Doing the Work...

I learned a long time ago from the lessons of great civil rights, social justice, and labor leaders that came before us that the fight is always more than just the current injustices we face - in housing or food or water or education or healthcare or the criminal punishment system – it is always about the People.

My work has been focused on solution building, collaborating with local community leaders, nonprofits and organizations, labor leaders, and elected officials to affect real change in the systems and operations that have long held our communities on the fringes. 

As Board President & Vice-President (twice) and Chair & Vice-Chair of the affiliated West County Agency, I’ve led our team and community to accomplish real transformative successes:

• Better policies for access and equity in education, employment, housing, healthcare, public transportation for all - esp. People with disAbilities.

• Championing transparent governance, public access and direct involvement (e.g. seat at the table) in governance, planning and decision-making processes.

• Championing proactive legislation to protect frontline communities from pollution and other environmental degradative circumstances, especially from local refineries.

• Advocated for Environmental Justice program with District Attorney’s office to ensure accountability for polluters and regulatory policy violators.

• Advocate for equity-centered, values-based local & county budgets; provides budget training to community.

• Promoting legislation to drastically increase the fuel efficiency of automobiles and public transportation vehicles.

• Encouraging higher standards in emission reduction for public transportation vehicles, including helping AC Transit add more hydrogen fuel cell buses to its fleet in its transition to accessible zero emission buses (ZEB). AC transit has reduced its carbon footprint and is fast becoming a leader in improving air quality in the Bay Area. ACT's ZEB Program is one of the finest programs in the world positioning the agency to become a national leader in this effort towards 100% zero emission bus fleet by 2030.

• Directed affordable homes development including required CEQA clearances, and safe and accessible water & sanitation systems.

• Improved infrastructure that incentivizes homeowners and landlords to transition to affordable solar systems, uses renewable energy, and ‘green’ technology to build homes & buildings, and maintain our roads & highways, bridges & ports, parks and recreation centers.

• Promote a sustainable, low-carbon energy economy, including all forms of renewable energy and transportation infrastructure, with market-based carbon pricing such as cap & trade systems and carbon taxes.

• Supports public investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency, one which will create prevailing wage + benefits public works jobs in renewable energy sectors, like wind & solar & technology, while reducing carbon and other toxic emissions.

• Promotes energy conservation and efficiency in water & wastewater resourcing and recycling, construction & buildings, transportation, and infrastructure, including energy efficiency standards and land use policies that reduce vehicle miles travelled.

• Strongly advocating for community-led transitions from refineries & other extractive emission sources with an investment from the refineries (first) & public (govt) to re-train the workers for renewable energy jobs.

• Championed County Office of Racial Equity & Social Justice.

• Demanding Congress ratify the still pending International Climate Treaties.

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Director Sudduth has continually fought for fiscal prudence, fair contracts, wise spending of the Peoples’ money, balanced operating & capital budgets, and significantly reduced unfunded liabilities. Her leadership, on the Board and in the community, has repeatedly shown that smart stewardship of the environment is beneficial to both the public’s health, the health of the agency and the community. Working with her colleagues, her strong leadership and insistence in led to developing sound agency and board policies, implementing consistent procedures & systems, and mandating disciplined processes which resulted in the District reducing unnecessary expenses and waste, attaining highly favorable financial positioning, and excellent credit ratings, leading to annual savings of +$4M from better interest rates.