Improving the economic viability in Indianapolis is about attracting people and building a high quality of life for those that call Indianapolis home. Talented people will attract business and talented people want to live in communities where they are safe, connected, and where quality of life is high.

Vibrant city parks are crucial to this vision. Vibrant, clean, and safe city parks provide citizens with the comfort and enjoyability they are looking for when deciding on where to live. Healthy city parks are a sign of a healthy city and healthy people. Parks that are poorly maintained or unsafe are not signs of paradise, but of a city struggling to get by. Indianapolis can do more than just get by, Indianapolis can thrive. Citizens of Indianapolis should not look at their park as an eyesore or a place that is unsafe, they should see their parks as a paradise where they can relax and enjoy the city in which they live. 

My vision for Indianapolis includes city parks that are accessible to all. Connecting people to areas where they can enjoy their favorite recreational activities. Parks should be easy to get to either by foot or bike. Our city’s Parks should never feel out of reach. Stretches of Indianapolis are underutilized in this regard. For instance, stretches of abandoned railways like the Nickel Plate Rail Line are great opportunities to build trails that will connect people to areas around their city and make parks and amenities more accessible.

My vision in creating additional parks that are more vibrant and more accessible requires innovative funding strategies. Park funding in Indianapolis is often overshadowed by our public safety budget, making it difficult to piece together a sustainable funding mechanism. We need to give people the opportunity to enjoy and be proud of where they are from. All it takes is someone to have a vision for Indianapolis. My vision for Indianapolis is paradise. 

In 2022, there were 1,761 people experiencing homelessness in Indianapolis. Although this number shows a slight decrease when compared to the previous year, the number is still higher than that recorded before the pandemic. Homelessness is impacting more than just single individuals, but families with children as well. Our city cannot continue to see such high numbers of homelessness and must do more to break the cycle.

As mayor, I will address the issue of homelessness by extending a helping hand. No one should be punished for being poor. Ending homelessness begins with an individual’s health. Organizations like the Gennesaret Free Clinics offer free health services to our city’s most vulnerable. 

Education is tremendously important in influencing residents in deciding where to live. Our city needs to take education seriously. An investment in our schools and educational opportunities is an investment in this city’s future. We cannot grow unless our schools are receiving the support they need from the mayor’s office. 

This investment needs to begin at the earliest opportunity. We now know that early childhood education can have long lasting impacts on a child and how they develop. An investment in early childhood education is a long term investment that ensures our future generations have the foundation they need to succeed. As mayor, I will advocate tirelessly for funding at the local and state level to expand access to high quality early childhood education.

Innovation needs to be embraced and encouraged in our schools. Indianapolis continues to be a charter school authorizer and has been since 2001. As mayor, I will encourage innovative school models to address the unique needs in every neighborhood, while requiring that new schools rise to the level of quality our city deserves and expects. 

An investment into our city’s education ultimately is an investment into our city’s economic health. Indiana as a state, continues to transition into a more knowledge-based economy. In response, we must adapt and prepare our children by giving them sufficient access to these employment opportunities. STEM fields continue to grow and sufficient access to this world will offer children the opportunity to become familiar with these potential career paths. As mayor, I will leverage the corporate need for employees in these fields to acquire funding for new innovative programs that will open a new world for our children and get them interested and excited about becoming our city’s next scientist, engineer, programmer, etc.