New London’s commercial district is the City’s heartbeat – when downtown businesses thrive, the whole community benefits. That’s why we need a thoughtful, strategic plan for a sustainable downtown; one that balances restaurants, retail, services, cultural venues, and event spaces. A healthy mix of businesses not only supports our residents’ needs but also attracts visitors and new investment to our City.

The best ideas will come from collaboration. By engaging directly with local business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, we can identify what’s working, what’s missing, and what kinds of businesses will complement our existing strengths and future goals. It’s all very possible when we commit to working together strategically with a shared vision in mind.

Deciding to move to New London after years of working and volunteering here was driven largely by our desire to have our two boys attend local schools. We love the diversity of this community and were attracted to the magnet structure which ensures a standard of excellence across different subject matters. My time on the Board of Finance, however, exposed me to a different reality of New London’s school system – a lack of transparency and real understanding of how taxpayer dollars are being spent.

With schools accounting for 50% of every dollar of our City’s budget, the more information we can provide to residents about what the money is spent on - and the more evidence we have that the money is being spent wisely - will allow the City Council to increase the Board of Education’s appropriation each and every year. More money, yes, but more clarity and open dialogue as well. We need to fund our students’ success and we need to support our teachers with a competitive living wage. With creativity, focus, and mission alignment, we can do better and we will. I’m ready to do the work.

Housing affordability is a nationwide crisis. In New London we see and hear about lots of new apartments being built and yet the affordability issue is not getting any better. This is because the key to affordable housing in a community like ours is creating opportunity for home ownership.

With our limited footprint of 5.5 square land miles, New London can ease the burden of increased housing costs by expanding opportunities for ownership of multi-family homes. Promoting our enhanced and expanded zoning regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units is a great place to start!

A safe, clean, and well-maintained City is the foundation for a community’s long-term success. Public safety starts with a visible presence on our streets. That means increasing the number of police officers downtown so residents, visitors, and local businesses feel secure and supported. At the same time, safety isn’t just about enforcement—it’s also about the spaces we share.

Clean streets, well-kept sidewalks, parks, and public spaces make neighborhoods inviting and show pride in our community. Investing in more public works staff is just as important as strengthening our police presence. When streets are clean and safe, people feel secure walking to local shops, dropping kids at school, or enjoying our vibrant nightlife. Every resident of New London will benefit from greater investment in public safety.

I’ve been having fun in New London for decades. Much of that fun was sponsored by our incredible, thriving non-profit and arts community. We are fortunate to enjoy a vast music scene and an amazing variety of talented artists working in all different mediums right here in our little City. We also serve as a hub of social services for the Southeastern Connecticut region. I’ve done my part to support the non-profit and arts community through direct patronage and donations, by serving on various Boards and ad-hoc committees, and by providing pro-bono legal services for many community partners. The Garde Arts Center, Hygienic Art, Spark Makerspace, and Habitat for Humanity are just a few of the local clients I’ve been honored to represent over the last 13 years.

Too many New Londoners feel like decisions are being made about their City behind closed doors.  We need to shine a light on the important day-to-day business being conducted at City Hall with taxpayer dollars. City Councilors have the unique opportunity to ask questions of our Administration and Department Leaders and I’ve been doing just that since my appointment to the Council in May.  From the passing of Ordinances to address street takeovers, to assessing proposals for Ocean Beach operators, you can count on me to read the material, ask the tough questions, and to make sure each and every resident of our City has a seat at the decision-making table.