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​Accomplishments

  • Safer and more equitable pedestrian spaces

    • Guided staff to update administrative regulations for traffic calming devices and sidewalk installations that:

      • Is an equitable process for both single family homeowners and renters

      • Promotes installations in nearby schools and parks

      • Supports safer public transportation access

    • Created a four way stop at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Maple Avenue at the request of residents.

    • Worked with Public Works to create no parking zones at the Takoma Park Elementary School.

    • Appointed to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board positioning me to understand the context of bigger regional issues while achieving our local goals.

  • Supporting more opportunities and better stability for homeownership and renters in Takoma Park

    • Testified at the Maryland Senate in support of Just Cause Eviction.

    • Supported the adoption of Minor Master Plan Amendment as a zoning tool to remove a barrier in the creation of more housing. 

    • Recently attended the Maryland Municipal League’s Summer Housing Symposium to better understand State resources available to Takoma Park.

    • Reached out to landlords in support of tenant issues.

  • Youth Engagement

    • Hosted seven MCPS RISE students in the last two years.

    • Serve as Youth Council liaison from the City Council. 

    • Stop into the Teen Lounge weekly to hear their views on the City.

    • Attended both of the Gen Z Political Conventions and co-hosted a voter registration table at Blair with Councilmember Honzak.

    • I feel comfortable saying that the youth in Takoma Park are likely to reach out to me, due to my experience as a Girl Scout leader and the continued investment of my time. 

  • Community Bulletin Boards added to the FY2024 Budget.

    • In an effort to find more ways to reach residents that are not using electronic communication, in 2023 I proposed adding funds for bulletin boards throughout Takoma Park. 

  • Worked with the Takoma Park City Council in hiring of the new City Manager Robert DiSpirito

    • His 28 years of experience has made him a great fit for Takoma Park.

    • He quickly appointed Deputy City Managers David Eubanks and Andrew Bolduc, actions enthusiastically supported by the City Council.

    • I am particularly impressed by his ability to engage the SHA.

  • Worked with OTBA and the City Manager for better placement of a future bus shelter to meet the needs of the community. 

  • Worked with Montgomery County Parks at Takoma Piney Branch Park to get protective fencing to lessen erosion and tree root exposure.

  • Continue to support other Wards throughout Takoma Park as I am able

    • Hosted a voter registration table at the Crossroads Farmers Market.

    • Attended an alcohol licensing hearing to support The Takoma/Langley Crossroads Development Authority in their fight to stop an additional liquor store in their neighborhood.

    • Frequently help with Councilmember Seamens’ grocery delivery to low income neighbors.

 

Future Priorities

  • Advancing pedestrian and cyclist rights to safety and quality of experience. As a community who champions environmental stewardship, we need to align our pedestrian experience with that value. 

    • SHA has installed our requested pedestrian crosswalk at Chicago Avenue and Philadelphia Avenue in a location where it will not be utilized. I will continue to advocate changes to be made to that intersection to give deference to pedestrians.

    • Continue work with other elected officials and with SHA to give pedestrian issues more attention.

    • Support funding more sidewalks to provide networks that better connect schools and parks to the community, such as the proposed sidewalks in Hodges Heights.

    • Find solutions for neighborhood streets that experience speed violations, especially wide ones such as Takoma Avenue.

      • I will continue to advocate for our city to be permitted to use stop sign cameras (requires a change in Maryland law)

      • Advocate for using “temporary traffic calming devices.” 

      • Support using Laurel Avenue as a public square during the weekends as a test program. 

  • Advancing homeownership opportunities for middle income residents.

    • Takoma Park has an obligation to diversify housing stock, both through building new homes and supporting changes in single family housing zoning. Homeownership is one of the best ways that we achieve generational wealth and opportunities for homeownership need to be expanded. 

  • Working towards fully funding our reserves and addressing the City’s structural deficit.

    • I recently joined the board of the Montgomery County chapter of the Maryland Municipal League in order to continue to advance the tax duplication issues that we experience and to push our County Executive’s Office of Management and Budget to correctly account services our municipality provides. 

    • When I took part in the hiring of the new City Manager, we made it clear that addressing the City’s deficit is a priority for the City Council.

    • Our deficit will need to be addressed by the City Manager’s Office and City Council working together to make big changes in our spending and revenue. 

    • Over the last year, I took part in a Finance & Budget Working Group along with two other council members

      • The working group expanded the budgetary calendar in order to make bigger changes more feasible and to allow time for more public feedback for the FY2026 budget. 

 

https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/news/newsletter/2023/TPN_1223_FINAL.pdf

https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/news/newsletter/2024/TPN_0324_FINAL.pdf

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