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Get to Know
YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL OF THE MONTH!
Our local government has an impact on the future of our industry.
BAGI got a glimpse into the life of one of our elected of cials, and here’s what he had to say!
ELECTED OFFICIAL OF THE MONTH: JEFF MILLER
City Councilor District 16
Q: GENERAL STATS YOU’D LIKE TO PROVIDE (E.G., AGE, FAMILY INFO, CAREER INFO, HOW LONG YOU’VE LIVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, ETC.)
A: I’m the widowed father of my wonderful son Gabriel, who is a 5th-grader at IPS CFI #2. I’ve lived downtown for 21 years in an 1873 Italianate home in Fletcher Place that was previously abandoned and boarded up before I rehabbed it with a friend . I’ve been in the IT industry for 27 years and am currently doing contract work to allow me exibility to devote the city council and to being Gabe’s dad.
Q: WHAT“FUNFACT”CANYOUSHAREWITHUSABOUTYOURSELF?
A: The arts have been a huge part of my life and I’ve done lots of live sketchcomedy,includingswingingabovethestagedressedas Spiderman, leading a dance number in a Humpty Dumpty costume, and embarrassing Batman by appearing alongside him in the 60’s Robin out t with the green shorts, yellow cape and little black R because “holy heat rash Batman, the new leather out t itches!”.
Q: WHATINSPIREDYOUTOGETINVOLVEDINPOLITICS?
A: I would argue I’m still not in politics today and that instead I’m
a public servant. I can’t stand politics and try to be bi-partisan
in everything I do. What got me into public service was being a neighborhood president for years, as well as a board member on SEND (Southeast Neighborhood Development). I soon realized the best way to represent the community was via the city council.
Q: WHATISYOURFAVORITEPARTOFSERVINGASACITY COUNCILOR?
A: I love directly helping solve quality of life issues that I hear from residents. Sometimes that requires legislative changes, sometimes I can use my IT background to help put in process changes, and sometimes it’s just a matter of helping residents know what government services are available to them and how to access them.
Q: WHATEXCITINGPROJECTSORINITIATIVESARESHAPINGUP THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
A: I’m on the “Problem Property Work Group” and we are creating
an open data portal that will allow residents to learn the status of every property in their neighborhood (either occupied, vacant or abandoned) and the relative “health” of each property. Health will be determined by pulling In positive factors (building permits, sales above market value, etc) and negative factors (police runs, health code violations, etc). This allows neighborhoods to understand the status of their properties and partner with the city on how to engage in positive growth and a better quality of life.
Q: HOW DOES NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT IMPACT YOUR COMMUNITY?
A: Ultimately, it is a positive thing. Neighborhoods want and need new residential development/re-development on properties that are vacant or abandoned as it restores and rejuvenates a neighborhood. But this development should be done in a way that it adds to rather than detracts from to fabric of the neighborhood.This can best be accomplished if the development is done by working with residents via their neighborhood associations. We must also work to protect olderneighborhoodsfromgentri cation. Thenewdevelopment
is welcomed, but we need to put in some type of property tax protection for long term residents so that they are sheltered from the effects of rapidly rising real estate values. We are currently working on this with the statehouse.
Q: ANYACCOMPLISHMENTSYOUWOULDLIKETOSHARE?
A: The legislation I’ve implemented and am most proud of came directly from the requests of the neighborhoods I represent. In particular, tougher laws on illegal scrapping of catalytic converters and HVAC copper coils, graf ti laws to reduce the amount we have across our city, the landlord registry to hold slumlords accountable, and efforts to address the impact of long term foreclosures or “zombie homes” in our neighborhoods. I’m also happy to have supported funding for Pre-K for low-income families and to have found sustainable ways to fund new police hiring each year.
Q: WHATWOULDYOULIKEBAGIMEMBERSTOKNOW?
A: The city greatly bene ts from the work BAGI is doing to develop/ redevelop our neighborhoods. The home shows that BAGI puts on are a great way to illustrate and showcase what quality work is being done across our city. I encourage BAGI to continue to work with neighborhoods to understand what they value and see as positive growth. The Quality of Life plans that many areas have will also help serve as a guide for what the community goals are. There will always be differences between residents and developers, but nding as much common ground as possible will ultimately create the best environment for healthy progress in our neighborhoods. Keep up the great work and thanks for continuing to invest in the growth across our city!
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