My Bio
45 years’ experience working for the people:
> Leading advocate for safer streets (reducing accidents, injuries & deaths) in Brockton
> Founder, Brockton Bikes
> Founder, Brockton Walks
> organized community cleanups
> helped eleven Brockton candidates for city & state offices
> elected President of my condo board - 64-unit building in Downtown Brockton
> filed 152 See Click Fix reports (97 this year alone)
> spoke at numerous City Council, Planning & Zoning Board meetings - usually in support of more family housing
> got 8 trees planted Downtown and 3 in DW Field Park
> Did 21 events - DJing and hosting trivia - for free to support Brockton Beer because I think it’s a vital community space.
> Member, Downtown Brockton Brockton & Trout Brook Rezoning Steering Committee
> got our State Senator Mike Brady to twice file the “shared parenting bill” & organized support in the Legislature for it
> frequent donor to the L Street Mission in support of families & the unhoused
> Senior Streetworker – worked with law enforcement, clergy & community to sharply reduce youth violence (“Boston Miracle”)
> Community organizer – helped neighbors stop 320-unit luxury apartment complex in a historic neighborhood
> former Treasurer, Friends of the Melnea Cass Facility (a DCR park/facility)
> Ran federal grant for high-risk youth worth $12.7 million in today’s dollars: Placed 326 dropouts back in school; placed 300 in private sector jobs; created 650 summer jobs; won $24 million in new funding ($45.8 million in today’s dollars).
My Key Issues
We deserve Safe Streets
We need physical changes to our streets in order to slow vehicles. We need improvements to dangerous intersections, including traffic lights, traffic circles, reducing pavement. I attend the Traffic Commission monthly to advocate for safety improvements and assist residents who bring their requests to the Commission.
Let's clean up Brockton
Responsibility for the dumping and debris rests with the City government, residents, businesses and visitors but the City must set a good example for others to follow. Let's devote two DPW workers and a pickup truck to do nothing else but inspecting the city; picking up trash; removing weeds and overgrown trees that block traffic signs.
Streets designed for all users = safer streets
When we narrow vehicular lanes, that gets cars to slow down - whether we put a bike lane in the space or not. Good sidewalks are not only necessary for wheelchair users but also benefit people with walkers, baby carriages and anyone with vision limitations.
Let’s embrace Brockton’s car culture
Brockton should embrace car culture instead of wishing it would go away. Brockton’s multitude of shops, auto body places, detailing services, tire places, car washes, vehicle storage facilities are not going to all be gentrified or zoned-out of existence – there are simply too many of them. Many of our fellow Brocktonians put a lot of pride in their vehicles, motorcyles/scooters – and the services they offer if they’re a business. So, let’s turn what some see as a negative into an asset. Let’s create events and places where people outside Brockton come here to spend money and have a good time. How about a parade/procession on Main Street that’s official and permitted, where we can have different kinds of vehicles compete?
Let's manage our tax dollars & city services with integrity
We need accountability, audits & transparency. I have the experience to do my part: I worked for the City of Boston in 3 roles; managed nearly $7M in federal grants; ran programs for high-risk youth; worked for non-profits & a faith-based org; and managed small business finances for 35 years. I've served on boards of a housing co-op, condo trust & a state park.
Let's expand our outreach workers for proven-risk youth
Too often we get into a debate between being "tough on crime" and "we need prevention programs" but give little funding to street workers / "violence interrupters" who build relationships with proven-risk youth and intervene to stop violence and retaliatory violence. I was one of those street workers during the "Boston Miracle" and then a supervisor in that program. I attended at least 40 funerals during that time but also ran summer job programs that - in one case - were credited with reducing violent crime by 32%. I understand the work thoroughly.
Send Me a Message
Have questions or suggestions? I would love to hear from you!