Q) What is your vision for Ward 18 [soon to be Ward 16]? I mean, do you envision the Ward as another Tremont, Ohio City, Detroit Shoreway neighborhood? If so, what is your strategy to set the neighborhood apart and make it distinctly ward 18 [Ward 16], and not some attempt to be like Tremont?
A) I really like this question. I do not envision Ward 16 to be another Tremont, Ohio City or Detroit Shoreway. To the extent that the leaders in those neighborhoods are working hard to develop communities attractive and vibrant for their constituents, I would like to see the same progress in Ward 16. However, my vision is to work to enhance the strengths and the unique qualities of the Ward 16 neighborhoods rather than attempt to mold them into something they are not.
For example, Ward 16 has a much more family oriented feel then the neighborhoods above, and I would like to enhance that feel. I have referred to my vision as an Urban Suburbia. If you move to the suburbs, you find all sorts of small industry and amenities that are difficult to find in the Ward. However, if you move to the suburbs, you lose your proximity to the lake, downtown and the entertainment areas close by in Tremont, Ohio City or the Detroit Shoreway, and you lose the vibrant community feel that you get in the city. I would like Ward 16 to attract new tech industry, and new amenities to bring the positives of suburban life to the city.
A small list of things I would work hard for are (note the lack of bars & restaurants on the list, except for perhaps the Hispanic and Arab districts):
• Maintenance of streets for the sake of our cars, and sidewalks repaired for the safety of our elderly and children.
• Speed bumps throughout our neighborhoods. I recently visited Charelston SC and many of their neighborhoods have speed bumps designed so that the bumps are neither unsightly nor harsh on cars, but enforce a safe speed limit.
• More amenities within walking distance. Several residents have complained about closed grocery stores and a lack of a congregation point (both for adults and youth), such as bookstores, arcades, neighborhood squares, etc.
• A more aesthetically pleasing Ward. I plan to rally volunteers to help maintain and beautify neighborhoods. I also hope to work with businesses or new developers to enforce city design codes for buildings and to continue the Cudell paint program.
• Small tech industry. As an engineer and patent attorney, I love technology. I believe brining in tech jobs not only will enhance the attractiveness of the Ward, provide training and jobs for the community, and increase the city tax base, I just think having high tech industry in the neighborhood would be cool. I am an alumni of CWRU and CSU, and hope to work with both Universities to lure new tech transfer startups and other high tech industry to our Ward.
• With the growing population of Hispanic and Arab residents in the community, I would like to encourage a Hispanic and Arab district to spring up within the Ward.
I believe some of our main streets, Clifton, West 117, Madison, Lorain, Denison, need attention. If there is a specific building or area your are concerned about, please let me know.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Questions - 2
Another question.
Q) How would you work with Cudell Improvement, Inc. What are your thoughts about the organization?
A.) This is a no-brainer. I would work as closely with Cudell Improvement as the organization desired, which I hope to find is extensively. While I believe I have good ideas for the community, I am also realistic and understand good ideas spring from everybody, and that good input and good advice is necessary to ensure any action taken on behalf of the neighborhood is carried out wisely. As such, I would work with Cudell to solicit input and ideas from and for the community, and also look to Cudell for advice and input on potential development projects for the Ward.
In addition, it is my understanding that Cudell works closely with community block clubs. One of the most important things I would like to do as councilman is ensure that all of our block clubs are fully functioning with healthy attendance and plenty of support. As such, I anticipate working closely with Cudell to rally the community to get involved and stay involved in their block clubs.
In short, I think Cudell is an essential part of the community and I hope to develop a strong partnership with it for the benefit of the Ward.
For the sake of those not covered by Cudell, I will not forget about you. Although Cudell Improvement covers a substantial part of the Ward, the new Ward 16 boundary will also include portions of the Stockyards and WireNet CDC’s. Needless to say, I plan to work with these CDC’s as well to the extent of their interest in the Ward.
Chris
Q) How would you work with Cudell Improvement, Inc. What are your thoughts about the organization?
A.) This is a no-brainer. I would work as closely with Cudell Improvement as the organization desired, which I hope to find is extensively. While I believe I have good ideas for the community, I am also realistic and understand good ideas spring from everybody, and that good input and good advice is necessary to ensure any action taken on behalf of the neighborhood is carried out wisely. As such, I would work with Cudell to solicit input and ideas from and for the community, and also look to Cudell for advice and input on potential development projects for the Ward.
In addition, it is my understanding that Cudell works closely with community block clubs. One of the most important things I would like to do as councilman is ensure that all of our block clubs are fully functioning with healthy attendance and plenty of support. As such, I anticipate working closely with Cudell to rally the community to get involved and stay involved in their block clubs.
In short, I think Cudell is an essential part of the community and I hope to develop a strong partnership with it for the benefit of the Ward.
