ON THE ISSUES

Average rent in Lexington has increased 47% since 2019, and home ownership has become the stuff of lottery-winning dreams.

Even with record-high spending in cost-abatement, there has been no sign of prices decreasing for working families. This is a problem that cannot be solved by subsidizing demand but must be addressed through building supply.

Lexington’s zoning laws are not working. We must open up more pathways for people to build the kinds of houses they can afford, helping them and their families to build up wealth while reducing the pressure on our renting market.

For every dollar spent at a nationally scaled business, only 43% remains in Lexington. For our crucial small businesses, that number goes up to 68%. Encouraging small businesses to open, employ, and expand is crucial to our local government, our community, and our future.

Kentucky has had success with creating tax rebates for businesses that bring investment and tourism dollars. I would like to create a local version of these rebates that would allow entrepreneurs to keep a portion of their city taxes to offset costs associated with creating a new business. This would open up new opportunities that encourage growth, employment, and community for all.

We are in the throes of a loneliness and mental health epidemic. It is crucial for our mental and our physical health that we are plugged into our communities.

Popularized by Ray Oldenburg, a third space is a social environment separate from home and work— think of a park, a coffee shop, or a bar. We know that being around other people is crucial for our feeling of community, and our mental health, so it’s time to start treating third spaces as a crucial part of our urban landscape. I would work to establish a first-of-its-kind Third Space Commission where passionate Lexingtonians can discover, support, and build up these engines of community.

Lexington currently has 70 Community Boards and Commissions which are the frontline for Lexingtonians to have a say on matters they’re passionate about. Tragically, vacancies are rampant, with many boards meeting during common working hours. This has made them inaccessible for many working class Lexingtonians.

I would like to lead an initiative to merge duplicate committees, loosen overly stringent educational requirements, and allow for the easy creation of ad hoc committees for timely issues so citizens can have a greater say on what issues should be prioritized.

Traffic has gotten worse and the number of fatal accidents has increased. It’s time to be creative with how we address this growing crisis.

Decreasing sightlines (the distance from either side of the road to any structure or thing that obstructs view) naturally decreases speeding without the need for annoying speed bumps, additional stop signs, or anything else that might impede the general flow of traffic. Through something as simple as planting trees along roads or improving walkability, we can reduce traffic, slow speeders, and create a more charming and accessible community.

Lexington levies more in taxes than many cities around us, including a municipal income tax. It is the Council’s duty to make sure every dime is being utilized efficiently and effectively.

I am committed to reducing bureaucracy and cutting waste to ensure that we use our tax dollars to invest in our community without having to increase taxes for working people and retirees who are already living paycheck-to-paycheck.

Ensuring Lexington remains a safe city is to the benefit of everyone who calls it a place to live, work, or invest in. Lexington deserves safe neighborhoods, secure communities, and a justice system that holds violent offenders accountable while respecting constitutional rights and due process. I support policies that help departments recruit and retain qualified officers, provide competitive compensation, and ensure officers have the tools necessary to do their jobs safely and effectively. I would also explore creating a Public Safety Support Corps that allows retired officers, qualified former law enforcement professionals, and trained civilian personnel to assist with appropriate non-emergency duties, administrative work, reporting, special events, and community outreach.

Additionally, Lexington should continue investing in prevention where it makes sense– including addiction recovery partnerships, workforce opportunities, and community programs. The role of law enforcement is not only to respond after a crime occurs, but to prevent crime by ensuring officers have the staffing, resources, training, and support needed to keep our neighborhoods safe.