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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-17-23 Public Comment - J. Strout - CEDAW - MEDIA ADVISORY from BZN City for CEDAW_ Announcing 2023 Bozeman City for CEDAW Voter Guide and Candidate ForumFrom:Jan Strout To:Editor@dailychronicle Com; Nora Shelly Cc:Cameron Dexter Subject:[EXTERNAL]MEDIA ADVISORY from BZN City for CEDAW: Announcing 2023 Bozeman City for CEDAW Voter Guideand Candidate Forum Date:Monday, October 16, 2023 6:25:19 PM Attachments:Bozeman City for CEDAW 2023 Voter Guide FINAL.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, please contact:Cam Dexter, Member, Bozeman City for CEDAW Task Forcecamerondexter23@gmail.com Bozeman Women's Human Rights Task Force Announces non-partisan 2023 Bozeman City for CEDAW Voter Guide and Candidate Forum onthemes of Fairness, Equity and Human Rights Monday, October 23, 2023, Live ZOOM from 6:00-8:00 pm Learn more about City of Bozeman Mayoral and City Commissioner Candidates’ views on the issues covered in our non-partisan 2023 Bozeman City for CEDAW Voter Guide at our Candidate Forum on Monday, October 23rd @ 6:00 - 8:00 pm via LIVE ZOOM and streamed on KGVM 95.9community radio. Exploring themes of fairness, equity and human rights,City of Bozeman Candidates will discuss their thinking and plans on a range of Questions that revolve around the focus on women’s, girls' and all human rights and the promotion of fairness, equity and inclusion to close the gender, race, income and other disparity gaps in our community. Candidateswill be asked some Questions in the Voter Guide as well as others related toCEDAW's women's human rights framework plus Q & A from the audience. The City's Economic Vitality Board and ultimately the Bozeman City Commissioners oversee the implementation of our Bozeman City for CEDAW Resolution 5384, so please review our 2023 City of Bozeman ElectionsVoter Guide to compare and contrast the Candidates on issues ranging fromPay Equity, Reproductive health care, Women's Safety and ending gender-based violence, safe and affordable Housing, immigration and inclusion, and how to implement the City's Resolution 5384 advancing all women's and girls' human rights:Bozeman City for CEDAW 2023 Voter Guide III.pdf - Google Drive The Candidate Forum is open to the public and all City Candidates,including City Judge Karolina Tierney, were invited. All candidates except Mayor Andrus are participating. Participate in the 2023 City of Bozeman Candidate Forum on October 23rd from 6:00 - 8:00 pm using this ZOOM LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84367709920pwd=V2kzbFJCZGF3NThGeUlGTEg5d1lxUT09e OR listen live at KGVM 95.9 FM community radio: KGVM 95.9 | Gallatin Valley Community Radio KGVM-FM is recording our Candidate Forum and will be available on theirwebsite as a podcast as well. This is an all-mail Ballot Election and Ballots must be returned to the Gallatin County Elections Office by or before Tuesday, November 7th. Voting information can be found at Elections Department | Gallatin County, MT KGVM 95.9 | Gallatin Valley Community Radio Elections Department | Gallatin County, MT Bozeman City for CEDAW 2023 Voter Guide on Themes of Fairness, Equity and Human Rights Mayoral CandidatesCyndy AndrusJohn MeyerJoey Morrison City Commission CandidatesRoger BlankJennifer Madgic Bozeman City for CEDAW — 2023 Voter Guide 2 Welcome to the Bozeman City for CEDAW Task Force to advance the status and safety of all women, girls and those most under-represented in our community. We are pleased to share issues we believe are important for the Candidates to address and the community to consider when voting by mail before November 7. For more information on the Bozeman City for CEDAW Task Force, visit our FB page: www.facebook.com/bozemanforcedaw Details on Voting can be found at the Gallatin County Elections Department Learn more about Candidates’ view on the issues covered in this Voter Guide at our Monday, October 23rd @ 6-8 pm LIVE ZOOM Candidates Forum. Candidates will discuss their thinking and plans on a range of Questions that revolve around the focus on women’s and girls’ human rights and the promotion of fairness, equity and inclusion to close the gender, race, income and other disparity gaps in our community. The Candidate Forum is open to the public and all Candidates. Check out our FB page for the Candidate Forum Event Invite with Zoom link OR listen live at KGVM 95.9 FM community radio: www.kgvm.org More on the Voter Guide: All Mayoral and Commission Candidates were asked to respond to Voter Guide questions and participate in the Forum. We received responses from all 5 Candidates. See their Responses below.For ease of reading, the Candidates responses are separated into 2 headings for the 2 positions that 2023 Elections are being held for. These include: • Mayor – 4-year term – Vote for 1 candidate • City Commissioner – 4-year term – Vote for 1 candidate Lastly, there is an urgent need to protect and expand the human rights of all women and girls by addressing discrimination in education, political, economic, and