Achievements
Lower Utility Costs
In her first term on Knoxville City Council, Seema successfully negotiated with KUB to freeze fee increases that had reached over $80 a month, not including the water or electricity itself. She introduced a City Council resolution that eventually led to KUB agreeing to a freeze on fee increases for five years. The utility also agreed to the creation of a Community Advisory Board with representation from low-income ratepayers.
Violence Intervention
Seema successfully shepherded a resolution through City Council this year that supports a multi-agency, multi-government community-based Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund to develop non-law enforcement, community-based, proactive measures to reduce violence and promote healing and hope throughout the city. The Fund will support non-law enforcement initiatives that address root causes of violence by providing employment, training, education and counseling to individuals, as well as investing in trauma-informed services.
Affordable Homes
In her first year on City Council Seema got right to work leading a series of community conversations addressing the city’s growing need for affordable housing. Seema rounded up a diverse of array of stakeholders – from nonprofit housing developers, case workers working with homeless persons, government agencies and elected officials, to faith leaders, advocates, activists and homeless persons, to better understand the problem and work on solutions. The conversations set the stage for a $12.6M city investment in an Affordable Rental and Workforce Housing Fund, as well as quadrupling the number of social workers available to provide homeless persons with connections to services and care.