Welcome to My Ward 10 Updates
My name is Lydia Millard and I am running to serve as your next Ward 10 city council member. By focusing on solving problems and committing to cooperation, we can bring back the vibrancy and livability of our neighborhoods.
NNO 2025
Ward 10 knows how to show up and show out for National Night Out. My team and I had a blast making our way through the ward. My only regret is that we didn’t have enough time to stop at all our block parties. These kind of events are the bedrock of why we live here. You can always count on me celebrating the joy that is community!
Small Businesses in Whittier (And Across W10) Need Leadership
At the end of July I attended a small business meeting hosted by the Whittier Alliance. The Whittier Alliance neighborhood association invited our current Council Member to hear from local small businesses and answer questions and concerns they have. Aisha Chughtai had no answers.
Here are the concerns brought forward by businesses in Whittier:
- There is a lack of communication of when construction is going to happen and what is happening
- There is a need for additional parking
- Car theft and vandalism is a problem
- Employees are handling unsafe situations because of the lack of emergency housing for homeless, who are tresspassing and engaging in open drug use next to businesses
- Lack of preparation for immigrant businesses who are targets for investors looking to buy them out
- Business owners do not want paid parking on Nicollet and Stevens Square
- Need for options on how to handle ICE raids
A City Council member should come to meetings prepared. That means if you are involved in the community and talking with your constituents on a regular basis, you should know what the issues are beforehand and are prepared to actively discuss them with information, answers, and ideas for possible solutions. It is obvious that small business concerns are public safety, parking, and support for small businesses.
What Council Member Chughtai came prepared to talk about and what the small businesses wanted to talk about were two different things. If an elected official is going to ask a small business owner to take precious time out of their day to come to a meeting, which for them the cost is high, you want to make their time worth it. There was no discussion about follow-up. It’s simply disrespectful.
With the opening of Nicollet and the redevelopment of the KMart site, Ward 10 must elect someone who will not only occasionally hear concerns of those with the most at stake, but someone who will answer concerns and respond with practical solutions that help our commercial corridors and our neighborhoods thrive.
Small Business Highlight
Sip Society – 2839 Emerson Ave S
Right off the Greenway on Emerson you will find the hidden gem of Sip Society. Located on the first level of the Inspire Apartments, this is an excellent example of how residential projects can include inclusive community spaces. We encourage you to try their Somali spiced tea (Shaah cardomom tea on the menu); you can also grab lunch and snacks to munch on while you work.
Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls
I am working to bring awareness to the alarming crisis of missing and murdered Black women and girls. Research in Action is gathering data around this issue and I could use your help. If you or anyone you know is Black woman or girl over the age of 14, please fill out this survey.
Together in 10
We are so thrilled with the turnout and experiences of our first two Together in Ten. We have more on the way! Sign up here.
