Environment 

Madison’s lakes and wildlife are what drew me to Madison in the first place, and are one of the city’s most beloved assets. But decisions made in the areas surrounding Madison affect the quality of our lakes and streams, and impact our groundwater. Madison has a steadfast approach to salt reduction, frequent street cleaning to keep leaf matter - which contains a lot of phosphorous - out of our lakes, and is continually working to improve how stormwater moves to filter out as many contaminants as possible before the water reaches our lakes.

Our built environment affects our everyday lives in a multitude of ways. For example, bus rapid transit will allow more people to access reliable, affordable public transportation, reducing the need for individual car travel. These improvements will lead to a better environment for everyone.

Economics

Madison is facing significant budgetary challenges. We need to be positioned to respond in ways that don’t further create disparities between those who are already doing well and those who aren’t; rather, we need a budgetary path forward that lifts up those most in need of help, while ensuring stalwart businesses and organizations in our community continue to thrive. We will need to work collaboratively through centering community voices to achieve an equitable path forward.

Equity

Madison is a wonderful place to live, if you can afford it. Many in our community have been priced out of living a reasonable distance from their jobs, and must make the choice of a long commute in order to access affordable housing. Longer commutes contribute to pollution, climate change, and traffic congestion. Our elders, who often live on fixed incomes, benefit from being close to community services, including medical care. That’s why it’s so important for policies and systems to be designed to ensure affordable housing options are available for our most vulnerable residents.

The majority of people in Wisconsin experience overweight or obesity. Paradoxically, these conditions often co-occur with nutrition insecurity. Part of the challenge of keeping a healthy weight is having access to nutritious foods. Access means both physical access, in that foods must be able to be acquired within one’s community, and financial access, where nutritious foods are affordable year-round. Madison has an abundant food system, yet not everyone has the same level of access to it, particularly in colder months. Efforts to sustain and improve our food system will benefit all of us. I have been honored to be part of key efforts to improve the accessibility and availability of nutritious foods for all of our city residents, including ensuring the Madison Public Market could come to fruition.

It is critically important to apply an equity lens to our law enforcement practices. I have been a champion of Madison’s Community Alternative Response Emergency Services (CARES) program, which has led to a dramatic decrease in the need for police presence at calls where the primary issue is a behavioral health crisis. This program is successfully keeping people from ever entering our justice system.