Michelle Luong's Platform

As a leader, I listen, collaborate, and bring people together & as a City Councilor, my approach will be the same. During the difficult times ahead each one of us will need to commit to working together on the issues that directly affect Malden, from creating new income streams and stabilizing our economy to infrastructure, transportation & government efficiency.

Are Our Basics Covered?

Safe staffing levels for essential workers, teachers and first responders
Fair wages and Benefits for our city employees
A fully Funded Educational system
Support and/or collaborate on an updated Complete Streets Plan
Prioritizing union labor in city contracts wherever legally possible, and adding project labor agreements where applicable,
Making sure that the ordinances that are in place are updated, are equitable and are enforced from transportation and board of health to building and zoning.

Budget Fiscal Year 2027

The Fiscal Year 2027 Budget will be our most challenging yet. I am committed to working collaboratively across all areas of our city. To navigate this process successfully, we must come together—Administration, City Council, and School Committee alike.

We should explore a Zero-Based Budgeting approach, taking into account union and renewable contracts, grants, and other funding sources. We need to evaluate all expenses from the ground up, leading to greater transparency and accountability, and it’s important that we start this work now.

Our Budget Goals:

Better Alignment with City Priorities
Improved Transparency and Accountability
Encouraging Innovation in bulding our commerical base across the city

This is a pivotal opportunity to reset, realign, and reimagine how we move Malden forward—together.

Transportation, Safe Streets and infrastructure

Reduce traffic congestion through better traffic flow design and signal timing.
Expand and improve infrastructure for walking, bicycling, and micromobility( ie, scooters, Stollers)
Improve sidewalk conditions, crosswalk safety, and pedestrian signals, especially for underserved populations, including seniors, people with disabilities, families with small children or pets.
Partner with the MBTA and our state delegation to improve service frequency, reliability, and access to stations– adding later times to some schedules to ensure transportation equity.

Make transportation planning inclusive through outreach and multilingual engagement.

Support additional traffic-calming measures in high-crash or high-risk areas.
Continue to improve signage, lighting, and visibility at intersections and crossings

Housing Affordability

Collaborate with our State delegation on the Rent Stabilization Bill and potential Ballot question
Work with my fellow Councillors on ADU Regulations
Keep tenant leases or apartment rental agreements at a 31 Day minimum or longer to prevent the loss of rental unit inventory due to daily short-term rentals - ie AirBnB.
Enforce Board of Health inspections for all rental units, where applicable.
Reviewing and modernizing zoning laws to expand housing stock, streamline condo conversions, and building height restrictions.

Climate Resilience & Sustainability

Initiate green projects that support our Climate Action Plan and reduce greenhouse gasses.
Collaborate with our Tree Warden to increase Malden’s Tree Canopy and work at the state level for a reevaluation of our aging trees on our state roads and highways.
Reduce impervious surfaces. Increase permeable pavements in playgrounds, sidewalks, and where possible, consider zoning ordinances, stormwater utility fees, and green area ratio (GAR) incentives to further reduce impervious surfaces.
To learn more about Malden’s climate action plan

https://www.cityofmalden.org/952/Climate-Action-Plan

Green Area Ratio - is a zoning regulation that sets standards for landscape and site design to promote environmental sustainability. It essentially measures the proportion of a site that is covered by landscape elements like soil, plants, and green roofs, relative to the total lot area.