Grow Downtown

We can no longer continue to build out the way we are doing. Not only does the ever-expanding development on the fringes of Urbana mean higher transportation costs to reach these businesses and homes, but it also destroys precious farmland and is detrimental to our downtown economy. I support incentives for businesses that set up shop in the downtown area and near other residential areas, and the end of tax breaks for big box stores that build on the edge of town. Downtown should be the business center of Urbana. I believe that a strong local economy is the best way to get our city through these tough economic times.

Expand Tenant Rights

Urbana already has laws that provide for city inspectors to identify maintenance problems in rental properties, but unfortunately, these laws are often not enforced, and tenants are forced to just live with ongoing maintenance issues. I support the strict enforcement of building codes and requiring landlords to resolve any violations of the codes. I would like the city to rate apartment complexes and rental houses on their energy efficiency and publish this information so potential tenants can know approximately how much their energy bills will be BEFORE they sign a lease. Not only would this provide valuable information to potential tenants, but it would also encourage landlords to make their units more energy efficient.

Environmental Sustainability

Pete Seger said: "Think globally, act locally." While the residents of Urbana cannot be expected to save the world's environment, we can do our part in the fight against global warming and diligently protect our local environment. I support expanding the bike lanes in our city, green building initiatives, energy efficiency ratings for rental properties (see above), and an efficient and clean mass transit system. While the MTD is a great bus system, the City of Urbana should work closely with the University and the City of Champaign to begin planning for a light rail system that would eventually connect the two downtowns and campus.

Citizen Participation

The recent presidential election saw an unprecedented voter turnout. I would like to see this trend continue not only in future presidential elections, but also in local elections. The city should take an active role in educating citizens about local issues and in seeking citizen input. My fellow Green candidate for alderman in Ward 7, Gary Storm, suggests a monthly town meeting for city officials to discuss local issues with the public. I strongly support this idea. I also believe that the City Council should look at other ways to improve the health of our democracy, such as changing our current voting method to Instant Runoff Voting. IRV would encourage more candidates to run and nurture a more diverse and engaging political climate.

Historical Preservation

Ward 2 has many old and historically rich buildings. We should treasure these buildings for their aesthetic and educational value and not rashly demolish them. They make our town unique and remind us of our shared history. I support the protection of historic buildings that can be adequately maintained.