Emily Alvarado

Civil Rights

We need to make voting accessible and ensure a fair and non-discriminatory election system. I support efforts to strengthen the Washington Voting Rights Act, including enforcement mechanisms that ensure communities of color are able to elect candidates of choice and support increasing language access for immigrant and refugee voters. Learn more

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

We all deserve to be safe from violence. I support investments in partnerships with mental health crisis responders and social workers, and other interventions that connect people in crisis with the resources they need. Community-driven violence prevention and restorative justice programs, which reduce violence and incarceration, are essential. Learn more

Public safety begins with upstream, proactive community investment, that addresses the root causes of violence. As a legislator, I will prioritize investments that tackle poverty and expand opportunity for all. Learn more

Part of public safety is rebuilding trust through strong police accountability. We need to continue efforts to address racial bias and over-policing needs, expand police training, and listen to impacted communities. Learn more

Economy

To address the significant retirement waves and worker shortages facing sectors like nursing, teaching, and skilled trades, I support investment in creating a highly-skilled workforce, including apprenticeship pathways and job training programs, with equitable access for women and people of color. Learn more

I support strategies to create broader economic security, including savings and wealth generation options like baby bonds and Universal Basic Income. A person’s zip code should not determine their economic opportunity. We need investments in historically disinvested communities, so that everyone can participate in and benefit from a growing economy. Learn more

Small businesses and arts and culture make our communities vibrant. The 34th District is home to many cultural organizations–performing venues, art galleries, nonprofit programs. I support efforts to strengthen our creative economy and support affordable arts spaces. Learn more

Education

Our schools and colleges should be welcoming, safe, and engaging teaching and learning environments for all. I support devoting resources to culturally and linguistically appropriate curriculum to students and efforts to retain a more diverse workforce. Learn more

Support strategies to create broader economic security, including savings and wealth generation options like baby bonds and Universal Basic Income. A person’s zip code should not determine their economic opportunity. We need investments in historically disinvested communities, so that everyone can participate in and benefit from a growing economy. Learn more

Environment / Energy

I support efforts to transition to clean energy with jobs that include labor standards like prevailing wage, apprenticeship utilization, and priority hire for women- and minority-owned businesses. I support deep investments in grid improvements to increase renewable energy and continued transportation electrification, and acceleration of clean cars and changing networks. Learn more

Guns

I support stronger gun laws that remove guns from our communities– bans on assault style weapons, longer waiting periods, tougher background checks and stronger “extreme risk” laws. I also support sufficient funding for the Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention to make investments in community-based violence prevention programs. Learn more

Healthcare

I support solutions to increase community-based behavioral health services, including culturally appropriate care and policies and investments to recruit diverse, fairly compensated and trained providers. I will continue an emphasis on housing first investments that provide the stable foundation for people to get the behavioral health and substance abuse treatment they need. Learn more

We need high quality universal health care. I will support recommendations from the Washington Universal Healthcare Commission to advance health care for all and also support immediate steps to address health care costs and access. Learn more

Housing

I support giving tenants notice for significant rent increases, addressing unreasonable year over year rent increases and giving flexibility for local jurisdictions to improve standards to meet the unique needs of local communities. Learn more

As displacement continues to destabilize communities, particularly communities of color, I will support a new statewide grant program to finance housing, including preserving buildings, designed by and for impacted communities. Learn more

I support efforts to protect people from housing discrimintation, including formerly incarcerated people and their family members. Learn more

We must dramatically increase publicly financed housing that is affordable to low-income families, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities on a fixed income, not subject to market forces. I support more streamlined state investments in Permanent Supportive Housing–housing paired with critical health services– the proven, cost-effective solution to address chronic homelessness. Learn more

Infrastructure / Transportation

Building off the record investments made in Move Ahead Washington, I will continue to prioritize investments in transit service, bike and pedestrian improvements. The ferry system is a lifeline for Vashon-Maury Island; predictable, reliable, affordable service is essential. I will work to improve reliability and improve investments in ferry staffing. I support continued efforts to electrify our transportation system, ferry electrification investments. Learn more

I support policies to address carbon emissions from our building stock, like an aggressive timeline to reach carbon neutrality in publicly funded housing and other projects, new financing to retrofit existing housing with fossil fuel free heating, and cleaner cooling options for low-income families and fixed income seniors most harshly impacted by hotter summers. Learn more

Social Services

I support expanded assistance and capped costs for working families. Caregiver retention is good for children and families. We should increase direct, flexible, financial support for child care programs and ensure living wages, benefits and workplace safety for childcare workers. I also support investments to build and expand child care facilities, including in communities with limited access and in centers with culturally and linguistically appropriate services. Learn more

Taxes / Budget

I support progressive policies that build a more fair tax structure by asking the wealthiest and most profitable corporations to pay their share. Learn more

Wages / Job Benefits

I support efforts to expand good, family wage jobs and support the right of workers to organize and join a union. Learn more