Introduction
Kaden Beegle is a hard-working and dedicated individual who believes in: standing for civil Rights, upholding the constitution, serving the needs of the community, empowering our youth with the skills & resources for the future, transparency & honesty of the governing body, and improving the quality of everyday people's lives, like our Norristown Community.
His goals for the Norristown borough are:
🚧 Improving local infrastructure
🌍 Advocating for sustainability
👮♀️ Enhancing public safety
🛍️ Supporting local & small businesses
🏠 Promoting affordable housing
🛏 Supporting the unhoused
🌐 Fostering community engagement & accessibility
🌟 Developing youth programs
🚮 Cleaning up our borough
Kaden has over a decade of IT technical and customer service experience, years of involvement in peaceful activism & rights advocacy, and a dedication to integrity, honesty, & constructive progressivism; He is committed to bringing positive change to our community. He is inquisitive, analytical, and a problem solver; He has a tact for creative and collaborative solution building, and connecting with people on a meaningful level, while holding strong to his convictions. He believes he can serve the people of Norristown well, and hopes to convince you he's the right man for the job.
Norristown Initiatives
First and foremost, Kaden is dedicated to work with community members to serve our needs. he has his ideas on what he would like to work on when elected as a city council member, but he's always open to hearing new ideas. Kaden wants to work with the community to identify key issues and build solutions for them. If you want to hear Kaden's stance on a topic of importance to you, please feel free to submit a request!
Clean Up Litter
- Kaden supports the initiative towards establishing Norristown Borough's cleaning services program, and proposes expanding the initiative to include weekly or monthly exploratory clean-up services, so not to only focus on specific areas. Additionally, we recommend implementing a request service where residents can report specific locations that require cleaning. This proactive and responsive approach will ensure our community remains clean, safe, and welcoming for all residents.
- Kaden proposes to implement a Litter Exchange program in Norristown Borough. This would incentivize community members, especially the homeless population, to clean up around town by offering small financial rewards or vouchers for each bag of litter they collect and turn in. Setting up designated collection points and collaborating with local organizations to facilitate the program will encourage participation and help keep our borough clean and beautiful. This initiative not only reduces litter but also provides a source of income and fosters community pride and engagement.
Help the Unhoused
Kaden believes that the leading causes of homelessness are untreated mental illness, financial exploitation leading to financial hardship, economic turmoil, and financial illiteracy. He proposes the following:
- Implement a Tiny Home/Short Term Housing "Build Up and Out" program in Norristown Borough. We can designate specific areas for the construction of tiny homes or housing developments, working with local contractors and volunteers to keep costs low. Partnering with non-profit organizations, we can provide short-term housing solutions for those in need, including our homeless and low-income residents. This program will help address housing shortages and offer a stepping stone towards long-term stability for vulnerable community members.
- Work as a community to collectively emphasize to our county the homeless population's impact on our community and petition for more support/ involvement from the county as it is their responsibility to help. Additionally, we can invest in enriching and expanding support for the center by launching a community outreach campaign utilizing social media, local events, and partnerships with local businesses. We also need the proactive engagement of volunteers in the community to help collect data and learn the reasons and needs for the homeless population's presence, so we may provide them with meaningful services to get them off the streets.
Drug Epidemic
Kaden believes that untreated mental illness, lack of fulfillment in life, and financial hardship are leading causes for drug abuse, and proposes the following:
- Implement a No Questions Asked (NQA) Needle and Drug Disposal programs in Norristown Borough. By establishing anonymous and safe disposal locations throughout the community, this program would aim to reduce health risks by preventing the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis C. Additionally, these programs serve as a compassionate bridge, connecting individuals with support services and resources to help them overcome addiction without shame or risk of criminal persecution. By offering a practical means to dispose of these dangerous substances, we can foster a healthier and safer community for all.
