I ran for Ward 8 Alderwoman to ensure that the City of Springfield meets its commitment to all of our neighborhoods. This means prioritizing infrastructure needs and public safety.
From talking with people at doors, and listening to comments at neighborhood meetings, it’s clear that Ward 8 residents from Koke Mill to North Douglas have common needs: safe, drivable streets, clean, walkable sidewalks, and the basic infrastructure maintenance that improves quality of life in our neighborhoods.
While I do support growth and expansion, I believe that city officials need to balance any such growth with a commitment to maintaining and improving our existing neighborhoods.
STREETS
I work to support:
- regular repair cycles and basic maintenance
- snow-ploughing and salting
- street sweepers
- improved tree-trimming schedules
SIDEWALKS
We all need walkable, well maintained sidewalks that encourage people to get outside – spend time with kids, exercise, and walk dogs. A neighborhood with a healthy sidewalk network is one where people can be more involved, engaged, and connected.
It’s also important that sidewalk repair work is done in a manner that respects our lawns. I will carefully review sidewalk maintenance contracts to see that we include the requirement to repair lawns after sidewalks have been repaired.
SEWERS
Too many streets in Springfield experience routine flooding after heavy rainfalls. The city needs to make sure that it is dedicating resources towards maintaining and improving our existing sewer infrastructure. This is a daunting but vitally important task: we have over 140 miles of storm sewers.
NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY
Ward 8 encompasses a diverse mix of neighborhoods from the Historic West Side down to Koke Mill. This diversity brings with it a wide range of issues. As I communicate with residents in our ward, I hear some common safety concerns:
- No sidewalks on busy streets
- Cars speeding through residential neighborhoods
- Vacant & unsafe properties
- Home & auto break-ins
- Poorly lit streets
- Increased traffic on major thoroughfares
As alderwoman, I’ll continue to work tirelessly to address these infrastructure and safety issues. I will also serve as an active and engaged advocate for all residents and neighborhoods of Ward 8.
~ Erin