DISTRICT 3 CANDIDATES

Candidate List in Ballot Order

Question 1: What environmental goals would you actively pursue as a member of the Arlington City Council?

DIANA SALEH

A key tenet of my policy platform is environmental responsibility, and I pledge to prioritize concerns for Arlington residents’ health and environmental impact when making decisions. Improving the quality of life for the Arlington community now and for the future necessitates smart environmental policies, so I will pursue pragmatic initiatives with that goal in mind. The top environmental policy I plan to pursue as a council member is to ensure any well sites approved are a sufficient distance from homes, schools, and businesses to eliminate the health threats and mitigate the environmental impacts.

NIKKIE HUNTER

No response.

Question 2: The DFW Region has been reclassified from moderate to serious nonattainment for ozone (ground-level smog). Please discuss your platform regarding improving Arlington’s and the region’s air quality and list specific policies and actions that you would work to implement.

DIANA SALEH

This issue is particularly important to me because lower income populations are disproportionately likely to be acutely affected, so working to improve air quality is part of the fight for health equity. Because vehicles are the largest contributor to the region’s poor air quality, they need to be the focus of interventions. I would be interesting in working with council members and stakeholders in the environmental, business, academic, governmental, and community sectors to pursue city policies that can incentivize the purchase and use of electric-powered vehicles, increase options for public transportation, decrease traffic congestions, expand green spaces, and other evidence-based methods of improving air quality.

NIKKIE HUNTER

No response.

Question 3: Do you believe climate change is occurring and is exacerbated by human activities? If so, what should Arlington be doing to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to lower our contributions to the pollution that can lead to climate change. Please elaborate.

DIANA SALEH

Yes, the preponderance of scientific evidence indicates that climate change is occurring and has been accelerated by human behavior. We need to not just focus on how to reduce our impact, but also how to support members of the community when climate-related disasters strike, as the recent freeze revealed. The City should focus on green construction of new or renovated properties, emission reduction, waste reduction, and other efforts under its control. I will work with interested and affected parties to investigate the most effective and pragmatic policies to achieve such outcomes.

NIKKIE HUNTER

No response.

Question 4: Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and 150 other U.S. cities have developed and are implementing environmental sustainability climate action plans. The primary goal of these plans is to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050, or before. Do you think that the City of Arlington should develop a comprehensive climate action plan?

DIANA SALEH

Yes, I do think Arlington should develop a climate action plan. I think the City has taken positive steps toward addressing climate change with initiatives like the Environmental Task Force, but a comprehensive plan that is publicly
available and has actionable objectives will hold the City more accountable and increase the effectiveness of our efforts.

NIKKI HUNTER

No response.

Question 5: Many peer-reviewed studies document public health and safety risks from living close to gas drilling. Arlington residents have become increasingly concerned about health impacts because of drilling and fracking-related pollution. How would you address this public health issue? Please elaborate.

DIANA SALEH

Ensuring safe proximities to well sites is my top environmental concern because it is an area in which the City has jurisdiction to prevent direct harm to members of the community. I will rely on the latest research and best practices when voting on the allowable distance new sites are allowed to be from human-occupied spaces to ensure Arlington residents’ safety is not at risk.

NIKKIE HUNTER

No response.

Question 6: Single-use plastic bags and extruded polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) litter our city and are especially prevalent in and near our waterways, including the Trinity River. Do you support the reduction of single-use disposable plastic bags and extruded polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)? Please elaborate.

DIANA SALEH

I support reducing waste from single-use, disposable plastics and Styrofoam. However, I want to ensure that reduction plans incentivize alternative options and do not disproportionately affect lower income individuals. I will happily consider initiatives to reduce the use of these materials as well as efforts to reduce litter and protect our water resources.

NIKKIE HUNTER

No response.

Question 7: Would you support an ordinance for a City-wide tree planting campaign to increase Arlington’s tree canopy? Trees would be planted on City and residential properties to mitigate the urban heat island effect.

DIANA SALEH

I am in favor of increasing Arlington’s green spaces, and I commit to exploring a City-wide tree planting campaign and evaluating any subsequent plan on its merits.

NIKKIE HUNTER

No response.