2021_YSNElectionGuide

2 H H H 2 021 VOT E R’ S GU I DE H H H Y E L L OW S P R I NG S N EWS ing other classes throughout the district as requested. Then, along came COVID. With the schools’ closure and shift to online, my focus turned to village relief efforts through our local leadership team and the Yellow Springs Community Foundation. I’m now completing my fourth year as Village mayor and looking forward to serving four more years — the new length of office as per the recent charter change. It’s an honor and a labor of love to hold the position. VILLAGE COUNCIL There are three seats up for election on Yellow Springs Village Council. The two highest vote-getters will serve a four-year term, and the third highest will serve a two- year term. The News asked the candidates to submit a short biography and respond to the following three questions: 1. While there is a need for economic growth in Yellow Springs, some residents have voiced concerns about the uptick in tourism that will come with growth. What are your opinions on the balance between growth and tourism? How will you assuage the concerns of villagers who worry about growth and tourism? 2. One of Village Council’s ongoing goals is to address housing needs in the village. What is your plan for increasing housing stock while addressing af fordability and infrastructure needs? 3. What projects would you like to see moved through Village government during your tenure? What areas will be your focus? CARMEN LEE (‘BROWN’ ON BALLOT) I ’m Carmen Lee, and I’m from Yellow Springs. One of the things that I think i s impor tant for peop l e t o know about me is that I be l i eve tha t a l l voices matter, even the ones that seem divergent from our own. 1. While it’s true that some members of the community feel there is a need for eco- nomic growth in Yellow Springs, I would ask, specifically what kind? Who benefits from such growth? A few individuals — business owners and people who have a vested interest in new developments — or the community as a whole? What comes with this economic growth? Perhaps an increase in the minimum wage for restau- rant and bar employees and folks in retail sales? There are small towns all across the country who’ve had to address these same issues. What have they modeled for us? There are many questions to be answered regarding economic growth and tourism in the village, but it’s critically important that we listen to the voices of all members of the community so that we may be able to meet the challenges that come with this kind of growth cohesively. 2. The problem solver in me looks to the unoccupied buildings on [Antioch College’s] campus and a few spread here and there around the village to address this problem. I think about what it would look like to give some kind of tax break to owners of multiple properties in the vil- lage that have buildings that could be used for housing. I think about the addition of more pocket neighborhoods, like the one on Xenia Avenue, and what impact more developments like this would have on bringing young families to the village. For me, the issue of infrastructure is a stand- alone question. Addressing the needs we have will require the expertise of civil engineers and others who have experience in this arena. 3. Beautification and preservation of our green spaces. What can we do to make them more attractive and practical spaces for the enjoyment of our neighbors and visitors alike? I also want to work to find the balance between being exclusively a tour- ist town and being a community where we work to ensure that the needs of villagers are being met. LINDSAY BURKE I am a single parent who has lived in the Yellow Springs com- munity for 10 years. For most of that time I worked in the service industry in town until recently renting shop space for a tattoo and art studio with Pierre Nagley (Yellow Springs INK). I have moved to surrounding areas for affordability, but I have always stayed involved here in Yellow Springs. I am happy to have rooted my family, started my business and invested my time and energy to build community here. My commitment is to building a thriving, sustainable and equitable future for the village. 1. I foresee an uptick in tourism coming to the village regardless of the choices we make about how it occurs, which has been the trend for many years. I am in favor of directing our tourist industry locally in a way that respects and preserves the history and culture of Yellow Springs. We need to grow and update, but there needs to be representation from those of us who are directly affected by tourism’s impact on the local economy. If elected, I would facilitate greater cooperation between residents, businesses and Village gov- ernance to create opportunities at pace with our capacity. So many things have changed in the last two years alone, and more changes are undoubtedly coming. I plan to give voice to people who are often unrepresented in the decisions that define our future. 2. I suppor t policy that encourages infill. I want to explore supporting alterna- tive housing options. I am interested in addressing aging buildings and infrastruc- ture. I appreciate the work of Home, Inc. in the village, but we need solutions that go beyond the limits of their capacities. I am interested in accessibility for seniors and Section 8 housing. I am interested in sup- porting projects that make the village more accessible to young people and families. 