Key issues

Everyone deserves the right to seek medical treatment with our fear of financial ruin. Millions in the working class can’t afford insurance or can only afford insurance with high deductibles and avoid seeking care unless they think it could be life-threatening. This should not be the case. Courtney will fight for people’s right to have sufficient healthcare coverage and that it will not be tied to one’s employment. The gig economy is making it impossible for people to obtain insurance because most employers only offer it to full-time employees.

Pharmaceutical companies are inflating medication costs and it’s become more unaffordable year after year. Basic living costs are increasing leaving many people having to choose between things like food or medication. This is unacceptable.

This also means access to reproductive health without restrictions to decide what we think is right for us as individuals. Not only should we protect the rights every woman should have, but we must also expand reproductive care and education.

Los Angeles has the largest population of individuals experiencing homelessness with approximately 582,000 people facing this challenge in 2022. The population continues to grow with inflating rent prices, limited affordable housing units, and stagnant wages for the working class. The federal government’s definition of affordable housing is 30% of an individual’s income, yet many low and fixed-income individuals have to allocate 60% of their income to secure a place to live leaving many in positions where they can’t afford healthcare or food let alone have enough to start a savings account. This disproportionally affects people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, United States military veterans, seniors on a fixed income, and those who are formerly incarcerated. Courtney is determined to address this humanitarian crisis by supporting a housing-first approach in policy change and increasing supportive services. Housing is a human right, helping those in need by providing secure housing for all is beneficial to create healthier and more resilient communities.

THE HOUSING-FIRST APPROACH

Housing-first prioritizes immediate placement in secure housing for individuals or families who are experiencing homelessness. Once individuals are housed, they will be provided with necessary support services such as mental health care, treatment for addiction, and job training. This is an effective approach to address this crisis and allow people to rebuild their lives.

Housing-first benefits communities as a whole by creating safer public spaces and alleviating taxpayer spending on emergency services such as healthcare and criminal justice interventions. By helping people create stability and well-being it will overall help local economies.

The current wait time for people to get approved for affordable housing can be several years long and people shouldn’t have to wait that long to find housing.

LEADING WITH COMPASSION

There is often a stereotype of those who experience homelessness, people have so many individual factors that don’t fit under an umbrella term. People who are disproportionately affected by this crisis include- people of color, indigenous people, seniors living on a fixed income, U.S. veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, families with children, and people experiencing mental health issues. We must acknowledge that everyone’s situation isn’t the same and that we need to provide services that can support each individual's needs.

RENT CONTROL

In addition to providing affordable housing for all, we need to create protections for all renters. These protections include having a just cause for eviction, the right to live in healthy living conditions, and insurance of non-discriminatory protections for minority tenants.

The soaring prices of rent outpace people’s wages in Los Angeles contributed to the increase in people losing security in stable living situations. By limiting the amount landlords can increase people’s rent each year, we can protect working-class renters from unaffordable spikes.

SUPPORT HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR THE WORKING CLASS

Homeownership is unattainable for many in our economy and there are people that haven’t recovered from the tremendous loss they endured during the Great Recession. To help the working class creating affordable housing programs that offer subsidies, grants, and low-interest loans would reduce upfront costs associated with homeownership. Other programs such as down payment assistance, first-time homebuyer programs, tax credits, and deductions are all examples of things the government can implement to help support housing for the middle class.

Courtney is determined that if federal, state, and city governments work together, we can help low-income and middle-class Americans toward their longtime goals of homeownership.

LGBTQ+ RIGHTS

LGBTQ+ individuals are facing discriminatory laws that are denying people their basic human rights in red states at a concerning rate. These laws foster a dangerous environment of exclusion and hate. LGBTQ+ individuals have been targeted by these laws and they are losing their right to gender-affirming care, banning trans students from participating in sports, and allowing businesses to deny their services. Courtney opposes all laws that discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community.

PROTECT LGBTQ+ YOUTH

It’s tremendously important that all young people grow up in a safe, supportive environment that affirms their identity. Kids that belong to the LGBTQ+ community already face discrimination, bullying, and rejection by peers which leads to higher rates of homelessness and mental health struggles.

