Importantly, I have the time, the requisite skills, life experiences, willingness, and time to serve. Jacksonville must enact a comprehensive strategic plan for crime reduction and safety. A: I was born and raised in Duval County, specifically in District 8, the District I seek to represent. A: I support the opportunity to expand development for non-profit and for-profit development to meet the demand for Affordable Housing in Jacksonville. Together, wecan make District 9 a more equitable and prosperous community for all residents. Im eager to bring my knowledge and policy focus to City Hall. The candidates lining up to primary Jordan include Assembly Member Al Taylor (D-Manhattan), state Senator Inez Dickens and Yusef Salaam, of the Exonerated 5 a group of five Black men convicted of raping a woman in Central Park in the 1980s, who were later proven innocent. Petitioning for this year's City Council elections, set to start next week, could now be delayed due to a lawsuit filed on Friday by a legal defense group on behalf of Asian American communities . Q: What, if anything, should the Council do to help Duval County adapt to risingseas, increased heat and flooding caused by climate change? Im NOT here to encourage laziness, but fair, honest, and just living standards. The Affordable Housing Workshop participants developed 10 policies and fiscal recommendations for renting and purchasing affordable housing. In-person balloting at voting centers will occur on three days in mid-March: Saturday, March 11: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, March 13: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 14: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Identify different groups and their very different needs. I also looked at murder statistics (Over 1000 in 7 years). We need to recreate the permitting process so that construction plans have an expedited time frame to foster more construction and increase the housing supply. From a few thousand feet you can see the real beauty of the city, and I realize how fortunate I am to live here. Learn how to vote early in the upcoming election, how to register, where to vote, and what's on the ballot. We are no longer a watch football city under my leadership. Our homes were flooded with toxic substances. There was a high-tech laser show, which was pretty new at the time. I suggest that housing developers meet with city planners to collaborate on affordable workforce housing. drawn backlash from more moderate Democrats for opposing the One45 rezoning. A: Because Confederate monuments were erected during the Jim Crow area, I support removing them from public property and placing them in a museum. I fell in love with Jacksonville in the 1980s/1990s, formed many great friendships that I maintained throughout my time serving in the Army and always knew I would be back. Q: What is the biggest issue in your district that youwould like to tackle if elected to the Jacksonville City Council? Do you support continuing this level of funding for JSO? They attended the local public schools and graduated for the state universities, FSU, UF and UNF. Also, notably, I am an active member of our communitys CPAC (Northwest Citizen Planning Advisory Committee). As a City Councilman, I will lead with honor, integrity and ensure that our local government is living up to its full potential. . City council seats are up for election for about half of Oklahoma City's residents this month. A: I am an entrepreneur which involves RealEstate. When it comes to investing in our infrastructure, were talking about upgrading our roads, green and gray infrastructure to boost resiliency, and public transportation systems. Meanwhile, the citys inventory of single-family homes should be rehabbed and sold at cost price. My priority is to create a city that is safe, welcoming, vibrant, and rich in culture, where everyone can thrive. A: There are so many great places here in Jacksonville. We need more professionalism in our local government. I am optimistic about our future, and will do my best to share my enthusiasm with all the residents of District 11. In a single day, you can experience a variety of activities that range from dining at a local diner or coffee shop, to hitting the beach for surfing or fishing, grabbing a fresh fish taco, catching a rodeo or a musical performance, and finally ending the day with a delicious dinner and craft drinks. Mental health services and job training will also be a focus to help curb the issue of crime and violence in our city. A huge part of my success is budgeting, project management and providing my employees with financial stability and an opportunity to advance. My knowledge is limited on the subject matter, but it is my intent to learn more in order to address it more efficiently. A: Rental and purchase prices are controlled by the open market and supply and demand. Three of four El Paso City Council races are headed to a runoff, with only District 5 incumbent city Rep. Isabel Salcido winning her seat outright Tuesday. 