You are already taxed enough - let's not add to the burden. Public monies should not be used to pay for politicians' vanity projects.  Study after study has shown that stadiums and other entertainment venues have zero impact on economic activity,  they just move it from one area of the city to another. The city of Grand Rapids wants to issue $80 million in bonds for the amphitheater, raising taxes to spend on redundant venues all within the same, already saturated area. When interest is taken into account, the cost to the taxpayers could exceed well over 150 million dollars over 30 years. According to the city, they hope the project will produce $4.9 million in tax revenue over the same time period.  That's only $160,000/year in tax revenue, while spending more than $2.1 million dollars. That money could be better spent improving our roads, sidewalks, schools, parks, public transportation; things that benefit all our residents.

I understand the challenges that working parents face when it comes to finding affordable, high-quality childcare. This is not just a personal issue for families, but also a broader economic concern. When parents struggle to find and afford childcare, it can limit their ability to work and contribute to our local economy.

To address this issue, I propose modifying the local tax code to incentivize businesses to provide on-site, subsidized childcare for their employees. 

By incentivizing businesses to provide childcare, we can drive down costs and create a more supportive environment for working parents and families. This not only improves the quality of life for individuals, but also benefits our community as a whole by enabling parents to remain in the workforce - our local workforce - and contribute to our local economy.

The city is offering $200 million in tax breaks to the developers of 475 luxury apartments that would be adjacent to the amphitheater. That amounts to more than $400,000 per apartment! The average house price in Grand Rapids is only $280,000. The city is also going to allow those developers to retain all the city income tax of some residents by claiming that units are affordable housing, simply by lowering the rent from $4/month! That is grossly irresponsible. Close to 70% of Grand Rapidians do not support subsidizing the lifestyles of the wealthy, and neither do I. I am the only candidate opposed to having working people pay for wealthy people to live in luxury. As Mayor, I will do everything in my power to stop working citizens from subsidizing the wealthy. It doesn’t make sense to give huge property developers massive tax breaks, especially if it’s for economic activity that would already be taking place regardless of if there were luxury apartments or not.

Here's the bottom line, Affordable housing has become an issue for the residents of Grand Rapids. We need to incorporate more mixed-use zoning not only to drive down the cost of housing, but business rents as well. 

As mayor, one of my top priorities will be ensuring that our city's side streets are plowed more frequently during winter. This is not just about convenience—it's about safety. When side streets are left unplowed, it makes it difficult for emergency vehicles to reach people in need, makes it dangerous and difficulty for residents to get to their jobs and stores, and increases the risk of accidents for drivers and pedestrians alike.

By reducing the snow accumulation threshold for plowing streets from 3 to 2.5 inches, we can make our roads safer for everyone. Engaging in public-private partnerships, we can marshal more forces to quickly clear our streets when a crisis arrives without having to invest significantly in a larger public force that at other times may sit unused. Plus, this gives some of our local businesses an opportunity to grow, servicing the neighborhoods they already live and work in. And let's face it: no one likes being snowed in. By making these changes, we can improve the quality of life for our residents, drive growth, and ensure safety especially during the winter months when snowstorms can cause significant disruptions.

As your mayor, I will work tirelessly to ensure that our city's roads are clear, safe, and accessible for all.

As your mayor, I am committed to finding ways to ease the tax burden on residents. One way to achieve this is by improving the city's credit rating. A higher credit rating means lower interest rates on bonds, which in turn reduces the cost of borrowing for the city.

Lower borrowing costs translate into savings for taxpayers. This means we can invest in critical infrastructure and services without putting an undue financial strain on residents. Additionally, a strong credit rating signals to businesses and investors that our city is financially stable, which can attract new economic opportunities and further strengthen our community.

By focusing on fiscal responsibility and sound financial management, we can achieve a higher credit rating and ultimately lower the tax burden on our residents.