​​Our streets tell a story, and right now, that story includes too many bottles, wrappers, and trash on the ground. Springfield deserves cleaner, healthier neighborhoods. I will work with city officials to increase waste receptacles and to implement community cleanup initiatives that bring residents together to take pride in their spaces.

New residents joining our community should have the opportunity to learn about recycling and waste management straight from the City. Many materials like concrete, sawdust, and old appliances should not go in the solid waste receptacles. At the same time, many people in our neighborhoods are involved in home improvement projects due to the age of the housing stock. I will organize a timely mailing for Ward 6 residents to learn -or get a refresher- on how to dispose of different waste materials.

Substance abuse and mental health issues do not just affect individuals—they touch every corner of our city. The police are stretched thin with fewer and fewer cadets each year, and our approach must extend beyond enforcement. I will collaborate with the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, Springfield’s Project 2.0, and local organizations like the Behavioral Health Network to expand access to treatment, strengthen neighborhood support networks, and ensure our local nonprofits receive the resources they need to help those in crisis. Significant funding to address substance use and mental health treatment in Springfield will end in 2027. This funding is from the Massachusetts state government, and with funding cuts it might not be available again. I will make sure that over the next two years we build better and more varied networks of support from private and public sources to combat these issues. Families should not feel alone in the fight against addiction—we will build a system that offers real solutions and lasting hope.

Too often walking or driving in our neighborhoods includes a near-miss with a speeding vehicle. This is a public safety crisis that cannot go overlooked. The City needs to address speeding in all its forms, including around school buses. I will bring bus cameras on bus stop signs to the City Council to address this speeding crisis. It is important steps like this that will hold drivers accountable to the laws of our public ways.

Springfield families are being squeezed by rising property taxes, soaring utility bills, and skyrocketing housing costs. Too many are forced to choose between finally making necessary repairs and paying their bills. As your City Councilor, I will push for policies that increase affordable housing options, expand PILOT programs that help residents pay for their housing bills, and ensure that families don’t lose their homes and apartments due to financial strain.