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Ideally we can move towards a much safer future and dropthose costs drastically. A: I believe, strongly, that the Confederate monuments should be taken down. The highest honor I seek comes directly from the VOTERSin District 10. Unfortunately, I was laid off in November due to the economic downturn in the residential housing space. I own Jack Meeks & Associates, CPAs, LLC which primarily manages the rental properties my wifeand I own. Specifically the Riverside Park and the Midnight Sun store is where id frequent often before going into Sun-Ray Cinema! We should be prepared to do the necessary improvements to make it functional. Successful sports teams, arts and cultural programs, are great for our city. Maintain and perhaps enhance funding for restoration of Hogans Creek and McCoys Creek. Jacksonville deserves a hard-working, dedicated, and compassionate representative who understands the needs of working people and families and recognizes that Jacksonville belongs to all of us. Pass a Tenants Bill of Rights to make sure individuals have rights before the cost of rents go up substantially, 3. Q: For fun: Whats your happy place in Jax where you go when you want a pick me-up? However, I do not feel under any circumstance the full burden of stadium renovations should fall on the taxpayers. The positions on the ballot will be for Council Place 1, Council Place 4 and Council Place 5 (to fill an unexpired term). Many areas are neglected and underserved. Grant tax incentives to developers to encourage growth. Under the current funding mechanisms, I would advocate that we prioritize projects that directly contribute to the quality of life of our residents. They represent hate, bigotry and racism. The mayor won some changes to the laws last year, with a last-minute push by Hochul to make more crimes like those involving guns and repeat offenders bail eligible, yet he didnt get the so-called dangerousness standard that hed lobbied for. Unless we tackle this debt over the next 4 to 8 years, a lot of the services provided by are city could go unfunded if we head into an economic downturn. The City, She Weeps. I support continued funding for JSO to ensure that our community remains safe and secure, but it is important to me that these funds are used in a transparent and accountable manner. , which wouldve brought a pair of towers to 145th Street in Harlem containing 458 affordable apartments, because of fears that it wouldve accelerated gentrification of the area. The site is now on track to become a truck depot, which is slated to open in the near future. A: I believe its something that really needs to be looked at as for what it can be replaced with to bring peace on all sides. These monuments represent a history of death and destruction of racism, segregation and slavery. I am a Funeral Director/Area Manager, Hardage-Giddens Funeral Homes, Cemeteries, and Cremations. The City Council consists of seven (7) members, each of whom shall be elected for . I am a lifelong Republican, and a believer in smaller government. A: Overbuilding is a problem. Andrew Lewis: Lewis joined the council in 2020 and is running for re-election. I fell in love with Mandarin in 1982 for its natural beauty, the history of the area, and the neighborhoods proximity to our St. Johns River and tributaries. If I had to name the three largest issues I am hearing about from constituents, I can do that easier: (1) Murder and crime. I hope Ive earned your vote. Seven candidates have qualified for the ballot in the special election to replace former Los Angeles City Councilmember Nury Martinez, according to the City Clerk. The candidate's filing fee for City Council is $150.00 and a candidate's filing fee for Mayor is $1,000.00. Several infrastructure projects have been completed at my requestthrough the NWCPAC, including the reconstruction of the Orchard Street Bridge inRobinsons Addition, a District 9 Neighborhood. Humans are adaptable. Additionally, the Council should also consider educating the public about the risks associated with climate change and encouraging individualactions to reduce carbon emissions and increase resilience. We have to empower her and need to focus on all of the issues related to it. It brought our community together. When you add these issues to our infrastructure problems such as poor drainage, water management, septic tanks, aging bridges and roadways, and much more, wethen greatly compound the issue. And it wont be surprising if he doesnt get the bail reform he wants.. A: I dont see a need to increase JSOs budget. A: Confederate monuments have no place on public property. HOWEVER, TAXPAYER SHOULD NOT FUND THE MAJORITY OF THE COSTS. We need to assist the military members who transition to civilian life. I enjoy playing tennis, as it serves as an excellent stress reliever and an opportunity for socialization with a diverse group. For many years I have watched leaders not follow the law and make what appears to be back room deals without proper public input. This will make it easier for people to get around the city, and will also attractmore businesses and jobs to Jacksonville. Create a program through which citizens who need assistance have easy access to help. I authored a plan to