PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime in the streets and drugs in our community undermine our quality of life. Our police need the resources and tools to prevent crime and keep our community safe.

        1. Implement community policing so that we have more police officers on the streets and on the beat. A visible police presence
         is the best deterrent to criminal and unruly activity.

        2. Provide additional funding to hire more police officers and buy better equipment and technology.

        3. Expand drug treatment programs to break the cycle of addiction that fuels many crimes.

        4. Facilitate better communication and cooperation between city and college police departments.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

Every child deserves a safe and quality public education. Boston has made great strides in improving its public schools, but there is more to be done. We must support our teachers and our parents to provide better learning opportunities for our children.

        1. Expand funding for early childhood education to ensure that ever child enters kindergarten ready to learn.

        2. Develop K-8 schools throughout the community to best utilize the finest teachers, administrators, and practices and to
         provide our students with a long-term stable learning environment.

        3. Implement more flexible programs to make it easier for busy parents to get more involved in their children’s schools.

        4. Work with police, administrators, teachers, and parents to ensure that every school is a safe haven for learning and growth.

INSTITUTIONAL EXPANSION

Uncontrolled growth of local colleges and institutions threatens the vitality of our residential community. We need an experienced and effective advocate who listens to our concerns and who will get results.

        1. Extend time periods for the community to review and respond to plans filed with the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA).

        2. Demand that colleges and institutions respond to community concerns and provide interim plans prior to filing any with the
         BRA.

        3. Develop mortgage subsidy program under which colleges provide low interest loans to employees who purchase homes in
         the community and agree to personally occupy those homes and stay in the community.

        4. Require conservation easements from institutions and other developers to permanently protect and increase open space in
         the community.

        5. Demand that Harvard repair and lease its vacant properties on Western Avenue to local businesses that will provide vital
         services and jobs to the community.

        6. Require colleges to build new housing far from residential areas.

HOUSING

The availability of affordable housing for all families is one of the most important issues facing our community and our city. We cannot lose the affordable units that we have and we cannot allow every house to be turned into an apartment building or an investment opportunity for absentee landlords.

        1. Work with city and state agencies, the Allston-Brighton Community Development Corporation, and financial
         institutions to preserve existing affordable units that are set to revert to market-rate under expiring contracts.

        2. Increase fines on landlords who violate the law and charge such fines as part of property taxes to ensure that
         bad landlords pay for their misconduct.

        3. Demand that colleges house their students on their core campuses so that the cost of housing in our community
         is not artificially inflated.

        4. Require developers to create more affordable housing as part of any new project.

        5. Lower the threshold for families to qualify for affordable housing.

HONEST AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT

We need greater transparency in our local government so that citizens are aware of proposals which impact them and so they can be more engaged in the democratic process.

        1. Establish a separate Planning Department which is independent of the BRA.

        2. Make all proposed ordinances and other proposals available online so that residents can make informed
         comments on the issues being considered by the City Council.

        3. Hold monthly meetings in the community to update residents on recent actions taken by the City Council.

        4. Publish and distribute a comprehensive calendar of community meetings and events.

        5. Develop an e-mail alert system for important news and events in the community and at City Hall.

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Tim wants to hear your concern and ideas for initiatives in your neighborhood or issues that affect you. Please email Tim what concern you are thinking about on the contact form below. Tim will be releasing more of his platform soon and will be adding more  as the campaign progresses.

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Paid for and Authorized by the Committee to Elect Tim Schofield, Charles Rourke, Treasurer