Much of our local governance is excellent! As they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. At the same time, in some ways we fall short of our ideals, especially in parts of Framingham that are chronically underrepresented in town government. Listed below are some areas we need to address, regardless of which form of municipal government we choose on April 4. Most of the examples come from Burlington, Vermont, a city that faces many of the same challenges as Framingham and has been voted #1 place in the Unites States to raise children. 

Good Government

• Foster a culture of accountable accessible public officials with clear lines of responsibility
• Increase citizen participation via neighborhood planning associations and events, example here
• Expand support for neighborhoods beyond the current Nobscot and Saxonville Villages
• Amplify the voice of Framingham’s underrepresented south side
• Create an Arts and Culture Commission with the mission of making the arts available to all, example here
• Institute a Citizen Review Board to review policing policies and complaints, with independent members nominated by community and civil rights organizations, more information here
• If Framingham remains a town, support ongoing efforts by the Government Study Committee to reform town governance; if Framingham becomes a city, establish a standing Charter Review Commission to study and recommend needed charter amendments to the City Council
• Increase government transparency, especially by including complete and up-to-date budgets, meeting minutes and other information on the Framingham municipal website, great example here

Smart Development for the Common Good

• Make community gathering places and access to public space an integral part of planning
• Employ sustainable building and energy practices
• Encourage housing stock for moderate- and low-income residents
• Leverage CDBG funds with the help of local nonprofits and neighborhood groups to maximize public benefit
• Offer logistical support and affordable commercial space for small businesses
• Promote alternative modes of transportation
• Explore opportunities for public enterprise such as a public market, telecom, or utility, to increase non-tax revenue 

Community Justice

• Protect the civil rights of all Framingham residents
• Create a Community Justice organization to address conflict and low-level crime outside the criminal court system, example here
• Increase efforts to clean up Environmental Justice neighborhoods in South Framingham
• Address the national problem of racism locally, including engaging in a process of community acknowledgement and response to the killing of Eurie Stamps, example here
• Explore improvements in community law enforcement, and opportunities for assistance from such agencies as The National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice, the Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center, or the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services