- Implement a Narcan safety and training program in Norristown Borough. We can provide resources and work with local healthcare providers and community organizations to offer regular training sessions for residents. Providing Narcan kits at community centers, libraries, and other accessible locations will ensure that individuals are equipped to respond to opioid overdoses. This program will save lives, increase awareness, and empower our community to take proactive steps in addressing the opioid crisis.
- Promote awareness, counseling, and mental health services in Norristown Borough where possible, and proposes a program with local mental health organizations to offer workshops, support groups, and classes at health centers, community centers, and schools. Additionally, launching an awareness campaign using social media, local events, a volunteer network, and partnerships with businesses can help destigmatize mental health issues and drug addiction, connecting the community and those affected by drug addiction with available resources and services. This approach will foster a supportive and informed community, encouraging individuals to seek the help they need.
Power Blackouts
- To reduce random blackouts and improve the power grid in Norristown, PA, we can invest in infrastructure such as upgrading substations, replacing aging cables, submerge vulnerable and critical power lines underground, and installing smart grid technologies. Partnering with county/state government and community organizations, we can push for PECO to prioritize these improvements and ensure they are implemented effectively. Additionally, engaging with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) to hold PECO accountable for their reliability and resiliency plans can help improve community power reliability. By taking these steps, we can enhance the resilience and reliability of our local power grid, reducing the frequency and duration of outages.
Welcoming City for Minority Communities
- Norristown is a welcoming city for all walks of life. To foster inclusivity, we must implement protective programs and create safe spaces for targeted minorities. We can build a more cohesive and supportive environment for everyone by offering cultural learning exchanges, language classes, and community events.
- We know a notable portion of the population need translation services for public events. To better accommodate Spanish-speaking community members, Norristown needs to assume this need for public services such as city council meetings and implement translation services - Hiring a bilingual staff member, hiring a contracting service to provide an interpreter, or implementing a sufficiently effective technology would be a meaningful step towards inclusivity and accessibility.
Government Communication and Transparency
- Local government serves the community, and it should meet the community with information pertinent to decisions made.
- Build opportunities for more open and constructive communication between the council and the community, hold council accountable for promises, community complaints, and services.
- Reestablish regularly held Town Halls for more open communication, civil discussions, constructive conversations, and meaningful community engagement
Community Events & Days
- establish new and grow existing community events to encourage more community engagement and business patronage. Days that bring people together to enjoy food, music, festivities, etc.
Police Reform
- appoint a police chief that stands for integrity and accountability of the police force
- work to ensure the police force regains accreditation
- Community integration programs as a means to bridge the gap between the police force and the community. Ensure police see the people they serve as fellow community members.
- De-escalation focused training requirements
- Ban military grade / military surplus equipment from local police force
- Introduce a "non-violent response force" program. This is where civil workers (or a division within the police force) are designated to answer calls, that are clearly not violent, without a gun on their hip so to avoid the potential of a gun being involved in situations that are uncalled for - Such as land disputes, homeless complaints/concerns, mental health crisis'. This response force reduces demand for direct police involvement, ensuring the police force can focus more on violent incidents, and targets to lower the danger of incidental death at the hands of law enforcement.
- We must ensure our police force is centered around de-escalation training, to do so we can start by partnering with experienced trainers and organizations specializing in conflict resolution and non-violent communication. Incorporate regular, mandatory training sessions into the police schedule, ensuring that all officers undergo initial and continuous education on de-escalation techniques. Integrate role-playing scenarios, stress management practices, and community engagement exercises to equip officers with the necessary skills to handle tense situations calmly and effectively. Continuously evaluate the training's effectiveness through feedback from both officers and community members, making improvements as needed.
Crime and Safety
- proposal for community safety programs where handy members of the community can work to provide security and safety inspections for homes and provide simple improvements to homes to reduce vulnerabilities and deter break ins.
- establish mental health services, counseling, mentoring, and hardship couching programs to help underserved community members break away from driving factors of crime.
