted to convention centers, stadiums, and tourism marketing. That leaves little room to address the urgent needs of our residents.

That’s why I’ll work alongside local governments, unions, businesses, and community coalitions to advocate for state-level and local reforms to expand how TDT funds can be used. We should be able to invest in affordable housing near job centers, expand public transportation options, and build climate-resilient infrastructure. Our economy’s essential workers deserve reliable ways to get to work, stable places to live, and a real say in how tourism dollars are spent.

At the same time, any public investment in the tourism economy must be tied to community benefit agreements that ensure good wages, local hiring, union protections, and environmental standards.

Let’s reimagine the TDT as a tool to build not just a world-class destination, but a world-class city for the people who call Orlando home.

As Mayor of Orlando, I will make it a priority to elevate arts, culture, and athletics as central pillars of our city’s identity, community well-being, and economic future. I believe a thriving city is one where creativity flourishes, where every resident—no matter their background or income—can access the arts, and where sports and recreation are available to all ages as part of a healthy, active lifestyle.

That’s why I am committed to expanding public investment in our local artists, cultural institutions, and creative industries, ensuring they have the resources to grow and reflect the incredible diversity of Orlando’s people. I will champion the integration of public art across our neighborhoods, transit spaces, and public parks, and I will strengthen partnerships with schools and community organizations to expand access to arts education and professional opportunities for young artists. I will also work to revitalize Orlando’s film and media production industries by attracting new projects, streamlining permitting, and promoting local talent, making our city a premier destination for filmmakers and digital creators.

At the same time, I will prioritize investments in our parks, athletic fields, and recreation centers so every Orlando resident has a safe and welcoming place to play, exercise, and connect with their neighbors. I will work closely with local leagues, schools, and nonprofits to grow youth sports programs, while also supporting adult and senior recreation opportunities that promote wellness and community engagement.

I recognize the economic and community value of hosting major sporting events and will champion Orlando as a world-class destination for tournaments, championships, and sporting venues that drive tourism, create jobs, and bring people together. Equity will be at the heart of these efforts: no child should be priced out of playing a sport, no artist should be excluded from opportunity, and no neighborhood should lack access to cultural or recreational spaces. Together, we will build an Orlando where arts, athletics, and entertainment uplift every corner of the city, improve quality of life, and strengthen the bonds that hold our community together.

As Mayor, I will work to make Orlando a model city for compassionate and responsible animal care, because how we treat animals is a reflection of our values as a community.

Every companion animal deserves a safe, loving home, and every resident should have access to affordable, humane resources for pet care. That’s why I will strengthen partnerships with local rescue groups, expand low-cost spay and neuter programs, and increase funding for humane trap-neuter-return (TNR) efforts to address community cat populations. We’ll work with Orange County Animal Services to improve shelter outcomes, and promote adoptions and fostering.

I will also prioritize public education and stronger enforcement against animal cruelty, ensuring our ordinances protect all animals from abuse and neglect. Survivors of domestic violence deserve to keep their pets with them through moments of crisis, and I’ll work with shelters and transitional housing providers to support pet-inclusive programs.

As our city grows, we must also protect our wildlife and natural ecosystems by designing low-impact development plans that promote coexistence and preserve green spaces, historic trees, and native species.

Finally, I’ll champion pet-friendly policies across our city—from expanding off-leash dog parks and hydration stations to ensuring emergency shelters are equipped to accommodate pets during disasters.

Orlando can—and should—be a place where all living beings, human and animal, are treated with dignity, safety, and care.

City government should be open, accessible, and accountable to the people, not just during election season, but every single day. As Mayor, I will lead with a deep commitment to transparency, ethical governance, and inclusive civic participation. City Hall should work for everyone and every resident should have the tools and opportunities they need to shape the decisions that impact their lives.

We’ll start by increasing transparency in budgeting, contracting, and performance. I will require every city department to set clear, public performance goals tied to community priorities—whether it’s filling potholes, closing permits, or improving transit access—and publish the results in easy-to-read public dashboards updated regularly. We’ll bring our metrics out of the back office and into public view. This also means moving council meetings times later in the dat versus in the early afternoon; this alone would help ensure that the public can better engage with City Hall.

But transparency alone isn’t enough, we also need to empower people to participate. That’s why I’ll implement participatory budgeting in every city district, allowing residents to directly propose and vote on how to spend a portion of the city’s budget on community-driven projects, from park improvements and traffic calming to public art and small business support.

We’ll modernize how residents interact with city government by using technology to break down barriers and make participation easier. That includes:

• Creating a mobile-friendly city app and portal where residents can track city council agendas, receive alerts on issues they care about, and submit comments or questions on policy items—all from their phone or computer. This app would provide access to additional city resources and programs, too. 

