.png)
ZAK'S PRIORITIES FOR WARWICK
Healthcare Access
Timely access to quality healthcare shouldn't be a luxury. No one should have to spend months on a waiting list to see a doctor. Healthcare access is personal to Zak. His mother has stage 4 kidney disease, and when her long-time primary care physician switched to concierge medicine, she spent months calling medical offices across Rhode Island searching for a new doctor.
Zak will fight to raise Medicaid reimbursements for primary care so doctors living in Rhode Island want to work in Rhode Island. He will advocate to expand loan-repayment programs and increase money in funds like the WaveMaker Program so Rhode Islanders can grow our workforce of practicing doctors.
Senior Citizens
Every senior should have the opportunity to live safely, independently, and affordably in the home and community that are right for them. Zak will work to reduce tax on Social Security, and advocate for a refundable Senior Home Modification Tax Credit that would help older residents make their homes safer and more accessible through improvements such as wheelchair ramps, walk-in showers, stair lifts, and other aging-in-place renovations.
For those ready to begin a new chapter, Zak will fight to offer incentives to developers who build one-floor condos, townhomes, 55-plus communities, and mixed-income senior developments, creating more affordable and accessible places for seniors to call home. These investments will give seniors greater independence and the opportunity to remain connected to the communities they helped build.
Strong Public Schools
Every child deserves access to a high-quality public education, with pathways to success through college or career and technical education. Zak is a graduate of Rhode Island public schools and his mother is a recently retired public school teacher.
Warwick voters have made a major investments in our Warwick public schools by approving the replacement of Pilgrim and Toll Gate High Schools. Zak will work to make sure that investment is used responsibly and that taxpayer dollars support strong programming and opportunities for every student in our public schools.
Zak supports implementing the Blue Ribbon Commission's report and will keep Warwick taxpayer dollars in Warwick's neighborhood public schools and ensure that investment supports students in our community with pathways to good paying jobs through college, career and technical education, and apprenticeship opportunities.
Utility Costs
Utility bills continue to rise, and working families should be able to afford to pay their bills and build a future here in Warwick.
Zak will support expanding Rhode Island's blue economy energy production through wind and solar. He will support tax incentives for businesses that install solar canopies over parking lots and prioritize using parking lots, homes, and commercial buildings for solar rather than cutting down the trees that make our neighborhoods beautiful.
Public Safety
Warwick is one of the safest communities in the country, and Zak wants to keep it that way. Families should be able to safely enjoy the nature and places that make our community special, from Conimicut Point to Oakland Beach. Recent tragedies at Conimicut remind us there's more we can do to prevent emergencies and protect our neighbors.
Zak will support a statewide grant program to help communities like Warwick invest in firetrucks, rescue boats, thermal cameras, and other lifesaving equipment. He also supports stronger public education on rip currents and bay safety.
First Responders
When an emergency does happen, Warwick's police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders deserve the support they need to respond quickly and safely. Supporting our first responders means making sure they have the resources and equipment they need to keep our community one of the safest in the country.
Zak will work to recruit and retain the best first responders by supporting good pay and retirement benefits while ensuring departments have the resources they need to protect our community. Supporting the people who keep our community one of the safest in the country is one of the best investments we can make in Warwick's future.
Veterans' Opportunity
Zak has the honor of working with military veterans at the University of Rhode Island, helping them receive college credit for the skills and experience they earned while serving our country. Giving back to veterans by helping them access education and career opportunities is a passion and a privilege.
Zak will support apprenticeships and other career transition assistance for veterans returning to civilian life. He will continue working to ensure veterans can access the services that they earned through their service.