Northampton is a great place to live, with so much to offer: natural beauty, a broad range of arts and culture, a community that values education and civic involvement. Our vibrant downtown is the envy of small cities across the state, drawing revenue and visitors through all seasons. At the same time, Northampton faces numerous challenges: housing affordability, jobs creation, and sustainability.
Public policy at the state and national level has shifted an unfair burden to cities and towns, including Northampton. The needs of seniors struggling on fixed incomes are pitted against the needs of young families seeking a strong education for their children. Young people who grow up here struggle to find good jobs and housing they can afford. As a city, we must address these challenges head-on, with broad community input.
Development— We need a balanced approach to sustainable economic development that supports both business growth and community resources.
Education— We need to invest in Northampton youth by adequately funding our schools and teachers.
Safety— We must continue to negotiate among the many modes of transportation used by Northampton residents– pedestrian, bicycle, and automobile– making safety the top priority.
I am running for this post because I have the experience and the commitment to ask the hard questions and make the difficult decisions to move our city forward. Every day, I work with businesses, unions, and workers to help them maintain productivity and retain jobs. In the event of plant closures, I help workers get the training they need for re-employment. Increasingly, workers tell me they want skills that they can use in their community; they want to provide services that can't be shifted south or overseas; they want to remain in their community and contribute to a community economy.
As I walk door-to-door and speak to residents, I also hear concerns about pedestrian, bicycle and automobile safety and adequate funding of our schools. Residents have expressed the need for careful planning and balance between economic prosperity, environmental protection, and social equity. As the Ward One representative on the City Council, I will continue to listen to the concerns of residents and businesses, and communicate these concerns as they relate to all aspects of city government.
