the verdicts Verde's endorsements: city council, school board, presidential candidates
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ITH THE FALL 2020 elections just around the corner and the future of our country at stake, it is more crucial than ever to participate in democracy through voting in both local and national elections. After thorough research and deliberation, Verde Magazine is excited to announce our endorsement of Raven Malone and Cari Templeton for Palo Alto City Council, and Jennifer DiBrienza and Katie Causey for the Palo Alto Board of Education. We also endorse Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the presidential election with the hope that these candidates will work towards a brighter future. v Raven Malone Engineer and social justice activist Raven Malone is the young, progressive candidate we need in Palo Alto to push for change, especially with her vision for reforming the local police force, increasing public transportation and adapting streets to be safer for Palo Alto residents. As a renter with roommates, Malone is tenacious in her push for affordable housing and stands firmly against exclusionary planning and zoning in Palo Alto. This is necessary for the creation of affordable housing and will benefit our community by making the city accessible to young professionals and lower-income families new to the area. Photo: Kate Skogen
Cari Templeton Current Planning and Transportation Commission Chair Cari Templeton's experience in planning and zoning will aid in the development of infrastructure and affordable housing policies. She prioritizes the need to reduce urban sprawl and to build more housing near transit, and her detailed proposal for fare-free student and senior public transit along with expanding shuttle service areas, incentivizing household gas-to-electric appliance upgrades and reducing permit fees for electric vehicles aligns with our hope that Palo Alto will become a leader in clean energy. Photo: Vivian Cromwell
Jennifer DiBrienza Over her past four years on the Board, incumbent Jennifer DiBrienza has worked to create the PAUSD Title IX office, increase consent education and close the opportunity gap, which mirrors our priorities for the district as students. DiBrienza’s unique position as both a former teacher and current district parent allows her to empathize with school staff members and parents to form a more complex perspective on school board issues. We hope that our readers reelect DiBrienza, whose open communication strategy with students brings a crucial lens of transparency to the Board’s operations. Photo: Dana Underwood
Katie Causey Katie Causey's urgent push for improved mental health resources, stemming from her observations as a former PAUSD student, means she will prioritize student wellbeing both during and after the pandemic. She is also a fierce proponent for increasing student accessibility to Title IX resources and tackling sexual assault and harrassment culture in the district head on. Causey’s strong focus on the PAUSD Promise and District Equity Scorecard, as well as examining systemic inequality within communities and schools, will help every student succeed.
Photo: Katie Causey
Joe Biden & Kamala Harris Verde unanimously endorses former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris for the 2020 presidential election. From economic recovery past the COVID-19 pandemic to healthcare, climate action and racial equity plans that will affect our generation for years to come, Biden prioritizes the issues that matter most to our staff and has the political experience to make beneficial decisions for all Americans. In an election that will drastically impact our future, now is the time to unite and vote for a presidential candidate who will lead the nation forward.
6 OCTOBER 2020
