Issues
Here's a bit about the issues that matter most to me. Please reach out and share what issues matter most to you. I'm always happy to listen and learn.
Community Engagement
As a member of Common Council, I resolve to actively seek input from residents rather than waiting for them to contact me. Some steps that I will implement to ensure I am accessible to all include: Hosting office hours on Oshkosh City buses, in local non-profits, in the library, in coffee shops, and other public locations to ensure I can meet with citizens where they feel most comfortable. Overcoming transportation and accessibility issues by offering communication options such as zoom, phone call, text, email, and others.
Affordable Housing
I believe all of our community members should have access to safe, affordable and dignified housing. I am particularly concerned about increasing affordable and dignified housing options for those who make less than the city’s median income. We will need creative solutions like accessory dwelling units or tiny-homes, new housing developments that offer units at a variety of price-points, multi-use building structures that support office, commercial, and housing units. We can also continue and expand programs to help owners maintain or update dated structures, especially for duplexes or multi-family units.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
​My commitment to community engagement is matched by my commitment to celebrate the diverse identities of residents in the city of Oshkosh. We are better when all members of our community have a voice in our decisions and all residents of our community feel welcomed. We need to ensure equitable and inclusive activities, services and resources for all who live, work and learn in Oshkosh. I am excited to learn from and follow the guidance of the the City Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and advocate for policies that ensure good health, dignified housing and economic mobility for all residents of Oshkosh.
Accessible Transportation
Having good, safe transportation is a benefit and asset for the entire community. As a member of the transit advisory board, I know the importance of public transportation for our community. Our citizens depend on public transit for transportation to school, work, healthcare appointments and shopping. I will continue to advocate for accessible transportation for all members of our community. In addition to supporting public transportation, we also need to keep our roads updated and safe. I will support common sense solutions to invest in our roads and sidewalks. I favor plans where the cost of roads and repairs are shared by the community.
Parks and Recreation
Oshkosh has invested a great deal in our parks, green spaces, bike trails and river walk. Oshkosh residents have shared this green space for festivals, community gardens and other celebrations. Parks and recreational trails keep our community healthy and help us to be more connected. They bring in visitors from throughout the state. We need to continue to invest in this infrastructure to make sure we have accessible trails and parks in all of our neighborhoods.
Joy
One of my goals in life is to experience joy and facilitate opportunities for those around me to do the same. While I take seriously the responsibility of serving on Common Council, I'd also like to see all areas of Oshkosh, including our local government, be about joy. We need to create and embrace spaces that allow and encourage all members of our community to feel joy. I'd like us to be a city that shares more laughs, more moments of neighbors helping neighbors and more moments where we support one another in living a life of joy. This picture is me, on my bike - always a place of joy!