I recently responded to a questionnaire for Ellicott District Council candidates from Art Voice Magazine.  It hasn’t yet been online, so I wanted to share these questions and my answers with you.

1. Why do you want to represent the Ellicott District on the Common Council?

The representative for the Ellicott District needs to bring trust back to the seat.  The district has fallen apart and the constituents were placed on the backburner for far too long.  I have lived in the district for 15 years as a home owner and eight years prior to that as a renter.  I have worked with folks from al areas of the district and have celebrated the cultural exchange and learned the importance of respecting each individual culture for organizational success.  I’ve also built community and development oriented partnerships with local businesses and small to mid-sized developers who feel the way most of us do – that it’s time for a change in the way government runs and how the constituents are treated. Politics has been too heavy handed and the People have not been represented.  I am confident I can bring new blood and new ideas to the table in working with the entire council without a preconceived agenda.

Most importantly, I have not been endorsed by anyone; neither did I seek an endorsement, and I’m happy to have made that decision.  Times have changed as well as people’s perceptions, which have allowed them to be acutely aware of old school politics and the mess we’ve gotten into as a result.
2. How does your experience qualify you for the position?

Although I have become known for my community-driven efforts, I also have vast experience in the corporate sector.  I have also attended many a City Council meeting and caucus to both represent and present those who feel they have been disenfranchised.  I wrote the foundation for the revised lodging house legislation in the City Charter, created and followed through on citizen-based efforts and can boast a strong platform of experience in housing issues and their proven and still developing methods of remediation.

I traveled for about six years as a National Auction Representative for Remarketing Services of America where I not only reviewed budgets, staffing and compliance but got to know a variety of cultures and heard about people’s ideals – we can learn so much if we just communicate with each other.  I directed Quality Assurance for a national satellite-driven advertising group and assisted in reengineering the entire operation.  I also developed the first in-house TeleResource Department for the BPO and achieved a 97% collection rate on pledges in the first year.

The most eye-opening and satisfying job, however, was consultant to Judge Henry Nowak and the Housing Court Reform Project.  I traveled just about every street in the city, trained police officers in proper execution of Orders to Vacate, reviewed what community development organizations were doing and asked questions when the answers didn’t make sense.  And that was just a small part of my two-year contract there.  I’m also a freelance grant writer and researcher and am HUD Certified.

So, all these experiences – in funding and housing, coupled with corporate re-engineering and the development practice I have been fortunate enough to acquire would work well together for various components and needs throughout the district and to share with fellow council members.  If anyone would like to see a copy of my resume, I would be glad to provide one.

3. Please name three very specific priorities you’ll bring to the office.

Advocacy and Accountability – Assuring customer service to the constituents and support for their needs.

Community Re-Development – In a ground-up approach and with green methods – a review of streets with multiple properties slated for demolition to determine viability of rehab conversion.  We surely can bring a number of homes with good bones back to life while working smart in revitalizing neighborhoods. This would be done with strong partnering of neighborhoods on both the East and West Sides, organizations that focus on green methodologies and job and career development in the construction and demo trades, and the business sector for possible investment into the community while adding corporate citizenship into the mix.

Enforcement of Current Regulations, Codes and Other Law – Taking responsibility and reviewing current status while introducing both revised or new legislation and codes to conform to the needs of today.

4. What do you make of the current argument between the Council’s majority coalition and the mayor’s office over the capital budget?

As a former member of the Citizens Planning Council (CPC), I believe we need to be more inclusive and transparent as far as the development of the Capital Budget.  The CPC and the budget development process both need to be revamped.  We need to include the representatives of the community as already provided by the CPC, but also bring Council, Planning, and all department heads together for more than a two-hour session to present their needs.  This would increase the number of weeks for the review meetings, but they should also be part of the re-engineering process of the base budget.  Toward the end of the process, the Comptroller should be part of the discussion to act as a guide and partner in identifying available in-hand funds that would benefit the entire city. And, someone needs to review other options for funding to Council, overall Community and the Arts & Culturals to offer as suggestions during the discussion and presentation process.  In other words, be creative and also have the powers of checks and balances at the front end of the process to avoid misunderstanding of projects and needs; what the end result will be; and how we got there.
5. What do you think the Ellicott District councilmember’s role is in regard to downtown development?

Before specifics, Downtown Buffalo should be bustling and bright, filled with new mixed-use projects similar to the recent adapted structures we now have as well as new housing and respect for the integrity and legacy of the old neighborhoods surrounding it.  But, we need more investors.  In having conversations with my son who is a Senior VP with Builders Bank, it doesn’t matter what city he has been in – Chicago, Miami, LA and now NYC and Washington, the more streamlined the process is, along with strict guidelines and oversight, the more attractive an area becomes, especially at our prices.  So,

Number One – Assist Legislatively in the Development Process.  We have a lot of hoops to jump through for new and developing businesses and they don’t seem to be working in a responsible and forthcoming manner.  On one hand, a new business with start-up capital, ready to launch is hit with tons of red tape and becomes frustrated – maybe moving base operations elsewhere.  On the other hand, some businesses are given carte blanche when it comes to these application, permits, and licensing procedures.

Number Two – Enforce the Performance Levels for Everyone Across the Board – businesses and government alike.  We need to define each need and review performance on many levels, especially grants and low-interest loans.  We need to reward those who have been a good corporate citizen or has the right business plan, MOU’s and other required documentation in-hand.

Number Three – Oversight and Marketing – Any items for approval need to be overseen by the Councilmember to assure the people who should also have provided community feedback are not getting shortchanged.  We also need to market various business development programs to everyone instead of having them search assistance, especially in our current state of the business environment.

Number Four – Public Authorities and their impact on the Business and Residential Communities – The Council needs to review and oversee operations of public authorities that do business with the city or has any connection within or as a partner of the city.  Utilities, Transportation, Housing, and Business Development – each of these has a direct impact on the constituency.  I was certified in the Public Authority Accountability Act and I believe each councilmember could truly benefit from this training.

Other than that, it is my strong belief that the Councilmember should leave recruitment for the professionals and use his or her time to address the other responsibilities of the seat and the city.