THE PLATFORM
COST OF LIVING & TAX RELIEF
The Problem
California’s cost of living is among the highest in the country. The state’s cost-of-living index exceeds 140, meaning everyday life here costs more than 40% above the national average. Families are squeezed by high childcare costs, rising energy bills, layered gas taxes, and a tax system that often punishes freelancers and middle-class workers.
In Los Angeles, nearly 1.5 million residents participate in the gig economy. At the same time, families spend over $13,000 per year on childcare, and drivers pay roughly $1.44 per gallon in layered fuel taxes.
Sources: World Population Review – Cost of Living Index | Pew Research – Gig Economy Data | Tax Foundation – Gas Tax Data
My Solutions
My Commitment
I have signed a pledge to vote NO on any bill that raises federal taxes — period.
The Big Structural Reforms I Support
Abolish the IRS and move toward a simpler, flatter system that can’t be weaponized.
Abolish the Federal Reserve and end unelected control over the dollar that drives inflation.
Repeal the 16th Amendment so income taxation stops being the default tool for government growth.
Tax Relief for Everyone
Cut federal taxes across the board so working people keep more of every paycheck.
Expand the standard deduction so every taxpayer gets immediate relief without complicated paperwork.
Lower payroll tax pressure for working families (the tax that hits every paycheck, every week).
Simplify the tax code so it stops punishing marriage, work, and entrepreneurship.
Family Tax Credits and Pro-Family Incentives
Expand the Child Tax Credit so raising kids is more affordable.
Increase childcare tax relief so parents can work without getting crushed by daycare costs.
Create a Family Formation & Stability incentive (pro-marriage / pro-parent household policy design) to reward responsibility and long-term stability.
Small Business + Gig Worker Relief
Raise the self-employment tax threshold so side hustles and small earners aren’t punished.
Expand deductions for home office, tools, equipment, mileage, and work expenses for freelancers and contractors.
Make it easier for small businesses to expense equipment faster (accelerated depreciation) so they can grow.
Reduce compliance burdens so small businesses spend time serving customers, not filling out forms.
Hiring & Opportunity Incentives
Create a Student / Recent Grad Hiring Tax Credit so businesses are rewarded for giving young workers their first real shot.
Expand incentives for apprenticeships, trades, and on-the-job training, not just degrees.
Deregulation and “Hidden Cost” Rollbacks
Cut federal red tape that drives up prices in:
housing approvals
energy production
small business compliance
healthcare and insurance administration
Identify and repeal federal rules that function like hidden taxes (fees, compliance costs, mandates that get passed to consumers).
How These Solutions Address the Problem
These reforms are about letting people keep more of what they earn and shrinking a federal system that’s grown too expensive and too intrusive. Cutting taxes across the board, expanding the Child Tax Credit, and easing payroll and self-employment burdens puts real money back into family budgets. Reducing red tape and compliance costs helps small businesses hire, grow, and compete. And pursuing larger structural reforms — like simplifying the tax code, abolishing the IRS, and rethinking the Federal Reserve’s role — sends a clear message that government should serve working Americans, not drain them. The goal is simple: lower costs, bigger paychecks, and more economic freedom for everyone.
ENERGY & GAS COST REFORM
The Problem
California residents pay approximately 67% more for electricity than the national average. Climate surcharges, regulatory mandates, and layered taxes contribute to rising monthly bills. Since 2020, energy costs have increased significantly.
At the pump, California drivers pay federal tax, state excise tax, and sales tax layered on top — effectively a “tax on a tax.”
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) | Tax Foundation – Gas Taxes
My Solutions
Suspend the federal gas tax during inflationary periods.
Prohibit sales tax applied on top of excise taxes.
Require full tax breakdown disclosure at the pump.
Expand domestic energy production (natural gas, nuclear).
Repeal federal regulations that artificially inflate utility costs.
Pass a Utility Transparency Act to disclose climate-related surcharges.
Eliminate crony green subsidies that shift costs onto working families.
Provide federal tax deductions for household energy bills.
How These Solutions Address the Problem
These reforms are about lowering your bills in real, practical ways. Suspending the federal gas tax during inflation and ending the “tax on a tax” at the pump immediately reduces what drivers pay. Requiring full transparency on utility bills and at gas stations lets people see exactly where their money is going. Expanding domestic energy production and rolling back costly federal mandates helps bring supply up and prices down. And giving families tax deductions for energy bills provides direct relief. The goal is simple: lower monthly costs and stop punishing working families every time they flip a light switch or fill up their tank.
PUBLIC SAFETY & LAW ENFORCEMENT
The Problem
Los Angeles has struggled with organized retail theft, repeat offenders, and fentanyl-related overdose deaths. Statewide efforts have resulted in thousands of arrests, yet recidivism remains a major concern. Retailers nationally report increased shoplifting incidents year over year.
Fentanyl remains a leading cause of accidental overdose deaths in Los Angeles County.
Sources: LA County Public Health – Fentanyl Report | California Organized Retail Theft Task Force Reports | California DOJ News Release – Organized Retail Crime Enforcement Results
My Solutions
End the Revolving Door
Tie federal criminal justice grants to states that eliminate cashless bail for violent and repeat offenders.
