Mayoral candidate Charlie Clark has some ideas for supporting residents and businesses through the winter, especially considering COVID-19 is still around. He is hearing concerns from parents about how to keep families healthy during the winter months, and from businesses concerned about getting people out to support local shops rather than buying online.

Clark has announced, if elected, he will advocate for a ‘Take it Outside’ fund and free parking on the weekends. It’s a one-time $250-thousand fund from the federal government’s re-start dollars, which would be made available to community associations, business improvement districts, arts and sports non-profits, ethno-cultural and service organizations.

Each would apply for a grant to undertake whatever their activity would be, whether it’s a community rink, warm-up shacks along the river, arts performances or winter dining experiences as examples. Clark adds that because this would be re-directing federal funds, it would have no impact on the city’s budget or property taxes.