About Martha
WHO I AM
MY VISION FOR DISTRICT 4
WHY I’M RUNNING
I am a registered nurse, immigrant, mom, and a District 4 resident who has spent my entire career caring for our community’s most vulnerable members. For years, I’ve worked on the front lines of our healthcare system, and have seen how the chronic disease that residents in District 4 suffer from, diabetes, heart disease, and asthma, are conditions that are not just medical problems, they are symptoms of a deeper systemic failure.
After advocating for the community regarding several housing and zoning issues, she realized the real reason her community was suffering. That every decision made at city hall had an impact on daily lives of residents. The lack of green space, quality air or fresh food markets. The underperforming school and lack of quality healthcare options or lack of investment in our infrastructure. The stem of all the issues was the voice at the table.
As a nurse, I learned early that you cannot heal a patient by only treating symptoms. It is vital that you address the underlying conditions. The same is true for our neighborhoods. District 4 does not need more band-aid solutions or empty promises. We need someone who understands how to diagnose root causes and implement comprehensive treatment plans.
I am running for City Council because the health crisis in District 4 is not a medical failure, it's a policy failure and ineffective leadership. And I hope to fix it.
WHY I’M RUNNING
MY VISION FOR DISTRICT 4
WHY I’M RUNNING
Everyday, as community member with a holistic perspective, I see the consequences of system inequality:
- The diabetic grandmother trying to manage her blood sugar in Lincoln Park where not a single grocery store meets standards for healthy, fresh food.
- The child with severe asthma because they live next to a freeway with no pollution buffers or green space.
- The family in Southcrest whose home flooded with five feet of water in January 2024 because the city hadn't maintained the storm drains for years despite community outcry.
- The child in Encanto whose neighborhood school is under-resourced and low performing, that families feel forced to wake up earlier and drive several miles each morning just to access the quality education that should be available in every community.
These are not isolated cases. They are patterns. And in medicine, when we see patterns, you look for the root cause.
The root cause in District 4 is systemic disinvestment. For decades, city policy has concentrated resources in wealthy neighborhoods while abandoning communities of color. The results are what public health professionals call social determinants of health, conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that shape their health outcomes. This all stems from not having an advocate at the table.
MY VISION FOR DISTRICT 4
MY VISION FOR DISTRICT 4
MY VISION FOR DISTRICT 4
I envision a District 4 where:
- Our children attend well-resourced schools that prepare them for success
- Every family has economic opportunity through good jobs and affordable living
- Healthcare facilities provide high quality, comprehensive care
- Neighborhoods have clean, safe parks, fresh food, and walkable neighborhoods
- Community members have real power over decisions that affect their lives, not symbolic input that gets ignored
This is not a utopian fantasy. It is a reality that already exists in other parts of our city. District 4 residents are worthy of the same. This won’t happen without your voice. I’m running to be your advocate. Someone who listens to your concerns, understands the root cause of our challenges, and works tirelessly to create policies that support thriving families and healthy communities.
WHAT I BRING TO CITY HALL
A Holistic Framework Based on Social Determinants of Health
Most politicians treat city issues in silos, housing over here, parks over there, healthcare somewhere else. But as a nurse, I understand that everything is connected. Your housing determines your access to quality schools. Your neighborhood determines your exposure to pollution. Your transportation options determine whether you can access healthcare and jobs. Your income determines whether you can afford healthy food.
As a nurse, I understand that a patient's health is shaped by their housing, nutrition, stress level, support system, and environment. When we address the social determinants of health through smart policy, we don’t just improve health outcomes, we strengthen our entire community:
- Bringing fresh food to underserved neighborhoods improves nutrition and creates jobs and economic activity
- Cleaning our air and investing in parks reduces asthma and increases property values and community pride
- Supporting quality education addresses literacy and builds our future workforce
- Strengthening healthcare quality keeps families healthy and reduces emergency costs for everyone
- Creating walkable, safe, streets promotes physical activity and brings neighbors together
This approach is grounded in evidence and public health best practices. The research is clear: when we improve social determinants of health, we improve everything. From educational outcomes to economic prosperity to community safety to individual wellbeing.
Commitment to Systemic Change, Not Incremental Reform
When you elect a nurse to City Council, you’re not just getting another politician who makes promises. You’re getting someone who:
- Sees policy as preventative medicine for community health
- Understands that healing requires treating root causes, not just symptoms
- Knows how to coordinate complex systems to achieve measurable outcomes
- Will advocate fiercely for the vulnerable and demand accountability from the powerful
- Brings professional expertise in diagnosing what's broken and implementing what works.
Deep Belief in Community Empowerment & Control
District 4 residents are the experts on their own lives. We don't need outside consultants to tell us what our neighborhoods need. Every policy I propose includes binding mechanisms for community control.
Professional Expertise in Diagnosing & Treating Complex Systems
As a registered nurse, I am trained to:
- Assess complex, interconnected systems
- Identify root cause rather than just treating symptoms
- Develop comprehensive treatment plans with specific, measurable outcomes
- Coordinate care across multiple providers and systems
- Advocate fiercely for vulnerable patients who cannot advocate for themselves
- Make life or death decisions under pressure with limited resources
- Hold others accountable for following evidence-based protocols
These are exactly the skills our City Council needs. Not people who protect the status quo, but someone who understands how to heal broken systems from the ground up.