Julius Spain

Criminal Justice / Public Safety JD will prioritize policies and planning initiatives to strengthen our public health infrastructure, expand access to healthcare services, and address the underlying social drivers of health. As your representative, he will advocate for increased mental health support and substance use education across county agencies, particularly in our schools. Education Arlington County contributes 48.6 percent of our revenue to our public schools. As the proud parent of three Arlington Public School graduates, JD knows the importance of partnering with our School Board and other stakeholders to ensure our students, families, teachers, and staff have the resources and support they need to thrive academically and emotionally. Housing Prioritize affordable housing - Lower-income workers are the backbone of our local economy. Yet, they are severely burdened by Arlington housing costs. The County Board needs to work with the General Assembly to increase funding for affordable housing development and related programs (e.g., Moderate-Income Purchase Assistance Program (MIPAP)). Further, developers who ask to exceed the number of homes allowed under our land use policies should be required to include affordable housing in their project. Despite Arlington’s supports for residents facing housing insecurity, hundreds of residents are chronically homeless.4 We need to fully fund these supports and other actions needed to implement our newly adopted Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness so that no Arlington resident needs to resort to homelessness. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Investing in our public safety and behavioral health services workforce - From competitive wages and benefits, to recruitment, to building the pipeline, I am ready to work with employee organizations, unions, and employers to ensure adequate staffing for these critical roles. Economy Assisting businesses - Inflation and rising rents have put tremendous pressure on our local businesses. We need to give local businesses - including intentional support for small, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses - the tools they need to fairly compete and succeed, including by engaging with developers and removing unnecessary regulatory hurdles. Housing Drive down rent - Rent in Arlington is among the highest in the US. We need to build enough homes to keep up with demand, and work with the General Assembly to protect tenants, keep their rents stable, and support residents affected by new development. We also need to increase rental assistance for low-income households. Economy Arlington County is one of the wealthiest jurisdictions in the country. Yet, our community faces a range of economic challenges. We must promote economic security for all by creating well-paying jobs, supporting small businesses, providing adequate housing as a human right, and ensuring a fair and just tax system. Housing Make homeownership attainable - The dream of owning a home is increasingly unattainable, especially for young adults. We need to increase assistance for first-time homebuyers, push developers to build more family-friendly 3-bedroom homes, strengthen fair housing law enforcement, and further incentivize affordable housing developers to build sustainable, accessible starter homes. Environment / Energy Pivoting towards more renewable energy sources and integrating leading sustainability measures into building code, and ensuring that new buildings follow them. Education Effective interventions to support inclusive learning environments - We must address escalating concerns over students’ mental health and physical safety by addressing the underlying problems they may be struggling with. Economy Empowering workers - The past few years have seen an inspiring surge in the power of organized labor. Arlington County Board needs to collaborate with public employee unions to provide competitive pay and benefits, and we must support fair labor practices. We also must pass measures to increase employer accountability and end wage theft. Education Enhance key programs for student health - Arlington’s children need safe places to study, play, and cultivate their skills together. To foster a healthier and more inclusive Arlington, I will expand our county’s park system recreational offerings, after school offerings, and job opportunities which build confidence and community. Economy Providing crisis support - When residents lose their jobs or face eviction, they often do not know where to turn and how to find help. We need to develop a program to identify these residents, reach out to them, and connect them with county resources and other means of assistance. I also support consolidating and streamlining access to Arlington’s many crisis support services so individuals who need them can find them seamlessly. Healthcare Improving mental health services - I will increase investment in community mental health services in collaboration with local associations, schools, faith-based communities, healthcare organizations, and nonprofits. I am also committed to making it easier for people - including youth - to understand and access Arlington's mental health and substance abuse recovery services. Environment / Energy Encouraging equitable, native tree planting, analyzing environmental impacts of all projects and policies, and adequately funding the Parks & Recreation Department so Arlington's beautiful natural spaces can be maintained. Education Strengthen County and School Board collaboration - The County Board cannot lead Arlington effectively without working with the School Board to lift up our schools, our youth, our families, and teachers, and staff. I vow to strengthen collaboration across our governing bodies on all issues that touch education to find the best solutions for students. Environment / Energy Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and we must take bold and decisive action to address this threat. JD is dedicated to implementing policies that reduce carbon emissions, protect natural resources, and promote sustainable development. Economy Promoting innovation - With the rise of virtual work, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning, the workforce of the future is evolving in ways that Arlington must prepare for today. Arlington’s well educated workforce coupled with its high concentration of technology firms and research-focused higher education institutions make it an ideal county to foster innovation. Identifying incentives to encourage startups, create incubators, and reduce office vacancy rates is a must for attracting companies and stabilizing our tax revenue. Maintaining an impressive K-12 education system and providing ample affordable, high quality housing will also be key for preparing Arlington for a sound economic future. Housing Arlington should be a place of opportunity where people from all walks of life can call home. But our housing market is in crisis. JD believes Arlington can be innovative in finding solutions while recognizing the need to do right by our longtime residents and homeowners; this means listening to everyone’s concerns and collaborating to find common ground. Infrastructure / Transportation Enhancing pedestrian and bike safety - Arlington should be a safe and enjoyable community to move around in. I fully support policies that aim to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries, so I will uphold and provide long-term funding for Arlington’s Vision Zero strategy. Safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists must be a key consideration for new or renovated development and transit options. Environment / Energy Expediting the county’s goal of fully electrifying its fleet by 2050 and exploring opportunities to decarbonize beyond vehicles (e.g., building power emissions).