Condition federal funding on mandatory tracking and public reporting of repeat offender outcomes.
Incentivize states to restore felony classifications for serious theft, assault, and drug offenses that were downgraded to misdemeanors.
Establish enhanced federal penalties for repeat violent and organized offenders.
Expand federal prosecution when states fail to pursue habitual offenders.
Zero Tolerance for Organized Crime
Expand federal task forces targeting multi-state retail theft and burglary rings.
Increase federal penalties for coordinated theft networks and organized property crime.
Allow federal prosecution thresholds to override weak local charging decisions in organized crime cases.
Zero Tolerance for Fentanyl & Drug Trafficking
Implement mandatory minimum federal sentences for fentanyl trafficking.
Establish enhanced penalties for repeat traffickers.
Treat cartel-linked trafficking operations as organized criminal enterprises under federal law.
Increase border interdiction funding specifically for synthetic opioid seizures.
Federal Broken Windows Enforcement Model
Tie federal funding to measurable reductions in repeat property crime.
Incentivize enforcement against chronic low-level offenses that escalate into serious crime.
Expand federal support for data-driven policing and repeat-offender prosecution.
How These Solutions Address the Problem
These reforms restore consequences and end the cycle of catch-and-release justice. By tying federal funding to real bail reform and repeat-offender tracking, we stop the revolving door that puts the same criminals back on the street. Expanding federal prosecution and increasing penalties ensures organized theft rings and habitual offenders face serious consequences when states fail to act. Zero tolerance for fentanyl trafficking targets the cartels and repeat dealers driving overdose deaths, while stronger border enforcement disrupts supply at the source. The goal is simple: real accountability, safer neighborhoods, and a justice system that protects law-abiding families instead of repeat criminals.
STUDENTS & YOUNG WORKERS
The Problem
Young Americans are entering adulthood burdened by debt and facing a volatile job market. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reports average student loan debt in California exceeds $38,000 per borrower, with total statewide debt above $150 billion. Youth unemployment nationally hovers around 10–11%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Artificial intelligence is accelerating workplace disruption, particularly in entry-level and creative industries.
Sources: Federal Reserve Bank of New York – Student Debt | Bureau of Labor Statistics – Youth Employment
My Solutions
Cap federal student loan interest at 1–2%.
End compounding interest by applying payments directly to principal.
Create a Service-for-Credit tax program for teaching, healthcare, and public safety.
Implement stay-in-community tax incentives for local graduates.
Require colleges to publish debt-to-income ROI by major.
Ban unnecessary degree requirements for federal jobs.
Expand Pell Grants for trades and apprenticeships.
Raise self-employment tax thresholds for young gig workers.
How These Solutions Address the Problem
These reforms are about giving young Americans a real shot. Capping student loan interest and ending compounding means people actually pay down their debt instead of being stuck in it forever. A Service-for-Credit program rewards graduates who serve their communities, while requiring colleges to publish real ROI data holds schools accountable. Expanding Pell Grants for trades and cutting unnecessary degree requirements opens more practical career paths. And raising self-employment tax thresholds gives young workers flexibility in a changing, AI-driven economy. It’s about lowering debt, expanding opportunity, and restoring fairness.
HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS REFORM
The Problem
Los Angeles has spent billions addressing homelessness, yet audits from the Los Angeles City Controller and LAHSA reveal major accountability failures in tracking funds. Despite record spending, housing affordability continues to decline.
Sources: LA City Controller Audit | LAHSA Annual Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count | LAHSA Data & Reports Page
My Solutions
Housing Reform & Accountability
Streamline federal HUD approvals to eliminate bureaucratic delays that slow private development.
Tie certain federal housing funds to measurable local zoning and permitting reform — rewarding cities that reduce red tape.
Conduct federal audits of homelessness spending to ensure taxpayer accountability.
Make surplus federal, state, and local land available for public-private partnerships, not government-run housing.
Oppose federal rent control mandates that discourage private construction.
Incentivize cities to accelerate permitting timelines and reduce construction-related regulatory burdens.
Anti-Corruption & Oversight Measures
Require independent third-party forensic audits of all federally funded homelessness programs in high-risk jurisdictions like Los Angeles.
Mandate public transparency dashboards showing where homelessness funds are going, including contractor payments and project timelines.
Condition continued federal funding on measurable reductions in unsheltered homelessness — not just dollars spent.
Prohibit federal funds from flowing to agencies that fail performance benchmarks or repeatedly fail audits.
Require full competitive bidding transparency for housing and shelter contracts receiving federal dollars.
Claw back funds if audits reveal fraud, waste, or failure to deliver contracted results.
Strengthen federal whistleblower protections for individuals reporting misuse of housing or homelessness funds.
How These Solutions Address the Problem
We’ve spent billions on homelessness in Los Angeles, and yet affordability keeps getting worse. Audits have revealed serious accountability failures — taxpayers deserve results, not more bureaucracy. My plan doesn’t expand government-run housing. It cuts red tape, audits where the money is actually going, and makes it easier for the private sector to build. That means streamlining federal approvals, tying funding to real zoning reform, and opening surplus land for public-private partnerships. It’s about accountability, unleashing private development, and increasing supply so costs can finally come down.