- To reduce crime and improve safety in Norristown, without resorting to increased police aggression, we must consider expanding community-based programs such as youth mentorship, job training, and mental health services. By establishing and investing in neighborhood service centers that offer support for underserved residents, focusing on providing education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, we can address the root causes of crime by bringing people away from hardship and help them achieve fulfillment of their needs, therefore fostering a safer, more inclusive community.
Traffic improvements
to create safer and more efficient streets, reduce traffic speeds, and improve traffic optimization in Norristown, we can:
- To reduce traffic speeds and improve traffic flow in Norristown Borough, we can investigate and implement modern road concepts like road "diets," which involve reducing "through" lanes and adding more turning lanes. This will help calm traffic and reduce the impact of turns on overall flow. Additionally, incorporating driver psychology techniques, such as extending curbs on corners around parking lanes, reducing lane widths, and installing more speed bumps (on residential roads) will encourage safer driving behaviors and create a more efficient and safe street environment.
- To improve Norristown's roads and make them more efficient, we should consider new road projects such as transforming Main St. to pair with Arch St. as opposing one-way streets. To make this viable, we would also need to implement a ramp to deliver drivers from William F. Dannehower Memorial Bridge to Airy St. directly. This will reduce conflict points and streamline traffic flow. Additionally, optimizing traffic light dynamics will further enhance efficiency, creating a smarter and smoother driving experience for everyone.
Broader Platform Stances
Voting Reform
Our democracy is at a crossroads, and every citizen is feeling the impact of a system that no longer serves the people. Corrupt—yet legal—practices entrench two-party dominance and establishment politics, allowing the largest "side" to win while representing only 30-40% of the actual voter base. This means a minority effectively silences the majority, and both major parties benefit from maintaining this status quo. The result is a political landscape that fails to reflect the diverse voices and needs of our nation. Younger generations like Millennials and Gen Z are particularly disillusioned with this broken system. Low voter turnout is a stark indicator of their disenchantment; many feel their votes don't matter and that neither party truly speaks for their interests or values. This disengagement threatens the very foundation of our democracy, leaving critical issues unaddressed and silencing voices that are essential for progress. To reclaim our elections and ensure fair representation, we must implement bold reforms: - Enact Campaign Finance Reform to diminish the influence of dark money and corporate interests that overshadow the will of the people. By limiting excessive campaign contributions and increasing transparency, we can ensure elections are decided by voters, not by the highest bidder. - Establish Independent Redistricting Commissions to eliminate gerrymandering by having non-partisan bodies draw fair district lines. This ensures communities are accurately represented and prevents manipulation that favors incumbents or particular parties. - Adopt Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) Empower voters to express their true preferences without fear of "wasting" their votes. RCV encourages a more diverse and robust selection of candidates, ensures winners have a majority support, and reduces the polarization that's crippling our politics. We must also safeguard the voting rights of all citizens by: - Enhancing Voter Registration Efforts to streamline the registration process, possibly through automatic voter registration, to make it easier for eligible citizens to participate. - Increasing the Number of Polling Places to ensure that voting is accessible to everyone, reducing long lines and travel distances that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. - Making Election Day a National Holiday to remove barriers for those who can't take time off work or school, allowing every citizen the opportunity to exercise their right to vote. By removing obstacles to the ballot box, we combat suppression tactics and encourage greater participation, especially among young voters who are the future of our nation. It's time to break free from a cycle that serves the interests of a few at the expense of many. Let's build a political system that truly reflects the will of the people—where every voice is heard, every vote counts, and our government responds to the needs of all citizens. Together, we can rejuvenate our democracy and create a brighter future for generations to come.
Climate Change
Climate change is already affecting the people of Norristown, bringing more frequent and severe weather events, flooding, and temperature extremes that disrupt our daily lives. These changes threaten our homes, health, and local economy. As a small borough, we have the power to make a significant impact through local initiatives. By embracing sustainable practices, investing in renewable energy projects, enhancing green spaces, and promoting community-based environmental education, we can contribute to positive change. Together, we can build a resilient and sustainable Norristown, setting an example for other communities. The time to act is now.
