Safe and Healthy Families
I have spent eleven years advocating for families, and I won't stop when I get to Annapolis.
We need to make it easier to raise children, and to grow older, in Montgomery County. I support expanding access to childcare and improved family leave policies for new parents and those caring for sick and elderly relatives. I believe that expanding family planning services for low-income families will strengthen our community and make economic sense in the long term. I will advocate for the rights of domestic violence and other crime victims. I will also support marriage equality, because I believe everyone deserves equal rights.
Paid Family Leave
New Jersey, Washington State, and California have all established paid family leave programs to enable people to take time off to care for sick relatives and newborns. I believe we must work together to make it easier for businesses, especially small businesses, to offer this benefit to their employees.
To read Ariana's personal blog on work-life balance as a candidate, click here.
Aging in Place & Senior Villages
Senior citizens are an essential part of the diverse fabric of our community and our families. We must support seniors as they age with strong public transportation and access to medical services. Preserving housing choices, dignity and independence for seniors is priority for me.
The majority of Marylanders want to stay in their homes as they age. Here in District 16 we must work together to support our aging population. One way to do this is through establishing and supporting virtual senior villages. Capitol Village in Washington DC is a nationally recognized model. Establishing senior villages in Montgomery County would be a nearly revenue-neutral way to support our seniors as they age in place, and would also strengthen inter-generational relationships within our communities.
Supporting People with Disabilities
For the past several years, Delegate Bill Bronrott has introduced legislation that would fund programs for the developmentally disabled through a long-overdue increase in the alcohol tax. I am committed to carrying on this fight.
Eliminating BPA and Other Dangerous Environmental Toxins
Toxic chemicals in our environment are associated with an increase in a host of diseases and disorders, including ADHD, childhood cancers, fertility problems, Parkinsons, and even obesity. In Annapolis I will continue my work to reduce our exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment. I was proud to work on the successful BPA Bill in Maryland last session, but I believe we need to go further. As a public health measure, we should remove BPA from all food containers, including soda cans, and from receipt paper.
Marriage Equality
I have been a vocal advocate for the rights of lesbian and gay Marylanders for years, and I will continue to do so in Annapolis. I am proud to have been endorsed by our state's LGBT rights organization, Equality Maryland.
Women's Rights & Civil Rights
Discrimination still exists in the workplace, the legal system, in healthcare, and even in government. Just this month, the New York Times reported that some financial institutions have been discriminating against pregnant women seeking home loans. In Annapolis I will continue to work to protect and advance the rights of all, especially women and minorities.
To read Ariana's blog about being the only woman candidate running against 10 men in her primary, click here.
To read her blog on Women's Equality Day, click here.
To watch Ariana and her daughter Maeve advocating for equal pay for equal work for women and people of color, click here.