cultural areas. With the adoption of the Bozeman City for CEDAW Resolution 5384 in April 2022, based on the principles of CEDAW (UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) to effectively monitor and end both subtle and substantial forms of intersectional gender-based discrimination in areas of safety, health and economic security, the City of Bozeman will continue the Montana tradition of history-making decisions that support the diversity of and equity for women’s and girls’ advancement and empowerment. To learn more about the Bozeman City for CEDAW Task Force, read our CEDAW Report and Recommendations on Women and Girls - 2019, review the Bozeman City for CEDAW Resolution 5384, Establishing the City of Bozeman as a City for CEDAW (The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women), and you can contact us at: bozeman4cedaw@gmail.com Bozeman City for CEDAW — 2023 Voter Guide 3 1a. The City of Bozeman has a housing affordability problem. The State Legislature has prohibited local entities from enacting inclusionary zoning statutes and has stopped increased property taxation of second and third homes in our city. Do you support efforts to get the State Legislature to repeal these or other restrictions? What immediate local actions would you support to remedy the housing affordability problem? MAYORAL CANDIDATES John Meyer: Yes, these prohibitions from the state legislature are a clear imposition on our right as a city to govern ourselves. Actions – Have Bozeman challenge the ban on inclusionary zoning statutes and increased property taxation as unconstitutional. Work with other towns like Missoula and Whitefish to join as plaintiffs. Joey Morrison: Knocking doors, I have met seniors, families, and working people who are being displaced. Personally, I have moved 12 times in ten years. This is the daily reality for many citizens. Additionally, I share a vision with Representative Alice Buckley - engaging the community and making our voices heard in Helena. Lastly, I’ve been disappointed by the City’s inaccessible UDC revision process. CITY COMMISSION CANDIDATES Cyndy Andrus: I support working with our legislators and other municipal and state elected officials to create legislation that allows all Montana communities to develop tools to address affordable housing/rent in their communities. I support the following: • Working with new development to encourage Planned Development Zones • Continuing to negotiate annexation requests with development agreements that provide affordable housing • Using Tax Increment Finance dollars for projects that have an affordable housing component • Considering the idea of a Housing Authority as part of the Affordable Housing Action Plan update Roger Blank: Affordable housing is a complex issue with no simple single remedy. A meaningful solution requires multiple coordinated actions, the most significant one being increasing supply. With this foundation, an effective approach will include: 1. Implementation of the Montana Legislature’s recently land-use planning legislation, Bozeman City for CEDAW — 2023 Voter Guide 4 1b. Do you support a ban on second home short-term rentals? John Meyer: Enforce STR regulations on the books. Vote in favor of a moratorium on approving development of vacation homes to prioritize figuring out realistic goals for affordable housing development. I oppose short term rentals owned by out-of-staters who don’t live in them. I am in favor of owner-occupier short term rentals, including families that rent their home out while they’re on vacation and people who rent out a room in their home or an ADU to supplement their incomes. Joey Morrison: Who is Bozeman growing for? We need to prioritize inventory for locals. Allowing second homes to operate as hotels is inappropriate during a housing crisis. I’m Cyndy Andrus: I support banning short-term rentals on second homes that are not owner-occupied. SB 323 (permitting duplexes in single-family zones) and SB 382 (long-term forward- looking planning). 2. Allow higher density housing in residential development zones with sufficient carrying capacity (roads, sewer, etc.) to support qualified denser development. 3. Allow private homeowners with sufficiently size lots or unused garages or other spaces to develop Accessory Dwelling Units. 4. Incentivize development encompassing more affordable units through various governmental abatements and other financial incentives. 5. Limit Short Term Rentals to owner occupied a minimum of 6 months out of the year. This will effectively ban second home short term rental investment properties (combined with #6) without unfairly impacting those who occupy their homes the majority of the calendar year. 6. In conjunction with #5, encourage long term rentals. Incentivize Bozeman residents who own more than one home to only offer long term leases of no less than ten months (the school year). 