Adam Gianola for Lafayette City Council

I am excited about the opportunity to serve our community as a City Councilor. Here you will find more information about my priorities and vision for Lafayette.

Adam wearing a green hat in front of Ghost Box Pizza in Lafayette

Sustainability & Climate Resiliency

I started volunteering with the City of Lafayette because I am concerned about the human impacts on the environment and want to drive climate solutions and responses to a changing climate in our community. I joined the Waste Reduction Advisory Committee in 2015, the Sustainability and Resilience Advisory Board in 2023, and have been supporting the development of various city plans, such as the 2021 Sustainability Plan and the 2024 Climate Action Plan, to help Lafayette achieve a sustainable future.

As a City Councilor, I will continue to advocate for sustainability in City decisions and encourage efforts to develop a long-term strategy for resilient climate adaptation.

Development

Lafayette has grown tremendously since my family made the City our home in 2006. As Lafayette works to manage growth, I will advocate for thoughtful, common-sense, and sustainable development that aligns with a community vision for the City, such as has been set forth in the various City plans, including the 2021 Comprehensive Plan. With sustainability in mind, emphasis on infill and adaptive reuse is desirable.

Open Space

Open Space is an important part of what makes Lafayette special and I am excited to champion protection of Open Space in our community. I will advocate for expansion of the City's Open Space portfolio to help provide a buffer against overdevelopment, to preserve wildlife habitat, and to enable equitable access to natural spaces.

Small & Local Businesses

We have so many wonderful small and local businesses in Lafayette. I commend the City for their small business programs, such as the Small Business Capital Grants, Opportunity Zones, and the Green Business Program.

While many local business owners I've met with have a generally positive opinion of working with the City, there is always more we can do to ensure businesses thrive in Lafayette.

As an attorney working for a small business, I understand the challenges that small businesses face and will advocate for continued investment in programs and strategies that help our small businesses form, thrive, and grow and will look for additional and innovative opportunities to drive support for our business community overall.

Bike parking with decorative flower boxes

Transportation & Mobility

As Lafayette and surrounding communities continue to grow, the need for safe, accessible transportation is essential.

The strategies and recommendations in the City's 2023 Multimodal Transportation Plan and the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan provide a good framework to improve traffic, safety, and access throughout the City. The implementation costs of many of the projects proposed are substantial. As a City Councilor, I will advocate for innovative solutions to fund these important projects. I am also interested in expanding accessibility of car-free transportation options within Lafayette.

Affordability

We are facing a cost of living crisis. My goal as a City Councilor will be to support the economic viability of all our residents, especially those on a fixed income for which cost-increases hurt the most, as well as our small business community.

The City, County, and State are already working to provide support to our community members in need of assistance through programs such as the Water Bill Assistance Program, Senior Citizen Property Tax Exemption, Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), and Climate Equity Fund, and through significant additions to the affordable housing stock in the City. I will support expansion of programs and services like these in response to our community needs and will strive to strengthen the City's support for Sister Carmen Community Center, which provides vital services to Lafayette and beyond.

I also support increasing the minimum wage in our region towards a living wage and will collaborate with regional partners to advocate for moving wages up for those working in these essential jobs. Meanwhile, small businesses also have needs that must be addressed and the City should explore solutions to support them in view of potential wage increases and the current economic climate.

The cost of housing is another major area of concern. I will strive to understand how the City can help address this complex issue and look for creative ways to incentivize developers to provide housing that is truly affordable while preserving the character of our City.

Modern affordable housing development with a stop sign and street signs

Affordable Housing at Willoughby Corner

The waterwise demonstration garden at the Lafayette Fire Department

Fiscal Responsibility

My goal is for the City to manage our taxpayer dollars responsibly and in a way that primarily benefits Lafayette residents first and small and local businesses second.

I still remember the cyberattack that hit the City in 2020 and the costly, widespread challenges our community faced in the aftermath. Privacy and security are among my personal interests so I will aim to drive strategies that ensure the City continues to enhance our cyber protections.

As an attorney, I also understand the costs and consequences of defending lawsuits. Although court cases are sometimes necessary, one of my goals as a City Councilor will be to help identify unforeseen consequences and seek alternatives to participation in expensive and unnecessary lawsuits.