I grew up in a family that places a high importance on serving the community and putting others first. I am passionate about helping people, and I see serving on the city council as a way to help ensure that the needs of ALL residents are taken into consideration when decisions are being made. After I heard about how strongly a group of concerned Chaska residents fought to give us the ability to choose our city council representative, I felt that I had to stand up to be a voice for the unheard, underserved, and underrepresented.
Q: How can the city reach out to groups of residents who are less engaged in city activities?
I think that to reach out to people, we need to go to them rather than expect them to come to us. Going out in the community and talking to people where they are is an important step to making sure that all citizens have a voice in our community. This may mean going out knocking on doors and talking to people, actively starting conversations when I'm out in the community, hosting frequent listening sessions in different areas of the community and ensuring that our city leaders keep those groups of people in mind when making decisions. I think that continuing to improve the city's social media presence and improved usability of the city website will help as well.
Q: What role should the city play regarding affordable housing?
The city needs to be looking at how we can attract more affordable housing options, and also doing what we can to attract businesses that pay living wages to their employees so that people can afford housing. Housing in Chaska is 33% more expensive than the statewide average and that can make it difficult for people to find housing that they can afford. I recognize that affordable housing can be a complex issue to solve, but I fully believe that people should be able to comfortably afford to live in the city that they work in and the city needs to be ensuring that we are working towards that goal. Across all socioeconomic statuses and throughout the lifespan, people need access to housing they can afford.
Q: What role should city officials play when it comes to racism in the community?
Above all, city officials need to be role models for all residents of the city. A quote from Angela Davis sums up my overall viewpoint on this: "It is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist." We cannot simply say that we personally are not racist and leave it at that; we must work to ensure that racism is not tolerated in our city.
Q: How do you feel about the state of downtown Chaska?
Downtown Chaska has a very unique and historical feel to it, and I think that we should do all that we can to retain that overall look and feel, while also accepting that change is inevitable and necessary for growth. I think that downtown Chaska is perfectly suited for small businesses, and I would love to see more independent small businesses in the downtown area that contribute to the community and to the culture and diversity of downtown. I think that the downtown area could use some revitalization, such as paint touch ups and general maintenance, but I don't think that the general look and feel of downtown should be changed.
Q: What are your thoughts on the City Square West project?
The City Square West project is a good example of why full transparency is needed when it comes to decisions made by the city. The project was originally supposed to include plans for a new and larger library, but instead has turned into a large development that may change the overall look and feel of downtown Chaska, with no plans for a new library location yet. Although change and growth are necessary, it feels like this is a large leap rather than a small nudge. Although it may bring more businesses and growth to downtown, the city needs to consider the impact it will have on the current downtown businesses and residents.
Q: Do you believe the City Council should continue to give public subsidies through property tax breaks (such as Tax Increment Financing or tax abatement) to companies building or expanding in the city? Please explain.
I think that the answer to that question depends largely on the company in question. If it is a company that provides a service that we are lacking in Chaska that there is a clear need for, or if it is a business that will bring jobs to Chaska that will pay employees a living wage, then I think that public subsidies may be appropriate. However, I do feel that companies building or expanding in Chaska shouldn't be doing so at a great expense to taxpayers, which public subsidies can cause to happen. Subsidies are a powerful tool that should be used with care to ensure that the general public isn't shouldering the cost of growth for a company.
Q: What are the top three issues you would face during your term?
I think that the issue of affordable housing is one of the biggest issues facing Chaska right now, and that is an issue I am prepared to tackle. Ensuring that economic growth is done in a sensible and sustainable way is another issue that the city is facing. Combating racism, promoting inclusivity, and celebrating diversity are very important for the city of Chaska, both now and for the future.