7. Ban Corporate or Limited Liability Company ownership with the exception to said Corporate Officers full time occupation. This will allow people who have businesses that they operate out of their home to hold their homes in corporate form for tax Jennifer Madgic: Bozeman is better off developing our own housing affordability solutions rather than relying on Helena. As City Commissioner, I have seen our community do just that: seek and strategize a compilation of comprehensive solutions aimed at providing a variety of housing types for Bozeman’s low- and middle-income individuals and families. We are doing that every day by partnering with groups like HRDC, Family Promise, the Help Center, property owners as well as the local development community to seek solutions that provide much-needed transition and temporary housing, affordable apartments and condominiums, multi-family and single-family units for rent and for purchase. MAYORAL CANDIDATES Bozeman City for CEDAW — 2023 Voter Guide 5 2a. Given Montana’s newly enacted 2023 legislation that severely restricts women’s and all bodily autonomy and right to privacy, should the Bozeman City Commission consider, evaluate and support policies that uphold women’s and pregnant people’s Montana Constitutional right to reproductive health services? Roger Blank: See Roger Blank’s answer above. Jennifer Madgic: Our community is doing the right thing in analyzing the potential impact of short-term rentals on overall housing affordability. We are in the middle of the decision-making process on this very important issue in a transparent, public process. I very much agree that local housing has been negatively impacted by the investor and second-home market and we are wise to do what we can to fully understand that dynamic and do our best to make sure we’re providing suitable housing for local people. John Meyer: Yes, the City Commission should consider, evaluate, and support all policies available to support women’s and pregnant people’s constitutional rights. Joey Morrison: I served on the board of directors of the Susan Wicklund Fund (now the Montana Abortion Access Program) through the last legislative session, and I had the honor of learning from some of the most powerful reproductive healthcare champions in the state. The city has a responsibility to its citizens to ensure they have access to critical healthcare services, like abortions, contraceptives, and other services. As mayor, I will convene local experts and leaders to determine the best course of action in creating a Municipal Abortion fund and explore any proactive measures the city can take to defend bodily autonomy. proud to have developed and led a campaign to ban second-home STRs. CITY COMMISSION CANDIDATES MAYORAL CANDIDATES CITY COMMISSION CANDIDATES Cyndy Andrus: I support an individual’s right to choose the health services they determine they need, and I don’t believe the government at any level should intervene. I would oppose any legislation that curtails the rights established in Article II, Section IV of the Montana State constitution. Jennifer Madgic: Absolutely. We need to stand up for women’s rights, as well as the rights of our LGBTQ+ community particularly considering the actions and attitudes from our state Bozeman City for CEDAW — 2023 Voter Guide 6 2b. Since the City’s Strategic Plan supports a “healthy” and “welcoming” community, should initiatives and actions regarding the right to reproductive autonomy and reproductive services be made a part of the next iteration of the City’s Strategic Plan? Why or why not? Roger Blank: I believe the City should best allocate its time and resources on issues that it can have an impact on and let the residents of Bozeman address the legalities of abortion through their elected state representatives who have the ability to impact such services. MAYORAL CANDIDATES John Meyer: Yes, any initiatives and actions that will support women and reproductive rights should be added to the next Strategic Plan to enable all people in the city of Bozeman to feel like they belong to our community and that they have a safe place to live. Joey Morrison: See Joey Morrison’s answer above. CITY COMMISSION CANDIDATES Jennifer Madgic: We need to analyze our Strategic Plan and determine whether it’s reflecting up-to-date opinions about who we are as a community and what we support. A lot has happened and changed in our community since passage of the current plan in 2018, particularly concerning issues related to public health. I support bolstering the ‘Safe and Welcoming City’ section of our plan and would consider adding support of the provision of safe, reproductive services. 