Eddie’s Priorities for Ferndale

We need strong rental ordinances, both long-term and short-term, that protect quality of life and hold bad-faith landlords accountable. Housing should work for residents first, not for speculative holding companies with no interest in stewardship or community.

For the East Side, that also means investing in the basics: repairing and extending sidewalks, exploring a land bridge over the train tracks to better connect neighborhoods, and attracting more local businesses to strengthen and expand the commercial corridors that serve residents every day.

This vision isn’t just mine, it’s one that aligns with Plan Ferndale, our city’s guiding framework for thoughtful growth, equity, and walkability. We should lean on that plan to make sure resources are shared equitably, so the East Side isn’t left behind when it comes to investment and opportunity.

All Ferndaliens deserve a safe and healthy environment within which to live and grow. I believe in bringing resources to where people are. A Health & Wellness Commission can help us partner with local organizations to expand access to programs and services for residents of all ages, from seniors to students, creating more opportunities for connection, activity, and care across our community.

• Public Health Resources- As a diagnosed neurodivergent person, mental and physical health are near and dear to my heart, and a top priority for my daily life. Health and wellness is something I would love to champion with help from Parks & Rec, the Accessibility and Inclusion committee, and the people of Ferndale. I have been talking with several residents, mental health professionals, physical therapists, trainers, and other subject-matter experts on these important issues, in an effort to pilot a “Health & Wellness Commission.” I would love to support this commission in any/every capacity.

Too many residents feel shut out of decision-making in Ferndale. We need to rebuild trust by making city government more transparent, accessible, and human. This isn’t just about being transparent—it’s about being available, clear, and accountable. Residents deserve to know how our tax dollars are being used, a say in how our city grows, and elected officials who show up, listen, and follow through. As a member of City Council, Eddie will:

• Hold regular office hours- (in-person and virtual) and rotating meetups at local businesses, parks, and the library

• Provide plain-language reports- and budget summaries. Government is only as complicated as we allow it to be.

• Engage community members- with communication via text, phone, and social media

• Neighborhood town halls & office hours- and pilot programs that test new ways to engage

Ferndale should lead the way in sustainable, community-first housing. That means ensuring affordability, protecting tenants, and using our public land and resources to serve people-not profit. To practice what we preach, we must:

• Use Public Land to Support Community-Centered Needs

  Ferndale owns several parcels of land that could be used to intentionally meet pressing community needs, including housing. We should take a close look at how these public assets are currently being used and whether they’re serving long-term public benefit. Underused spaces, and new acquisitions, could be used to create pathways to lasting affordability. This doesn’t mean the city becomes a developer, it means we plan smartly, partner wisely, and make sure publicly owned land serves public good.

  Whether through a community land trust, mixed-income housing, or strategic nonprofit partnerships, the goal is the same: keep Ferndale accessible to people of all income levels, especially seniors, working families, and first-time homebuyers, people who are too often pushed out by rising prices and unchecked development.

• Support a Community Land Trust/Co-op model- A CLT or cooperative housing model creates housing that is permanently affordable and community-owned. These approaches keep people housed, build local wealth, and put decision-making power in the hands of residents. They also align well with our sustainability goals, prioritizing long-term, local solutions over profit-driven turnover. We must also continue to support and strengthen our partnership with the Ferndale Housing Commission (FHC), ensuring its two apartment buildings and 43 homes are preserved and expanded as key parts of our affordable housing strategy.

• Protect renters and elevate their voices- renters make up a significant portion of our city, and they deserve to feel just as connected to Ferndale as homeowners or business owners. Their voices should shape local policy. We need to proactively engage renters and enact protections that ensure housing stability—this includes transparent lease terms, caps on late fees, common-sense pet policies, and more.

• Regulate short-term rentals to protect neighborhoods- especially on the east side, where residents are expressing feeling the pressure of short-term rentals (like Airbnb and VRBO). We must evaluate the impact these units are having on neighborhood stability and affordability. That means listening to residents, reviewing code violations, and updating local policy to ensure short-term rentals serve the community, not disrupt it.

A city’s progress shouldn’t just be measured by the number of new developments and fiscal responsibility means more than a transparent budgeting process. We need to examine when, and where, we spend our hard-earned money.

