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Craig Kelley - Platform for City CouncilNeighborhoods CountI still believe that no one knows a neighborhood better than the people who live there, and I try to listen to those people as often as I can. I have been a voice for neighborhood residents on issues, writing letters and attending meetings on issues ranging from overdevelopment to late hours for bars to noisy or potentially dangerous business uses adjacent to residential areas. I have pushed for easy solutions to some neighborhood issues — such as getting residential stickers for Zipcars to allow for easier use — and tougher ones, such as trying to figure out just how much parking should new developments be required to have. In my next term, I will continue to:
Safe Streets are Essential in Having a Livable CityI still believe that streets must be safe for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as motorists. The Police, in conjunction with residents, businesses and other City agencies, must be more proactive in developing and implementing sustainable public safety programs, with an emphasis on Community Policing. I have worked to get the police to focus more on their traffic safety duties, to get the DPW to put more effort into fixing potholes and clearing sidewalks, to get the City to put traffic enforcement data on the City's website and, in general, to get City management to take these street safety issues more seriously. I have also served as co-Chair of the Community Response Task Force, working with others to develop a roadmap to help neighbors and City agencies build and maintain safer communities. In my next term I will continue to:
We Need a Strong, Dynamic School SystemI still believe that good schools are at the heart of a healthy city. As a Councilor with children in the Public School system, I have worked to get my fellow Councilors to better understand that, through its budgetary oversight responsibilities, the City Council has some responsibilities for our schools. I have also argued that providing a better educational experience for all of our children requires far more teamwork between CPS, our libraries, our Human Services programs, our housing communities and other groups. In my next term, I will continue to:
High Tax Loads are Linked to High City SpendingI still believe that the City must work harder to ensure we don't spend money unnecessarily. I voted against the City budget for both of the last two years because I did not think we were getting our money's worth, primarily from our School Department but also from various City agencies such as the Community Development Department and the Traffic, Transportation and Planning Department. The additional costs of projects such as the West Cambridge Youth and Community Center need to be justified by hosting successful programs. In my next term, I will continue to push for:
We Need a Long-term, Sustainable Housing PolicyI still think that few things are as important to Cambridge as providing opportunities for people who do not have high paying jobs or a background of wealth. But Cambridge must do a better job of ensuring that our affordable housing is also acceptable housing, and that it is matched with appropriate support programs to help residents of affordable housing develop the skills and financial ability to move into market rate housing if they wish. In my next term, I will continue to push for:
City Council Service is a PrivilegeI still think that City Councilors must always remember that we serve the public and cannot take that public for granted. We need to pay attention when members of the public talk to us during Council meetings, we need to go out of our way to attend neighborhood meetings and we need to recognize that the Internet and email is an increasingly popular method for people to communicate with us. During my next term, I will continue to:
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