A more accessible Bedford, a healthier community

One of the things I value most about being Bedford’s town supervisor is the opportunity to make a difference in people’s everyday lives.

Sometimes that means tackling a big infrastructure project or finding a way to make a town program more efficient. But just as often, it means listening to a resident who needs help getting to a doctor, a caregiver who needs support, or a family looking for a place where a child with disabilities can play alongside other children.

Those conversations have shaped much of the work we have done to support seniors, people with disabilities and community health.

My colleagues and I on the Town Board expanded the town’s senior advocate position to full time because Bedford’s seniors deserve someone whose job is to help them navigate the services and resources available to them. We partnered with RideConnect to improve transportation options, increased funding for Meals on Wheels and secured grants to help lower- and middle-income seniors with wellness expenses, transportation for medical care outside Bedford, specialty dietary needs and certain medical and dental costs not covered by insurance. We also expanded real property tax exemptions for low income seniors and provide vouchers that allow moderate-income seniors to purchase fresh produce at our farmers markets. And because staying healthy is about more than medical care, we helped establish support groups for caregivers and for people dealing with vision and mobility challenges.

These are not always the most visible things a town government does. But they matter.

The same is true when we talk about making Bedford more accessible to people with disabilities. We obtained a $100,000 grant for a wheelchair accessible senior activity bus, which provides transportation to the 3-day a week social program and weekly shopping trips available to seniors. We secured a $250,000 grant for an inclusive playground, giving children of different abilities a place to play together. We created a Neurodiversity Task Force to identify barriers and help make Bedford a more welcoming and accessible community for neurodivergent residents, and that launched a partnership with the Inclusive Initiative that provides resources, events, and training - including training town staff and local businesses - to be neurodiverse-friendly. We co-sponsor Inclusive Halloween to make Halloween accessible and inclusive for children of all abilities.

We continue to upgrade facilities to bring them into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Accessibility can seem like a technical issue until you are the person who cannot get through a doorway, use a facility or participate in an activity because of a barrier that others never have to think about.

Community health is another area where I believe local government can make a practical difference. We held Bedford’s first community health fair, bringing together health providers, community organizations and government agencies so residents could learn about resources in one place. We have supported a range of health-promoting activities, from nature walks, a youth triathlon, and aqua zumba to a Grief Awareness Day, and we provide free flu shots for seniors. We also continue to participate in and support the tri-town Drug Abuse Prevention Council, THRIVE, helping to obtain a five-year $625,000 grant to engage a coalition of stakeholders and launch a youth council, hire a full time coordinator, and expand its mission to include mental health, recognizing that substance use and mental health are often interconnected challenges for individuals and families.

I often say that my job is to “solve for yes.” To me, that means looking at a problem and asking what we can do, who we can work with and how we can find the resources to make something happen.

It also means remembering that the government is ultimately about people. That is why I am asking Bedford voters to give me the opportunity to continue this work. I believe the record we have built — supporting seniors, expanding accessibility, and investing in community health — demonstrates what practical, responsive local government can accomplish, and I would be honored to continue serving as your town supervisor.