GIVING POWER BACK TO THE PEOPLE
Amber is a multi-decade resident, 41 years old, first-generation Japanese-American, lgbtqia+, 3-year homeowner, three-time city official, Director of a regional volunteer program, musician, gardener, and political organizer.
Amber has served 6 years in city government as chair of the Human Relations Commission, chair of the 220 N. Park Community Benefits Committee (CBA), and member of the Housing Affordability & Accessibility Committee. As a public servant Amber has proven effective at making meaningful change and speaking truth to power.
ADVOCACY HISTORY
As a member of the Human Relations Commission in 2017, Amber gave a 20-minute speech advocating against gentrification of the city by the city government. That speech was a key moment kicking off the tidal wave of community organizing that has scored countless victories in the last 6 years.
Amber has played crucial roles in passing the Community Benefits Ordinance and later chairing the negotiations for deep affordability in an upcoming development, creating What’s Left Ypsi and using it to expose ex-Mayor Bashert’s pattern of racist commission appointment, expanding the city’s non-discrimination ordinance for people with housing vouchers, moving the Michigan Democratic Party to officially endorse ending the ban on rent control in the state, and so much more.
