We can do this by calming traffic. We can take an informed and citywide approach to making our streets safe. This would make our streets safer for children, cyclists, dog walkers, people with disabilities, and older adults. This includes building sidewalks for underserved streets.

These are challenging times for our household and city budgets. Many in our community have lost their jobs and have struggled to find work. We need to balance the taxes we collect with the services we provide. In the longer term, we need to diversify and broaden our tax base to rely less on property taxes on our homes by promoting growth on the old hospital site and the New Hampshire corridor.

Services need to work well for all of us. Beyond collecting trash and maintaining our streets, what makes Takoma Park a great place is our library, support for the arts, recreation programs, Tree Takoma, and assistance to our most vulnerable residents. We need a balanced approach: living within our means while always asking how we can take small steps to improve the city we call home.

We have made progress in promoting clean energy and keeping our city green. Takoma Park can continue exploring ways to promote clean energy use, including further electrifying its fleet and expanding its electric-vehicle charging infrastructure. Our stormwater spending can improve the water quality in our creeks, and our commitment to our urban forest canopy makes for a livable city.