A healthy climate ensures the longevity of San Luis Obispo’s natural beauty, the vitality of our agricultural resources, and the wellbeing of our friends and neighbors. By taking bold action to establish SLO as a climate and sustainability leader, we can make the city’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2035 a reality and build a greener future for generations to come.

Through proactive and thoughtful efforts, we’ve fortified the city’s fire and emergency preparedness and response services; invested in energy-efficient equipment and infrastructure, including fleet services and multi-modal transportation options; passed ordinances in support of the Clean Energy for New Buildings program; unveiled the North Chorro Neighborhood Greenway and the Railroad Safety Trail; preserved and expanded open space for recreational use and public access; and adapted to shifting priorities related to the Diablo Canyon Power Plant while continuing to advocate for Indigenous land rights and the long-term safety of the region.

SLO’s reputation as a sustainable travel destination and climate-friendly place to live helps the local economy thrive, allowing us to continue to protect and preserve the city’s land and water and enjoy life in the city we love.

The relationship between city government and local business is symbiotic: one cannot exist fully without the other. We depend on the creativity and industry-specific acumen of entrepreneurs and business owners in San Luis Obispo to attract investors, clients, and customers—increasing visibility and strengthening our economy. In turn, the city is dedicated to providing grants and funding for programs that directly support small businesses and addressing the issues unique to the SLO business community.

Projects that contribute to the city’s economic development and vitality include offering cultural grants-in-aid and DEI grants to businesses; working to pay down the unfunded pension liability; introducing programs like the holiday “Buy Local” bonus; expanding funding for daycare operations; ensuring roads and sidewalks are accessible and safe for drivers, riders, and pedestrians; and improving communications between the city and business owners about issues like parking and transportation, upcoming capital projects, and grant opportunities.

When our economy is thriving, we have the ability to focus on how we can better support one another and live happier and more fulfilling lives. 

Being treated with dignity is something that shouldn’t depend on whether you have a permanent address; it’s simply the way we express our humanity to one another. Those currently experiencing homelessness in the City of San Luis Obispo are no less deserving of the respect and care that we would give our own friends and neighbors—homelessness is not an individual failing, but rather, it is a societal issue we must work together to manage.

Erica is proud of the work SLO has done in recent years to address its response to homelessness. From welcoming a homelessness response manager and introducing the mobile crisis unit trained in deescalation techniques to providing safe overnight parking, refining communication and outreach efforts, and partnering with local nonprofits to provide access to resources, the city has taken its commitment to serving the unhoused population seriously. 

Work in this area continues; advocating for regional support for medical and healthcare services, exploring child care and senior assistance, funding transitional housing, and working with the County of San Luis Obispo on best practices.

Serving the city she’s called home for more than 30 years is one of the most rewarding experiences of Erica’s life. When programs are launched, community members may only see the end result—not the months (or years) of hard work by city staff to obtain funding, plan, and execute the program successfully. It’s that behind-the-scenes work by so many people that fuels our city government. 

Advocating on your behalf at the regional and statewide level enables the City of SLO to achieve its goals, which is why it is such an important priority to Erica. Building relationships with our counterparts in the State Assembly, Senate, and Governor’s Office, Erica voices our legislative and funding needs for everything from transportation to housing and healthcare.

Using her voice to speak up for the issues that matter to the people of SLO ensures our city has the resources and operational capacity to flourish for years to come.

Access to safe and affordable housing is paramount to our city’s success and longevity. If people cannot afford to live in SLO, business and economic growth will stagnate, resulting in fewer opportunities to take meaningful action toward all other major city goals. Pricing out the next generation is not a sustainable model—and reactionary plans do not adequately address the urgency of the situation. Which is why it has been Erica’s priority to take the need for “affordable housing” one step further: we need to be a proactive pro-housing city with a focus on increasing access to safe housing for renters, buyers, and those currently experiencing homelessness.  

This year, we designated a separate Major City Goal to delineate between the city’s work to provide healthy, safe, and livable housing and to build a more robust homelessness response program. And we’ve already made significant progress in this area: soliciting public input about a potential rental registry; holding Cal Poly accountable to their plan for more housing on campus; promoting renters’ rights; creating policies to increase housing for low-income and missing middle or workforce housing; and ushering in new affordable housing projects managed by area organizations, resulting in hundreds of new units available for rent or purchase.

It’s motivating to see how access to affordable housing not only improves the lives of individuals, but the entire community.

Cal Poly brings its Learn by Doing motto to life for bright students from California and beyond through hands-on learning, collaboration with local experts, and immersive experiences. It is a space for students to grow academically, socially, and professionally. As an alumna and current lecturer in the university’s communications department, Erica has seen the benefits of a Cal Poly education firsthand. But any college town must balance supporting students with ensuring surrounding neighborhoods are safe, affordable, and pleasant places to live. As Mayor of San Luis Obispo, it’s incumbent that Erica work to bridge the divide between the university and the city through open dialogue with students, staff, and neighbors; ongoing program and partnership maintenance; and measures to ensure accountability when needed.

We’ve made incredible strides to improve the relationship between Cal Poly and the City of SLO and are seeing results—from economic development and increased faculty and student housing on campus to the implementation of safety enhancement zones and a safer St. Patrick's Day alternative for Mustangs. 

The more we can strengthen the bond between the university and the city, the more our region can flourish as home to an unparalleled academic experience. The work is ongoing, but with positive perspectives from leaders at the university, government, and community organization level, we can continue to see results.