Economic vitality

Bloomington is quickly becoming a go-to home for medical and technology companies, and the opportunities for growth are endless. But there are still obstacles such as the housing shortage, infrastructure and transportation needs, and quality of life. As mayor, Kerry will work to attract and retain more jobs that pay a living wage through a two-pronged, community-driven approach.

• Creating truly collaborative partnerships with the university; county government; state and regional economic development partners, and employers

• Step up the promotion of Bloomington as a premier tourism, arts and cultural destination. Both play an outsized role in our city’s economy.

Housing

Bloomington is an incredible place to live—if you can afford it. With home, rent, and property taxes skyrocketing, affordable and attainable housing have become scarce. For most, it is just as challenging to buy a house as it is to rent one. Did you know that a 2020 study commissioned by the city found that Bloomington needs thousands of additional housing units by 2030? Seven years will go by fast. As mayor, Kerry will take immediate action with a whole-of-government approach focused on:

• Implementing the Bloomington Housing Study
  In Kerry’s first 100 days as Mayor, she will begin implementing recommendations from Bloomington’s 2020 Housing Study—a 100-plus page report created with public input. Unfortunately, this comprehensive roadmap continues to sit on the shelf. The Thomson administration will use it as a guide to create more housing over the next decade.

• Auditing Bloomington’s housing ecosystem
  Kerry will appoint a citizen task force to increase efficiencies while developing safeguards for the community, renters, and residents. The task force will review all aspects of the city housing ecosystem, from permitting and public input on housing projects to tenant rights and penalties for irresponsible landlords.

• Increasing partnerships to create housing
  Kerry will work to renew partnerships to create more housing options, working hand-in-hand with state and county government, Indiana University, and public and private organizations to retain, restore and build housing stock. This will make Bloomington more affordable for its growing workforce and help unhoused residents find appropriate shelter.

• Leverage existing assets to house our residents
  Kerry’s administration will work to maximize Bloomington’s resources and examine the current use of federal dollars to provide infrastructure and other partnership incentives to create new and retain existing affordable housing. This includes reviewing the existing and proposed first-floor commercial properties for potential housing or desirable amenity retrofits, including childcare and food sources that the city needs close to residential areas.

Kerry will also focus on our neighborhoods. As our primary sense of belonging and safety, neighborhoods play a critical part in the overall culture of Bloomington. Kerry proposes a neighborhood asset mapping and enhancement program, working with two neighborhoods each year to initiate visions that are created hand-in-hand with residents. The program seeks to lift and accentuate the existing assets in a neighborhood; explore public arts, placemaking, and gathering spaces; and develop an understanding of how we might welcome new residents to the neighborhood.

Read Kerry’s 5-point housing plan

Public safety

It’s said often and as a point of pride: Bloomington is “relatively safe.” Since when is “relatively” the end of progress? We have multiple crises afflicting our community. From substance use and mental health to homelessness, the status quo isn’t working—not for Bloomington and not for our friends and fellow citizens.

We deserve better.

As Mayor, Kerry Thomson is committed to building a community-based, sustainable approach to public safety, where all people and perspectives are welcome at the table. That means working closely with community providers and nonprofit and grassroots organizations to seek their insights and develop targeted and coordinated plans to assist the unhoused and others in crisis. She will also open up direct communication with rank-and-file police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics to seek their points of view and will renew and enhance partnerships with Indiana University, Monroe County, and the state public safety agencies to share resources and seek state and federal grants.

Partnering for progress

Any community builder will tell you: you can’t go it alone. Unfortunately, the last few years have seen Bloomington struggle to maintain its partnerships with key stakeholders in county government, Indiana University, local schools, state government, and other organizations and businesses. The lack of substantive collaboration and coordination around critical issues such as affordable housing, public transportation, the expansion of the convention center, planning for a new jail, and a host of other issues is hurting communities—city and county alike.

Kerry will work from day one to rebuild and strengthen these relationships, re-open the lines of communication, and restore trust. She will personally and regularly meet with partners, as will key leaders in her administration, to build a city government that all Bloomington citizens expect and deserve.

Read Kerry’s op-ed on the importance of partnerships.

Inclusion & accessibility

Our city is stronger when more people are involved in policy development and more perspectives are present and heard at the decision-making table. That starts with ensuring Bloomington is a welcoming community where every resident and visitor feels safe and valued.

Bloomington is renowned for its diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion efforts, but we can’t rest on our laurels. Our community members who live in the margins of our margins need and deserve more. Kerry is committed to building upon the existing foundation to ensure our diverse communities feel safe and listened to and make it easier for women and minority-owned businesses to compete for city work. She’ll also be a leading voice speaking out against attacks on equality from Trump-aligned conservatives in the Indiana Statehouse and in Washington, DC.

Open government

Kerry will build a culture of openness throughout her administration. And as she has done throughout her career, Kerry will also ensure that every community member both feels and knows that their voices will be heard and that their point of view is valued. This means resident and City Council input will happen well before decisions are made—not the other way around. Gone will be the practice of announcing initiatives to the community at the last minute and making requests to the City Council with little or no time for input. A Thomson administration will prioritize genuine engagement from all citizens and governing councils at every stage of the decision-making process.

Read Kerry’s open government plan.

A sustainable city

Bloomington leads the way in sustainability, protecting our environment, and fighting climate change. Kerry will ensure environmental stewardship is core to every action the city takes. From investing in sustainable park, sewer, and water projects and purchasing fuel-efficient and electric vehicles to working to make the city business paperless to using recycled building materials on projects, Bloomington can and must continue to lead the way.

Transportation

Our country’s infrastructure is benefiting from historic federal investments. Bloomington is in a strong position to seize the opportunity to transform our transportation system. Not only will this lead to improvements to our roads and bridges but also the creation of additional bike lanes, investments in public transportation improvements, and support for “smart growth” approaches to land use. But the key to this list of incredible possibilities—and moving forward in a responsible way—is engaged community conversation and renewing partnerships with county, state, and federal agencies to partner on projects.

Quality of place

Arts, culture, restaurants, parks, a community of caring, creative, educated citizens. Bloomington is one of Indiana’s gems. Protecting and improving this place we love and call home is the core driver of Kerry's run for Mayor.

We need to make our community safer, more welcoming, and more affordable—but that’s not all. We must also invest in the things that make Bloomington so livable: the community organizations and public spaces that make this a special place to live, work, and play. We must also support small businesses, celebrate local artists, and embrace and celebrate the things that make Bloomington unlike any other place in Indiana and the Midwest.

Kerry will be Bloomington’s biggest cheerleader and advocate, ensuring that “quality of place” is embedded in all aspects of city projects and plans.