I would like to begin this week’s newsletter to announce that I will be seeking re-election to the Newport City Council this November. During my time on the Council I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with members of the community from across Newport. The passion and energy in our neighborhoods continues to inspire me every day, and it makes me proud to represent the people of Newport in their City Government.
I will continue to strive to give you and all Newporters a government that shares your values. Our government must be focused on serving all the people who choose to live and work in Newport. I will continue to push to engage neighborhoods and communities who have historically been overlooked and under-served. There is a lot of work ahead of us, and I believe we are up to it. My campaign platform lays out what needs to be done:
Education and Housing – Education and housing are the two most important needs for a community to be strong and successful, and I will continue to fight for the people who live and work here to have access to both. I believe it is our duty as a community to provide our children with the best opportunities for the future, and to build a community that they will want to raise their children in.
An Economy for Newporters – Our economy should provide opportunities to the people who live here. I want to see the City and local businesses work as partners in strengthening our community. As we continue to expand and diversify our economy, development must provide opportunities for all our residents.
Responsibly Building Newport’s Future – We need to understand how development affects our city and create actionable plans for the city government to undertake. We need to be considering impacts to our environment and making long term plans and changes that account for climate change and sea level rise. We need to be proactive to ensure the long-term viability and reliability of Newport’s utility infrastructure. We need to understand the impacts of potential development on our systems before approving projects.
Government for the People – I believe it is our duty as public officials to build and maintain our residents’ trust. The City’s actions must be guided by resident participation and reflect the values of our community. I want to continue the habit of public discussion and open debate that we have started in this term, and reach out into the community to have more voices heard.
I began writing these newsletters to help show you how the Council is taking action on these issues, and to call your attention to important conversations that we are having in council meetings and the community. I share with you my thoughts and research on issues that will have an impact on you and the city so you can understand my positions and engage in a conversation. I believe that if I am representing you, you should know where I stand.
This week’s Council docket contains multiple items that intersect with the issues and values that I’ve chosen to focus on in my campaign.
At the top of the meeting, there will be a public hearing on the City’s application for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The receipt of this grant would fund multiple projects, including community center improvements, the Housing Hotline, and others.
Also on this week’s docket is a resolution I submitted concerning the implementation of a homestead exemption in Newport. The City is able to implement this a homestead exemption based on state law, all that is needed is for the Council to work with staff to determine the best model. This resolution would ask that staff present options to the Council this November for the FY22 budget. A homestead exemption can be used as a tool to aid home ownership and help families in Newport.
At the May 27th Council meeting, I submitted a resolution instructing City staff to study the benefits and impacts of road closures to allow for additional space for social distancing and to help local businesses adapt to changes caused by the coronavirus. The staff prepared a report that is included in this week’s docket; at this time staff does not recommend road closures, based on input from local businesses. The Planning Board is looking at other options, and the City will continue working with individual businesses to offer support and be flexible.
The Council will be receiving an update on the North End Urban Plan. The Steering Committee met virtually on June 16 and determined a plan forward for the completion of the plan. The plan will be submitted to the Planning Board for review and recommendation on July 8, so the Council can expect to officially receive and vote on the plan in August or September. The North End Urban Plan has been a months long effort and is part of the City’s larger process of meeting the goals in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. It will guide the policies, zoning, and development in the North End and has been developed with maximum resident engagement and participation so that it reflects our community’s values.