Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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22 NOVEMBER 1 - 7, 2017 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Tyrone Williams District 2 UCW: Elected city officials and Cumberland County Commissioners have not been able to agree on who would operate a joint 911 emergency center and continue to be at odds over which sales tax distribution method the county should imple- ment. And now, the county seems to be pushing back on how much money it should devote to the city's baseball stadium. What will you do specifi- cally to create better communication and coop- eration between the two governing bodies? Williams: I would first want to meet with fellow members of the city council to discuss how we all should take part in collaboration meetings with the Cumberland County Com- missioners. I would then aim to create a standard meeting time and date between myself, fellow council, and all of the Cumberland County Commissioners. In this meeting, I would also involve other key stakeholders such as the Cumberland County School Board members, when needed. These meeting would be a part of our elected official duties, just as work sessions are conducted. I would be transpar- ent with the community on these meetings and make sure that official minutes are taken, recorded, and distributed if asked. I will then update my district and com- munity via email, social media, and any other means of communication to ensure clear messaging. I believe that these proposed meetings must be conducted when there are any projects that cause for a city-county collaboration. I would push for these collaboration meetings to be open to the public and become a standard procedure when collaboration projects are on the agenda. As citizens you need to be able to hold each vote on City Council and the County Commissioners accountable all the time and not just when it is convenient. UCW: The city's tax base is more dependent on residential properties than any other major city in North Carolina. This is primarily because of Fayetteville's lack of economic development and our continued failure to attract large cor- porate headquarters, technology companies and manufacturing firms. What role do you feel the city plays in local economic development? Williams: The city is the local economic development machine. The city is responsible for planning and attracting business. By doing so, we alleviate put- ting the financial pressure on homeowner's who simply want a better quality of life. The money that would be spent paying property tax could then be used to patronize a small business, company, or organization in the area. This drives more development. As a city, we must push for private and public funding to develop and grow small businesses and welcome large business. But, I do think it should not be at the expense of the homeowner's. We have to look beyond Fayetteville for large funding and prepare our small businesses for expansion within our districts. CEED, FTCC, and the North Carolina Military Business Center are all great local organizations that help prepare small businesses for this growth. We must lean on them to drive local economy and equip them with the tools to win. We also must prepare our districts for economic development. Neighborhood educational programs, mentorships, interns, and other workforce programs should be planned to bring residents to the table. For example, If we are attracting a technology business or corporate headquarters to come into the district, we should provide workforce opportunities for the residents within the district and the city to become fully trained and job ready to work in that specific business when it opens. This helps raise the average wage earned, lower's crime, and eventually revitalizes the neighborhood. If they are not homeowners, we want them to be able to be given a chance to buy a home. And if they are already a homeowner, we want them to increase the quality of life in their neighborhood and enjoy their district. Some areas of the district may not have a problem with wages, but rather need better options within their district to enjoy life. We need to help provide this at- mosphere. Each area of my district is different, and as councilman, I can address every area of my district equally to provide a better quality of life for all. My eco- nomic development goal will be to encourage residents and businesses to move into District 2. And for the residents and businesses in District 2, my economic development plan is to provide a better life for you and your business. Tisha Waddell District 3 UCW: Elected city officials and Cumberland County Commissioners have not been able to agree on who would operate a joint 911 emergency center and continue to be at odds over which sales tax distribution method the county should implement. And now, the county seems to be pushing back on how much money it should devote to the city's baseball stadium. What will you do specifically to create better communication and cooperation between the two governing bodies? Waddell: My experience as a conf lict resolution coach would definitely be a plus in working to resolve communication issues and promote cooperation between both governing bodies. The number one recommenda- tion when there is a standoff or obstacle preventing agreement is to encourage active listening. This is where each party makes a conscious effort to under- stand the complete message being sent by the other. There is an overlap in responsibility regarding the citizens in Fayetteville where the County Com- missioners and City Council are concerned and we must maintain the ability to compromise when needed in order to make sure the needs of those citizens are always at the forefront. UCW: The city's tax base is more dependent on residential properties than any other major city in North Carolina. This is primarily because of Fayette- ville's lack of economic development and our continued failure to attract large corporate headquarters, technology companies and manufacturing firms. What role do you feel the city plays in local economic development? Waddell: The City Council is responsible for creating an atmosphere that is conducive for economic expansion. Unfortunately we have not been strategic in planning to encourage growth and development beyond the call centers we have successfully acquired over the past few years. While these are ac- complishments, they are limited in the impact they make on our economy, tax revenue and overall quality of life and demonstrate our need to take a close look at the factors that have stunted our progress. When elected, I will be dili- gent in advocating for the implementation of the recommendations that have been made through numerous studies commissioned by the City Council to determine how we move Fayetteville forward. Election 2017 Fayetteville City Council Candidates Did you know ... If you are unable to enter the voting place because of age or physical disability, you will be allowed to vote either in your vehicle or near the voting place. Have someone enter the voting place and inform the election officials of your desire to vote in this manner. Editor's note: This candidate did not provide a photo.