Businesswoman running for city council
By Tim Kalinowski on April 3, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDtkalinowski@lethbridgeherald.com Theoretically Brewing owner Kelti Baird has formally filed papers stating her intention to run for city council this fall.A self-confessed “policy junky”, Baird, is looking forward to engaging in conversations with citizens about how to build an inclusive and sustainable city which takes care of its most vulnerable and promotes the health and well-being of all its residents.
“A lot of my platform will revolve around making sure Lethbridge is an entirely accessible city for anyone who lives here regardless of age or social status, and then really focusing on the environmental impacts as well because I really think we are kind of out of time on the environmental debate,” she recently told The Herald.
As part of this promotion of community sustainability and health, Baird said a priority for her would be to examine ways to transition away from Lethbridge’s current “autocentric lifestyle.”
“Lethbridge is actually one of the most walkable cities I have ever lived in, and very few people here walk or bike, or take any kind of (public) transit,” she stated.
As part of her holistic approach to city governance, Baird said she is very interested in finding new housing options for the community’s homeless and poor. Baird is particularly interested in the Vienna model.
“Over 60 per cent of (Vienna’s) residents live in absolutely gorgeous public housing,” she explained.
“It is beautifully established housing, and does not have anything to do with your income or level of support you need. Everybody just lives there because it is cheap rent, and it is provided by the municipality.”
When asked about the costs of such a plan to local taxpayers, Baird said she wouldn’t advocate for raising local property taxes, but rather look for outside grants and for the reallocation of funds from other areas of the city budget.
“It is not my goal to raise taxes at all,” Baird stated.
“I would like to see property taxes in the Lethbridge area go down.
“I think there are some priorities in the budget we can reallocate and spend more responsibly on, but I think the impact of the homeless population on people’s abilities to enjoy their community is certainly paramount.
“In order for people to become satisfied with their community, and to want to continue to live here, and for people to move here, we need to address these problems of having unhoused (individuals) in the community,” she concluded.
“We need to look after these people and make them part of the community, and help them to rehabilitate.”
As a small business owner herself, Baird also added part of her idea of a sustainable community is one where innovation and small business entrepreneurship are supported by a council willing to put its money where its mouth is.
“My focus would definitely be on incubating and building up our small business community,” she stated, “and really investing in the infrastructure that would provide more for them — rather than build out to the outskirts of the city where some of these major corporations and box stores like to be.
“My focus is very much more on sustainable fiscal development and sustainable community, and that centres around small business and small business employment opportunities.” Follow @TimKalHerald on Twitter 4
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