• Offering hybrid meetings that include live streaming, remote public comment, ASL and language interpretation, and digital accessibility features, so no one is shut out because of geography, mobility, or schedule.

• Hosting regular “Community Input Weeks” around major decisions, with online surveys, neighborhood pop-ups, youth roundtables, and local partnerships to gather broad and representative feedback.

• Launching civic education workshops so residents know how to navigate city systems, advocate for their communities, and access resources available to them.

And in a city that aspires to be a leader in innovation, we should act like one. That’s why I will lead the development of a City of Orlando AI-powered assistant—a free, publicly accessible digital tool that helps residents quickly find answers to everyday questions like:

• “How do I apply for a permit?”

• “What does this ordinance mean?”

• “Where can I get housing assistance?”

• “How do I report an issue on my street?”

By integrating natural language search with real-time city data, this AI tool will make local government more navigable, transparent, and human-centered, especially for residents who don’t have time to scroll through outdated websites or sit on hold for answers. It will be based on city information and thus only provide accurate responses based on content the city provides.

We’ll also strengthen ethics rules and oversight, ensuring that lobbyist influence is tracked, public officials are transparent about their finances, and the city’s procurement processes are fair, competitive, and focused on community benefit—not political favors. I also want to ensure that we embrace innovation in City Hall, which is why I support implementing reasonable term limits for the mayor’s office and city commission, ensuring fresh leadership, new ideas, and accountability over time. Starting in 2030, the date of municipal elections should also coincide with the date of other elections, so that turnout and engagement is at it’s highest.

Finally, I will establish a Civic Engagement & Innovation Office within the Mayor’s Office to drive this work—responsible for building trust between government and residents, coordinating public input processes, advancing tech for the public good, and making sure no community is left out of the conversation. We have local partners already doing similar work, like DataKind and Digital Democracy Project, that we look forward to continuing to work alongside.

When government is transparent and participatory, trust grows—and when people trust their city, they get involved. As Mayor, I’ll make sure that every resident feels welcome, heard, and empowered to shape the future of Orlando.

The strength of Orlando is its people. Every neighborhood, every block, every family brings something to the table and when we invite people in, listen deeply, and work together, there’s nothing we can’t achieve. As Mayor, I will lead with the belief that real change doesn’t come from the top down—it’s built from the ground up, powered by neighbors, volunteers, and everyday people who care.

For years, Team Anna has prioritized volunteer engagement not just as a campaign strategy, but as a foundational value. From knocking on doors to organizing food and hurricane supply drives and community cleanup events, our volunteers have helped shape policy, respond to crises, and build community. We believe volunteerism isn’t just service—it’s solidarity. It’s how we build collective prosperity, civic pride, mutual aid, and grassroots power. As Mayor, I will bring that same ethos to City Hall.

We’ll launch a “One Orlando Civic Corps”—a citywide volunteer initiative that connects residents of all ages and backgrounds to meaningful opportunities in public service, from environmental restoration and youth mentorship to event support and emergency preparedness. This corps will provide structured training, flexible ways to get involved, and public recognition for those who give their time and talents to the city.

To ensure coordination and sustainability, I’ll create a department within the Mayor’s Office to support volunteer efforts, neighborhood leadership development, and citywide partnerships. We will work hand-in-hand with our incredible local nonprofits, helping to amplify their efforts, align volunteer needs with city priorities, and share resources and training. We’ll recognize that many of Orlando’s strongest social safety nets are already being held by grassroots organizations—and we’ll take every effort we can to boost their efforts. 

To make participation truly accessible, we’ll:

• Host civic skill-building workshops on advocacy, organizing, public speaking, and budgeting

• Build a citywide volunteer portal that matches residents with causes based on interest, skill, and geography

• Provide language interpretation, childcare, and transportation support to reduce barriers to engagement

• Partner with schools, colleges, faith communities, and unions to build the next generation of civic leaders

• Celebrate volunteers and nonprofit partners through an annual “Orlando Gives” Week of Service & Civic Pride

We’ll also encourage a culture of service inside city government—inviting public employees to participate in community service days, co-hosting neighborhood cleanups and town halls, and ensuring that public meetings are welcoming, multilingual, and accessible to all.

We can’t accomplish any of our goals—whether it’s housing, climate, education, or jobs—without community. Without you. As Mayor, I will ensure that Orlando is not just a city that welcomes input—it’s a city that works shoulder-to-shoulder with residents and nonprofit partners to co-create real solutions.

