What makes our city our home?

As a recent Northampton School Committee member, I know the increased demands faced by our staff and the budgetary constraints under which they operate. We have not had a robust conversation about what our budget priorities should be or what trade offs exist.

With a keen interest in the way things work, I have for several years aimed to better understand where we stand financially as a city, and have been concerned by the murkiness of getting the kind of clear operational data needed for council and community to knowledgeably plan our future. I worry about what it means when we have a charter that leaves one person at the decision making helm.

Many of us feel powerless over the impact of Project 2025 in Washington DC. We thought we were reasonably secure under the Rule of Law and a sense of shared understanding of our fundamental sense of what democracy means.

I believe strongly that resistance starts at home and Northampton acting locally is integral to systemic nation -wide change.Housing and health care must be a priority at the local level . Sustainability and climate preparedness are critical. LGBTQ+ children and families and new arrivals from far corners of the world must feel safe and valued. Education is the foundational building block to ensuring all of this.

I am ready and eager to be part of acting locally as your representative on council.

Change Starts Here

We conduct a holistic annual consideration of capital improvements, yearly maintenance, and operating budgets. It means a fundamental assurance that we prioritize repair of sidewalks and potholes. When snow falls, we clear it. We ensure that our streets are safe and accessible for all.

We recognize that the pandemic has seriously impacted the lives of children in front of us right now. It is so not over. “The children,” as one of our School Committee members who works with the very young has solemnly told us, “…are not okay.”

We work with existing community and faith-based agencies to provide dignified shelter and services to our houseless now. We do so effectively, thoughtfully, compassionately and consistently.

We celebrate CAPA oversight but open it to more than city owned buildings. Our Sustainability Plan (now merged and muted) was created to be our community inclusive decision making guidance. Bring CAPA to the Planning Board.

Change Starts Here

If elected, I intend to work with our 2026 City Council to prioritize essential services, community voice, transparency and innovation in action and finance, and contribute to building a shared vision for how we want our city to be. .

We work in concert and communication with city committees, and we ask for and treasure community input before making big decisions. We work in close and consistent harmony and consultation with our elected school committee. We never come to a council or committee meeting discussion already convinced what our vote will be. If we don’t know enough, we say so, and ask for guidance from experts.

We thoughtfully and creatively explore ways to increase city tax revenue without pricing out the people who live here or destroying our city’s beauty. We use our accumulated existing city millions wisely, but we recognize a rainy day when we see it.

Change Starts Here

We trust our city government because we are part of it, and transparency and honesty are our watch words. We meet and work with constituents to welcome input on how to make things work. Our residents know they will be heard and do not desperately come week after week for their two minutes of open comment about issues they want our electeds to care about too.

We cherish sustainability as a governing principle for development, planning, and preserving historic neighborhood integrity with resident input and integrated design. Our older citizens should not fear that they will be priced out of their own homes.

We prioritize real affordable housing over subsidies to developers who add high end or 'market rate' housing stock.
We actively preserve mature tree canopy and holding roots and green space. We plan for a rapidly approaching future that requires all of these things.

We revisit Picture Main Street by engaging in honest conversation and charting a new process to improve design plans that will better respond to the needs of the community, increase safety, improve accessibility and help our businesses thrive.

We do all this together, as community

Put the public back into city policy

I get it that this stuff may sound pie in the sky but quite honestly, it is no less than we can do, nor less than we should do. It won’t happen if we don’t start now.

We are all neighbors. We need to foster a shared vision for our city's future and how we work together to realize it. With your vote I am more than ready to work with council colleagues to fairly represent every ward in our city.

With your vote we can open that future together.

Thank you for your support, your input and for the opportunity to carry on these conversations in 2026.

What makes our city our home?

Change Starts Here

Change Starts Here

Change Starts Here

Change Starts Here

Change Starts Here

Change Starts Here

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