'Anne's Plan': Mahoney outlines agenda in leadup to Quincy's mayoral election

QUINCY − As Quincy's 2023 mayoral election hits the homestretch, Councilor-at-Large Anne Mahoney has outlined her plans for the city if she unseats Mayor Thomas Koch in the Nov. 7 election.

Mahoney's plan "was informed by residents, stakeholders and experts she has met during her time in public service," according to a campaign news release.

"Anne's Plan" is divided into eight categories: government, education, transit, affordability, safety, economy, resiliency and inclusion.

Residents can see the full plan at votemahoney.com/annes-plan.

Here are some highlights:

Helping families stay in Quincy

To combat the rising cost of living, Mahoney says she will introduce a residential tax credit to help families living in Quincy afford to stay here.

Implementing the tax credit "is a very heavy lift. It's a lot of work, but it's worth doing because people who have lived here a long time are looking for that relief," Mahoney said in a phone interview.

She also plans to increase the number of affordable housing units in the city by limiting developers' "buyout option."

Under current regulations, developers of residential buildings with more than 10 units must designate at least 10% of them as affordable or pay a certain percentage of their construction costs into the city's Affordable Housing Trust. That money can then be used to build affordable units.

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Mahoney said developers have mostly skirted requirements for affordable housing by paying into the trust. Because of a lack of land, she said, opportunities to produce affordable housing through the trust are scarce and growing scarcer.

Mahoney said current plans to build affordable housing through the trust would concentrate lower-income residents into certain pockets of the city, a trend which she says makes Quincy less inclusive.

Transparency in Quincy's government

Mahoney says she would bring transparency to the mayor's office, which she finds lacking under the current administration. She pledges to introduce OpenGov, software which makes municipal accounting and budgeting data publicly available.

Mahoney also pledges to implement "hiring practices that reflect the diverse makeup of Quincy."

She promises to expand the city's Office of Diversity, sponsor mentorship programs to increase the number of women in leadership positions and support women- and minority-owned businesses through procurement and contracting policies.

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Mahoney said she would expand student access to mental health services and hire more special education teachers as well as language specialists. She said she would also hire more teachers, if necessary, to maintain "a satisfactory student-staff ratio."

She favors investments in drug prevention and rehabilitation programs, as well as the establishment of "crisis intervention teams" that would partner with local mental health organizations.

Mahoney's ideas to boost economic activity include the reinstatement of the "Taste of Quincy" program.

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She also plans "pop-ups" in parts of the city with empty storefronts. These small, temporary shops would allow business owners to test out the market in Quincy while providing shoppers with unique retail or dining options. Ultimately, the plan would lead to permanent additions to the local economy, Mahoney said.

Quincy 'uniquely vulnerable' to climate change

Mahoney outlined her plans to combat and forestall the impacts of climate change, to which she says Quincy is "uniquely vulnerable."

Mahoney said she would make city operations more energy efficient by increasing the proportion of electric, hybrid and solar power in city buildings. Her plan also calls for stricter building codes to reduce emissions and composting to reduce landfill and methane emissions.

Mahoney proposes Quincy's first public gardens, a space where residents would be able to grow their own produce. She would fund the project using Community Preservation Act money.

Her other plans include a Ward 4 park and a second public senior center, in addition to the Kennedy Center, with recreational, educational and social services.

Quincy election guide: The candidates, the debates and how you can vote

The first debate: Koch, Mahoney square off, painting different pictures of city and each other

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Anne Mahoney releases her plan for Quincy if she wins mayoral election