For the sake of those not covered by Cudell, I will not forget about you. Although Cudell Improvement covers a substantial part of the Ward, the new Ward 16 boundary will also include portions of the Stockyards and WireNet CDC’s. Needless to say, I plan to work with these CDC’s as well to the extent of their interest in the Ward.
Chris
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Questions
I recently have been garnering some questions about the DEMAS for Ward 16 campaign. Over the next several days I will attempt to respond to some of those questions. I'd love to get your feedback. Please feel free to comment with any further inquiry or other constructive opinions.
Today's first question:
Q.) You propose term limits of 3 terms per position for a total of 9 possible terms an individual could serve on council. My question- wouldn't this model actually perpetuate the "same faces" on council as the current set up does?
A.) To a certain extent yes, it is designed to allow the best of the best to continue serving. To a greater extent, the proposed system is designed to foster a dynamic and much more innovative council. Allow me to explain.
There are two general concerns when discussing term limits. First, we do not want “good” representatives to be term-limited out, but second, we do not want “good” representatives to go “bad.”
My proposal for term limits allows the best of the best to continue to serve their city. The proposal calls for a tiered council, having a base of 6 ward councilmen, followed by 4 at-large councilmen and finally a council president voted in at-large. By design, as a councilman reaches their term limit they will have an opportunity to move on to a new position. However, only a limited number of councilmen will actually realize this possibility in light of the proposed tiers. The design separates those who excel in city service, allowing only the best of the best to continue to serve. In this regard, we will keep some of the “same faces,” but only as the electorate sees fit and according to the citizens’ concerns that they do not lose out on “good” representatives.
The proposal also guards against “good” representatives from going “bad.” It is our human nature to become stagnant unless faced with new challenges. As such, after a certain time in office and as constituents become comfortable with their “good” councilman, even the best representative will become comfortable with the duties of the job and stagnancy, among other things, will seep into the fabric of the community. The proposal addresses this problem by requiring councilman to change duties after a set amount of terms. In the proposal, ward councilman will face different constituents and different challenges than at-large councilman, who in turn will face different challenges from an at-large council president. Further, as councilmen do make it from ward to at-large to president, their previous post will open for a fresh face from the community to step in with new ideas and new energy. Thus, moving through the tiered system will not only keep a particular councilman challenged, it will allow for new fresh faces to fill in behind with new and innovative ideas for the community.
In short, the proposal ensures that our good representatives may continue to serve, while fostering a dynamic and innovative representative body that allows new representatives to serve. I might also add that the tiered system with ward and at-large council will provide a dynamic balance between the concerns of single wards and the best interests of the entire city. Of course, the plan is a proposal and open to any suggestions for improvement and I would appreciate any input.
Chris
Today's first question:
Q.) You propose term limits of 3 terms per position for a total of 9 possible terms an individual could serve on council. My question- wouldn't this model actually perpetuate the "same faces" on council as the current set up does?
A.) To a certain extent yes, it is designed to allow the best of the best to continue serving. To a greater extent, the proposed system is designed to foster a dynamic and much more innovative council. Allow me to explain.
There are two general concerns when discussing term limits. First, we do not want “good” representatives to be term-limited out, but second, we do not want “good” representatives to go “bad.”
My proposal for term limits allows the best of the best to continue to serve their city. The proposal calls for a tiered council, having a base of 6 ward councilmen, followed by 4 at-large councilmen and finally a council president voted in at-large. By design, as a councilman reaches their term limit they will have an opportunity to move on to a new position. However, only a limited number of councilmen will actually realize this possibility in light of the proposed tiers. The design separates those who excel in city service, allowing only the best of the best to continue to serve. In this regard, we will keep some of the “same faces,” but only as the electorate sees fit and according to the citizens’ concerns that they do not lose out on “good” representatives.
The proposal also guards against “good” representatives from going “bad.” It is our human nature to become stagnant unless faced with new challenges. As such, after a certain time in office and as constituents become comfortable with their “good” councilman, even the best representative will become comfortable with the duties of the job and stagnancy, among other things, will seep into the fabric of the community. The proposal addresses this problem by requiring councilman to change duties after a set amount of terms. In the proposal, ward councilman will face different constituents and different challenges than at-large councilman, who in turn will face different challenges from an at-large council president. Further, as councilmen do make it from ward to at-large to president, their previous post will open for a fresh face from the community to step in with new ideas and new energy. Thus, moving through the tiered system will not only keep a particular councilman challenged, it will allow for new fresh faces to fill in behind with new and innovative ideas for the community.
In short, the proposal ensures that our good representatives may continue to serve, while fostering a dynamic and innovative representative body that allows new representatives to serve. I might also add that the tiered system with ward and at-large council will provide a dynamic balance between the concerns of single wards and the best interests of the entire city. Of course, the plan is a proposal and open to any suggestions for improvement and I would appreciate any input.
Chris
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