3a. In addition to gathering data in the City’s Belonging in Bozeman effort, how will you commit to lead the City to advance legislature and governor. I support adopting appropriate local policies and programs that demonstrates our community commitment to being a Safe, Welcoming Community, and a community that stands behind reproductive health services. Cyndy Andrus: See Cyndy Andrus’ answer above. Roger Blank: It should not be part of the City’s Strategic Plan for the following reasons: The issue of abortion rights is obviously a divisive subject, with valid points to be made on both sides of the issue. Irrespective of how any one of us may personally feel on the topic, how the legalities of abortion access are ultimately addressed falls under the authority of the State Legislature and not the city administration. Bozeman City for CEDAW — 2023 Voter Guide 7 Cyndy Andrus: I will commit to supporting actions and strategies in the Belonging in Bozeman Equity and Inclusion Plan identified as the city’s responsibility. I will also commit to supporting our partners to help them achieve their goals in the plan. John Meyer: Representative government is only as strong as the representatives that make it up. I plan to promote equity and justice in our community and to advance and protect women’s and all human rights by supporting litigation against unconstitutional laws that infringe on Bozeman residents’ rights that are enshrined in the 1972 Constitution. and protect women’s and all human rights, and promote equity and justice in our community? MAYORAL CANDIDATES Joey Morrison: As mayor, equity and belonging will be a top priority. I will champion these efforts and make city hall a trusted partner in delivering on these initiatives because we know that it takes discipline and courage to end systemic inequities. CITY COMMISSION CANDIDATES Roger Blank: The Government’s role is to ensure all citizens are treated equally before the law, without preference or prejudice. As a former state prosecutor in a major metropolitan minority community, I am well versed regarding the issue of women, girls and minority community members being targeted by criminal behavior. I will use my experience to advocate for policies and procedures that ensure the safety of all Bozeman residents, regardless of their status and identification. Jennifer Madgic: Our strategic plan helps guide us in all our decision-making, budget allocations and commission priorities. Given changes in recent years, I believe our plan is out of date and can be strengthened to further our goal of being a safe and welcoming community. I would prioritize updating this plan to include language that makes it clear that we work to protect the rights of all people living in our community. 3b. Is the Bozeman City for CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women and Girls) Resolution, unanimously adopted April 5, 2022, a priority for you? Why or Why not? What would you do to ensure CEDAW is a priority in current and future City work plans? MAYORAL CANDIDATES Joey Morrison: This resolution was passed over a year ago, and it’s hard to see what it Bozeman City for CEDAW — 2023 Voter Guide 8 Cyndy Andrus: Yes. It was a commission priority to establish Bozeman as a City for CEDAW, and we did so through Resolution 5384. I am committed to upholding the resolution and will continue to look for ways to integrate our commitment to CEDAW into other city plans. John Meyer: Yes, this Resolution is very important to me. Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, for women and girls in our community, will increase the strength and standing of our community writ large. Requiring mandatory training for City employees should be a part of any work plan. CITY COMMISSION CANDIDATES Roger Blank: In accordance with Question #3a, ensuring that all of Bozeman’s citizens are treated equally before the law, be it in the criminal justice area, in hiring, in equal pay, in equal promotion etc. without preference or prejudice should be the City of Bozeman’s daily goal in its own governance. Jennifer Madgic: Yes, I fully supported adoption of the CEDAW Resolution as a city commissioner and I am committed to making sure we follow up and prioritize policies that work to eliminate all forms of discrimination in Bozeman. 4. A recent economic workforce study showed that Hispanic immigrants are contributing significantly to our state and county; $2.6 billion to the state and $307.6 million to Gallatin Valley’s economy. And we know that businesses, farmers and ranchers, and companies do not have enough workers. What would you do to address workforce issues in Bozeman and make Bozeman a more welcoming city for immigrants? MAYORAL CANDIDATES has delivered. We need to create and convene an annual meeting with local leaders and organizations to ensure the city is on track with the existing and approved CEDAW work plan. Cyndy Andrus: Lead by example. I will continue to support staff in learning about DEI and ways to better and more equitably offer city services. A few examples include: Strategic Services • Efforts are being made to include a complete Spanish translation for community surveys whenever possible. Recent examples include the National Community Survey and the Sensitive Lands Survey. • Staff attends biweekly Migrant Community Coordination (MCC) meetings with other Bozeman City for CEDAW — 2023 Voter Guide 9 John Meyer: Addressing the housing crisis will have the greatest success at addressing workforce issues for all workers here in Bozeman, including for immigrants. I am in favor of establishing a housing authority to address workforce housing, which could include developing affordable rentals for people working in Bozeman. Expanding public transportation is