My goal is to empower District #1 residents to build a “Healthy Community” by changing and or strengthening the beliefs, values, attitudes and ultimately the behavior of residents as it relates to the very community in which we live.  So what is a Healthy Community?  Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
 

Food Security:

• A Healthy Community is food secure when…

  • There are adequate resources (such as grocery stores or farmers markets) from which residents can purchase healthy foods over fast food outlets.

  • Available resources are accessible to all community members.

  • Food available in the community is sufficient in quality, quantity, variety and affordable.

  • Locally produced food is available to community members.

  • There is support for local food production

  • Every household is food secure within the community.
     

Adequate and Affordable Housing:

• Housing supports a Healthy Community by…

  • Enabling good physical and mental health which depends on homes being safe and free from physical hazards and harmful exposures, thus providing families a sense of privacy, security, stability and control.

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Public Safety

• A healthy community supports Public Safety by ensuring that there are an adequate

       number of police and fire officers to serve assigned neighborhoods; creating

       neighborhood watch programs to lower the risk of crime and improve street safety;

       working with police to ensure that police are responsive to local calls and maintain a

       presence in problem areas; and combating physical blight and galvanize the community

       to monitor public spaces and intervene when those spaces are threatened and help

       neighbors in need.

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Public Transportation

• A healthy community has adequate Public Transportation that provides access to jobs

      and educational opportunities; medical treatments and doctor’s appointments; access

      to healthy food outlets and places for play and being physically active.

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Economic Development

• A healthy community supports Economic Development because communities with

      adequate and affordable housing, access to healthy food, an adequate number of police

      and fire officers and adequate public transportation are attractive to potential

      businesses. Healthy communities are more productive, have fewer health care costs,

      are more active and encourage spending.