Ixya Vega, 3rd Ward
ixya4morgantown@gmail.com
Q1. There have been proposals put forward to create a Civilian Review Board for the Morgantown City Police. Please share your thoughts on this ordinance, or a civilian police review board in Morgantown.
I believe that people who hold power and authority should be held accountable and mst be heard from the public, similar to council members. The Civilian Review Board is not made to punish police officers, it’s made to hold them accountable. I don’t think it’s safe to expect people in authority to just “see-something say-something”. It’s practices like that, that lead to harm particularly to low income, BIPOC, and young communities. To ensure the safety of ALL people in Morgantown we need to make sure that all people are protected, and that there are measures in place to protect everyone.
Q2. In the past year, the city has been engaged in conversations about housing insecurity and houselessness, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. How would you like to see the city address houselessness in Morgantown?
Although there have been efforts to to address housing insecurity, the work must and will continue. I think that it’s really important that we talk to people who have and are currently experiencing houselessness to better understand their needs. We also need to think of ways to make housing more accessible to people. I support making planning and zoning ordinances that support affordable housing projects like inclusionary zoning.
Q3. People experiencing houselessness sometimes set up encampments on personal or public property. These can provide a community and stability but have also created concerns about safety and sanitation. How do you think Morgantown should approach encampments like these?
People who are experiencing houselessness are not criminals and they have the right to have somewhere to sleep and to personal belongings. With that being said we need to stop criminalizing houselessness in Morgantown and end ordinances that ban encampments. Folks who are experiencing houselessness need support and they are members of our community and we can work together to protect them like the rest of our community. Together we can make change.
Q4. The Center for Disease Control advocates for needs-based syringe programs (providing access to the number of syringes needed “to ensure that a new, sterile syringe is available for each injection” with no restrictions including returning used syringes) as the best practice to reduce new HIV and viral hepatitis infections. These evidence-based programs that follow suggested best practices have been controversial in West Virginia and under attack at both the state and local level. If elected to city council how would you view syringe distribution programs?
I think this program is a necessity and I support this program. I’ve first hand seen how groups in West Virginia like SOAR (Solutions Oriented Addiction REsponse) have positively impacted folks. I think making sure that a large group of constituents are healthy is a priority. By providing these services, SOAR has been able to save 733 lives in the last year! We should want every person in out community to have a chance and to be saved.
Q5. In 2017, Morgantown passed a Non-Discrimination Ordinance to include protections “against discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations on account of actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, familial status, or veteran status.” Do you support that NDO. Why or why not?
Yes. 100% yes. I think that this provides protection for all people in Morgantown. We want people who live here to stay here. We often see a large number of students leave Morgantown after graduation and leave West Virginia in general and to keep people here we have to take every possible measure to keep them safe.
Q6. In 2020, the Morgantown City Council passed a cannabis decriminalization ordinance, lowering the misdemeanor crime of possession of less than 15 grams in city limits to a $15 fine and no jail time. What are your views on cannabis and decriminalization of drugs for personal use?
While I think this a great step, I want to see no fine and the full decriminalization of cannabis. This would open the door to more local cannabis based business in Morgantown.
Q7. This year, a resolution was passed in support of the Crown Act and council members have spoken about their commitment to put this into law in the form of a municipal ordinance. Will you support this effort to prevent discrimination on the basis of traits commonly associated with race like hair texture and protective hair styles? Why or why not?
Of course. While I have personally not experienced hair discrimination, I have heard the stories of many BIPOC folks experiencing hair descimientation. Hair to many people is their story. Not only that but hair holds a history, culture, memories so many things that are irreplaceable in life.
Q8. Many WV municipalities have passed ordinances allowing cities to force abatement measures on ‘nuisance properties’ where there are multiple instances of suspected crimes. Proponents say this can help crack down on drug activity and predatory landlords. Opponents say this can create due process concerns and discourage calls to the police when help is needed. What is your opinion of these ‘drug house’ ordinances?
From what I understand of the ‘nuisance properties’ in Morgantown, is that after a certain number of calls to the police, that property is now considered a ‘nuisance property’. While some folks argue that it will keep the community safe, it puts many other people in danger. People who are living in abusive households for example would be in danger of losing their homes after calling the police for help. This also disproportionately impacts communities of color, low income houses, and a vast majority of women and LGBTQ+ folks.