Shakeel Dalal

Infrastructure / Transportation We’ll use paint, planters, and bollards to test traffic calming measures, protected bike lanes, and pedestrian safety improvements. We’ll gather real-world data and community feedback on a proposal that people can see with their own eyes to inform permanent changes. We’ll incorporate public art to beautify our neighborhoods. And as soon as we can afford it, we’ll pour concrete to make the changes permanent. Government Reform I’ll push for reforms that empower city staff to exercise professional judgment rather than wasting taxpayer money on excessive procedures that favor those with insider knowledge. Housing By legalizing townhomes, ADUs, neighborhood businesses, small childcare facilities and the myriad of things that people need within their neighborhoods, we can build a city filled with distinct neighborhoods each tailored to the needs of the people who live there. Taxes / Budget As a scientist, I think in terms of data. Longmont should be rigorously evaluating programs for whether they serve residents and whether they use taxpayer money well. Instead of cutting the budget indiscriminately, we should eliminate programs that don’t deliver for residents. Environment / Energy By 2030, we’re going to get to 88%. When that happens, Longmont is going to be held up as a nationwide role model. Getting that last 12% is going to be the hardest part. I will ensure Longmont works with the cities of Fort Collins, Loveland and Estes Park to do it quickly, cost efficiently and ensuring grid reliability. Housing By legalizing townhomes in every neighborhood in the city, we can create more opportunities for home ownership for everyone. People making the average income will have the chance to buy for a lower cost. Retirees will be able to downsize into a more maintainable home while still being close to family and the community they’ve built here. Environment / Energy That means making better use of the land that people are already occupying by adding homes to existing neighborhoods, reducing reliance on cars which use space inefficiently, and promoting a business environment where people who work here can afford to live here. Legislation I fully endorse Ranked Choice Voting for Longmont, and will work to ensure our next municipal election uses Ranked Choice Voting. Legislation Subsidies from the state or federal government will never be big enough, and we can’t count on them being there forever. Using existing programs, we’d need 3.8 billion from the federal government. Never going to happen. Local solutions will always be the most sustainable way to solve local problems, and by implementing them we can make sure we’re prioritizing local concerns. Environment / Energy We’ll make walking, biking and public transit safer and more available — and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. We’ll add homes to our existing neighborhoods, thereby protecting Open Space from development and reducing traffic. We’ll replace excessive asphalt with native plants and trees, reducing water use and the urban heat island.