Energy / Gas Prices
Norristown Borough can lead by example in addressing our countries heavy reliance on imported fuels and non-renewable resources. We can invest in modern developments and renewable energy sources such as EV charging stations, solar panels on public buildings, small hydroelectric projects on local waterways, and wind turbines in open community spaces. This allows our community to diversify our energy infrastructure and enhance our sustainability. These initiatives can create jobs, reduce our environmental impact, and foster energy independence, making Norristown a model for positive change. It's time for our borough to break free from outdated dependencies and build a cleaner, more resilient community.
"Inflation" / Price Gouging
Recent price surges have placed undue burdens on hardworking Americans, with corporations seizing opportunities to raise costs of essential goods, housing, medication, etc. Norristown Borough can take a stand and contribute positively by supporting local businesses, implementing fair housing policies that emphasis homes for families (not corporations or private equity), incentivizing sourcing food and resources from local farms and manufacturers, and advocating against price gouging. By standing up to exploitative practices, we can restore economic fairness and ensure prosperity is accessible to all. Together, we can build a thriving equitable community.
Economy and Jobs
Norristown Borough can make positive change impact on our low income and poverty rate by championing workers' rights, working to raise the minimum wage, and supporting local businesses in the transition. This cannot be done solely in Norristown though, so it will be necessary to work with neighboring townships/boroughs to collectively improve wages. We must also address the rising cost of living, inflated mortgages, and curbing unethical profiteering by large corporations where possible. By doing so, we can work towards alleviating financial pressures on families, businesses, and our struggling economy. We can also foster a clean and welcoming business district, with emphasis on safe and affordable business spaces - leading to rebuilding our local economy, fostering job creation and economic growth. Simultaneously, we must improve the dynamics between job seekers and hiring businesses. Introducing regulations on "ghost jobs" and creating a more transparent and efficient labor market benefits both employees and employers alike. Emboldening worker unions and reinforcing workers' rights give employees a stronger voice in their workplaces, leading to better working conditions and increased productivity. Reducing the wage gap between average and maximum earners is essential for a healthy economy; fair compensation practices ensure that prosperity is shared and that the middle class remains robust. We must rebuild our economy from the bottom up and the middle out, empowering small and medium-sized enterprises to compete fairly with monopolies. By reducing barriers to entry and providing support for these businesses, we foster innovation and job creation at the local level. It's also time to shift our reliance away from the stock market as the sole indicator of economic success. While the markets reflect corporate profits, they often fail to represent the economic realities of everyday citizens. Embracing a broader set of economic indicators will provide a more accurate picture of our nation's health and guide policies that truly benefit all Americans. Together, these steps create a balanced approach that protects workers' rights and fosters an economy where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Infrastructure
Norristown Borough can make a positive impact by investing in modernizing our infrastructure to meet new safety and resilience standards. This includes improving our roads, burying electrical lines to reduce outages, and incorporating diverse transportation options like bus lanes, bike paths, and trolly systems. Embracing smarter urban planning and innovative design philosophies will revitalize our community, boost the local economy, and create a safer, more sustainable environment for everyone. Let's build a foundation that will serve Norristown well into the future.
Gun Reform
Norristown Borough can improve community safety by implementing compulsory gun training and safety programs for offenders and existing gun owners, alongside practical measures to address mental health, domestic violence, and poverty. Encouraging secure storage of firearms and holding gun owners accountable for their weapons' misuse will enhance safety. By supporting these initiatives and promoting ways to resolve conflicts without guns, we can protect our residents and create a safer environment for everyone. The time to act is now to ensure our community thrives free from violence.
