Fund Schools and Essential City Services First
Consider visionary projects only after basic obligations are fully met.
Control Costs, Taxes, and Fees
The City Council must ensure your money is being spent only on effective projects and policies, not on empty gestures. Council members must ask hard questions and take time to truly understand, not simply defer to the mayor, department heads or external consultants.
Fix the Roads
Bring fairness and clarity to paving prioritization. Address notorious curve and hill speed issues. Preserve our 50-year tradition of walking, biking, and driving on spacious interior neighborhood streets.
Preserve Cherished Hamp Traditions
Times change, but practical realities endure. I’ve seen the mixed results of trendy planning ideas tried in their natural habitats like Cambridge and NYC. We can examine what other cities are doing, but Northampton needs policies which fit the reality of our city, not an idealized imagination of other places.
No amount of tying ourselves into knots will turn Northampton into Cambridge or NYC.
Opt-in to Chapter 329
Adopt Chapter 329 of the Acts of 1987 so that the City Council rather than mayor holds the power to fund our schools.
Require your choice for mayor to explain if they will sign an order accepting Chapter 329
Restore Inclusive Democracy
Put city government back in touch with the people it exists to serve. Create additional mechanisms for public comment and presentation. Require public notices and agendas to include direct links to relevant documents and filings. Promptly post presentation slides and meeting videos.
Housing Must Be Reasonable
Build mostly in well connected areas to avoid excessive traffic on rural roads. Emphasize affordable and mid-market construction. Increase density, but sensibly, with respect for neighborhood character.
Encourage walking or biking to many needs, but recognize families with jobs and children have obligations and emergencies which require space to own a car.
Re-invigorate Florence Center and Downtown
Free captive properties and licenses. Help cherished businesses retain their locations as buildings change ownership. Encourage new shops, restaurants and re-opened nightlife.
Remove Obstacles To Accessibility
Prune back obstructions and rebuild Ryan Road sidewalk. Expand bus routes, hours and wheelchair capacity. Enact municipal sidewalk snow removal. Create grants or loans to help update inaccessible buildings and dwellings.
Expand Conservation Areas
Protect forests, habitats, and traditional routes. Route trails to preserve abutter’s privacy. Coordinate community efforts for trail upkeep and invasives control.