1. In light of a recent federal executive order on homelessness that incentivizes local policies to ban outdoor camping and to require mental health and substance use treatment, how would you assess Salem’s responses to people experiencing homelessness, and what would you plan to do if elected?
Solving homelessness is complicated, which is why it is important that our leaders listen to experts who can suggest efficient and effective uses of our limited resources. To that end, I believe that one of our best opportunities is the Lifebridge project as they are an experienced partner in addressing homelessness. I support their plan to supplement additional housing with services designed to help people living through homelessness.
Salem also needs to build more housing to address our supply shortage. There are several mechanisms that the city council can utilize to influence this, including zoning changes. There are also opportunities for infill development that are moving very slowly that should be accelerated. These projects could redevelop downtown parking lots into affordable housing to benefit our community instead of storing cars for tourists.
Finally, I would like to amend our anti-camping ordinance. I understand that some folks view the ordinance as a means to ensure the health and safety of our community, however several components of the policy cause undue harm to our unhoused neighbors and need to be addressed.
In particular I find it troubling that the city thinks it is reasonable to define an acceptable shelter as far as 15 miles outside of Salem. I believe that removing someone from their community and their support network, with very little notice (only 12 hours!), goes against the intent of the ordinance and such measures do not fully consider the well-being of someone being forced out of their home.
2. Since the federal government has withdrawn its support for combating climate change, including eliminating tax credits for wind and solar energy and halting federal permits for wind power, what would you propose the city do to mitigate climate change and its effects locally?
To combat the effects of climate change we need to implement a dual strategy of sustainability, to reduce the future impact of climate change, and resiliency, to mitigate the immediate threats to our community.
With regard to resiliency, we need to ensure we are prioritizing infrastructure improvements in the most vulnerable areas to ensure the safety and well-being our neighbors. In North Salem we should focus on storing rain water during storms to reduce flooding of the North River, ideally storing it to help conserve water and reduce the impact of drought.
From a sustainability perspective, the two biggest contributors to climate change that a municipal government can address relate to buildings and transportation. Salem has already adopted a “Green Building Ordinance” for municipal buildings and we have adopted the Specialized Code. Both of these policies will work to ensure sustainable designs & practices are included in the development of all future buildings.
There are several opportunities to reduce transportation emissions. Better and safer infrastructure for walking and cycling, expanding mixed-use zoning in strategic areas, and investment in public transit should all be considered to reduce the number of trips taken by car. These changes will particularly benefit lower income households in Salem who have less access to transportation and employment opportunities given the cost of car ownership (~$14k / year / household in MA). Currently 1 in 6 Salem households do not have access to a car.
3. With the loss of federal grants and funding for food pantries, and the closure of Daily Table, what ideas do you have for helping residents who are food insecure?
I don’t see a way for the city to address food scarcity without stepping up and committing to budgetary spending to address the problem. Unfortunately, Massachusetts General Law places significant limitations on how we can spend money to do this. One opportunity that we know we can continue to leverage is the Mack Park Farm.
In the short term we need to continue to fund this source of community food, and I would like to see the city expand to other locations in order to increase the quantity of food that we can produce.
4. Do you support or oppose the plans to build a new high school in Salem and the debt exclusion proposal to allow Salem to fund its share of the cost of the new school? Why or why not? What points would you make to communicate with Salem voters about this project?
Yes 100% absolutely. A municipal high school is one of the largest expenses that a city can take on, but it is also one of the most important. I have firsthand experience growing up with continuous cuts to school funding and it is clear to me that there is significant long term harm to both students and the community if we do not continue to invest in education and our future.
We know that there will be a tax impact with the debt exclusion proposal, but we know that if the city votes to approve the proposal in the spring that we will have significant fiscal support from the state, to the tune of ~50% of the total cost. The city’s finance department has a good plan and a few tactical levers they can pull to mitigate the total cost on the taxpayer, but we will see that impact for the duration of “loan” as we pay off the debt of the building. It is important to understand that this will NOT be a permanent tax increase.
5. How do you plan to keep your constituents informed about policy issues before the City Council if you are elected?
I plan to continue to publish a newsletter, keep folks up to date on social media, and always be clear about my opinions on policy. I’m not afraid to pick up a phone or meet with people to have an open and honest conversation and I always enjoy talking about how we can work together to improve our beautiful city for ourselves and for future generations!