LGBTQ+ Rights
Every American has the right to bodily autonomy, protection from religious persecution, and equal treatment under the law. The LGBTQ+ community has fought long and hard to be recognized, respected, and treated fairly by our government, facing hardship at every turn for decades. LGBTQ+ individuals deserve the same rights as everyone else: marital recognition, anti-discrimination protections, and the fundamental rights to life, liberty, dignity, and respect—regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Transgender individuals should not have to justify their existence or endure discrimination simply for seeking to feel at home in their bodies. The existence of trans and gender-diverse people is not a new concept; throughout recorded history, there are countless stories of individuals who defied the gender norms of their time, living authentically as themselves. Many cultures have recognized and honored third-gender roles, two-spirit individuals, and those embodying a blend of masculine and feminine qualities. They've always been part of our human story, even if known by different names. Just a few decades ago, society began to more openly accept and celebrate people who dressed and acted outside traditional gender norms. The current targeting of transgender individuals—a minority representing less than 1% of the population—is a scapegoating tactic that diverts attention from pressing social issues by focusing on a small group who often cannot easily defend themselves. This is unacceptable. We must stand firm against discrimination in all its forms and affirm that every person deserves respect, protection, and the freedom to live authentically. It's time to unite in defense of the rights of all individuals, promote inclusivity, and ensure our laws reflect the fundamental principle that everyone is equal in the eyes of the government. Together, we can build a society where everyone—regardless of who they are or whom they love—can live openly and freely without fear of prejudice or persecution.
Separation of Church and State
America is a nation where your freedom to believe as you choose is a fundamental right enshrined in the First Amendment of our Constitution, establishing the separation of church and state to ensure that everyone's beliefs are respected. The founders included this principle because they understood that when a government favors one religion over others, it not only leads to persecution but also leaves those of different faiths feeling underserved and unrepresented. By keeping church and state separate, we ensure that your rights are safeguarded alongside those of your fellow citizens. In a diverse country like ours, favoritism toward any single religion can fracture the unity that makes us strong. When the government remains neutral in matters of faith, it creates a level playing field where all beliefs are honored equally, and no one is marginalized because of their convictions. This separation isn't just about protecting minority groups—it's about upholding the rights of all Americans, including you. By respecting and defending the freedom of conscience for everyone, we build a more inclusive and harmonious society. Together, we can continue to honor the vision upon which America was founded: a nation where liberty and justice are truly available to all, and where diversity is celebrated as one of our greatest strengths.
There is much more to be stated here, but that's it for now. Tune into Kaden's social media platforms for notices of added topics, topic revisions, or expanded discussions on the topics in the form of blog posts as he releases these stances.
Additional Stances on National Issues
Healthcare System
Our nation's healthcare system is in dire need of reform. We're burdened by a dysfunctional, overly complex, and profit-driven model where insurance companies and pharmaceutical corporations prioritize profits over people. Rampant profiteering has led to soaring premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs, leaving families struggling to afford care. Losing one's job shouldn't mean losing access to healthcare, yet under our current system, that's a harsh reality for millions, creating instability and fear when support is needed most. In contrast, many European countries have embraced universal healthcare systems that provide all citizens with fast, easy, and affordable —or even zero upfront cost— access to medical services. They've proven it's possible to deliver high-quality care efficiently without financial burdens falling on individuals. In these systems, healthcare coverage isn't tied to employment, offering continuous protection regardless of job status. Residents can see any doctor they choose without worrying about network restrictions or exorbitant costs—a freedom often denied to Americans. And guess what, experts estimate that transitioning to a single-payer healthcare system would save the average American thousands of dollars each year. Why? Because it would cut out mob-like middlemen and reduce administrative waste. No one should face death or disability from preventable or treatable diseases due to prohibitive costs or profiteering; No one should be surprised with exorbitant fees because they were incidentally treated by someone "out-of-network"; No doctor, nurse, or patient should be burdened by the constant battling to simply convince insurance companies to pay for necessary treatments. No one should have to ration, or even die from the lack of access to, insulin or life-saving medications because a pharmaceutical company wants higher profits. No American should have to worry about being billed 100s of thousands of dollars for medical treatment while between jobs. No insurance company should be able to decide whether a patient gets life-saving, or life-changing, treatment. These are all realities under our current medical finance system. It's time for transformative change. Let's join the rest of the modern world and implement a Medicare for All system that puts people over profits and prioritizes health over lining the pockets of insurance company CEOs. With this approach, you and your loved ones will always have the security of knowing you're covered and can choose the healthcare providers who best meet your needs. Together, we can build a healthcare system that's equitable, efficient and centered on the needs of our community. Let's do away with this for-profit and exploitative industry, instead opting to take care of the American people and ensuring healthcare is a right for all, not just the privilege of the wealthy few.
