Our Plan for Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is completely unaffordable for working families and seniors. Government should exist to lower costs and make life easier. As your next mayor I will:
Put our community in the center of the decision making process. No more performative public engagement where the outcome is pre-ordained.
Fix the roads and infrastructure while expanding direct public services by eliminating bloated consultant contracts and shrinking administrative overhead.
Make historic investments in publicly-owned, permanently affordable housing by leveraging our revenue-bonding capacity and land without increasing taxes.
Ensure public work is done by public workers, public land is used for public purposes, and public money is used for public services.
Infrastructure
1. What are your top infrastructure priorities for Ann Arbor?
I will invest in the basics that keep our city running: repairing roads, bridges, sidewalks, water mains, sewer systems, and stormwater infrastructure. I also support modernizing public facilities, improving energy infrastructure, and building climate-resilient systems that can meet future needs.
2. How will you improve transportation and public safety?
I will prioritize safer streets through expanded pedestrian, bicycle, and non-motorized infrastructure, improved lighting, sensible traffic safety measures, and stronger Vision Zero implementation. Every resident should be able to travel safely, whether they walk, bike, ride transit, or drive.
3. How will you ensure infrastructure projects are actually completed?
I will establish clear accountability measures, public progress tracking, and regular reporting on major infrastructure and safety projects. Residents deserve transparency, measurable outcomes, and a government that follows through on its commitments.
4. What is your vision for public transit?
I will work to make public transit faster, more reliable, and more accessible, including free transit options for low-income riders. I support transit-oriented development, stronger regional transit options, improved bus service, and investments that reduce dependence on cars while expanding transportation choices.
Housing
1. Ann Arbor is getting too expensive for working families, seniors, and young people. What would you do about that?
We are in a true affordability crisis. I will treat housing as essential public infrastructure and make historic investments in publicly owned, permanently affordable housing. We cannot build our way out of this crisis by building luxury condos for the ultra-wealthy. That means expanding the Housing Commission, creating community land trusts, supporting housing cooperatives, and exploring social housing models that keep homes permanently affordable.
2. Why is housing so important to you?
I believe housing is a human right. And with over 800 people experiencing homelessness in Ann Arbor, it means we are currently violating the human rights of 800 people right here in our community. We can’t keep relying on luxury development and hoping the developers solve the problem. My administration will focus on building and preserving housing that stays permanently affordable, expanding public and community-owned housing options, and making sure everyone has access to safe, stable housing.
3. What does “Democratizing Density” mean for my neighborhood?
It means giving residents a real voice in shaping growth and making it easier to add housing from the ground up. I support more neighborhood-scale housing options like accessory dwelling units, duplexes and triplexes, while cutting unnecessary barriers so communities can grow in a way that works for them.
4. A lot of renters are afraid of being pushed out. How will you protect people from displacement and gentrification?
I will create an anti-displacement unit, pass the Tenant’s Bill of Rights, create a tenant advocate office, and pass a community benefits ordinance. These policies will protect renters, fight gentrification, and make sure new development benefits existing residents instead of pushing them out.
5. How will your housing plan make Ann Arbor more sustainable and livable?
I support mixed-income, mixed-use, transit-oriented growth that reduces sprawl, protects farmland and natural areas, and creates walkable neighborhoods. Future development should include vibrant local businesses, expanded green space, preserved historic buildings, and well-designed housing that strengthens our community.
6. How will you support people experiencing homelessness or economic hardship?
I will direct resources toward proactive outreach, housing support, food assistance, and case management services. Investing resources proactively to keep people housed that are struggling to pay the bills will be an important part of my plan. My approach will be both local and regional, recognizing that this issue can not be addressed in isolation. The goal is to tackle the root causes of housing instability and help people access the services they need before crises escalate.
Labor Rights
1. How will you support workers and strengthen unions in Ann Arbor?
I will make Ann Arbor a model union town by supporting collective bargaining, opposing anti-worker policies, creating a Labor Advisory Council with a formal role in city decision-making, and using the mayor's office to advocate for pro-worker legislation at the state level. Workers deserve a seat at the table year-round, not just during election season.
