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?
Considering this troubling and harmful new executive order that steers communities such as Salem away from a Housing First approach to a more criminal approach, I would first assess the size and scope of our unhoused population and their needs. A city-wide needs assessment, done by some of our most skilled clinical and medical providers, would give us a more accurate read on what gaps exist and the extent to which the unhoused population are willing to access services.
After we have a clearer, more specific sense of the problems we need to solve, then we would want to bring together a taskforce that best represents the resources, expertise, and capacity that our amazing city has and then couple it with the creativity and goodwill of our citizens. My aim for this taskforce would be to identify how to reduce harm, increase access, and provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services with dignity and respect in a way, space, and timeframe that best makes sense for the people who need them.
I truly believe that wrap-around services will offer more preventative approaches to serving the unhoused and linking them with non-traditional spaces and solutions within Salem as a city, and not just in our downtown area. I would want to make sure that we think about how to utilize our nonprofits, businesses, and citizens to educate and empower, and use care and empathy as we address mental health and addiction-related solutions without eliminating solutions based on sobriety and employment.
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 Since the federal government has withdrawn its support for combating climate change, including eliminating tax credits for wind and solar energy and halting federal permits for wind power, what would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?
I’d harness the energy of the Salem citizens that are already doing the climate work and sustaining it, independent of the federal government. I’d like to see smaller projects and recognition for what our individual homeowners and local businesses are doing. These could be done in the areas of building energy efficiencies, water usage, and vehicle emissions.
We need to broaden our approach to the use of solar panels and locally educate and incentivize homeowners to install them. Similarly, we could ask for a green plan for any and all residential and/or commercial building plans that are approved by the City of Salem. Adjacent to the plans, I’d also like to see energy efficiencies required not only of buildings being built, but also in the licensed contractors working on these projects.
Addressing water overuse in residential homes is another smart and low barrier topic to make a local approach to climate change without the use of the federal government. As a community we can educate citizens on easy ways to cut their approach to water usage, including new ways to manage their lawns, wash their clothes and dishes, and guidelines on bathroom water utilization.
Finally, Salem must implement free and electric-based buses that are frequent and convenient and that dramatically cut down on the use of motor vehicles across our 8 square miles. The routes and stops must make it easier for tourists and locals alike to navigate our city without personal vehicle usage.
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?
Similar to my response on the last two questions, I think we need to go with what we know: how to take care of one another—and I do believe that it is a value within Salem, but also the North Shore. In Ward 6 we have an abundance of green space, and so while we have the Mack Park Farm, we also have space to set up other pop-up farm containers. These small crops will not cover large swaths of need, but if set up as a series of small “pop-ups” across homes, parks, cemeteries, walkways, etc we’ll make a dent in a larger problem.
I also believe that we must teach people how to cook and how to cook seasonally. I honestly believe that if we tapped into the number of buildings that sit empty daily/weekly, we could come up with not only places where excess food could be exchanged, but places where food could be generated and shared. I think if could enlist restaurant and home chefs, as well as grandparents that would love to help teach someone how to cook and enjoy a shared meal with a new friend/family.
Finally, we need to think of our food insecurity issues as not just a Salem issue, but a NorthShore issue. We can work collaboratively on how to secure, cook, and grow food together as citizens, but also utilize our schools, city buildings, and parks/green spaces as places to start solving our mutual need for creative food solutions.
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?
As a mom of 3 kids that attend (1) and have attended (2) Salem Public Schools I am strongly in support of the plans to build not just a new building, but a full campus for our Salem high school students. Our current building does not well-represent or contain the spectacular learning and programs being offered at Salem High School, does not prioritize safety or sustainability, and we lose so many students to other institutions due to the significant programming offered in those state-of-the-art facilities that we cannot offer due to our inadequate facilities.
In terms of how to communicate about this project, the time is now. And I think we need to have multiple ways to do that. I believe that it falls on the City Council, the Mayor, and the School Committee to offer messaging on what, when, why, and how—written, digital, and personal (through neighborhood meetings/door knocking) to communicate the right information. As I have spoken to many Ward 6 residents who know nothing about this project, they not only are curious, but they want to know why and what it will improve. We owe them those answers.
As part of those conversations, we must also explain how the significant costs will be covered. Although Salem will receive significant state funds for this project, I do believe a debt exclusion proposal is needed to invest in our future. We must put Salem right back on top of the institutions of learning in Massachusetts.
5. How do you plan to keep your constituents informed about policy issues before the City Council if you are elected?
I plan to maintain a digital newsletter, door knock to talk to constituents about big issues, and to attend/hold neighborhood meetings. I’d also like to offer regularly scheduled office hours at local establishments, or possibly on my front porch!