What actions would you take as a state legislator to protect and strengthen Washington’s food security safety net, including both public nutrition programs and the food banks and food pantries serving communities across the state?

It’s not dramatic to say that the threats we are facing to SNAP programs in Washington are threats to the lives of our residents. Local organizations are an integral part of our safety net, with a unique understanding of their communities and members. I strongly believe in the value of organizations like the newly formed North Seattle Food Connection (previously, the two separate organizations: North Helpline and Hunger Intervention Program) and Akin. I vote according to their value, regularly looking to increase their funding, purview, and ability to impact the lives of our residents positively. But, unfortunately, this is not enough. Relying on SNAP benefits is just as dangerous as relying on private corporations to supply affordable food to WA residents. That is exactly why I introduced HB 2313 for the creation of public grocery stores. The grocery industry has some of the most narrow margins in the retail industry which makes it difficult to provide affordable food. Private businesses are inherently set up to make a profit and the current market is not set up to make this an easy proposition. This is exactly why we should consider a public grocery model for Washington where local governments are able to better control the price of goods and can open in underserved communities.

What have you done to understand food insecurity in the communities you seek to represent—including engaging with people experiencing hunger or local hunger-relief organizations—and what policies would you prioritize to address the root causes of hunger and ensure Washington residents can afford and access the food they need?

Food insecurity, while always deeply prevalent in my district, has recently experienced a major setback. We lost our major grocery store, leaving many families across my district without easy access to fresh, healthy food. To fully immerse myself in this issue, I host a once a month community round table on commercial grocery access. Additionally I hear regularly from constituents about the impact of losing our grocery store. It is easily the most common concern we’ve heard in the last year. Thus, I consider it my duty to be at the forefront of efforts fighting food insecurity. Besides my advocacy for the aforementioned public grocery stores, I introduced two other bills to ensure that grocery stores enter underserved communities and stay there. The first, HB 2294, placed a ban on restrictive covenants. This prohibits grocery stores and pharmacies from placing non-competitive clauses in their lease that prevent other grocery stores and pharmacies from replacing them. I was incredibly proud to see this landmark legislation pass, helping us become the first state in the country to pass this law. Additionally, I authored HB 2297 to create tax incentives for grocery stores that enter into underserved communities suffering from food deserts.

What policies or investments would you support to strengthen Washington’s food system, increase access to locally produced food, support Washington farmers and producers, and reduce food waste?

My ultimate goal for sustainable food systems is to create a system that does not force people to choose between the affordable, convenient option and the more sustainable one. In pursuit of that goal, I was a secondary sponsor of HB 2238 which directed the WA State Department of Agriculture to develop a more coordinated statewide strategy to address food insecurity. This would ensure a more comprehensive and complete view of the state and its residents. It aims to strengthen data collection across the state; promote collaboration with other agencies, tribes, and non-profits; require the assessment of our food system to determine its health and barriers currently harming food access; and align efforts with support for local farmers. This bill, now signed into law, was an important step toward creating a reliable, environmentally friendly food system that both uplifts our local farmers and helps all our residents. Looking forward, I will continue to support legislation that does the same.