City workers are the backbone of Orlando. They keep our streets clean, our parks beautiful, our communities safe, and our neighborhoods connected. Yet too often in Florida, public employees are overworked, underpaid, and left out of the decisions that shape their work. As Mayor, I will champion a culture of respect, fairness, and investment in the city’s workforce, because supporting public employees is essential to delivering great public services.

We’ll start with the basics: ensuring fair pay, strong benefits, and safe working conditions. I’ll work to raise wages for frontline city workers to ensure that our compensation structures reflect the rising cost of living in Orlando, and that we are offering competitive pay when compared to our neighboring communities. We’ll also commit to provide paid parental leave to all city employees, so staff can take time to focus on their families and return to work well-rested and re-charged.

We’ll protect pensions, enhance health coverage options, and modernize HR systems to improve how workers access the support they’ve earned.

We’ll also invest in professional development and career advancement pipelines, with paid training opportunities, leadership development, tuition reimbursement, and support for certifications and continuing education. We’ll create clear pathways for promotion from within and ensure that all workers—regardless of background or position—can grow and thrive in their roles.

I’ll also expand access to mental health support and wellness resources, including free and confidential counseling, stress reduction programs, peer support networks, and crisis services. Burnout is real, especially after years of overlapping public health, housing, and climate crises—and our workforce deserves the care they give to others.

To improve morale and retention, we’ll create citywide employee feedback systems where staff can safely share concerns, propose innovations, and help shape workplace culture. This will include crafting consistent remote work opportunities, too. Departments will be held accountable for listening and acting on that feedback.

I will also build a stronger labor-management relationship by ensuring regular, transparent dialogue between city leadership and union representatives. Collective bargaining rights will be respected, and workers will always have a seat at the table. 

Equity will be a cornerstone of our employee policies. We’ll conduct a citywide workforce equity audit to identify disparities in pay, promotion, and representation. Based on these findings, we’ll implement accountability systems that reflect Orlando’s values of fairness and inclusion.

And because public workers are public neighbors, we’ll work to connect them to housing, transportation, and childcare options—through housing policies, transit benefits, and access to city-supported childcare services. No city worker should be priced out of the city they serve.

When we invest in the people who make this city work, everyone benefits. As Mayor, I’ll ensure Orlando leads by example—by being not just a good employer, but a great one.

Orlando’s future should be shaped by facts, outcomes, and the lived experiences of our people—not politics or guesswork. As Mayor, I will ensure that city decisions are driven by data, guided by community input, and held to real standards of accountability. In a city that celebrates innovation and talent, our local government must be just as smart, nimble, and transparent.

We’ll start by setting clear, measurable goals for every city department—from sanitation to transportation, housing to parks. These goals will be co-created with staff and community stakeholders and aligned with Orlando’s strategic priorities. Every goal will be accompanied by public benchmarks and timelines so residents can track progress, flag issues, and understand how we’re doing—without needing to dig through bureaucratic reports.

We’ll publish regular performance dashboards that are easy to access, mobile-friendly, and updated in real time. Whether it’s potholes filled, permits processed, affordable housing units built, or response times for calls we receive, the city will be accountable for delivering results, and celebrating successes that matter to our residents.

But numbers alone don’t tell the full story. That’s why we’ll pair quantitative data with qualitative community feedback to understand the impact of our policies and programs. I’ll launch a Community Impact Scorecard that tracks not just outputs, but outcomes—like neighborhood satisfaction, public safety perceptions, small business success, and environmental health. These tools will be designed to center equity and disaggregate data by race, gender, neighborhood, and income so we can spot—and fix—disparities in services and decision making.

To support this work, we’ll create a Mayor’s Office of Performance and Innovation to lead on data transparency, evaluation, and continuous improvement across city departments. This office will:

• Facilitate cross-department collaboration to break down silos and align strategies

• Support civic tech partnerships with local universities and startups to improve digital tools and access

• Train staff in data ethics, inclusive analysis, and community-informed decision-making

We’ll also invest in open data platforms where residents, journalists, students, and advocates can explore city data—from public safety trends to budget breakdowns to climate impact maps—on their own terms. And we’ll make it easy to access the data that drives decisions, not just the decisions themselves.

To tie all of this to the budget process, we’ll build a results-based budgeting system where funding decisions are aligned with performance and community needs—not legacy line items or outdated priorities. Through participatory budgeting, residents will have a direct say in how funds are spent, reinforcing the connection between data, democracy, and daily life.

Good government is measurable, adaptable, and accountable. As Mayor, I’ll make sure we use data not just to manage the city—but to transform it. When we measure what matters and listen to our people, we get results that reflect our values and improve lives.