About Me
Hi, my name is Zheng and I'm a local progressive independent running for the Central Ward in Darebin City Council.
While I'm also a local resident, young parent, small business owner, bicycle enthusiast, and lover of borek, there is an important side of me that I would like to share with you today, which is me as an activist academic.
I'm a grassroots community activist who sees the radical possibilities of local government. While I think its important to get the basics right (rates, roads, and rubbish), local government can and does, provide so much more for the community. Through local government, I believe that we can continue to improve the quality of our parks, public spaces and waterways, we can provide more critical social and community services, we can build more public and social housing, we can hold developers to higher construction and design standards, and we can build stronger relationships and trust with the community.
I studied my Masters of Urban Planning in 2016/17 and am now - after 6 long years - close to finishing my PhD in Urban Planning. My research looks at how communities can work together to create social change, and I use Preston Market as one of my case studies. As a community organiser, I've worked closely with the Save The Preston Market action group to help guide our actions and shape our strategy, and I saw how our community campaign helped to prevent the redevelopment of Preston Market. Our impact in the State Election in 2022 (by making the seat of Preston marginal) made the Labor Government realise that if they demolish Preston Market, they would upset the community and lose the seat in the next election.
Through my research I saw the power of politics and it has inspired me to run for local government. I saw the real possibility for change and the power of being an independent. I recognise that many of us are struggling, and with the current cost of living crisis, I think its important to send a message to the political establishment that we the people want change. As your future councillor I want to keep fighting to improve our society, to strengthen our democracy, and to always act in the interest of the people.
Cheers,
Zheng
