Building sustainable communities requires vision, drive, and, perhaps most importantly, collaboration. There is an old proverb that says “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together.” That sentiment perfectly captures my work on the blueprint as well as my approach to leadership and public service.
When I was leading the charge to create the blueprint, I brought together an incredibly diverse coalition of individuals and organizations. We assembled a roundtable with 50 citizens from every walk of life. Business, disability advocates, ethnic chambers, pedestrian advocates, environmental justice leaders, clean air advocates, housing builders, neighborhood associations and more.
Together, we held 37 workshops in every part of our region. These workshops were not a box-checking exercise, they were opportunities for real collaboration and discussion. We used advanced computer modeling to simulate the impacts of choices that needed to be made. We also used pictures, polling, and specifically tailored focus groups to make collaborative decisions that reflected the feedback of our community .
The blueprint is proof that a small dedicated group of people can make a difference. It’s proof that addressing climate change, building the housing our state desperately needs, and protecting the character of our region can be done simultaneously. And it’s proof that as your State Senator, I will listen to you to make demonstrable progress on the issues that matter most in our communities.