also priority of mine as well so we won’t have to rely on cars to get to work, another added expense on top of the exorbitant rent and housing costs in our city. CITY COMMISSION CANDIDATES Jennifer Madgic: Hispanic and foreign workers have played a critical role in helping the US economy stay afloat and ultimately thrive. This is particularly true in Gallatin County with the presence of strong agriculture and service economy sectors. We need to fully recognize this impact and be upfront and transparent about providing for the needs of these individuals who live among us. This means providing safe and appropriate housing, medical care, education, safety, and inclusive social structures to ensure the integration and assimilation of these workers is respectful, welcoming and fair. Roger Blank: The question fatally fails to distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants, therefore in my answer I will. Regarding legal immigrants, be they from another state or half way around the world, to paraphrase President Teddy Roosevelt, if they come here in good faith to become Montanans and assimilate in accordance with Montanan values and principles, they shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it would be an outrage to discriminate against any such person because of creed or birth-place of origin. But this is predicated upon the immigrant adopting to our Montanan credo. We have come here to be Montanans, to be good Montanans it is incumbent upon us to learn the ways of and adopt Montana and her ways and not expect and certainly not demand that Montana Joey Morrison: Latino immigrants are a cornerstone of our community. They should feel protected and safe at work, and honored and dignified at home. The city needs to celebrate the existing immigrant community and acknowledge them as a beloved and critical part of Bozeman. To me, there is no better way to celebrate the immigrant community than removing barriers to their success in Bozeman. Bozeman has gaps in services for those with no or limited English proficiency, including the challenge of finding Spanish-speaking lenders or CPAs as well as the challenge of getting into housing without interpretation services. We need to work with our county and private partners to remove these barriers for our immigrant neighbors and provide access to the services they need. service provider organizations in the valley to coordinate efforts and share information about how they are working to reduce barriers to services and programs for Spanish speakers in our community. Municipal Court • Translated the Rights and Responsibilities form in Spanish. • Contracts with professional interpreters locally for English/Spanish interpretation for court hearings. Bozeman City for CEDAW — 2023 Voter Guide 10 5. The City of Bozeman has unanimously adopted two Pay Equity Resolutions, but never issued a report about Vendors Equal Pay compliance. Nor has it addressed Comparable Worth, which was adopted 3 years ago in the City’s Strategic Plan. What would you do to lead and uphold the implementation of these Resolutions and to advance best practices to assure fairness, equity and economic security for all in Bozeman? MAYORAL CANDIDATES John Meyer: The conviction and persistence that has led most of my career as an environmental attorney will be guiding tools for my tenure as mayor. I will use my position to lead the Commission to follow through on these Resolutions because addressing fairness, equity, and economic security should be the Northstar for any local government. Publicizing the resolutions and asking people to report noncompliance is one first step towards ensuring they are followed. I’d also support a third party investigating and reporting on compliance as well as providing suggestions for how to ensure 100% compliance. One potential contract stipulation would be that any contract with the City would be voided for failing to comply with the pay equity resolutions. accommodate us in any manner. We left behind the places we came from for a reason, because they failed us; to bring the ways of those places with us is to condemn Montana to their same fate. To which I would recommend all those who relocate to Montana, no matter where one is from, to read the “Code of the New West” issued by and found on the Gallatin County website. Regarding illegal immigrants, the City Administration’s role should not be to welcome those whose first act was to disregard and break our nation’s laws. Then further break our laws by working here without legal authorization. The City Administration’s role is to foster an economic environment that places the interest of Montanans first. Illegal immigrants place additional burdens on social welfare benefits, increased healthcare costs, increase the cost of housing due to competition for available housing units, especially with affordable housing already being a significant issue in Bozeman, compete for jobs that otherwise would be available for Montanans, among other societal costs. Further, should the City Administration adopt a policy enabling or in any way aiding and abetting