Picture this: it’s early, coffee in hand, the bus late—again. Streetlight flickering. A permit you applied for weeks ago is still “in review.” Small things, sure, until they pile up. When the basics don’t work, nothing feels like it does. That’s why my plan is simple: fix the fundamentals first, then keep going.
What “the basics” really mean
The basics aren’t buzzwords. They’re the nuts and bolts of daily life:
- Streets that are safe and clean.
- Transit that shows up when the schedule says it will.
- Permits and services that move at the speed of your life, not the speed of paperwork.
- Spending that delivers value without drama.
No silver bullets. Just honest work, steady hands, and the buck stopping where it should.
A 100-day city reset
On Day One, we’ll hit the ground running with a public dashboard that tracks service times—pothole repairs, graffiti removal, broken lights, tree trimming, the whole lot. If we miss a target, we’ll say why and how we’ll fix it. You’ll see progress block by block, not buried in a PDF no one reads.
Here’s what the first 100 days look like:
- Clean & Safe Blitz
Ward-by-ward crews for trash pickup, alley clearing, and lighting repairs. With better lighting and quick cleanup, trouble has fewer dark corners to hide in. - Transit Reliability Push
A laser focus on on-time performance. Align schedules with actual road conditions, prioritize bus lanes where buses crawl, and publish route-by-route reliability so riders don’t need detective work to plan a trip. - 48-Hour Answers for Small Business
A one-stop help desk for simple permits and renewals. Not everything can be solved in two days—but many things can, if we cut through the red tape and say “yes” or “no” instead of “maybe.” - City Land for Mixed-Income Housing
Start where it makes the most sense: near transit. Clear design rules, faster approvals, and shovel-ready sites. Getting homes built, not just talked about. - Spend Smart, Measure Results
Independent reviews for major programs. If it’s working, we scale it. If it’s not, we stop it. Putting our money where our mouth is.
Safer streets without the side-eye
Safety isn’t a slogan; it’s a promise. We’ll support community-based policing with the tools and trust officers need, plus faster mental-health response for calls where a badge isn’t the right first step. Meanwhile, block captains and neighborhood watch groups will get a direct line for non-emergency fixes—lights out, signs down, shrubs blocking sightlines. Small changes, big difference.
And here’s the kicker: we’ll measure not just reported crime, but perceived safety. Because if you don’t feel safe walking to the corner store, then we haven’t done our job.
Housing people can actually afford
Let’s be straight. We don’t have enough homes, especially near jobs and transit. That pushes prices up and workers out. To fix it:
- Gentle Density Near Transit. Duplexes, triplexes, and mid-rise buildings on appropriate streets. Thoughtful design, predictable rules, less red tape.
- City-Owned Land First. Clear the path for mixed-income housing on public land with transparent community benefits.
- Faster Approvals. Standardize checklists, timebox reviews, and resolve conflicts at a single decision table so projects don’t die of old age.
Bottom line: more homes, more choices, and neighborhoods that stay welcoming.
Transit that doesn’t ghost you
A bus that arrives late is a bus that might as well not exist. We’ll fix the basics—schedules, staffing, and signal priority—before chasing shiny objects. When corridors are crawling, we’ll try tactical bus lanes and all-door boarding pilots to move people faster right now. Not next decade. Now.
With riders back on board, revenue steadies, service improves, and—voilà—transit feels like the best option again.
Value for money—no fluff
Every dollar should work as hard as you do. That’s why we’ll publish contracts, performance targets, and quarterly scorecards in plain English. If a project slips, you’ll know. If savings appear, they’ll go to frontline services first. To be clear: this isn’t about cutting for the sake of it. It’s about funding what works and stopping what doesn’t.
How residents plug in (and get heard)
People don’t want lectures; they want a say. So we’ll make it easy:
- Pick Your Priority Nights. Short, focused town halls with three options on the table—safety, streets, or services—and choices you can vote on right there.
- Kitchen-Table Conversations. Small group meetings hosted by neighbors. We’ll bring the coffee and the city staff; you bring the questions.
- Text-to-Fix. Snap a photo, send a text, get a ticket number, and an ETA. When it’s done, you’ll hear about it.
When residents help set the agenda, better decisions follow. Funny how that works.
What success looks like
Within months, you’ll notice:
- Fewer missed buses, fewer mystery delays.
- Brighter corners, cleaner lanes, quicker repairs.
- Permits answered in days, not months.
- Shovels in the ground near transit, not just renderings on posters.
- A budget you can read and a dashboard you can trust.
Will everything be perfect? Of course not. But better—week by week, ward by ward—until the city feels dependable again.
For the skeptics (you’re not wrong)
You’ve heard promises. So have I. That’s why this plan sticks to the levers a city controls: service standards, maintenance schedules, approval timelines, and transparent spending. We won’t overpromise. We will overdeliver on the basics.
The road ahead
With the sun barely up, buses on time, streets swept, and permits moving, families breathe easier. Small businesses plan with confidence. City workers feel respected because their work shows. And neighbors start to believe, not because someone told them to, but because they can see it.