Benjamin Harrison

Infrastructure / Transportation Quality Zoning Review: Institute stricter review standards for high-density residential proposals, ensuring they meet infrastructure readiness benchmarks before approval. Let’s make sure we are building SMART for Queen Creek. Infrastructure / Transportation Water Security First: Mandate comprehensive water impact reports for all large projects and prioritize developments that utilize drought-resistant landscaping and water-efficient technology. Government Reform Simplified Zoning Language: Work to simplify complex legal and zoning documents into plain English summaries for better public understanding before council votes. And, be the source for consistent communication that our citizens can rely on. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Retention & Recruitment: Implement competitive salary and benefits packages to attract and retain the best Police and Fire personnel in the region. Government Reform Digital Transparency Dashboard: Create an online, easy-to-read dashboard tracking the progress of major infrastructure and development projects, updated weekly. Infrastructure / Transportation Preserve Rural Buffer: Establish and strictly enforce greenbelt and rural zoning boundaries to protect the remaining open spaces and agricultural land in pockets of our town. Social Services Proactive Youth Engagement: Expand teen centers and recreation programming in downtown Queen Creek to provide constructive alternatives and reduce youth-related incidents. 40% of the population is under 25 years of age. And, our teens are the most at risk. A community provides for it’s neighbors and our teens are the future. Every neighbor I’ve spoken with agrees that we need to do more. Arts / Culture Establish a Culture Committee: In addition to an already proposed “walkable downtown”, the town should be providing opportunities to enrich the culture of our residents. Museums, art, music, and family friendly facilities should be available at low/no cost for all residents. Infrastructure / Transportation Water Infrastructure Resilience: Invest in modernizing aging water mains and explore alternative, sustainable water sources beyond current surface water agreements. QC has a strong 100 year plan they are working towards, let openly engage additional options (additional nearby aquifers) and produce a water marketing campaign and interactive dashboard for residents to explore. Infrastructure / Transportation Residential transportation services: Neighbors continue to ask “when can we explore local medium transit for our seniors?” Transit systems like those found in Mesa’s Downtown Buzz, Chandler Flex, and Scottsdale Trolley would add a much needed service for Queen Creek, without the need of having a large bus. 13% of Queen Creek is over 65 and many senior centers would likely utilize this type of service. Let’s meet our community where they have needs. Government Reform Enhanced Feedback Loops: Implement a simple system for residents to submit policy ideas or concerns directly to Council members, guaranteeing a timely official response. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Emergency Response Expansion: Strategically locate new fire stations and substations in rapidly developing areas to ensure optimal 5-minute response times town-wide. Infrastructure / Transportation Commercial Diversification: Actively recruit high-wage, clean industry businesses to reduce reliance on residential property taxes and provide local career opportunities. These businesses will help fulfill the dream of working, living, and playing in Queen Creek. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Enhanced Training: Provide state-of-the-art training for handling mental health crises and complex traffic enforcement needs inherent to a growing suburb. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Community Policing: Expand neighborhood watch programs and assign dedicated officers to specific zones to build trust and proactive relationships with residents. Our residents should be familiar with those chosen to serve and protect the communities they are a part of. Government Reform Mobile Town Hall Meetings: Hold quarterly council meetings in various neighborhoods (instead of just Town Hall) to improve resident participation and accessibility. Infrastructure / Transportation Traffic Flow Optimization: Synchronize traffic signals across major corridors (e.g., Ellsworth, Rittenhouse) and accelerate the completion of critical arterial road expansions and improvements. What we have today is congestion, and a lot of it. What residents tell me is that they want to try something different (adjust current patterns, updates via text.email on construction and options) and want the town to communicate. Infrastructure / Transportation Pedestrian & Bike Paths: Dedicate funding to rapidly expand the town’s network of shaded, safe paths connecting residential areas to schools and commercial centers. Our vibrant city center needs to be accessible. Infrastructure / Transportation Fiber Optic Expansion: Partner with private providers to ensure all established and new neighborhoods have access to high-speed fiber internet, essential for remote work and education, with options.