Allyson Jabusch: Why I'm running for City Council

Editor's Note: Allyson Jabusch is a write-in candidate for Ward II representation on the Hancock City Council. This is a non-partisan position for a regular four-year term on the Council.

By Allyson Jabusch

Ward II Voters,

I ask you to write in my name to represent you on the Hancock City Council.

I am a mom who works outside the home and whose children are now grown. We have lived in Hancock for 16 years. My goal for the Council is to plan for growth that takes the interests of residents into account and that supports development downtown instead of sprawling business to outlying areas. My vision is to preserve the historic character of Hancock while insuring a forward looking community with a long-range plan.

During the July 18, 2007, Hancock City Council public hearing on Government Lot 5 and the potential sale of City land near Swedetown Creek, Allyson Jabusch, standing at the podium, requests that the Council table the vote on the area of Government Lot #5 near Swedetown Creek and instruct the Planning Commission to hold another public hearing. (Keweenaw Now file photo © 2007 Michele Bourdieu)*

My interest in city government was spiked during the public hearing on the sale of Government Lot 5. Despite a large public turn out in opposition to the sale, some City officials nevertheless favor the sale. This piece of shoreline needs to be protected and saved for public use for now and forever. By maintaining City ownership of this land the City is protecting a watershed, a fishing spot for young and old, plus shoreline cover for birds, within city limits (the local Audubon group offered the City a $1000 gift towards this area).

This photo of Swedetown Creek, taken on Nov. 1, 2008, from the hiking trail on the west side of the creek, shows a part of Government Lot 5, near the mouth of the creek at the Portage Waterway. The area originally proposed for residential sales is on the east side of the creek (just beyond the left side of the photo). Click on photo for larger version. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

It is an important recreational resource, which would indirectly protect our own property values as it preserves a lovely wild-like green space, within city limits!

If you are a resident of Ward II and wish to vote for me, remember to print my name exactly, ALLYSON JABUSCH, and to darken the oval next to my name.

Allyson Jabusch
929 Maple Street
Hancock, MI 49930
ally.jabusch@gmail.com

* Keweenaw Now's article on this public meeting is available on our archived site. Click here to read the article. Consecutive articles on this issue have been published on our present Keweenaw Now blog.