Residents submitted more than 1,100 ideas and cast over 86,000 votes
The City of Erie and Change.org, the world’s leading platform for social change, announced today the results of the first stage of Ideas for Change, which invited residents to share their ideas for the future of Erie and weigh in on their neighbors’ suggestions.
Over the past month, 1,131 Erie residents submitted 1,078 ideas and cast 86,756 votes on topics ranging from road and sidewalk repair to housing, public transit, downtown revitalization, and public safety.
“Erie residents showed up, shared their ideas, and made their voices heard,” said Mayor Daria S. Devlin. “We all share a responsibility to make Erie the best version of itself, and this process reminded us that while we may have different perspectives, there is so much we can accomplish when we work together.
“I’m grateful to every resident who took the time to participate, and I look forward to turning these ideas into action for our community.”
Rather than simply ranking ideas by popularity, Change.org analyzed how residents voted to find the priorities that earn support across the community — not just from the loudest voices. The analysis identified three broad perspectives among participants:
· Infrastructure Pragmatists, focused on fixing roads, sidewalks, and core city services
· Equity Advocates, focused on affordable housing, inclusion, and equitable investment across neighborhoods
· Fiscal Realists, focused on lowering the tax burden and attracting higher-paying jobs
Despite different perspectives, residents identified several shared priorities, including:
· A more vibrant and walkable downtown
· Clearer rules for e-bikes and mini bikes
· Limits on neighborhood “skill game” machines
· Protecting Lake Erie’s waters and fisheries
· Safer neighborhoods citywide
· Affordable rental housing
Among the individual ideas that received strong support were restoring Sunday bus service, opening city records on tax-exempt properties, and prioritizing local small businesses over big chains.
Affordable rental housing emerged as the focus of the program’s next phase.Approximately 45% of Erie households are renters, and residents across the city expressed concerns about rising rents, housing quality, absentee ownership, and responsible property management.
In the second phase, Change.org will convene a demographically representative group of roughly 100 residents from across the city for a facilitated dialogue on affordable rental housing. Participants will discuss challenges, consider potential solutions, and develop actionable recommendations for city leadership.
Residents can now view the full results from the first phase at ideasforchange.org/erie, and those interested in participating in the live dialogue can sign up now through the website.
The Ideas for Change program is provided at no cost to the City of Erie. Change.org, an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit organization, is covering all expenses, and the Mayor’s Office has committed to reviewing the final recommendations and working with Change.org to ensure the effort delivers real results for Erie residents.
