Vision
Alongside the City’s Five Pillars, I also commit to pressing for and influencing this:
BRAND HIGHLAND PARK AS THE CITY OF THE ARTS
As a supporter of live music, street fairs, pop-up events, and public murals that leverage the arts to foment business activity and a vibrant city, and as someone who also loves to dance, I believe that the arts are not just a source of beauty and inspiration, but also a powerful economic driver.
So, one of my priorities is to amplify the ongoing advocacy of leaders like James Lynch, to have the City formally brand ourselves as The City of the Arts — given how much the Arts are part of our City’s DNA.
It makes Highland Park a place where culture and creativity are integrated into everyday life so everyone of all ages can thrive.
- We are home to the world-renowned Ravinia Music Festival, the Port Clinton Art Fair—the largest arts fair in the Midwest—and The Art Center Highland Park, the center of gravity for the arts in the North Shore and Lake County.
- Art galleries exist across the city and there are many world-class performers, dancers, comedians, costume makers, and concert talent who live here.
- Our arts scene has grown — for example, attendance at local cultural events increased by 25% in the past two years.
PRIORITIES and ACCOMPLISHMENTS
As a representative of the people of Highland Park and as a collaborative policymaker with my colleagues on City Council, my role is to respond to new trends, vexing challenges, and unprecedented opportunities by evaluating the effectiveness of our policies as well as to advocate for new ones.
When I ran for the first time four years ago, I supported the existing priority pillars the City already had (Fiscal Stability, Safety, and Infrastructure, and at the time, the catch-all Community Vibrancy). Plus, I came up with new ideas to enhance and accelerate their implementation.
I set out to influence the creation of a new one–Economic Development, which we did. I also sought out to prioritize being an even more inclusive and welcoming City where everyone feels they belong.
This time, I also seek to influence strategically differentiating Highland Park as The City of the Arts.
Here are my re-election commitments, along with some of my first-term collaborative accomplishments in delivering on my promises:
Economic Development: Invest in City Vibrancy
I’m proud to have led the efforts to establish Economic Development as a new key pillar of Highland Park’s future. This fifth pillar is now central to our strategy, ensuring we remain competitive and forward-thinking. This has contributed to:
- EFFECTIVE BUSINESS INCENTIVES — Voted in favor of economic incentives to make Highland Park more attractive to new restaurant concepts as well as supporting current restaurants’ upgrades. This has already led to more businesses opening or expanding in Highland Park, increasing commercial occupancy, contributing greater tax revenue to the City, and fostering a more vibrant community.
- DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION — Advocated, and voted for, a strategic comprehensive all-at-once (vs. piecemeal over a few years) enhancement of our Central Business District, with additional special work on Second Street. We did this through repaired, upgraded, and new streetscape, landscape, and lightscape. Also tripled the landscaping budget, added more frequent trash collection, and invested in new street tables, chairs, benches, and umbrellas, as well built out comprehensive walking accessibility measures.
- ENHANCING NIGHTTIME VIBRANCY IN THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS. Highland Park should not just be a daytime destination, but also a place where people want to spend their evenings. We are making visible progress, but there is still more to bring to a close in the pipeline of new possibilities.
- BEEN CONSISTENT ADVOCATE FOR MORE STREAMLINED, EASY-TO-NAVIGATE, EMPATHETIC CITY PROCESSES for residents, developers, and businesses.
- VOTED YES TO RESCIND OUTDATED LIQUOR LICENSE ORDINANCE that does not allow liquor license holders to serve in public office, which led to a duly-elected City Councilmember to have to step down despite having been elected by the most votes. This law remains in the books even with a 82% vote in favor of rescinding it in a non-binding referendum. This will of the people must be respected.
Inclusivity: Building an Even More Welcoming City
I’ve been an advocate of being a fully inclusive City so we can be a Highland Park where everyone feels they belong.
- Brought my insights and expertise as a global and national Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) practitioner to a broad range of policy decisions.
- Played influential role in forming the Highland Park Disability Inclusion working group.
- Developed and inspired Latino talent and leadership to be more visible in our Community and to aspire for leadership roles.
- Actively supportive of efforts to best protect against anti-semitism.
- Advocated for the City to formally — and consistently — equitably celebrate Black History Month, Woman’s History Month, AAPIHI Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Disability Month, and Jewish Heritage Month.
- Always responsive to any resident who reaches out seeking guidance, understanding, and help.
Environmental Sustainability: Reach Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2035
For over a decade the City has had comprehensive and ambitious plans to play our role in reducing carbon emissions into our overheating planet. And since 2023 we now have turned those commitments into a pledge to reach net zero by 2035.
I have voted in favor of these various initiatives:
- Enabling/incentivizing expansion of solar energy use.
- Gas-powered leaf blower ban with a three-year transition period, and we are entering the third year of that.
- Improving energy efficiency in public buildings (45% of city-owned buildings are currently powered by renewable energy sources).
- Supporting the adoption of electric vehicles across the city.
- Composting services available at a very low cost for all residents city-wide.
Our efforts are recognized by organizations such as the Illinois Green Alliance for leading the way among mid-sized cities in environmental stewardship.
These next three pillars are already a strength in our City, and I am committed to ensuring they remain that way even as we need to commit to question, modernize, and anticipate the implications of technological, economic, and societal changes and new trends we must adapt to:
Public Safety: Keeping All Safe
Our police and fire first responders must remain equipped, trained, and affirmed in ways that continue to keep crime rates low and ensure rapid emergency response. And to do this while continue to nurture an ongoing culture of inclusive policing that is engaged fully with the community (residents, visitors, workers, and students), which our HPPD and HPFD already so well
Infrastructure: Building for the Future
Good and updated infrastructure is the backbone of quality of life, ease of movement, safety, and economic vitality. In the past four years, we have invested over $100 million in city infrastructure that has led to several dozens of miles of resurfaced roads, many blocks of repaired sidewalks and curbs — which make for a more attractive, safe, and effective City that works for all.
Fiscal Stability: Responsible Management of the People’s Money
Oversaw, along with full Council, the yearly fully balanced and high impact, award winning budget of nearly $130M for the past four years. Our city consistently has had a AAA bond rating. It receives top ratings for its budgeting practices, earning accolades such as the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. We also avoid unnecessary debt while ensuring the city’s critical needs are met.