• Tax Dollars At Work- we need to provide residents with reliable and accessible city services that show our tax dollars at work, for all of Ferndale.

• Keep public land in public hands- we need to responsibly invest in parks and community spaces, not give land away to speculative developers

• Invest in Ferndale’s youth- partner with our schools and library to promote participatory democracy at all ages

• Repair aging infrastructure- police and fire facilities are in dire need of attention. Addressing these needs in a measured way will be good for keeping valued talent while remaining financially responsible.

• Fix what we have- maintaining city land and municipal buildings is a sound financial and environmental strategy. “Demolition by neglect” can cost us big in the long run

• Responsible contracting- city contracts should be awarded based on the overall bid quality first, not the cheapest estimated cost, with an eye toward long-term

• Development based on what we need- building for the sake of building isn’t going to solve the issues our community is facing

• Meaningful community input- engage the public throughout the process, not just after a plan is finalized

• Equity first- growth must support renters, homeowners, and local businesses alike

Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. Strengthening partnerships through the Ferndale Business Association means more opportunities to support entrepreneurs, attract new investment to the East Side, and keep dollars circulating right here at home.

We can’t let our shared spaces fall behind. That means repairing and maintaining public facilities so they’re safe, accessible, and ready to serve the people who rely on them every day. Infrastructure is about more than buildings, it’s about creating the connections and spaces that keep our neighborhoods thriving.

According to the resident-led Facilities Task Force Report (2022), the recommendation was to expand fire station 1 for ~$10M. The recommendation for Fire Station 2 and Police Station was to expand and combine facilities for ~$17M for a total of about $27M (in 2022 dollars).

All of these facilities certainly need upgrades. This is a major investment, and it’s exactly why we need real resident input on how we move forward to best serve our community’s needs.

My position on Flock Safety cameras is largely informed by the ACLU: the government should not be tracking residents through an unregulated tech conglomerate. Public safety is vital, but outsourcing surveillance to a private company without robust accountability is not the right path for Ferndale.

I support investments in community-based policing and technology that are transparent, equitable, and developed with resident input. I have full faith in our police department and detective bureau to clear even the most serious crimes. The ACLU does not “generally oppose” the use of ALPRs (automated license plate readers) for limited, strategic purposes, such as Amber Alerts, but they should never be tied to a national database that risks violating civil rights. There are other options worth exploring here.

Flock’s technology has been used to police and infringe upon reproductive rights, gender freedoms, immigration, and the rights of Black, Brown, and other marginalized communities. Its data has been accessed by ICE and used in ways that reinforce racial profiling and discriminatory policing patterns across the country. While our police department can technically “turn off” the national database connection, the reality is that all it would take is the flip of a switch to turn it back on, endangering the very civil liberties I am committed to protecting.

Ferndale has long been a leader in standing up for LGBTQ+ residents, immigrants, people of color, and reproductive rights. As a father of two daughters, I want to ensure their freedoms are protected. And as someone who listens closely to our LGBTQ+, immigrant, and minority communities, I know many are feeling increasingly vulnerable in the current national climate. Rejecting surveillance partnerships with private companies like Flock is one way Ferndale can clearly and concretely show up for these communities.

Tech companies should not be given contracts to beta-test AI technologies they can’t fully explain. I trust our dedicated police force to handle the tools that keep us safe. I do not trust a private company, especially one driven by billionaire shareholders, to put community safety above profit.

Ferndale leads with community, compassion, and the courage to protect one another’s rights. Let’s keep it that way.

Ferndale, and cities across Michigan, can’t keep shifting the same dollars around while Lansing hoards the state revenue we deserve. It’s time to grow the pie and make sure everyone pays their fair share.

That’s why I proudly endorse the Invest in MI Kids ballot initiative, which fights to restore critical state revenue sharing to local communities.

We also need to stand with working families and make sure our investments reflect our values. That means adopting and enforcing responsible contracting ordinances that support good-paying union jobs and keep public dollars working for the public good.

Every neighborhood matters. A thriving Ferndale means making sure the East Side has the same access to investment, attention, and care as the rest of the city.

This is about practical steps, shared values, and working with the community, not around it.