Civic Engagement
On April 29, I’m asking for your support of my candidacy for Member
of the Planning Board so that we can continue and expand on a dialogue
about the kind of town we want Swampscott to be. It’s a dialogue
not only about the town we live in today, but also the town we want to
live in five, ten, or 25 years from now. I’m excited about this
opportunity and welcome your ideas!
While the traditional means of dialogue – with a formal board at the
front of the room and opportunities for limited public comment --
might still be valuable for conducting official business, it’s time
that town government made more of an effort to engage residents on
their own terms. Online question-and-answer sessions, posted
announcements at the train station, optional text message alerts of
important town forums, or meet-and-greets over coffee are all options
to get more community members engaged.
Perhaps even more important, though, is for elected officials to go the
extra mile to ensure that major development proposals in our town are
actively vetted with all abutters and neighbors. Of course, our
political system protects against any one person having veto power over
how someone wishes to improve their property, but good development
ensures that those who will share the benefits and burdens are
well-informed of the expected impacts.