Prescription Drugs
The United States pays some of the most inflated, excessive, and downright exploitative prices for medications among all modernized societies. This crisis is a direct result of our broken healthcare system, where pharmaceutical companies strike lucrative deals with insurance providers, retailers, and even some healthcare professionals—effectively cutting the American people out of the negotiation process. We're left bearing the burden of exorbitant costs without a voice or a choice. Take insulin, for example. Americans with diabetes are forced to pay outrageously marked-up prices for a medication they literally need to survive. They're drained of their hard-earned money just to stay alive, even though the cost to produce insulin is a mere fraction of the price being charged. It's unacceptable that life-saving medicine has become a source of immense profit at the expense of people's health and financial security. Recent legislation has aimed to enforce negotiable pricing for essential medications like insulin, offering a glimmer of hope for millions struggling to afford their prescriptions. However, these efforts are under aggressive attack by lobbyists who prioritize corporate profits over human lives. It's unacceptable that special interests are allowed to undermine the well-being of our citizens for the sake of maintaining inflated profit margins. We must stand up against this exploitation and demand a healthcare system that puts people over profits. This means implementing policies that allow for transparent pricing, enabling the government to negotiate drug prices directly, and holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for price gouging. Every American deserves access to affordable, life-saving medications without the fear of financial ruin. Other modern nations don't face these insurmountable barriers to essential healthcare—they enjoy fair prices and access because their systems prioritize the health of their citizens above corporate greed. It's time we do the same. Together, we can break the stranglehold of big pharma and ensure that the health of our people is the top priority.
Student Loan Debt
Long gone are the days of affordable colleges like we saw decades ago. Young adults today are forced to choose between astronomically expensive higher education, not going to college/university at all, or attending trade school (an option often underrepresented today and I fully support). The millennial generation was promised a booming economy, an excellent job market, and endless opportunities, only to discover the reality of the crushing weight of predatory student loan debt and an overly competitive job market—a burden I know all too well. Like many others fresh out of high school, I was encouraged to get a higher education to secure my financial future, only to realize too late that I was attending a for-profit university that promised the world but delivered far less. I was convinced, like so many, to plunge myself into excessive debt with incredibly high rates, under the guise of a guaranteed brighter future. Instead, my generation is left grappling with staggering loans for education that often fell short, trapped in a financial snare we can't escape—even through bankruptcy. This crushing debt profoundly impacts our lives and futures. It hinders our ability to accumulate wealth, start businesses, buy homes, start families, build savings, and invest in stocks or ideas that could drive innovation. It's like trying to run around attempting to water a vast garden of opportunities and responsibilities while using a very leaky watering can. Meanwhile, predatory institutions continue to profit while we bear the lifelong consequences. We must confront this crisis head-on. Debt forgiveness isn't just an economic imperative; it's a moral one. By wiping the slate clean and holding these for-profit universities accountable, we liberate millions from financial bondage, allowing them to fully participate in and contribute to our economy. Education should be a bridge to opportunity, not a pitfall into poverty. It's time to transform our approach to higher education—making it accessible, affordable, and truly beneficial for all who seek it.