VICKI’S PERSPECTIVE BY ISSUE

Environmental Justice

True environmental justice means protecting the vitality of our air, water, land and most importantly, the people who live here in Montgomery County. It’s about ensuring that no community bears a disproportionate burden from pollution, flooding, or reckless development. Families deserve clean air to breathe, safe water to drink, and neighborhoods that support — rather than threaten their well-being.

The Real Challenges We Face

Montgomery County is confronting serious environmental justice issues that impact public health every day:

• School Bus Barns: Diesel emissions from school bus depots expose children, drivers, and nearby residents to harmful pollutants linked to respiratory problems and other health risks.

• Proposed Data Centers: Massive new facilities threaten to consume enormous amounts of electricity and water, increase air and noise pollution, strain our infrastructure, and drive up utility costs for everyone all while potentially harming local ecosystems and residential communities.

• Stormwater Management and Overdevelopment: Sprawling McMansions and large-scale projects with vast impermeable surfaces prevent natural absorption, worsening flooding for downstream neighbors. Communities like Chevy Chase have faced repeated flooding, property damage, and even lawsuits burdens that fall hardest on everyday families.

These are not abstract concerns. They directly affect our children’s lungs, our drinking water supply from the Potomac River, and the livability of our neighborhoods.

Focusing on What Truly Matters

While some leaders obsess over symbolic gestures, like debating paper versus plastic straws, while real families in Montgomery County are dealing with far more urgent threats: deteriorating health from pollution, flooding that destroys homes, and unchecked development that prioritizes big industry over community needs. We hear the sanctimonious calls for individuals to conserve water or reduce plastic use, yet large industries and developments often face little accountability. This double standard must end. Environmental justice requires real leadership — not virtue signaling. Montgomery County claims to lead on every issue, but the facts tell a different story. We lag behind neighboring jurisdictions in economic development and practical environmental progress. It’s time to stop chasing headlines and start delivering results on the issues that shape daily life: clean air, clean water, flood protection, and healthy communities.

My Commitment

If elected, I will fight for meaningful environmental justice by:

• Prioritizing solutions to air and water pollution from school bus operations and other sources

• Ensuring rigorous review and responsible standards for any data center proposals — protecting residents from excessive energy use, water consumption, noise, and emissions

• Reforming stormwater management to prevent irresponsible development from harming downstream neighbors

• Holding big polluters and developers accountable, while rejecting performative policies that distract from real problems

• Putting people first — investing in practical, science-based actions that improve health outcomes in every neighborhood

Environmental justice isn’t about politics or alliances with activist groups. It’s about results. It’s about clean air for our kids, safe water for our families, and strong, resilient communities where people can thrive. Let’s move beyond the distractions and get to the real business of protecting Montgomery County’s health, environment, and future. Together, we can build a county that leads with substance not slogans. Join the fight for real environmental justice.

Affordable Home Ownership

As a candidate for Montgomery County Council At-Large, I am deeply committed to addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing our families: the skyrocketing cost of housing that is forcing impossible choices like delaying or forgoing having children simply to afford a home.

Many families in our county are struggling right now. They’ve poured everything into buying or maintaining a single-family home, only to find there’s little left for starting or growing a family. This isn’t right. We can’t keep building affordability out of reach. Instead of endless teardowns and brand-new luxury developments that drive up costs and consume green space, we need smarter, more practical solutions that preserve what we already have.

My top priority is making homeownership more affordable by focusing on rehabilitating existing dwellings rather than demolishing them. Rehabbing older homes and buildings is faster, cheaper, and more environmentally responsible—it keeps costs down for buyers and renters while protecting our neighborhoods’ character.

To make this work, we must:

•  Establish qualified inspection and assessment programs so experts can evaluate older structures, identify infrastructure needs, and estimate realistic upgrade costs. This transparency will help unlock more housing at lower price points, giving middle and lower-income families a real shot at ownership.

•  Introduce flexibility in our building codes for additions and conversions. For example, many properties like condos or apartments, have unused space (laundry rooms, storage areas) that could become livable units within the existing footprint without major land use changes. But current rules often require full building upgrades to modern code, making projects unaffordable. We can grandfather in existing compliant elements while ensuring only new additions meet current safety standards. This targeted flexibility protects residents and enables incremental, cost-effective growth.

•  Support struggling communities, especially those on the brink of financial distress or bankruptcy. Some can expand modestly; others can’t. The county should step in to assess salvageable properties. If owners can’t afford needed investments, options include county acquisition and rehab, partnerships with nonprofits like Montgomery Housing Partnership, or phased community-led upgrades. Start with foreclosed or neglected units—they’re often the most in need and can be rehabbed first to stabilize entire buildings or complexes.

•  Create incentives for for-sale conversions. In rehabbed properties, prioritize options for current residents to purchase new or upgraded units. This builds community stability and gives people a stake in the improvements.

•  Promote multi-generational and flexible housing designs. Too many homes force grandparents into basements or detached accessory units. We should encourage—and make affordable—purpose-built units for extended families, whether through rehabbed existing stock or smart additions.

These approaches preserve naturally occurring affordable housing, reduce pressure on green space, and deliver real homeownership opportunities without waiting decades for massive new developments. By prioritizing rehab over teardown, we can help more families build wealth through homeownership, stay in our communities, and plan for the future—including growing their families.

Together, we can make Montgomery County a place where hard-working people aren’t priced out of the dream of owning a home. If elected to County Council, I’ll fight for these practical, family-focused policies every day.

Your Vote - Our Values - Our Vision - Our Voice

Education

Education: Prioritizing Basics, Literacy, and Real-World Readiness

Our public schools must deliver one core mission: every Montgomery County student graduates equipped with essential life skills and the ability to thrive independently.

That means strong foundations in reading, writing, mathematics, plus practical knowledge like budgeting, understanding mortgages, and financial literacy. It also means building job-ready skills - technical, professional and career focused so graduates can secure meaningful employment.

Despite high per-pupil spending, one of the highest in Maryland, too many students leave our system without acceptable literacy levels. Recent data shows MCPS reading/English Language Arts proficiency at around 57%, above the state average but still far from where it should be for a district of our resources. We spend more, yet outcomes lag behind expectations. The issue isn’t funding - it’s how we allocate it.

As your County Council member, I will serve on the education committee to scrutinize the budget and demand accountability. My priorities:

•  Refocus on the basics in elementary, middle and high schools: Prioritize core academics for all students first: ensuring literacy and numeracy mastery before specialized programs.

•  Shift specialized immersion and advanced language programs to community colleges, where students already take advanced courses. This frees resources for broader needs.

•  Invest heavily in early education: Expand quality preschool, Head Start, and birth-to-five programs. Strong early foundations prevent later gaps and deliver the best long-term return.

•  Put teachers and classrooms first: Redirect spending from excessive facilities and niche programs to competitive teacher pay, smaller classes where needed, and direct student supports.

We must care for the general student population, the vast majority of our kids, before funding highly specialized options for a few. Until literacy rates reach acceptable levels and every child masters essential life and job skills, our priorities need realignment.

It’s time to ask the hard questions, spend smarter, and ensure every child graduates ready for life. Together, we can make MCPS deliver on its promise. 

Join me in putting students first. 

Learn more or get involved today.

Your Vote - Our Values - Our Vision - Our Voice.

Eminent Domain and BRT

Eminent Domain & Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

Montgomery County’s aggressive push for Bus Rapid Transit is threatening local businesses and property owners through the heavy-handed use of eminent domain.

The Problem

Instead of exploring more affordable options like trolleys, the County is moving forward with expensive BRT corridors along major roads such as Rockville Pike and Connecticut Avenue. Plans include dedicated bus lanes that will require widening roads or running buses down the center — forcing the seizure of significant amounts of private land.

Many affected corridors are lined with small businesses, not housing. These businesses are losing parking spaces, frontage, and in some cases entire portions of their property. Dentists, retailers, and other local employers have already seen clients struggle to park, directly threatening their livelihoods.

Worse, the County is not offering fair compensation, failing to clearly explain property owners’ rights in plain language, and pressuring people to sign documents quickly. All of this is happening while the BRT project remains completely unfunded, with no firm timeline or guaranteed construction.

My Position

We need better, more cost-effective ways to move people — but not at the expense of destroying hardworking businesses and families. Eminent domain should be a last resort, used only when absolutely necessary and with full transparency, fair market compensation, and respect for property rights.

Montgomery County residents and business owners deserve honest answers, real funding plans, and solutions that create win-win outcomes — not rushed land grabs that tie up taxpayer money on uncertain projects.

I will fight to:

• Protect property owners from unfair eminent domain practices

• Demand full transparency and fair compensation

• Require complete funding before any land acquisition

• Explore smarter, less expensive transit alternatives like trolleys

• Prioritize solutions that support — rather than harm — our local economy

Property rights matter. Let’s build transit the right way — with integrity, accountability, and respect for the people who make Montgomery County thrive.

Ready to stand up for fair treatment? Join the campaign today.

Disability

Accessibility and Disability Rights in Montgomery County

At the heart of a truly inclusive community is ensuring that every resident—regardless of ability—can live with dignity, independence, and full participation. In Montgomery County, people with disabilities face significant challenges that affect their daily lives, but practical, common-sense solutions can make a real difference.

Disability is not a niche issue—it's universal. While some are born with disabilities, the majority result from injury, illness, or aging. As more residents choose to age in place, the need for accessible living environments grows urgent. We're all likely to face a condition that changes how we live at some point. It's not a choice; it's a reality we must prepare for together.

Key Issues Facing People with Disabilities in Montgomery County

Severe Shortage of Accessible Housing

1. A major barrier is the lack of truly accessible, affordable housing options. Many homes lack essential features like ramps, wide doorways, roll-in showers, or adaptable layouts. With our aging population, this gap forces people into institutional care or relocation far from their communities, support networks, and familiar surroundings. We need more inclusive housing stock, including modifications and new developments designed for accessibility from the start.

Barriers to Equitable Parking Access

2. Residents in homeowner associations, condominiums, or co-ops often face unfair restrictions on disability parking. While those in single-family homes can secure assigned accessible spaces on public roadways, community-assigned parking rules can block this even when a public spot is closer and more practical. This forces unnecessary hardship for mobility. I led the effort, working closely with Delegate Adriana McDonough—to change this. We successfully passed a straightforward law: If a public roadway space is closer than the assigned community spot, residents with disabilities are entitled to the public one. This common-sense fix passed unanimously, proving that targeted advocacy delivers real results.

Quality-of-Life Challenges from Adjacent Commercial Development

3. When homes back up to commercial areas, standard 6-foot fences often fail to shield residents from noise, trucks, lights, and activity. This erodes basic privacy and peace especially for those with sensory sensitivities or mobility limitations. Partnering with Councilmember [likely Evan Glass or similar; based on context, a council member], I co-sponsored a Zoning Text Amendment allowing residents abutting commercial facilities to install 8-foot fences by right—no lengthy appeals needed. This simple change improves daily life, reduces stress, and enhances livability without rocket science.

These aren't abstract policies they're about addressing real, everyday impacts. Grand visions for new housing are important, but so is fixing the practical barriers that make life harder right now.

My Commitment

If elected, I will build on these successes to:

• Advocate for expanded accessible and affordable housing options, including incentives for universal design and home modifications.

• Strengthen enforcement of ADA compliance across public spaces, transportation, and private developments.

• Continue championing small, high-impact changes that improve independence and inclusion for all.

Everyone deserves to live comfortably in their community. Disability rights are human rights—and in Montgomery County, we're stronger when we make sure no one is left behind.

Together, let's create a county where accessibility isn't an afterthought—it's the standard. Join me in this work.