A Thoughtful Independent Voice.
Why I decided to run for City Council.
Evanston is exceptional. That’s why we live here!
There are only a handful of cities in the country that rival Evanston for its diversity, history, resources and institutions. It’s a city with a strength and character that makes me proud to have been born here.
But change is one thing that never changes.
I’m running for 3rd Ward Council member to bring some common sense, integrity, and transparency to the Council, and help make sure the future of our homes, blocks and neighborhoods is thoughtfully, and responsibly managed.
As a life-long tech/software executive and entrepreneur, I have decades of experience building, managing, and growing businesses. A balanced budget is my friend, not a stranger.
Evanston deserves the best future that good ideas can provide, not that money can buy. May the best, most common sense, ideas always win.
What are the important issues that concern me right now?
Envision Evanston proposes to rezone the Lakeshore Historic District.
The Envision Evanston 2045 plan proposes to rezone the entire city, eliminating constraints on multi-family, multi-story housing on every block in the city. Including yours and mine. When did we ask for more density? The current Council wants to fast-track a vote to pass the plan before this election. Why?
Chicago Avenue corridor concerns.
The proposed bike lane plan should be revised to minimize the parking reductions for residents and local businesses. I am against the EE45 zoning changes that will allow the construction of 100-foot-tall buildings on both sides, creating a canyon-like effect on Chicago Ave. Additionally, any new high-rise developments must include adequate parking for tenants to prevent further congestion in our neighborhoods.
The Unbalanced Budget
Our budgeting process is poorly managed. Instead of critically assessing expenditures and prioritizing what we can afford, the Council simply accepts all staff proposals and seeks additional revenue through taxes and fees. Council must focus on prioritizing spending to balance the budget, which they are currently not doing.
Taxes
We do not need any new taxes to achieve our goals, either now or in the foreseeable future. The City has ended the last two years with a surplus and is on track for another in 2024. This has resulted in tens of millions of surplus funds beyond what is necessary for reserves.
Achieving our climate action goals
Alternative energy and transportation are our goals, but where’s the action? The City needs to assist homeowners and building owners with planning, permitting, and contracting for alternative power sources to meet our renewable energy targets.
We need an “affordable housing” policy that benefits those most in need
The new housing units promised by Envision Evanston 2045 will do little to assist those who genuinely need it. For example, there are 300+ D65 students experiencing homelessness today. And, adding new units at “market rate” will not benefit medium and low-income residents. New construction by developers will always be priced at the highest price the market will bear. The Council must stop relying on for-profit developers to fulfill these goals.
Downtown businesses need more support
Our downtown businesses are struggling with high rents and low occupancy rates. We need a more efficient and streamlined process to encourage the establishment and operation of vibrant, engaging venues. Additionally, we should seriously consider eliminating parking fees altogether, which is a major barrier and makes no revenue for the City.
Transparency in every debate and decision
Many of the decisions made by this Council have ignored the concerns of local residents, such as with the stadium, or have defied common sense, like the relocation of the Civic Center. The use of Special Orders of Business to limit debate exemplifies how the Mayor has facilitated this issue. While difficult decisions are inevitable, they must be openly discussed and debated in public.
It’s called transparency.
