Time for a Change

By Lauren Meister

Submitted to Frontiers Newsmagazine

It's time for change in our city! A change in perspective, a change in approach -- it can only happen with a change in leadership. I can bring about that change.

The City has wrongly concentrated its efforts on huge development projects without thought to their mounting impacts. The threat of overbuilding, parking deficits, increasing density, and traffic threaten our quality of life. It is time to slow down and adjust our priorities. We must strive to become environmentally sustainable. Why can't we become a national model of progressive social and environmental responsibility?

My leading opponents are bankrolled by big out-of-town developers. This should be illegal; it undermines Council integrity. I do NOT accept donations from developers. I believe the City has gone astray and needs to be more responsive to its residents and small businesses. I will work hard to protect our quality of life, restore integrity, improve public safety, find solutions for our traffic and parking problems, and increase open space and parkland. I will be a relentless advocate for LGBT rights.

Top Goals:

1. Public Safety: We must do more to be a hate free city where residents, employers, employees and visitors can live openly and free. Inequities must be addressed in deployment, community-policing practices including bicycle and foot patrols must be increased throughout our neighborhoods and neighborhood watch programs must be more inclusive and supported.

2. Parking / Traffic: A parking development plan is long overdue. Traffic mitigation needs to be more aggressive within neighborhoods and must be a higher priority when considering new development. No more parking waivers -- the City's allowance of 'in lieu fees' has not built us a parking lot!

3. Parks / Green Space: We must address the shortage of green space for our residents. This means acquiring new parks and open space and prohibiting the erosion of green space within our existing parks.

4. Housing: An affordability crisis tears at our social fabric and cruelly strikes at those on fixed incomes including those with HIV/AIDS and seniors. We must protect and enhance our existing affordable housing.

5. Preservation of Services: The state budget crisis is poised to threaten many city programs. I believe HIV/AIDS and senior services must be protected particularly when needed most.