illegal immigrants it would be in violation of Federal criminal law; something as City Commissioner I would strongly council against. Joey Morrison: Similar to the answer given in Question #3, we need to make sure that we walk the walk as a city government before we can expect our partners and vendors to follow in our footsteps. The city needs to be able to confidently declare that no pay discrimination exists within its own payroll, which it cannot say currently. I would prioritize an internal audit of our current pay schedules and eliminate existing inequitable pay practices. Bozeman City for CEDAW — 2023 Voter Guide 11 6a. Intimate Partner and Domestic Violence affects a large number of women in Bozeman and is increasing. It jumped 41% between 2019 and 2021. How will you lead to remove legal barriers and ensure that the required physical, mental and recovery support is available for women and girls, irrespective of economic status? Joey Morrison: Communities thrive when mothers, women, and the LGBTQ+ community can thrive, and we also know that intimate partner violence rates can compound with marginalized identities. Cyndy Andrus: Once I understand the legal obstacles, I would work with the commission to address them and ensure that required physical, mental, and recovery support is available for women and girls, irrespective of economic status. I will continue to support and champion the work of HAVEN in their efforts to provide services to survivors of domestic violence. CITY COMMISSION CANDIDATES Roger Blank: Vendors Equal Pay and Comparable Worth resolutions: I do not support the City Administration micro managing how businesses that do business with or conduct business in the City of Bozeman choose to manage their companies. That being said, the City Administration’s obligation is to set an example for all members of the Bozeman community and ensure all members of its work force are treated fairly. Additionally, as an attorney I know there are numerous Federal regulations that businesses must comply with regarding the treatment of their workforce that afford employees whom believe they are not being treated appropriately access to the courts and other administrative avenues, often at substantial cost to the employer, to address the employee’s issue. The federal regulatory scheme already incentivizes compliance and fair treatment of employees in the workforce. Jennifer Madgic: It’s clear that Bozeman needs to revisit its Strategic Plan to update the six-year-old plan but also review how the city is doing in reaching the plan’s larger goals and policies. Addressing comparable worth is one example, as is a thorough review of the city’s commitment to and promise of equal pay. I would prioritize these actions. MAYORAL CANDIDATES Cyndy Andrus: The Bozeman Strategic Plan was adopted in April of 2018. Section 3.3.b of the plan states the following: Review the feasibility of all city vendors and suppliers to establish and enforce a gender pay equality policy. The city commission has established a gender pay equality policy by adopting Resolution 5169. I will continue to support the resolution and work to ensure that updates related to the Belonging in Bozeman plan encompass all areas of equity, including pay equity. Bozeman City for CEDAW — 2023 Voter Guide 12 6b. And what would you do to advance the safety for women and those most under-represented in our community to prevent as well as reduce the risk of all forms of gender-based violence? John Meyer: I believe that local governments should first and foremost protect the health and safety of its citizens. I will follow the recommendation of a task force after Bozeman becomes a city for CEDAW to support and protect all victims of domestic violence and break down all barriers in the way. CITY COMMISSION CANDIDATES Jennifer Madgic: Our community, and City of Bozeman, needs to take the issue of partner and domestic violence seriously and work with area partners to provide the whole gamut of needed support. We are not a community that tolerates violence of any kind to any person, and this message needs to be clear and backed up with action and resources. The city needs to be a partner at the table of these discussions, and supportive of policies and provision of resources that helps turn these statistics around. MAYORAL CANDIDATES Cyndy Andrus: I will continue supporting the implementation of Resolution 5384 and adopting the Belonging in Bozeman Plan. I will support actions to engage with partners who are the closest to the issue to identify ways the Commission can be supportive. John Meyer: Education is the first step towards advancing safety. In addition to mandatory training for all city employees, the City should allocate funds to ensure there are safe places and a hotline for anyone subjected to gender-based violence. Joey Morrison: I’ll bring together our local experts with Haven, the Help Center, Victim Services, local judges, and other resources to seek their guidance on how the city can be the best partner, funder, and advocate to prevent and reduce gender-based violence. Roger Blank: As