fully fund the police, approved by the Taxation, Revenue, and Utilization (TRUE) Commission, to hire 148 law enforcement officers over the next eight years. How long have you lived in Duval County? I have served the people of our city for the last 25 years by teaching our communitys children, distributing food to the hungry, and leading faith-based outreach to meet the needs of the vulnerable. Not sure the real name but youll figure it out. Jacksonville has over 1,000 murders in 7 years. A: I support getting more officers on patrol, with 1.98 officers per thousand, and the natural average is 2.2 to 2.4 per thousand. I understand that this will require hard work and determination, but Im ready to fight for all of our neighbors to make it happen. Any public financing should be dependent on a good deal for taxpayers, including a positive return on investment, a lease extension by the Jaguars, the employment of local labor, and the ability to attract major non-football events to the stadium during the off-season. If you dont know it, enter your info here and then click View Sample Ballot to see which candidates are running to represent you. The Council also negotiates with the mayor to pass the city budget every year. A: We need a comprehensive approach to crime, which among other topics, would consider the following: A: Theodore Roosevelt National Park is very special. We dont need to increase the millage rate. Here are a few ideas in no particular order: A: Jacksonville has recently hired a Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) who is currently working to develop a comprehensive strategy to assist us in preparing for and adapting to climate change issues and flooding. We need to reduce the time for development projects to be approved and completed. A: I currently serve on the Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board (JEPB) and chair the Water Committee, where Ive worked on environmental issues and promoting sustainability in our city. My line of work requires me to work with multiple municipalities and city officials in bidding and permitting processes. Morales joined the council in 2020. I wanna stay an NFL team city. Three of the members, including the mayor, are elected at large, while the other members are elected from five districts: A, B, C, D, and E. The City Council sets City policy, enacts laws and adopts the City budget each year. A: Doing the same thing over and over expecting different results is the definition of insanity. I also would like to see us reduce how many officers are forced to take overtime. In exchange, they were to build homes that would be affordable. Changes like this could be like trading members of the Ramones, or switching up members of the Scorpions. This policy should be applied fairly and evenly across the spectrum of public monuments and markers throughout Jacksonville. As for heat, we have over $20M in our tree mitigation fund that could be used to plant trees across the City to reduce rising temperatures on our streets. Its a part of our history and landscape of our city. After all of the districts have been introduced, the City Council will be comprised of six Councilmembers who each live in and represent . They bring national attention, diverse business opportunities, major employment and a whole host of other economic benefits. A: I support taking the Confederate monuments down on public property. It is time for the people of Jacksonville to be heard so the city and its citizens can move forward. The positions carry influence as locally elected leaders determine spending and priorities for police and fire departments, road projects, parks and . Our new resiliency officer is underutilized and not given the resources she needs. During the address, the governor will lay out her 2023 agenda, which shes already indicated will include a statewide housing strategy to reach a goal of building 800,000 units over the next decade. Ill sign on to a renewable energy pledge because we must get serious about doing our part to reduce the impacts of climate change. 14, 2023 (Runoff, if necessary)Nov. 5, 2024 to elect the Mayor and Councilmembers in Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7Mar. The next step is to work withthem and hold them accountable for bringing new developments for affordable housing, workforce housing, and market-rate housing. "Festival '71," aka "Mayor's Arts Festival," was the result of that effort. I know I have been focused on cases and my clients at the expense of being out there trying to become an elected official. Is it related to unstable housing or lack of home support? They should gather facts on the issues and discuss once accomplished. The new branch was expected to be completed in four to six years. A: I have been a Duval County resident since 1975. There must be a concentrated effort to get this issue under control, while simultaneously adopted real legislation that would boost officer pay and benefits including sign on and retainer bonuses. From the Mayors mean-tweets to no one doing anything when Ben Frazier was drug out of a meeting and arrest. 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