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Where I Stand on the Issues
1. More police officers for public safety. After talking with the police department, what I heard from them is they have no overlap on their 12 hour shifts. When one shift ends the other begins. That’s a critical gap in coverage and is leading to burnout. There should be 3 overlapping shifts. A minimum of 4 new officers and up to 10 ideally is needed.
2. Investment in our environment and wildlife. We’re blessed to live in such a beautiful place with other living beings like eagles, orcas, blue herons, and salmon among others. We should protect rather than destroy wildlife habitats. Some of my best memories growing up in Des Moines are walking around in nature and living with the wildlife. Currently, it is being destroyed to build more warehouses, which we have an oversupply of. We need a comprehensive city plan to grow and develop in balance and harmony with the amazing environment we’ve inherited and ought to pass on to future generations.
3. Cut the steps. The 8 million + price tag, plus interest payments, doesn’t have community buy-in. Reevaluate the approach to Marina development. Start the process again with more community input from the beginning and along every step of the way, building that community input into the final product. That’s a culture that should guide every project and policy in Des Moines going forward.
4. Upgrade Downtown. Make downtown more exciting and attractive for people to visit. Add lighting and decoration themes around holidays and/or celebrations. More Street fairs and events that draw people out. Get the flower pots going again. Those were empty all summer, and suddenly reappeared with flowers the day after I mentioned this at the League of Women Voters Candidate Forum on Oct. 16, 2025. In addition to theflower pots, add more attractive vegetation all around. Find win-win deals with empty lot owners, so they and the community profit. Work with small businesses to address their needs and build a booming downtown with lots of community input. Crowdsourcing will tap into the vast wealth of creativity we have here.
5. Avoid raising or creating new taxes. Find creative ways to fund things. More DIY approach. I voted no on both proposed tax increases last year that were related to the city’s budget issues. Take a back-to-basics approach with the city budget and get ourselves in-balance. Then start moving out from there. Create collaborations with volunteer groups, businesses, non-profits, neighboring cities, county, state and federal agencies organizations to get things going. No need to rush things. Slow and steady wins the race.
6. Improved transportation options. Many citizens, including seniors, are asking for better shuttle options to get around town. Routes connecting places like the Marina, downtown, Redondo boardwalk, grocery store, etc. would be easy to set up and make things flow much better, generating economic activity in the process. Bike lanes would also provide more ways to get around easily.
7. Reinstate the Parks and Recreation Department. The Public enjoys parks and trails. Add more playgrounds for kids and a splash pad in a large grassy area, rather than the middle of the Marina, where you have many safety issues with all the oil from the boatyard and the large parking lot surrounding the proposed site. Add outdoor fitness equipment for adults also, like many other cities have in their parks. This improves community health and gets people outdoors, also boosting economic activity.
8. 50% tree canopy. Tree canopy, especially under the flight path, absorbs air pollutants and noise from the airline traffic. That’s good for community health and kids, who are more affected by this. Trees also provide shade in the summer and save on energy costs, as there can be differences of 20 degrees on a hot summer day between direct sun and tree shade, particularly in a heat dome. Current policy is quickly draining away what’s left of our tree canopy. Dense forested areas which contain thriving ecosystems of many animals are being clear cut and sold-off to developers who only care about making money at the expense of the public. We should invest in our tree canopy and all the life they support.
9. Historic Preservation. Invest in and protect the amazing world class history we’ve inherited. It’s a gift that will keep on giving, but it takes care and TLC. Our history is unique and investing in it will boost economic activity and create real community.
More info at www.lytlefordesmoinescitycouncil.com.
