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Dear Neighbor,
This week’s news of re-opening of our state starting in a few days comes with mixed feelings and messages. On one hand it will help so many people struggling in this economy to go back to jobs, and on the other it makes so many of us nervous as people that live in high risk categories of this awful virus. I appreciate the ideas sent in regards to last week’s piece about how to safely move toward more summer enjoyment and sanity and have made sure they are being considered.
My day-to-day as your Council Member has been deeply involved in city budget conversations. Our city has been examining it with a financial impact perspective in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like most businesses, non-profits, other local governments, and quite frankly many families, the city’s year financially is shaping up to look greatly different from what we knew when we passed the 2020 budget back in December. I chair our city’s Budget Committee, and am committed to revising our budget formally with our current situation in mind, and also new projected forecasts and uncertainties that have come up. This is an enormous effort, but we will work with the Mayor to come to agreement on what the next six months of spending should strategically look like and what cuts will need to be made. I’ll be detailing that out in future newsletters and more information comes to light.
I'm hoping that weekend weather still allows me to plant trees that I’m picking up from the city’s Tree Trust program for myself and others. The Soil Regeneration project along the trolley path (York Ave S between 43rd and 44th St) has been inspiring, and we recently got to collect some of the free compost that was offered to help improve soil health around our own yard.
 From Left to Right: Oliver, Charlie, and Linea Palmsiano
Thank you for all you are each doing to contribute to a safe and healthy environment in our city! I sure am grateful.
Regards,
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