The War on Cars: Rebuilding Our Cities for Us

Campaign Updates!

Hello everyone!

This past week has been a busy walking week. I am slowly realizing district 8 is larger than I thought but with grit and determination, I know I will be capable of meeting you all many times.

We have also begun putting up posters throughout the district advertising my campaign kick-off event which will be happening on Saturday, August 2nd from 4-8 PM! (Check out the cool poster created by Ash of Wiz Design!) This is a fun opportunity to come meet members of the community, eat good food, support local vendors, dance along to live music from local bands, and meet me and hear about why a bold vision for this city is not only possible, but necessary.

I was also fortunate enough to meet with the Solidarity Lowell team this past weekend during a cookout. I got some great advice for running a campaign and am fortunate enough to have shared a meal with people striving for positive change in Lowell.

Reflections: Cars and the Freedom of Choice

As I walk the streets, and see our children bike in circles in small streets I imagine a safer and more connected Lowell. I imagine a Lowell where any one of us is capable of moving happily and freely to any part of Lowell. I imagine a Lowell where people are empowered with choices. With the choice to safely bike short distances, instead of paying for gas. The choice to take a short bus ride and not search for parking. Or the choice to walk, on well maintained sidewalks, under the shade of trees, around a neighborhood where businesses are nearby and integrated. 

The importance of infrastructure which embodies free movement cannot be understated; To move away from car-dependency is to positively rebuild our society. When we ditch our cars, we will save upwards of $1,000 a month and money now futilely spent on infrastructure maintenance can be diverted to those departments which have been neglected. When we ditch our cars, we will have cleaner air, live healthier lives, and less of us will tragically die in car-related accidents. When we ditch our cars, we move together as a community and not as isolated boxes of metal. When we ditch our cars, we will not have to sit in rage-inducing traffic four times a day simply to get to where we must. When we ditch our cars, our downtown and communities will revitalize and thrive. 

We must recognize car-dependency for what it is - a sinister trap, laid years ago by the oil and car industries to gut and destroy existing and flourishing public transit infrastructure, and give people no choice but to use cars. Cars infect our air, irritate and isolate us, impoverish our communities, and injure our neighbors. As city councilor, I would demand a rapid change to this. One main way to achieve this is to begin implementing the GoLowell plan immediately. It is the right decision if we care about the health and wellbeing of our neighbors and if we want our city to be more financially secure.

The Road Forward and Upcoming Appearances