Orange Isn’t Just Old Towne — It’s Time We Act Like It

When I decided to run for office in District 1, I did so with one goal in mind: to serve the people and all people of this district. That means listening, showing up, and making sure every corner of our city gets the attention and investment it deserves.

One challenge we face now is that district-based elections have drawn lines in the sand that were never there before. While they’ve helped ensure better local representation, they’ve also unintentionally encouraged a mindset of division — of “mine” versus “theirs.” That’s not how this city was built. Orange has always thrived when we work across neighborhoods, not within borders. My commitment is to represent District 1, but never to be limited by it. When we uplift one part of the city, we uplift all of it.

But let’s be honest: Old Towne garners a disproportionate share of attention and resources in Orange. It’s charming, historic, and undeniably a gem. But there’s more to Orange than just downtown; and our future depends on recognizing that.

From residential neighborhoods and small businesses along Tustin Street, to commercial corridors in East Orange and underserved pockets in the north, we are a city of neighborhoods, not just a plaza. The people living outside the Old Towne circle pay taxes, raise families, build businesses, and deserve the same level of support, infrastructure, and economic development.

This isn’t about neglecting Old Towne — it’s about balancing the scale.

It’s about improving streets and sidewalks in West Orange.

It’s about updating infrastructure and increasing safety in communities that don’t make the tourism brochures.

It’s about giving small businesses outside the plaza access to the same foot traffic, city incentives, and marketing opportunities.

Economic vitality shouldn't be confined to a few square blocks.

As your representative, I believe in a city that lifts every neighborhood. That means pushing for development that respects community character but also brings in revenue. It means connecting with local businesses across the city — not just in Old Towne. And it means making sure city hall works for everyone, not just the postcard.

Orange’s future won’t be built on nostalgia alone. It will be built by neighborhoods coming together with fair investment, shared attention, and an honest commitment to progress.

I’m here for all of Orange. And I won’t settle for anything less.

-Below is a draft Memo to City Staff-

MEMO TO CITY STAFF
Subject: Citywide Equity in Economic Development and Infrastructure Investment

Team,

As your District 1 representative, I want to begin by thanking you for the tireless work you do in service of Orange. Our residents count on us for services that are consistent, responsive, and equitable.

But I want to be very clear: our focus can no longer be disproportionately concentrated in Old Towne. While it remains a historic and vital part of our city, we must act with intention to bring the rest of Orange up to par in both appearance and economic opportunity.

Furthermore, district-based elections have drawn boundaries, but they must not define our operational mindset. These lines did not exist until recently, and while they’ve empowered residents with more localized representation, we must reject any tendency to view the city through a narrow lens. Every neighborhood, whether inside or outside Old Towne, deserves our full attention.

ACTION ITEMS:

1. Expand Small Business Support Beyond Old Towne.
   Create targeted outreach and visibility programs for businesses on corridors like Tustin Street, Batavia St, Katella Ave, and Collins Ave that often get overshadowed by the plaza.

2. Ensure Community Events and Promotion Are Spread Across the City.
   Use city resources and communications channels to highlight events in every neighborhood — not just those within the historic district.

3. Embed “Citywide Value” in Departmental Planning.
   I am asking each department to submit, by end of Q1 FY 2026-27, how they plan to intentionally ensure balanced investment and presence across all parts of the city.

Let’s raise all of Orange to a level that reflects our shared pride and future potential — not just a postcard version of it.

Thank you for your partnership in making that vision real.