She helped to found the Mothers Against Gangs School Liaison in 1987 and served on the Evanston Community Foundation Advisory Committee from 1987 to 1995.
[7] Tisdahl's 2009 mayoral campaign was based on three major platforms "Diversity, Sustainability, and Economic Development", which have remained her top priorities while in office.
[9] Since she became mayor, Tisdahl has simultaneously come under criticism and received praise for cracking down on alcohol consumption while loosening the penalties for drug use within Evanston city limits.
[citation needed] The bar was repeatedly cited for underage drinking and noise violations and had been the site of a shooting in 2005.
[13] She has faced further criticism from the Northwestern community for the proposed enforcement of a city ordinance called variously the "three-unrelated rule" and the "brothel law."