Lynn At-Large

Lynn City Council: At-Large

Candidates

  • G. Buzzy Barton* 
  • Brian Field 
  • Jaime Figueroa
  • Rick Ford 
  • John Ladd 
  • Brian LaPierre*
  • Hong Net*
  • Taso Nikolakopoulos

*incumbent

Sections

About the Candidates

Do you personally walk to destinations in your community? If yes, how often do you do so?

Jaime Figueroa
Yes
Everyday

Do you personally travel by/ use public transit to get around? If yes, which trains and buses do you routinely use?

Jaime Figueroa
Yes
Blue Line, Orange Line, 426, 455, 450

Do you personally bike in your community or commute by bike to other communities? If no, would you be willing to give it a try periodically, e.g. once or twice per month?

Jaime Figueroa
Yes
Don’t bike, but willing to try with friends.

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Policy Proposals

How will you work to establish funding for the infrastructure changes needed to slow traffic on your community’s streets, and improve crosswalks and intersections to make them safer for people who are walking and using mobility assistive devices?

Jaime Figueroa
I will work closely with the DPW to identify areas that need most attention. Then proceed to include it on a line item in the budget. Safety should be a top priority for any candidate or elected official.

How will you improve the reach, frequency, and quality of public transit in your city/town?

Jaime Figueroa
Educative community forums, include pros for doing so and the benefits to the quality of life as a result of public transit.

How will you ensure fast-tracked implementation of a city-/town-wide network of off-street paths and protected bike lanes* on major thoroughfares and connecting streets that are comfortable for people of all ages and abilities?

Jaime Figueroa
Would like to sit with community groups that focus on this area and see how they can help Lynn do this.

How will you increase access to biking in every neighborhood equally? What do you see as the major obstacles to encouraging ridership, and how will you address them?

Jaime Figueroa
I believe the first major obstacle is the affordability of the bike to our communities. Promoting and educating people on the benefits of bike riding including health and environmental is awesome if these families could afford to purchase bikes for the entire family.

How will you increase funding for biking infrastructure?

Jaime Figueroa
Through grants and partnerships with NGO’s focused on biking.

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Yes/No Questions

Do you support the adoption of Vision Zero and funding for its rapid implementation? Vision Zero is an approach which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030 and has been adopted by several communities, including Boston and Cambridge.

Jaime Figueroa
Yes
For funding, I would explore grants and local fundraisers.

Do you support lowering design speeds through traffic calming measures on downtown and neighborhood streets as a means of enhancing the safety of people walking, using mobility assistive devices, biking, and driving? This may involve the expansion and enhancement of programs like Neighborhood Slow Streets (Boston) and Neighborways (Somerville).

Jaime Figueroa
Yes
 

One key strategy that has been proven to effectively reduce speeding, improve safety, and remove racial bias in traffic enforcement in other states and countries is automated enforcement (i.e. speed cameras and red light cameras). Do you support state legislation that authorizes the use of automated enforcement in Massachusetts, per the July 2017 recommendation of the National Transportation Safety Board?

Jaime Figueroa
No
I believe “spy” cameras are an invasion of the publics privacy and would rather use speed traps and other traffic enforcement measures.

Do you support redesigning space on the street in order to improve safety for people biking by creating protected bike lanes?

Jaime Figueroa
Yes
 

Do you support the increased use of curb extensions to improve safety and visibility at intersections, even if it requires the removal of one to two parking spaces?

Jaime Figueroa
Yes
 

Do you support mandating side guards* for all large trucks operated or contracted by government agencies operating in your city/town?

Jaime Figueroa
No
Will have to look into this matter further.

Do you commit to implementation of improved bike facilities identified in your community’s Bike Network Plan or do you commit to the creation of a Bike Network Plan if none already exists?

Jaime Figueroa
Yes
 

Will you address age-friendly walking in your community — an issue raised by many seniors as critical to their ability to “age in community”? If yes, how?

Jaime Figueroa
No
What is age-friendly walking?

Do you support the restriction of on-street parking during rush hour on major thoroughfares in order to provide lanes for the exclusive use of buses?

Jaime Figueroa
Yes
Sounds like a great idea.

Do you support exploring new ways of raising revenue to provide your city/town with more tools to improve conditions for people walking, using mobility assistive devices, and biking (e.g. congestion pricing)? If yes, please give examples that interest you.

Jaime Figueroa
Yes
Grants, fundraisers, drives, etc.

Do you support the rollout of dynamic parking meter pricing (i.e. increasing meter rates during periods of increased demand) in business districts to free up on-street parking and reduce cars “cruising”� for open spaces?

Jaime Figueroa
No
It’s not fair to the payers of excise taxes. It would be looked as punishing drivers, for no reason.

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