Expensive associates and neighbors:
My title is Victoria Gu, and I’m working for state Senate right here in District 38, which covers Westerly and elements of Charlestown and South Kingstown. I’m working to push for considerate, evidence-based options to the challenges our communities face. Right here is an abbreviated model of a letter I despatched to voters explaining my story and priorities for our neighborhood.
I grew up in South Kingstown and reside on Quonochontaug Pond now, close to the Charlestown/Westerly border. After I was youthful, my dad entered many fishing competitions, typically bringing me and our golden retriever, Kelly, alongside. All over the place we went, Kelly and I liked clambering across the huge rocks and getting sprayed by the waves. We now have to do extra to guard the environment and increase public entry to the shoreline in Rhode Island as a result of it’s a shared useful resource for all — whether or not you’re swimming, fishing, or making a residing or a house right here.
My mother and father grew up in a small fishing and farming neighborhood off the coast of Shanghai. Training was the only stepping stone my mother and father had into the U.S. and into the center class, in order that they taught me to work arduous at each alternative I had. We quickly discovered that modifications in funding had ripple results at South Kingstown public colleges and throughout the state. Between 2005 and 2011 (my center and highschool years), academics in Rhode Island misplaced roughly half to three-quarters of their pension advantages. We stated goodbye to a few of our most skilled academics, who retired early in an effort to hold their advantages. I do know we will do higher. We should be sure that our public colleges are well-funded, appeal to nice academics and employees, and that each youngster within the state has entry to a high quality schooling.
After graduating South Kingstown Excessive Faculty, I used to be thrilled to be accepted to Harvard College. I needed a ability that was in demand, so I studied pc science and economics. My first job out of school was within the tech trade. It was fairly typical for me to be the one girl on my assigned group of 5 to 10 folks. My expertise in a closely male-dominated trade has motivated me to advocate for and empower ladies. I’m working as a pro-choice Democrat as a result of with every part that’s taking place with the Supreme Courtroom, we have to elect extra ladies who will battle for equality and shield our rights, together with our reproductive rights.
One mindset I took away from working in software program and knowledge evaluation is: at all times use knowledge to determine the next step. We’d typically say: “Hey, we expect medical doctors would profit from this transformation within the software,” after which we’d take a look at the info earlier than and after to see if we truly solved the issue we needed to resolve. I used to be shocked to seek out that different industries, in addition to many policymakers, aren’t as targeted on digging into the perfect proof out there to tell their choices. That’s why I wish to deliver an evidence-based standpoint to the state legislature. I might deal with utilizing proof to develop knowledgeable options and observe the info over time to watch success.
I labored in well being know-how through the day, however in my free time I targeted on advocacy and environmental coverage. I’m happy with the teams that I organized to shift authorities meals purchases in a number of key areas: honest labor practices, higher diet requirements, and environmental sustainability. In my advocacy work, I’ve discovered methods to flip concepts into payments, construct help, and transfer payments throughout the end line. I’m able to take that information to the State Home.
There’s no query that our coastal communities — together with Westerly, Charlestown, and South Kingstown — are susceptible to sea stage rise and storms intensified by local weather change. That’s why I joined the native Local weather Resiliency Fee and was honored to be named chairwoman. We want extra legislators which can be proactive and suppose longer-term concerning the investments we have to make by way of local weather motion, resiliency, public colleges, and affordability. That’s what pushed me to run for workplace.
Collectively, we will shield the environment and make it possible for folks with roots right here can afford to remain right here. I might like to be taught extra about what’s in your thoughts and your priorities for our neighborhood, and I might be honored to earn your vote within the Democratic main on Sept. 13. You possibly can attain me at 401-388-0696 or victoria4ri@gmail.com, and my web site is victoria4ri.com.
The author is a candidate for the thirty eighth District state Senate seat.