Trans youth face being denied gender-affirming care, they deserve to receive necessary healthcare, not the barriers that cause unnecessary suffering. It’s concerning that laws are being made that go against medical ethics and human rights.

EQUALITY FOR ALL

Instead of fostering an even more hostile environment, we must take action by enacting anti-discrimination laws, gender-affirming and mental health services, and ensuring inclusive and safe school policies, affordable housing, and legal protections; everyone deserves basic human rights.

The Climate Crisis

This is an urgent global crisis that must be addressed. The threats of climate change have potentially catastrophic effects on weather events, ecosystems, and human civilization as a whole. We have already seen major weather events that are abnormal to the climate in states apart of the U.S. as well as events across the globe. This requires cooperation and legislation to ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations.

Climate Policies to Address Climate Change

Courtney wants to support a comprehensive climate policy that targets a reduction in emissions by transitioning to renewable energy sources. This would reduce greenhouse gases. We need to create more incentives

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS

Courtney will fight to end the oppression against women. This oppression is felt most by those who are marginalized by governments and society. Many often don’t have access to menstrual hygiene products, the rates at which trans women are facing violence continue to increase, immigrant women still face forced sterilization while in ICE custody, and new anti-abortion legislation that can impact people financially and medically.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Currently, there is an increase in legislation being introduced and passed limiting ciswomen and those who have female reproductive organs. Republicans have used the Supreme Court to attack a person's right to privacy taking away medical and human rights. Courtney believes that reproductive bodily autonomy is essential and should be an individual’s choice and not up to the government to decide- including birth control, access to accurate sexual education, and access to safe abortions. There needs to be open access to family planning services, legal and affordable abortion services, birth control, and affordable pre-and post-natal care for all people not just based on income or location. She does not support local, state, or federal cuts or restrictions on these necessary medical services.

WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION

Women experience unequal pay, lack of parental protection laws, and unfair labor practices the most out of the working class. Courtney strongly opposes the exploitation and discrimination of any person in the workplace and wants legislation passed that would provide equal pay, paid family leave, healthcare, paid vacation, and sick pay.

STRENGTHEN THE WORKING CLASS

There are a variety of reasons the wealth of the working class is challenging- including generational poverty, stagnant wages, income inequality, and job insecurity. The working class has a lack of access to education, access to financial services, retirement planning, and the rising cost of living expenses. By enacting new labor laws and providing education without having to take on extreme student loan debt we can create a better quality of life while also strengthening our economy.

EXPANDING WORKING-CLASS WEALTH

With a focus on building foundations to expand working-class growth, we must invest in funding public education for children regardless of their zip code. Additionally, providing affordable higher education will change people’s lives and increase wealth. Courtney believes in offering cost-free public higher education. This opportunity will help people take the first steps to earn degrees that a lot of people simply cannot afford in today's economy. Providing relief from some of the financial burdens to set people up for success to continue their education and go into careers that have higher pay.

Increasing the minimum wage will give the working class access to income that will take care of their families and get them on track to have a savings account, plan for retirement, and have an opportunity to get higher education. Courtney will fight to support the working class and not the 1%.

INCOME EQUALITY

Courtney supports labor equality across ALL genders. Hiring and pay inequality especially affects women, mothers in the workforce, people of color, indigenous women, workers with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. In an economy where many people in the middle class are already living paycheck to paycheck, it impacts minorities providing for their families the most. These discriminations need to end, people need equal pay for equal work. Not only would equal pay give people the ability to better provide for their families, but it would also boost our economy.

SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

When local business owners are supported by government financial assistance programs such as grants and low-interest loans it will strengthen the working class and promote economic resilience in communities. This assistance will provide the necessities to expand and create jobs. Investment in infrastructure, reliable public transportation, and being able to provide affordable commercial renting space would help local business's competitiveness. By investing in local businesses, we would be investing in more job opportunities to empower the well-being of the working class.