touched on in my answer to Question #3a, The City Administration’s role is to ensure all citizens are treated equally before the law, without preference or prejudice. As a former state prosecutor in a major metropolitan minority community, I am well versed regarding the issue of women, girls and minority community members being targeted by criminal behavior. I will use my experience to advocate for policies and procedures that ensure the safety of all Bozeman residents, regardless of their status and identification. CITY COMMISSION CANDIDATES Jennifer Madgic: I would ensure that we do everything we can to show our intolerance of gender-based violence, and that the actions of all levels of city governing, including law enforcement, reflect this. Bozeman City for CEDAW — 2023 Voter Guide 13 7. Closing question - We have identified and discussed a number of pressing issues that address fairness, equity and making Bozeman a more welcoming and integrated community. What is your vision for Bozeman, say ten years down the road, and what are the two or three priority actions that you would promote and focus on once in office? Roger Blank: For sake of brevity these are a few examples of what I would propose as a City Commissioner specifically regarding Bozeman’s women and girls: As Bozeman’s population grows, so must the size of the Bozeman Police Department; along with that growth I would hire more women police officers in order that on every shift there is at least one female officer on duty, with additional domestic violence/sexual assault training to respond to domestic violence or sexual assault cases where the victim is a woman or child. Further, having been not only a state prosecutor but also attorney for the NYPD, I would have the particular responding officer carry that case throughout the entirety of its administration from arrest through trial of the accused so the victim has a singular go to point of contact. Additionally, I would propose coordination between BPD, Bozeman Health and the Gallatin County Prosecutor’s Office to ensure at least one nurse or physician’s assistant is properly trained and certified as a S.A.N.E. Nurse (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) is either always on duty or available on call in order to ensure the best possible outcome of the prosecution for both the victim and safety of the Bozeman community. MAYORAL CANDIDATES John Meyer: I’m running for mayor to make Bozeman the most sustainable city in the world. By ensuring water conservation is one of Bozeman’s highest priorities, the next mayor can control growth, development, and density while also retaining the excitement and energy that draws so many people here. Cyndy Andrus: I envision a Bozeman where we all can thrive and are treated equitably without bias. A place where our values are reflected in our natural and built environment, where housing is accessible and plentiful, where multi-model transportation is robust, where the air and water are clean and healthy, our economy is thriving, and we are working together to build a strong, resilient, and connected community. My priority actions include: • Implementing the Belonging in Bozeman Equity and Inclusion Plan • Finding affordable housing solutions (see Question #1) • Continuing our work to reduce carbon emissions, support clean energy policies, and protect our natural resources. Joey Morrison: The community needs to feel like it is in the driver’s seat of Bozeman’s future. I have deep trust in the wisdom and expertise of the citizens of Bozeman, and as a Bozeman City for CEDAW — 2023 Voter Guide 14 CITY COMMISSION CANDIDATES Roger Blank: 1. First and foremost a City Administration that is responsive and answers to the tax paying residents of Bozeman. I don’t believe the current City Administration does so. 2. Addressing affordable Housing. A community in which when its children grow-up are unable to remain in the place of their birth because they can’t afford to do so is a community in crises. The current City Administration has let this crisis get out of hand, has not taken the bold action that needs to be done to address this crisis and continues to dither as Rome preverbally burns. 3. Sane, sensical development. One that also preserves our natural environment. Something I haven’t seen out of the current City Administration. Jennifer Madgic: I think it would be amazing for Bozeman to strive to be the most-welcoming city in all of Montana. That over upcoming years, we have a reputation for being fair, just, inclusive, and safe for all. And that this fact is evident in the language we use, the policies we follow, and the actions we take. I would work hard to improve our language, our policies, and our actions. community organizer, I feel well-positioned to bring the community together around these grave and immense challenges. I want to make sure that our zoning and growth plans reflect the desires and visions of our community. Top-down strategies won’t work. We need an answer to the question of how many people can live in this valley given our water resources, and plan our city accordingly.