Sylvia Hacaj
https://www.sylvia4kensington.com/
Achievements
Police Reform
- Removed a major conflict of interest by separating the positions of General Manager and Chief of Police within three months of taking office
- Brought greater accountability to the KPD with the adoption of body-worn cameras and appropriate use of force guidelines in line with #8Can’tWait
- Brought in a “turn-around” expert Chief to change the culture of the Department
Funded urgent community needs
- Completed a beautiful renovation of our 65-year old community center meeting today’s seismic, energy and accessibility standards
- Funded overdue maintenance of Kensington Park removing poison oak, trimming/limbing trees and the taping and resurfacing of the tennis courts
- Created a capital account with $80,000 for future improvements to the park and park buildings.
- Switched the District to 100% renewable electricity
- Funded design concepts for the Public Safety Building that include the police department
Good Governance
- Pushed to restructure our town’s administration so it operates professionally and efficiently
- Made tough but smart choices to: approve a police contract that reigned in medical inflation, while raising salaries to be more competitive; and refinanced our police pension debt, saving taxpayers nearly $2 million.
- Voted for the creation of a “rainy day” fund to buffer against swings in the economy
Priorities
- Continue to ensure the safety of our community with essential law enforcement, robust 911 services, and proactive community policing
- Explore adding community service officers to the KPD to conduct proactive community policing that is appropriate for Kensington’s needs
- Invest in Kensington Park, the jewel of our town
- Transform KPPCSD-sponsored recreational programming to help older adults lead vital, connected, safe and comfortable lives as their needs change.
- Make food composting a reality in Kensington and do more to reduce our carbon impact
- Work collaboratively with the Fire Board to house our Police and Fire Departments in a single Public Safety Building
- Build on the progress we’ve made with sustainable budgets and managing long-term obligations
- Ensure residents have a clear picture of the resources it takes to provide services at the levels we have and help them navigate the choices before us.
I strive to listen, learn and be an informed voice for progress. You can count on my experience and judgment for a well-operated and resilient Kensington.