2. How will you ensure taxpayer dollars support good jobs?
I support responsible contractor standards, strong safeguards against payroll fraud and worker misclassification, and requirements that public projects use skilled, fairly compensated workers. Contractors that violate labor laws or fail to meet their obligations to workers should not receive public contracts.
3. What will you do to improve wages and working conditions?
City workers have been without a contract since January, that is unacceptable. I will strengthen and enforce living wage standards for all city employees and contractors, index wages to inflation, and pursue policies that improve working conditions for temp workers. No one working for or on behalf of the City of Ann Arbor should earn poverty wages.
4. How will you address outsourcing and privatization?
I will bring city services back in-house and invest in public employees rather than private consultants and contractors. Public services should be delivered by accountable public workers, with union protections, fair benefits, and high-quality service for residents.
5. How will you make Ann Arbor affordable for working families?
I will fight rising inequality through investments in permanently affordable housing, expanded public services that lower costs and make life easier, lower utility burdens for working families, and stronger labor protections. My goal is an Ann Arbor where working people can afford to live, raise a family, and build a secure future in the community they serve.
Affordability
1. What is your top priority as Mayor?
My top priority is making Ann Arbor affordable again for working families, seniors, young people, and the workers who keep our city running. Government should exist to lower costs and improve quality of life. Every major policy decision I make will be guided by whether it makes life more affordable and accessible for residents.
2. How will you address the housing affordability crisis?
I will make historic investments in publicly owned, permanently affordable housing by leveraging the city's revenue bonding capacity and public land. Rather than relying on luxury development and trickle-down economics, I will expand public housing, community land trusts, cooperatives, and other permanently affordable housing models that keep people in Ann Arbor for the long term.
3. How will you lower the overall cost of living?
Housing is only one part of the affordability crisis. I will work to lower costs through public transit, public utilities, and expanded city services. When we invest in public goods that serve everyone we reduce costs. By reducing household spending on rent, transportation, and utilities, we can make Ann Arbor a place where working people can thrive rather than struggle to stay.
4. How will you improve water affordability and access?
Water is a human right. I support strengthening and expanding the city's water utility while creating a rate structure that guarantees every resident access to basic drinking water needs. Higher-volume users should pay a greater share, ensuring affordability for ordinary households while promoting conservation.
Environment
1. What is your plan to address climate change in Ann Arbor?
Climate change is the defining challenge of our time, and Ann Arbor must act with urgency. I will pursue bold, measurable action to reduce emissions, protect our natural environment, and build a more sustainable city. This means accelerating the transition to renewable energy, investing in green infrastructure, and ensuring every major city decision is evaluated through a climate lens.
2. Why do you support public power?
Public power is the single most important step Ann Arbor can take to achieve its climate goals. A publicly owned utility would allow us to transition to 100% renewable energy, improve reliability, lower costs, and reinvest revenue back into the community rather than sending profits to corporate shareholders. Public ownership gives residents control over our energy future while dramatically reducing carbon emissions.
3. How will you reduce transportation emissions?
The best way to reduce transportation emissions is to reduce car dependency. I will continue expanding public transit, walking, biking, and trail infrastructure while making transit faster, more reliable, and more affordable. Safe, convenient alternatives to driving reduce emissions, improve public health, and make Ann Arbor more accessible for everyone.
4. How will you protect Ann Arbor’s natural environment?
Our trees, parks, wetlands, prairies, and natural areas are essential climate infrastructure. I will strengthen protections for mature trees, expand native habitat restoration, increase urban tree canopy, and prioritize green infrastructure projects that improve biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and climate resilience for future generations.
5. How will you ensure the city follows through on its climate commitments?
I will establish stronger accountability measures, including a Climate Emergency Task Force and climate-focused reviews of city budgets, investments, and major projects. Ann Arbor has ambitious climate goals; my administration will focus on turning those commitments into measurable results through transparency, public oversight, and sustained political leadership.