Below is a brief synopsis of our positions on issues that are important to Boston residents.  As the campaign proceeds, we will be releasing more comprehensive policy proposals and we ask that you continue to check in.  We also ask that you consider being a part of the process of developing our policy.  Please contact our Policy Director, Kalila Barnett (kalila@felixarroyo.com) if you have any questions or ideas.  Our campaign is committed to collaborative politics and governance and your ideas, suggestions and criticisms are welcome and encouraged.

Education and Youth

Over the past 5 years I have worked very closely with young people in Boston as a volunteer youth sports coach and as an elected member of my local Community Center’s board.  I believe that all of the youth in Boston deserve to attend quality schools that value them and prepare them for the future and we must ensure that we provide opportunities for our youth to be active in constructive activities after school and during the summer months.  Our young people are the future of our city and is my priority as your City Councilor At-large.

Housing and Development

As an elected member of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council, I was able to successfully advocate with and on behalf of my neighbors for the construction of affordable housing.  We have to ensure that whenever housing is being built that we also build affordable housing so that everyone in our city has the opportunity to own a home.  When communities are a part of the planning and process, development is beneficial to our neighborhoods.  It creates jobs, supports local businesses, and eliminates blight.  It is crucial that our neighborhoods and their residents play a role in deciding the future development of our city.

Public Safety

As the grandson of a police officer, I have the utmost respect for our public safety workers and all of the men and women that put their lives on the line to protect ours.  All of Boston’s residents have the right to feel and be safe in our city.  We must support community policing, ensure that our police and fire departments have the resources they need to do their jobs, maintain clean and well-lit parks, and ensure that we don’t have abandoned buildings in our neighborhoods.

Labor and Workforce Development

As a former labor organizer for SEIU Local 615 and as a member of the UAW Local 376, I believe that all of Boston’s residents deserve the opportunity to work at a decent wage so that they can put food on the table and a roof over their family’s head. To ensure that there are good jobs available for the residents of Boston, we must create, attract, support and retain the businesses that provide them.  We must support our small businesses so that they can thrive and hire local residents.

Civic Engagement

As a community organizer I believe in collaborative politics and governance.  All residents must have the opportunity to participate and have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives and have equal access to our government so that it truly is a government “of the people and for the people.”  As your city councilor we will continue to organize in all of Boston’s neighborhoods to ensure that everyone has a voice in our government.

Health and Environment

Prior to becoming City Councilor At-Large, I worked at Northeast Action as a Health Care organizer.  Everyday I organize to try to win national universal health care so that everyone in America has health insurance.  We are blessed to live in a city that has some of the world’s best hospitals and health care institutions.  We must work to ensure that all residents of Boston have access to health care and to those hospitals.  We must also understand the relationship between a clean environment and the health of our City and its residents.  We must work to make Boston the greenest city possible and a model for others to follow.

Basic City Services

In my four years working at the Boston City Council I served as a Constituent Services Director for Councilor Turner.  I worked hard to ensure that our parks and streets were cleaned, potholes were fixed, and that all of the Basic City Services needs of our constituents were met. I believe that this work is key for city government and I will work with all residents throughout the city to ensure that quality, basic city services are delivered.