If you live in District 8, you already know the streets need work.

Potholes, cracked sidewalks, broken lights, and aging infrastructure make it harder to get around and less safe for everyone. These are basic issues, but they’ve gone ignored for too long.

In the State Assembly, Ismael will fight for:

• More state funding for local road and sidewalk repairs.

• Fair shared revenue so Milwaukee gets its share.

• Infrastructure dollars that actually reach neighborhoods like ours.

• Safer street design for pedestrians, kids, and seniors.

• Sustainable funding to expand and restore public transportation services

Everyone deserves streets where they can walk, bike, and drive safely - period.

Ismael knows housing is essential. He has experienced housing instability himself, and now works to help others find permanent, affordable housing.

Ismael will:

• Expand affordable and subsidized housing options for families and seniors

• Create incentives for developers to build mixed-income housing

• Protect tenants from unjust evictions and predatory rents

• Support emergency and transitional housing programs for unhoused residents

Ismael believes healthcare is a right, not a privilege. He will work to:

• Expand BadgerCare eligibility so more families and individuals have coverage

• Support a Wisconsin-governed public option offering affordable and reliable coverage.

• Reduce prescription drug costs through negotiation and state programs

• Increase access to mental health care in schools, clinics, and community centers

• Support community-based preventive care to reduce hospital visits and improve outcomes

• Protect access to reproductive healthcare

Ismael will take a public health approach to substance use and addiction. His priorities include:

• Increase funding for drug treatment and recovery centers across Milwaukee County

• Expand prevention and education programs in schools and neighborhoods

• Support wraparound services, including housing, counseling, and job placement

• Reduce reliance on punitive approaches and focus on rehabilitation and community support

Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own neighborhood.

Public safety means more than just enforcement. It means investing in the things that actually prevent harm and strengthen communities. The current “tough on crime” approach is making the South Side less safe.

Ismael will:

• Address root causes of crime, including housing instability, addiction, and mental health needs

• Support community-based programs that prevent violence and provide alternatives to incarceration

• Ensure police focus on law enforcement, not social services that should be handled by trained professionals

• Invest in safe parks, lighting, and green spaces to improve neighborhood safety

• Pass gun safety legislation to prevent violence and deaths by suicide

Ismael will fight for fully funded schools, especially in Milwaukee Public Schools. Key priorities include:

• Ensure state funding covers the full cost of education without relying on local referendums

• Invest in smaller class sizes and more support staff for students and teachers

• Expand career training and after-school programs to prepare students for good jobs

• Provide resources for mental health, special education, and English language learning services in every school

Ismael will:

• Fight to keep ICE out of Milwaukee

• Expand access to in-state tuition and driver’s licenses for undocumented residents

• Support programs that help immigrant families access healthcare, housing, and social services

Strong communities need strong local businesses. Ismael will:

• Invest in small business grants and low-interest loans for South Side entrepreneurs

• Improve infrastructure, sidewalks, and lighting along business corridors like Mitchell Street

• Promote local hiring initiatives to create jobs for neighborhood residents

• Support community events and marketing campaigns to attract shoppers and visitors