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Reopening, Buffer Zones and Infrastructure
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
In alignment with the state and Federal guidance, City Hall will reopen completely on June 11th. This means that all meetings will return to face to face meetings, in chambers, with all Council members present. The first full Council meeting after June the 11th is the meeting where we vote on the budget. We complete the budget hearings this week and within the next couple weeks will make amendments to the Mayor’s proposed budget until we come to a final solution. I am advocating for maintaining full funding for our police and public safety to include new investments in technology to support their mission. I am working to move more funding toward deferred maintenance especially for our parks and facilities departments. I am also pushing for more spending on one-time capital projects such as sidewalk repair, road improvement, and other needed infrastructure development particularly in areas of rapid growth like District 19.
At the last Council meeting, I voted against the ‘buffer zone ordinance’ which creates a 10-foot zone where the public cannot protest in front of the EMW Women’s center (this is the only abortion clinic in the city). Regardless of my views on abortion (I am pro-life), in my opinion, this is an unconstitutional attack on free speech. I pointed out during my speech on the floor that there are many times where I have disagreed with what someone was saying in a public space. That does not mean that person doesn’t have the constitutionally protected right to be there and say it. Just because we may not like or support someone’s speech does not mean that public officials can limit their ability to say it or where they can say it. If we can, where does that end? Would you be ok if I limited your access to public spaces to advocate for racial justice? Women’s right? Equal pay? Do other private businesses who are protested get to block public sidewalks in front of their businesses? Finally, although there have been claims of harassment or violence at the center, there is no evidence of significantly disproportionate criminal activity. As a matter of fact, EMW Women’s center has some of the lowest incidences of illegal activity compared to all health care facilities and businesses in the city. Although there was bipartisan opposition to the ordinance, it did pass.
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