This candidate statement was originally posted in the Westfield TapInto on October 6th, 2025.

Like many of you, I’m heartbroken by the recent tragic loss of a 13-year-old on an e-bike in Scotch Plains. I’ve heard from so many of you — through messages, conversations and door-knocking—who share the same deep sense of grief and concern. Our community is united in wanting to make sure such a tragedy never happens again.

In a recent conversation with a resident, we talked about the idea of “kid-safe streets” — streets where children can ride their bikes to a friend’s house, play outside or walk to school without parents feeling anxious about their safety. It’s a simple yet powerful idea. When we design our community through this lens, we’re really talking about making streets safer for everyone — children, seniors, pedestrians, cyclists, residents with mobility challenges, and drivers alike. True safety ensures that everyone in Westfield can get around town confidently and comfortably.

From a town perspective, this means exploring safe street design that naturally calms traffic and promotes driver awareness. Many of these solutions have been brought forth by residents I’ve spoken to and are included in the 2019 Bike and Pedestrian Plan:

• “Daylighting” — limiting parking close to intersections to eliminate blind spots and improve visibility and safety
• Lower speed limits in school zones
• Narrower street design to naturally encourage slowing down and increase driver alertness
• Bumped-out curbs for pedestrian visibility
• More four-way stop signs, prioritized by data
• Enhanced crosswalks, beacon lights and “See Me” flags
• Better street lighting

These steps are a strong foundation, and are only the beginning of a comprehensive approach that includes e-bike safety and regulation. I’m committed to learning from successful street-safety initiatives across the country, such as Vision Zero, while also drawing on the deep expertise within our own community—our town engineers, public safety professionals and residents who bring valuable ideas and lived experiences. By combining national best practices with local insight, we can use data to identify high-risk areas, engage directly with those most affected, and implement tailored, long-term solutions that make every neighborhood safer, more connected and truly reflective of Westfield’s community-centered values.

Beyond infrastructure, we also need community commitment. I would love to see Westfield launch a local “Kid-Safe Streets Pledge,” where residents and drivers commit to slowing down, staying alert and supporting traffic safety efforts. We all have a role to play, and when we take ownership together, change happens faster and lasts longer.

I am confident that if we work together — driven by compassion, common sense and community spirit — we can make Westfield’s streets safe for everyone. We can turn our heartbreak into action and rise to this challenge, together.