3. I think community broadband and alleviating parking concerns are the low- hanging fruit for easing accessibility imme- diately for villagers. I want to see forward motion on the schools and adequate afford- able housing. I want to support develop- ments that create opportunities for locals. I am committed to preserving and protect- ing our natural treasures and green spaces. I am interested in creating a business cul- ture that celebrates the unique values and talents of Yellow Springs, while alleviating burden on workers and residents. LAURA CURLISS* My name is Laura Curliss and I am running for a second term on Council. I grew up an hour south of Yel low Springs. In 2012, my husband and I decided to move and retire here, though he passed before retirement. Most of my career has been in government service, in both the justice system and local govern- ment administration. I was the village man- ager from 2012 to 2013 . In 2015, I started my small business, a general law practice with a focus in the areas of estate planning and probate, real estate and land use, and a statewide practice in conservation law (land preservation). In my free time, I visit with family and friends, walk my dog, Neo, do yoga and play or listen to music. In my first term on Village Council, my energy and focus has been on the COVID- 19 state of emergency that started three months into my first term. Top concerns have been COVID-19 best practices for local government, economic relief, eco- nomic development, justice system reform and civil rights, greenspace preservation — including the Mills Lawn greenspace — and governance. I serve on the Plan- ning Commission and am alternate to the Environmental Commission and Greene County Regional Planning Commission. Council has three primary responsibili- ties: budget, policy and legislation. Council also oversees three primary employees: the village manager, village solicitor and clerk. I would like to see Council more directly involved in creating legislation, legislative sponsorship and using Council committees. This would result in a more direct link between the voters and Council in creating legislation, developing depart- mental exper tise and budgeting “know how.” My civic activities include YS Speaking Up for Justice, Greene County Coalition for Compassionate Justice, PorchFest, YS Ukulele Club and World House Choir. 1. Tourism and shopping are a significant part of the local economy. Yellow Springs has long been a destination for visitors. According to Wikipedia, “The comple- tion of the Little Miami Railroad in 1846 brought increased commerce, inhabitants, and tourism to this area of Greene County. Many regular visitors of the nineteenth century came for the springs, as these were believed to have medicinal benefits.” Then, Antioch College was founded in 1850. Glen Helen Nature Preserve was given to Antioch College in 1929. In 1918, John Bryan donated land to become one of Ohio’s first forest parks. Layered onto this history, villagers are very talented and people naturally want to come to enjoy what we create. I celebrate the creative efforts of village musicians, artists, chefs and retailers. We cannot reduce tourism unless we stop creating. With its location next to a couple thou- sand acres of natural beauty, coupled with the fact that villagers will continue to create, the village will continue to have a destination economy, as it has in the past. Government can continue to ameliorate visitor impacts — additional public rest- rooms, more trash pick-up, a parking app, parking signage — but at the end of the day, YS is a destination with an authentic brand that is well-earned by talented and hardworking individuals. 2. Local governments generally leave it to competent charities, like Home, Inc., to directly influence housing ownership or development. Why? Usually due to lack of resources. Local governments, rather, sup- port others who do so. Support can be in the form of waiver of tap fees, resolutions of support, working with developers to realize local goals, and so forth. There are two types of housing Yellow Springs needs perhaps more than others: market-rate apartments and condos. My priorities include infrastructure improvements and maintenance; environ- mental goals, such as Vernay clean-up and reuse; protecting valuable greenspace like Mills Lawn and wetlands restoration at Glass Farm and protecting our skies and the urban canopy; economic development support and supporting a creative culture. Land use is always a priority. I don’t believe we can “densify” our way to afford- ability. Densification — urbanization — has impacts on village scale and character, the green canopy and stormwater management. For many years, people have wanted meaningful justice system reforms, includ- ing a citizen oversight/complaint mecha- nism, like a citizen review board. This has proven to be elusive, with significant institutional pushback. We also need democratic reforms, includ- ing more Council involvement in legislation, budgeting and policy. We need to be vigilant about protecting democracy, even on the local level. Government by the people and civil rights are precious and more easily eroded than we ever thought possible. Finally, reducing the cost of living and taxes may be the No. 1 ignored issue. 3. Continued upgrades to water distribu- tion, sewer collection, more residential solar power, maybe a municipal solar proj- ect, electrical grid and stormwater man- agement improvements. We are piloting municipal broadband. We need to continue discussing improvements and reforms to end racism, sexism, ageism, and improve social justice and policing. We need to hire a police chief who understands and supports more modern/local views about policing, including the YS Vision. Local government should provide appropriate suppor t to the housing efforts. We need market-rate apartments and condos, maybe more than we need low-income housing at this point. Extreme poverty remains an issue. We need to achieve environmental protection goals that are globally and locally valued. I commit to the permanent preservation of the Mills Lawn greenspace as the village green or central park. If the school levy passes, a community conversation about the Walnut Street side for commercial/ residential reuse is needed. Economic development and business suppor t as appropriate for local government.