4th Aldermanic District

People differ on where they feel the center of life is in Glendale. To some, it is Kletzch Park. To others, Bayshore Mall. To many others, the sports fields at Parkway, Glen Hills, or Maslowski Park. We have a variety of popular neighborhood destinations, but they aren’t all in one location. Maslowski Park is intended to be that central hub, and to promote it more I would encourage businesses and government to host more events at the location, particularly during summer. I would ensure rental of facilities is available and affordable for family celebrations. I would encourage the establishment of a farmer’s market in spring and summer.

Glendale has been doing a terrific job of improving accessibility with expansion of bike trails and installation of sidewalks. It could do more with pedestrian safety, particularly in my area, where crossing Green Bay or Good Hope makes people, especially parents or grandparents with young children, nervous. More visible, better-defined crosswalks with lights, lower speed limits, and awareness campaigns and signage would contribute to this. Another issue is public transportation This is largely a matter of county funding, but several have expressed concerns over route reductions along Green Bay Avenue recently. To keep the area attractive to new families and businesses, we have to ensure we shape it as both a destination and a hub.

It’s important to promote business and commercial development, but at the end of the day, business should serve the community. Families feel crowded out when commercial development is promoted with little financial benefit to their tax bills. While dense developments might seem attractive in a landlocked city, it is single family homes that promote a sense of stability and truly attract new families to the areas.

We do have traffic issues. Some solutions include more sidewalks, lighting, and better defined crosswalks. Lower speed limits can help in some cases. In other cases, targeted enforcement of inattentive drivers would make a big difference.

Public notice of developments that impact residents has to be expanded in a meaningful way.

I will regularly communicate with residents by email and solicit their input. I’ll publish my phone number and answer residents’ calls. I will also use social media to inform residents of proposals and actions. I will attend public meetings and events to ensure people recognize me and know they can approach me.

To start, improvements must go through a consistent process for fairness and transparency. If someone came to me, I’d advise them to submit their proposals through the established city process. But once properly before the council, the key questions I will always ask are, “How does this benefit residents?” Does it improve our quality of life or detract from it? “

The city is fortunate to have strong finances, but there are challenges. First, I would advocate for fair funding from the state legislature. Next, we should be mindful of our leverage as a city. We can leverage better development deals and negotiate more favorable terms for our purchases. The third part is a comprehensive review of our financial picture, from our budget process to accounting. Many costs have been shifted from our tax bill to our water bill, which makes it harder to predict costs, and water bills, which recently doubled, aren’t deductible. It’s important to understand the financial checks and balances in the business office and review auditor reports for any concerns.

Ideally, and after collaboration with the rest of the council, I would hope to use these funds to improve pedestrian and bicyclist access and safety along our major arteries.

I live in the 4th District north of Good Hope Road. My subdivision is a series of cul-de-sacs. It’s a great place for young children to be able to play safely. It’s also close to Brown Deer Park and Kletzch Park. I enjoy many of our businesses, such as The Brick, Goody Gourmets, and the Sprecher Brewery. I attend Music in the Glen.