Thoughtful. Practical. Balanced.
I am a 10 year resident of Maplewood and a:
Democrat
Mom of 2 kids and 2 dogs
Lifelong Volunteer
Local Community Advocate
Proven Collaborator
Thoughtful Listener
Balanced Decision-Maker
Practical Thinker
Writer, former D.C. Correspondent
Standing up for accessibility & inclusion, fiscal accountability, balanced decision-making, public safety, and more community engagement.
Issues
Accessibility & Inclusion
Everything in Maplewood needs to be accessible to all, from children and adults who are neurodivergent or disabled to residents with mobility challenges, our LGBTQIA+ adults and children, and residents who are new English Language Learners. We have families with very young children to senior citizens who have lived in Maplewood for decades. We need programs, recreation opportunities, and community events with each of these populations in mind. Accessibility for all also means looking out for everyone when planning large town-wide events. We need sensory friendly quiet spaces, breastfeeding spaces, translated materials and/or translators, and more designated seating and/or canopies for seniors at all township events. I’m pleased the township has applied for a grant to create an all-inclusive playground at Maplecrest Park, but we need to look at the rest of our playgrounds to make sure they are all accessible and welcoming spaces for all kids and families. Inclusion and accessibility need to be at the forefront of all town planning and policymaking, from zoning regarding group homes and affordable housing to public safety, crossings, and signage. An All-Access Committee can help, but I believe elected officials need to lead this effort.
Fiscal Accountability
Let’s face it, our taxes are high. And with high taxes, comes an even higher expectation that taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely and efficiently. Clearly, we need better management and oversight of the school district’s Long Range Facility Plan spending through the Board of School Estimate. We also need more transparency with residents over spending priorities, as well as more community input. Now that the Maplewood and South Orange fire departments and health departments have been successfully merged, we need to be looking at other opportunities for shared services. We should be examining our town-owned facilities to make sure they are up to date and being used in the most efficient way possible. We also need to be looking at additional partnerships, grant opportunities and how we can promote smart, environmentally friendly development in the Village, Springfield Avenue, and other parts of Maplewood, from Newark Way to Ridgewood Row, that maintains the uniqueness and charm of Maplewood, while embracing new and exciting opportunities for growth. However, any new developments, from additional apartment buildings to changes in the Village, must include community input.
Public Safety
Public safety in all areas needs to be a top priority for elected officials. Period. Residents and business owners should feel safe in Maplewood, whether they are driving, crossing the street, running in the pre-dawn hours, walking through a park after nightfall, speaking at a public meeting, or going to or from school. We need more traffic calming strategies, especially around schools and in high density areas, increased code enforcement, better lighting, and safer crosswalks for pedestrians. We need more community/police conversations, more restorative justice, and more attention to mental health. Let’s bring back walking and bike patrols so residents know the names of our local police officers. Hate speech, antisemitism and islamophobia are on the rise and people in the Jewish and Arab/Muslim communities don’t feel safe. Gun registrations are also on the rise. We need to foster conversations about — and provide training on — ways to combat bigotry, promote gun safety, and how to interact with neurodiverse and non-English speaking residents.
Health & Wellness
Recreational and outdoor activities are critical for mental health for all ages. All residents deserve affordable access to our community pool — and swim lessons for all ages and abilities, at times convenient for working families. Our youth sports teams deserve reliable playing fields. Our high school students deserve a state-of-the-art athletic field, as envisioned by the Board of Education, and supported by the majority of Maplewood and South Orange elected officials. We need to give our female athletes the same opportunities to succeed that we give to their male counterparts. Our seniors, recreational runners, kids on scooters, and residents in all parts of town deserve better sidewalks so they can get outside without the fear of tripping. We need to add bike lanes to our community, make all playgrounds accessible, and protect our green spaces, including attention to preserving our beautiful tree canopy, local parks, and streams. Let’s focus on our town’s mobility and circulation planning to create a more connected community.
Community Engagement
I believe elected officials should proactively prioritize gathering input from residents on spending priorities and community needs on a regular basis. Too often, we don’t find out how deeply residents’ passions run on certain issues or proposed projects until we hit an inflection point. I see a real value in fostering ongoing, thoughtful conversations among residents on emerging needs, both neighborhood by neighborhood and issue by issue. Obviously, hard decisions and compromises may be needed, but I believe strongly that thoughtful communication is the key to building community trust and partnerships. Stakeholder meetings are a great way to thoughtfully address matters that divide our town, or to hear from overlooked sectors or populations. Only by regularly listening to the priorities of community members can township officials make sure that spending, initiatives, and new developments are meeting residents’ needs.
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