Democratic Nominee
Maplewood Township Committee
Mom of 2 kids in K-12 (and two yappy dogs)
Lifelong Volunteer (Pool Committee, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, President’s Council, HSA, PTA, Achieve, etc.)
Local Community Advocate (Moms Demand Action, Special Education Parent Advisory Committee)
Proven Collaborator, Thoughtful Listener, Balanced Decision-Maker, Practical Thinker
Writer, former D.C. Correspondent (The Associated Press; USA Today)
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+ residents, and residents who are new English Language Learners. We have families with very young children to senior citizens. 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/breastfeeding spaces, translated materials and/or translators, and more designated seating and/or canopies for vulnerable residents. I support the Township’s plans to create an all-inclusive playground at Maplecrest Park and an All-Access Committee. I look forward to getting the committee up and running so that its members can recommed other ways Maplewood can accommodate all residents, from zoning and affordable housing to public safety, crossings, and signage.
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. I believe we need more transparency with residents over spending priorities, and would support a participatory budgeting process in our town. 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 updating our town-owned facilities in a cost-conscious way, and being mindful of any new fees imposed on residents. 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. We must strike a balance between preserving the historic charm of Maplewood, while embracing new and exciting opportunities for growth, always keeping in mind that resident engagement is a best practice.
Public Safety
Public safety in all areas of town should be a top priority. Residents should be confident in their safety, whether they are crossing the street, running in the pre-dawn hours, walking through a park after nightfall, asleep in bed with car keys on the counter, or going to or from school. We need more patrols in high-crime areas, additional traffic calming strategies, especially around schools and in high density areas, increased enforcement, better lighting, and safer crosswalks. I applaud the Maplewood Health Department’s crisis intervention social workers program, and partnership with CSPNJ to provide homeless outreach and engagement. I believe we can build on these partnerships by facilitating more and regular community/police conversations. We also need to work on combating antisemitism and islamophobia, promoting gun safety, and how we interact with neurodiverse 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 equitable access to all-weather sports fields, so our female athletes have access to the same opportunities as their male counterparts. Our families, school children, recreational runners and bikers, kids on scooters, seniors, and residents in all parts of town deserve dedicated bike lanes linking town centers to the train, schools and neighborhoods. Let’s focus on our town’s mobility and circulation planning to create a more connected community. We can do all of this while also protecting our green spaces, including attention to preserving our beautiful tree canopy, local parks, and streams.
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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