With the combined strain of inflation plus migration of families to the Inland Empire, it is imperative that homes are affordable in Rialto. A family should not have an income beyond six figures to own a home. This effort must also include low-income housing options.
As the average family struggles with cost of living, undesirable wages, balancing multiple part time jobs, taking care of children as well as the home, another threat to mental health and overall well-being is safety. Kids should be able to attend school without fear of a campus shooting. Neighborhoods should experience block parties and celebrations instead of isolation and violence. Parks should be centerpiece of our communities with investment toward road improvements and traffic safety.
Collective care is needed from our city, council members, and the community to ensure small businesses thrive. Policies to support their continued growth, and accessibility to business resources, are priorities of this campaign.
The state of our mental health is in decline, impacting all generations, social classes, races, professions, and genders. By age fourteen, 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-34. All the more reason to focus on early intervention and support mental health in all of Rialto's communities, but especially those that struggle and continue to be underserved or ignored.