Letter in Support of Jackie Lavender Bird

After a good deal of thought, conversation, and information-gathering in our Mayoral race: I support Jackie Lavender Bird, and I encourage you to also. I’ll tell you why.

In 2008, My family and I chose to make Melrose our home. In 2017, I started a small business here in our growing, thriving small city that is safe, beautiful, and friendly. For my children, one of whom is in college, and the other just starting High School, this is the place they will think about when they are older as they reminisce about bicycling around the Highlands, or walking downtown or the Common to meet their friends. Our neighbors, my Melrose colleagues, our friends – all those who looked out for them with kindness - are who they will remember when they think back. In their memories, Melrose will come to represent family, community, and love. Perhaps they will choose to make it their own home, and raise their families here. We’ll certainly be here for them to visit!

It’s important to me not only to help preserve what we appreciate about Melrose, but also to help it grow and flourish – sustainably, equitably, and with diversity. We’ve been blessed with really wonderful candidates for Mayor – people who I really like personally and with whom I look forward to working. This group have a wealth of experience and connections to bring to bear on the challenges that Melrose will face in the coming years. However, Jackie stands out: not only does she bring these things to the role, but she also brings vision and real-world experience in our city. Her work this past year in our city hall informs her perspective, her objectives, and her concrete strategies for serving as our Mayor.

For example, climate change and sustainability issues loom large for us all, and are quite important to me, my children, and all our kids in Melrose. Jackie has demonstrated the ability to translate large, real world problems that we’d rather not think about into targeted and effected solutions for our community. She has plans to

-focus on hiring a new DPW director and building sustainability into a pillar of this job description

-create a new role for the Energy Efficiency Manager as Sustainability Coordinator

-immediately fill the position of Recycling Coordinator, since the Zero Waste Committee has had no liaison, and as such, our town has fallen behind

-consider sustainability in how we renovate our existing buildings, in planning new development, in the Complete Streets program, vehicle replacement, and emergency management

-improve communication with Melrose residents to address the knowledge gap of how environmental concerns are affecting us now, in very real, and human ways

-capitalize on existing city resources by directly linking Sustainable Melrose into the Mayor’s office on an ongoing basis

-facilitate education, awareness, outreach, and accessibility to encourage greater community involvement in sustainability initiatives

As a mom, mental health provider, and small business owner in Melrose, I also appreciate Jackie’s investment in Melrose - she is raising her family here too. Like the rest of us, she is busy, but not too busy to take the time to listen thoughtfully and answer questions about her constituents’ concerns. She has a clear, demonstrated ability to see a problem, plan, and execute. I have no doubt that she will lead and deliver for Melrose as Mayor. And because of that leadership, Melrose will thrive – for all of us.

Sincerely,

Lisa Coyne

Founder & Director, New England Center for OCD and Anxiety