Talking with Redlands City Councilwoman Denise Davis on the pedestrian pathways downtown, it feels like the whole world stops by to say “hi.”
Near a rainbow crosswalk mural she chatted with a woman pushing a stroller for a few minutes. Across the street near City Hall others just waved or called out as they passed.
Making everyone feel like they can participate in the political process is one of the causes Davis is passionate about, and perhaps this was just an extension of that.
As the director of the Women’s Resource Center at UC Riverside she created the Persist Women’s Political Engagement Conference and a podcast with the same title.
As an elected official she counts as her biggest accomplishments the city’s plans for opening a homeless shelter, starting a student leadership academy at City Hall, decisions made as part of a COVID-19 subcommittee to help local businesses, and championing a utility bill assistance program and that inclusive art in the crosswalk.
She has introduced several first-ever proclamations for the city on topics such as Transgender Day of Remembrance, Pride Month and International Non-binary Day. She also introduced proclamations for Black History Month and Women’s History Month, and what was possibly the first-ever Sexual Assault Awareness proclamation.
As the city’s first openly LGBTQ councilmember she said she feels it’s her duty to bring these issues into the spotlight.
“I take that responsibility seriously and want to blaze an important trail for others to follow,” she said. “I want people to see this as a space that can and should be open to everyone.”
Davis grew up in Las Vegas, and came to Redlands in 2002 to attend the University of Redlands. She has spent her career working in higher education and in 2018 was elected to the council as her first and only run for political office.
“I’ve always known I want to have a job, or in this case two jobs, where I’m able to make a difference,” she said.
Kathy Feeley, a constituent of District 1 which Davis represents, said in an email that accomplishments such as transitional housing for the homeless and the bill assistance program are important as they “help to protect and support some of Redlands’ most vulnerable residents.”
As the council looked into options for homeless housing, Davis and Mayor Paul Barich conducted a lot of research, including touring the Pallet Shelter in Riverside.
If Redlands’ 99-bed motel conversion project stays on schedule it will open in August 2022.
“It will be a gamechanger for Redlands because it’s transitional housing, but it also offers onsite case management and wrap-around services, and we’ve never seen anything like it in the city,” Davis said.
In another way to help some of the most vulnerable residents in the community, Davis suggested the city institute a utility bill assistance program after the council agreed to raise wastewater rates in spring. Once it gets rolling the program that was approved in November can help more than 800 low-income residents save $120 a year.
Another program that came to fruition this year is the Youth Council leadership academy that meets monthly at City Hall. Davis created an application for the program in summer, and now leads a group of 30 students, from Redlands, Loma Linda and Banning schools.
The eight-month program teaches about civic engagement and local government, and offers guest speakers and a chance to work on group projects.
Davis said it’s not only great to let the students hear from city and community leaders, “but also hearing from them; they’ve been really helpful in advising me on policy on issues that are most pressing for them.”
Their three top issues, she said, are homelessness, mental health, and climate change and sustainability.
“Diversifying the dais” is something else she has talked a lot about with the students, many of whom are interested in running for office.
It’s about “making sure that they don’t feel, for one reason of another, like they can’t be there (in office),” she said, “because they absolutely can and should be there.”
Davis is looking to the future and is planning to run again in November 2022.
As a big advocate for the colorful crosswalk mural approved in July on Vine Street near City Hall, Davis said she was deeply moved by a parent of queer children who spoke at the meeting to say how “potentially life-saving” it is to have a welcoming safe space downtown.
The inclusive art hit the pavement in September.
Davis’ early support was crucial for the mural, Feeley said.
“These proclamations, murals, events,” Feeley added, “all send a message about the kind of community Redlands is and wants to be: inclusive, diverse, welcoming.”
