Dear Ward 5 neighbors,
What is the role of government?
Some might say it’s to ensure there are paved streets. Still others may add that the government’s role is to enforce the law, regulate businesses, and pick up trash (more on that below!).
I believe it is those things. But I believe it also to ensure that neighbors’ basic needs are met: food, housing, and safety. This raises a fundamental question: who deserves the government’s help? And by extension, who deserves essentials like education and healthcare?
This topic of deservedness is at the heart of my commitment to public service and why I focus so intently on addressing poverty. Because I believe that regardless of your background or zip code, we all deserve a shared quality of life.
It is not lost on me that some—perhaps those that are well-off or have worked hard themselves—may question why it is our responsibility to help others. The answer is in the philosophical framework of a “linked fate.” We have a linked fate across cultures and as a society. We are inextricably linked, and what happens to some of us ultimately impacts all of us. If we do not address poverty, the consequences are felt by us all.
I start the newsletter here after a long week of intense discussions about the role of our government, how we show up for our people, and the future of our finances.
