The Issues
Affordable Housing
The housing issue in Salem is an issue with many layers and no option should be off the table when thinking about how to combat the lack of both affordable and market-rate housing.
We need to incentivize smart, climate-conscious development, spearhead the fight for rent stabilization at the State House, and raise the tourist tax to help ensure new residents can join our community and current residents can remain in their homes or have a path to homeownership.
By increasing the supply of market-rate housing, we can naturally reset the housing market and start to bring down the average cost of a 2 bedroom apartment in Salem. Also, with an influx of new construction, we will inherently increase the number of affordable housing units throughout the city.
In conjunction with this, we must remain vigilant in our pursuit of rent stabilization here in Salem through the State House. We need to ensure that those with roots here and our older community members aren't being priced out of their homes and can continue to live the life they've worked hard to build. Once it is authorized by the State Legislature, I will immediately propose an ordinance to limit rent increases to 5% of the previous years rent or no more than any potential increase in property tax, whichever number is greater.
Lastly, we should be helping those that have been part of our community for an extended period of time to truly own part of what they have helped build. To that end, I will propose both an increase to our current tourist tax on hotels and short-term rentals to 12.5% and to also implement a blanket 6.25% tourist tax on all goods and services for the months of August, September, and October to help finance a revamped, Salem-run down payment assistance program for current Salem residents looking to purchase their first home.
Transportation and Mobility
Salem, like many other small and medium sized cities in America, is entirely too dependent on cars as a primary mode of transportation. While I'm not naive to the fact that sub-par public transportation in the region almost necessitates this, we do need to take steps towards offering affordable and reliable public transit options.
As your Ward 5 Councillor, I would work to ensure the Salem Skipper is maintained and expanded to help bring down wait times for users. I would also work in conjunction with the State, neighboring cities and towns, and the MBTA to find a path towards more frequent and reliable train service and to bring localized bus service to the area.
Standing Up for Those that Need it Most
Now more than ever, it is imperative that we all work together to protect those most vulnerable in our community. This could take many forms.
We must fight to protect the rights of our LGBTQIA neighbors against attacks on their rights and against the rise of physical violence to members of their community
We must also rise in unison to protect our immigrant community. The assault on basic constitutional rights we are seeing across the country by ICE is alarming and unacceptable, and has no place in our community.
There is no wiggle room when it comes to basic human rights and decency. I will always fight to ensure that every resident of Salem, regardless of your ward, is afforded not just the rights granted to them by the Constitution of the United States, but that you are treated with respect, with dignity, and with empathy.
Ranked Choice Voting
As a member of City Council, I will vigorously support any steps that move Salem towards ranked choice voting. I, like many of you, am exhausted with the two-party political system we have. While this system is propped up in part by those who benefit from it, the system's largest enabler is the way we currently vote.
By Making the move to RCV, we can ensure that all candidates, regardless of political affiliation have a fair chance in their race. Most importantly, however, making the change to RCV gives everyone who votes in a local election a voice. Making such a move is crucial to making sure the voters can have their voices heard without having to worry about "splitting the vote".
When RCV was on the ballot in 2020, Salem residents voted in favor of making it the new method of voting throughout the state, but it ultimately did not pass statewide. RCV is an easy, simple way to ensure that all voters have a voice in their elections and I will enthusiastically support the Home Rule Petition currently being discussed by the council and would be proud to be part of the body that helps get it back in front of Salem voters as a ballot question once again. I would be honored to play a part in making Salem a pioneer on this issue throughout the state.