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.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/201420
FAYETTEVILLE CITY COUNCIL J. Reinoehl, District 1 Audrey "Sister" Ray, District 3 UCW: In your opinion what is the number one issue facing the City of Fayetteville? Crime and public safety is our #1 quality of life issue which is partially driven by our high unemployment and underemployment conditions, a lack of economic development and opportunity, and an over-regulatory government. UCW: What can realistically be done to decrease the crime rate in our community? The Fayetteville City Government cannot alone reduce the crime problem without every citizens help, and help from Cumberland County, the state of North Carolina and the federal government. The citizen is the first line of defense in crime prevention and we can no longer sit back as passive bystanders expecting someone else to take action. The small number of Fayetteville Police Officers patrolling our streets need assistance from residents observing and calling 911 to report all suspicious activities. More citizens must get involved in neighborhood Community Watch group activities. Individually, everyone must actively take some common sense preventative measures to deny criminals the opportunity to victimize citizens and our homes and businesses. The Fayetteville Police Department web site has a large amount of useful free information. I will work with others to enable the city to invest in Chief Medlock's plan to reduce crime and improve public safety and protect our families from criminals while preserving individual rights and liberties without additional taxes. We must work with county, state, and federal government representatives to establish a criminal justice legal system with the capacity to function quickly and efficiently. It does little good to have criminal roundups like the recent Operation Blue Thunder that are terminated early due to a overcrowded county jail. Bail hearing determinations should not be decided by the availability of an open bed in the county jail. We need a court system that can quickly move cases to a final conclusion. The N.C. State crime labs are severely underfunded and understaffed resulting in a 1 year backlog for many common lab tests. Criminal cases are being dismissed because of a lack of evidence lab results. I recently complimented Rep. Thom Tillis, speaker of the NC House of Representatives, on Enactment of Session Law 2013360, "Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2013 that includes provisions which should help reduce the state crime labs testing backlog. UCW: The Fayetteville City Council has teamed with the Chamber of Commerce on Economic Development – how can more businesses be attracted to the city and what economic development initiatives would you endorse? Solicit help from the state government and invite the state leaders to visit Fayetteville and meet with our community UCW: In your opinion what is the number one issue facing the City of Fayetteville? The number one issue facing the city is crime to include public safety. 22 OCT. 30 - NOV. 5, 2013 leaders. For example, Sharon Allred Decker, N.C. Secretary of Commerce, has been on the job since January and it appears that the Mayor and Fayetteville Regional Chamber have not invited her to visit our city which is North Carolina's sixth most populous city in the fifth most populous county. Make Fayetteville economic information available. The information provided by the Fayetteville Regional Chamber on-line economic dashboard makes it difficult to accurately discuss the Fayetteville economy and strategic planning as it does not show any Fayetteville specific data and only compares Cumberland County with the rest of N.C. Reduce the excessive government regulatory environment and high property taxes that are driving new residents and businesses out of Fayetteville and forcing established businesses to limit expansion and hiring. Revise the Fayetteville Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), municipal code, and all city publications. Clean up the cities paperwork by insisting that city administrators follow accepted publication design models on managing versions and changes and maintain an single on-line UDO with all the changes. Examine successful programs such as the Downtown Durham Startups as a model for adoption in Fayetteville. This could become an incubation center enabling local entrepreneurs who want to pursue their economic dreams in Fayetteville to get started with great ideas and risk their resources on shoe-string budgets. Vacant city properties could be opened, PWC could extend network services to those buildings not on the grid, and at-cost office space could be provided. Get the N.C. Government to kill the proposal to convert I-95 to a toll road. UCW: With diminishing federal funding, how can Fayetteville continue to provide quality services and where /how can alternate funding be raised? The long-term solution is with generating additional tax revenue thru a strong local economy which must start with a business friendly government, schools and universities graduating students possessing skills that employers need for current operations and their future growth, higher paying jobs to attract separating members of the military, and UCW: What can realistically be done to decrease the crime rate in our community? We must continue to work collaboratively to reduce crime: police, residents and community watch groups. We need to include an unconventional approach to include youth and young adults in task force participation and strategies as preventive measures. Youth and young adults can organize jr. community watches, anti-gang and anti-drug rallies and help with neighborhood and graffiti clean up. The city should organize youth sports such as evening and midnight basketball. It must skill-based and team focused. UCW: The Fayetteville City Council has teamed with the Chamber of Commerce on Economic Development – how can more businesses be attracted to the city and what economic development initiatives would you endorse? We need to improve the city's image and also make it easier for businesses to do business in Fayetteville. District 3 needs more jobs, a supermarket and a bank or credit union. I will endorse effective ways to reduce crime and improve the image of Fayetteville to attract more businesses. I will be a small business champion. Small businesses are valuable to reducing the high unemployment rate and bringing jobs. The city needs an easier business application process and to streamline the regulatory process such as the sign ordinance. Some businesses need to hang banners to do business. UCW: With diminishing federal funding, how can Fayetteville continue to provide quality services and wher /how can alternate funding be raised? I believe in fiscal responsibility. I am on the citizen's side. I do not believe in wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars. The city needs to continue to improve its quality of service especially in the solid waste/ environmental department. We need to continue to look at duplication of services, departments and programs. The bottom line is cost efficiency. Partnering with non-traditional stakeholders as volunteers may reduce the budget and provide creative funding opportunities. UCW: What is your vision for the city's Parks and Recreation? I have heard citizen's say that they want kid-friendly services, and better parks with more recreation amenities. I believe it should not fall on the backs of tax payers. It could be done in phases with a voter referendum as to the overall cost without raising taxes. We must also have greater partnerships through volunteerism with Methodist College, area business owners, Fayetteville State University and churches. UCW: In your opinion, what qualifies you to make hard decisions for the people of Fayetteville? Let me bring your voice to City Hall. I have proven legislative experience In the NC General Assembly. I assisted in the crafting of three bills which became state law. One provided honorary diplomas to World War II veterans. I am a business owner and I also have 20 years of public service experience. I have researched bills, created empowerment programs that helped families and individuals, established a $10,000 endowment at Fayetteville State University, helped businesses, seniors and children. I have helped residents find jobs. I believe in accountability to citizens. My programs have saved taxpayer dollars. I am a consensus builder which will work collaboratively to support local legislation to improving the quality of life for Fayetteville residents. I ask for your vote for Audrey "Sister" Ray for City Council, District 3. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM