What can be done to improve the business climate in Connecticut while COVID-19 continues to be a risk?

Business owners and people with expertise in public health need to be part of solutions to improve the business climate while public health guidance is adhered to. As guidance shifts from crisis response to re-openning and re-entry, businesses need to be supported to adhere to and promote public health best practices.

With so much uncertainty ahead about COVID-19, how would you ensure that the people's business – both at the legislature and in all of our elections – will be conducted effectively, and with full participation, in the safest possible manner for the foreseeable future?

Sharing accurate information broadly is an important first step. To do this I offer and email newsletter, a facebook and instagram account updated regularly and share my contact information with everyone. If elected, I will hold office hours either socially distanced outdoors or over zoom. During the election, I am having special zoom meetings on topics that people are particularly interested in.

With higher education facing major changes because of the pandemic, what steps will you take to make sure that Connecticut’s residents have access to college and/or other job training that won’t leave them tens of thousands of dollars in debt?

I know from first hand experience teaching a class at UCONN that has been converted online that there are a lot of changes and challenges that students are facing related to the pandemic. Affordable education is a must if we want our state to produce and retain the best and brightest. I support affordable access to education for all.

What specific legislation would you support to reduce racism in Connecticut?

First, I am committed to addressing racism in my communities and in CT. I believe that my expertise and skills best lend to my involvement in work to promote equity in access to education and healthcare. I have exertise in health equity, particularly as it related to food access, obesity and nutrition-related chronic disease risk.

What is one specific policy you support to help protect African Americans as an at-risk group during the pandemic?

In the short term, adequate resources need to be allocated to communities at disproportionate risk to support contact tracing and testing and support individuals as they are isolating/quarantining. This includes allowing affordable access to all essential resources during quarantine, infrastructure for education or remote work (wifi), food acces on delivery etc. Long-term, we need to make sure communities are prepared for a second surge with addequate PPE and hospital equipment and that community resources that support things like home food delivery are extended. There needs to be equitable access to high quality care and vaccines. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, there need to be long term investments in addressing the social determinants of health and promoting public health and wellfair as a whole.

Connecticut’s revenues will sharply decline as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and, unlike Congress, Connecticut has a balanced budget requirement. What changes would you make to balance the budget? (If you want cuts, be specific what will be cut. If you want to raise taxes, be specific about which taxes.)

What should Connecticut do to re-tool our public health for COVID-19 and the possibility of future pandemics, while also addressing other chronic illnesses that put people at risk every day?

We need to make a long-term investment in promoting health and preventative health. Things like promoting equitable access to healthy food, health care and education all of which impact health outcomes including chronic diseases that put individuals at a higher risk for mortality related to COVID. We need to ensure that hospitals are prepared for pandemics and have equitable access to critical equipment and PPEs. We need to be sure that people have access to accurate information to guide them through pandemics.

How can Connecticut lower healthcare costs while also improving quality and access to care?