A Connected and Inclusive Community
East Grand Rapids is an incredible place to call home. Our community is rich with recreational opportunities, safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, a walkable business district and generous neighbors.
We are ready and primed to make these resources more accessible so that everyone who lives in and visits East feels welcome, safe and included.
Connected Leadership
A more connected community requires connected leadership. Our community should reflect and represent the needs of all of our residents and be responsive to our role in the broader social, economic, environmental and political ecosystems of West Michigan.
Abbie will work tirelessly to stay engaged with residents' opinions and concerns and ensure transparent and open governmental decision-making while finding ways to be a strong partner to our neighboring cities and communities.
A Thriving Gaslight Village
Gaslight Village is the heart of East Grand Rapids. It's more than just a place to shop and dine; it's where we meet, create and celebrate.
Abbie will work to create and expand the ability of local entrepreneurs to start and build thriving businesses in Gaslight, building a destination that attracts visitors from within and without the community. She will focus on incentivizing the development of long-vacant land in Gaslight Village into usable commercial space that expands entrepreneurial opportunity.
Diverse Housing Options
Among East Grand Rapids' greatest strengths - our high homeownership rate (95% compared to 65% nationally) and home value ($583,174 compared to $268,092 in Grand Rapids and $237,918 across Michigan) - is one of its greatest challenges. At the individual level, we prize and benefit from the value of our homes, but at the community level, it's extremely challenging for those who do not desire or cannot afford homeownership in East because we lack diverse housing options.
Abbie will work to create options for individuals and families across all of life's stages and circumstances, including finding ways to incentivize the creation of more rental opportunities and more affordable options for homeownership. This includes looking at increasing housing density in ways that make sense within the city by prioritizing the expansion of multifamily options in zoned areas and expanding opportunities for accessory dwelling units and other innovative solutions.
Fair and Equitable Policing
East Grand Rapids' Public Safety Department works hard to ensure that residents feel safe and protected. We know we can count on a quick response in any kind of emergency.
It's been no secret, however, that many Black and Brown people have long felt targeted within our city's boundaries. Data support the stories of inequitable treatment: Black persons have comprised 25% (2021) and 34% (2022) of traffic stops over the last two years (when the Public Safety Department started disaggregating and publicly reporting this data) while comprising far smaller percentages of our city's population and likely road users.
Abbie will work with the Public Safety Department to identify and improve the policies, procedures and practices that produce these inequitable outcomes so that every resident and visitor in East Grand Rapids feels safe, welcome and protected.
Accessible Recreation Spaces
East Grand Rapids has a storied history as a recreation destination. Our public parks and recreation facilities, including Reeds Lake, are valued and beloved community resources that should welcoming and enjoyable for residents and visitors alike.
Abbie will work to ensure that continued implementation of the 2021 Parks Millage and future parks and public space development proceed in ways that serve the needs of residents, invite visitors to choose East Grand Rapids for recreation and ensure universal access for people of all ages and abilities to all of our recreational resources.
Environmental Sustainability
Caring for our environment is the foundation of caring for our community and ensuring that it continues to grow and thrive for the generations that follow.
Abbie will prioritize the continued exploration of ways we can reduce our carbon footprint in the provision of city services and the protection of our natural resources. She will also advocate for the development of safe transportation pathways within and through the city for bicyclists of all ages, including students, commuters and recreational enthusiasts.
