27 Apr Tracy Brown-May
Tracy Brown-May
Democrat
for
AD 42
Campaign Contact Phone:
Website: tracybrownmay.com
Facebook: Tracy Brown May for Assembly District 42
Twitter: @tracybrownmay
2022 Questionnaire
Please share briefly what inspired you to run for this office and why you feel you’re qualified for the position.
I have spent more than 20 years in disability support services and systems advocacy. I know, first-hand, that people can make a difference and I have a track record of success. I was appointed to fill this seat in 2021 and believe there is more work to be done. My professional experience advocating for some of our most vulnerable citizens has taught me that there is more to many issues than meets the eye. As a legislator, it is important to use my skills to ask questions, listen to all sides of an issue, and then consider common sense solutions.
Would you support allocating more state funds to help DACA recipients to help with higher education?
In principle, I believe our DACA recipients are an important part of our community, and they should be supported in whatever post-secondary activities they choose. Higher education and trades should be equally available. It is important we find appropriate funding to ensure the State continues to meet a balanced budget. As such, additional funding may be a barrier to overcome.
How will the state fight the growing issue of homelessness that is increasing in our communities and use funds to expand on shelters for these community members?
I have been working with many other leaders on this very issue. The data and evidence suggest the problem needs to be addressed before homelessness happens. According to a report I received last week, 900,000 people enter homelessness annually while that same amount exit homelessness. If we can help to stop homelessness from occurring, then we can begin to see declining numbers. That means we need to ensure access to affordable housing, provide assistance to households on the brink of homelessness, and help with the cost of living to maintain those homes. These initial strategies are expected to cost much less than if we wait for someone to lose their home. This is a very complicated issue and my response is simply the beginning. We also need to consider wrap around services to ensure families receive the supports necessary to maintain stable housing.
Nevada has historically protected the right to abortion, including protecting the right in statute 30 years ago by a vote of the people. However, there remain barriers to access in the state. Do you support not only the right to abortion but policies that improve equitable access to abortion care?
Yes. I do support the right to choose and improved access to medical supports.
The state of Nevada is facing an unprecedented shortage of health care providers – a problem that impacts every area of medicine, including the provision of sexual and reproductive care. Do you support removing the physician-only requirement and allowing advanced practice clinicians (APCs) to provide this vital care to patients with training and certification?
In principle, I believe expanding access to medical personnel is essential and we should support growing positions. I would like to learn more about this specific issue.
It is well documented that patients of color face greater obstacles to obtaining sexual and reproductive health care than non-Hispanic white Americans – a pattern that results in worse health outcomes overall for BIPOC patients. Do you not only acknowledge systemic racism’s role in public health disparities but will you pursue policies that seek to rectify the historical harm of systemic racism and advance equitable access to health care?
Yes. We also need to work on building trust withing these communities with practicing professionals and we need to grow the number of practitioners from each of these communities.
Knowing that the death penalty is exorbitantly expensive, racially discriminatory, and does not promote true healing for victims family members, do you support its abolition and do you think ending the death penalty is a crucial part of criminal justice reform?
I voted to abolish the death penalty.
True Colors United, a national organization that implements innovative solutions to youth homelessness that focus on the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ young people continues to rate Nevada as critically low, for its State Index on Youth Homelessness (in collaboration with the National Homelessness Law Center) that ranks and scores laws and policies related to preventing and addressing youth homelessness in the United States. Are you willing to support legislation that helps to fund and provide oversight regulations to youth homelessness services?
Yes.
Anti-transgender bills are being introduced across the United States that attempt to prevent trans people from having access to health care, gender reassignment surgery, and access to sports in schools. Do you support transgender equality and access to healthcare and an athletic school experience?
In principle, I support equality for all, including trans people. As a society we continue to look at fair and equity in sports. I would like to learn more about this specific topic.
We have seen rental rates increasing at a very alarming rate, in some instances upwards of 30%. How do you see the Nevada Legislature taking action to keep Nevadans in their homes and not being priced out?
I'm not sure. This is a current issue being considered from many sides.
Nevada has one of the largest shares of federal public land of any state in the country, providing important wildlife habitat, places to hunt, camp, fish and hike, and acting as the foundation of a billion dollar outdoor industry. Even so, some lawmakers have promoted policies that seek wholesale transfer of federal ownership of our national lands to states. A) Would you support or oppose these land transfer policies? B) Would should the State of Nevada’s role be in the management and ownership of federal land?
I am not familiar with the details of the proposed land transfer noted in this question. I am happy to learn more prior to forming an opinion.
State investments in conservation provide resources for a wide range of public benefit, like the management of wildlife and state land, and the creation and maintenance of trails and other recreational facilities. In 2019, the Legislature approved $217 million of bonding authority for conservation purposes, including for the acquisition of land for new state parks. A) Do you support or oppose state investment in conservation? B) Has Nevada’s investment in land conservation been too little, too much, or about right, and how would you change it?
I support the State's investment in conservation. Not having been involved in the details, I am not able to determine the adequacy of efforts to date. I am happy to learn more about this and look forward to hearing your opinions.
Would you support addressing public health disparities in Nevada’s diverse Spanish speaking population by funding a “Promotores de Salud” program through the Nevada Office of New Americans that provides year round, culturally competent education and community engagement in Spanish on public health issues?
Yes.
What are you doing to center communities of color and low-income communities in your work, and how do you ensure that equity is part of every decision you make?
Professionally, I helped to launch our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee to ensure we were holding ourselves accountable to equity. This is also reflected in my legislative work changing how we refer to people with disabilities in NRS. Low-income communities and people with disabilities are part of what I do every day. I am passionate about inclusion.
The APIA community faces the largest unmet financial needs when it comes to higher education. Nevada has the highest student loan default rate in the country. In Nevada, there are 333,100 student loan borrowers, $11.5 Billion in student loan debt, and $34,700 in average debt per borrower. What policies can we implement to ensure students and families are protected from predatory lenders and undue financial burdens?
I look forward to learning more about possible protections for students to ensure they are treated fairly in student lending. I also have student loans and currently have two children pursuing higher education degrees.
Latinx communities are extremely concerned about the drought and ongoing water shortages. What would you do to ensure our families have a sustainable water supply, not just now but also future generations?
Reclaiming water wherever possible is essential to sustainable water for generations to come. First, we must continue to identify wasteful water practices and work to eliminate them. SNWA has made a dedicated effort to educate Nevadans in my community about water conservation on a house by house basis. Continuing to engage our community is essential in creating awareness while identifying personal responsibility of conservation.
One out of seven people in Clark County are food insecure. What policies would you propose to ensure people are not residing in food deserts and have access to healthy food and water sources?
If I read this correctly, there are two separate issues here. Food insecurity and helping families to know where their next meal is coming from is a key issue many have worked on throughout the pandemic. My agency partnered with Delivering with Dignity to help people have adequate food supplies. Local churches and other non-profits also helped to address these needs.
The question is pointed to not having access to food in specific inner-city areas. I believe Food desserts need to be an intentional fix. We may be able to begin to address this through small business development in a targeted way to bring grocers and health food into areas needed. Creating community gardens is another way to bring healthy food into needed areas. This is not an area I have spent a lot of time working on to date. However, I am happy to learn more about this topic and possible solutions.