What does it take to run a county people are proud to call home? We sit down with Councilmember Lisa Rodvien to pull back the curtain on the choices behind stronger schools, safer neighborhoods, and a fairer tax system—choices that rarely make headlines, but change lives every day.

Lisa traces her journey from desegregated classrooms in Missouri to teaching during the Great Recession, where she watched talented educators leave as pay fell behind. That experience fueled a clear mission: stabilize the teacher workforce and invest in students, even if it means having an adult conversation about revenue. We share how early budget town halls led to a modest, progressive income tax structure—asking more of high earners while easing the burden for those with the least—and why that shift helped close vacancies, fund core services, and rebuild trust.

Housing and environment take center stage as we tackle a persistent false choice: protect the Bay or build homes. Lisa lays out a smarter path—preserving the county’s green heart while adding attainable housing near jobs and transit, and locking in affordability through inclusionary tools we wish had started sooner. We also dive into public safety reforms born after the murder of George Floyd: body-worn cameras, a stronger accountability framework, and a culture of constitutional policing. Alongside that, violence interruption teams in Eastport show how credible messengers and relentless, data-driven outreach can prevent shootings before they happen.

We close with practical climate moves, from electrifying county tools to expanding clean energy access, and the rising voice of youth calling for transit, bike routes, and safer sidewalks. If you care about how local government balances values with results—education funding, fair taxes, housing that fits, clean water, and safer streets—this conversation offers a candid roadmap. Subscribe, share with a friend, and tell us: what’s the one local change you want to see next?

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