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 Bobby Hurst, District 5 Dr. Mary Ferguson, District 6 UCW: In your opinion what is the number one issue facing the City of Fayetteville? Crime — no question about it! UCW: In your opinion what is the number one issue facing the City of Fayetteville? Unemployment UCW: What can realistically be done to decrease the crime rate in our community? We can't do it all alone. We need help from our teammates. That means we need support from County Commissioners, the Court System, and the District Attorney's Office. It does no good to arrest criminals before lunch, if they're going to be back out on the street before dinner the same day — we simply MUST address this problem of a "revolving door" for repeat felony offenders. I strongly support Chief Medlock's proposal for an Electronic Monitoring Program for these repeat offenders, as well as carefully targeted use of video surveillance. Additionally, I have always supported our Community Watch Organizations, but I want City Council to encourage the start of a Business Watch Organization, too. Finally, I will continue to support our police department by providing them with the tools they need to do their job effectively. UCW: What can realistically be done to decrease the crime rate in our community? An effort to make people feel their worth, to be contributors. Fayetteville needs sensible wages and benefits through employment continue to build community relationships between law enforcement and its residents, and culturally occupying our youth. 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? Businesses don't bring jobs to cities with serious crime issues — it's that simple. As to our relationship with The Alliance – the economic development arm of the Chamber – I support it. The City of Fayetteville's tax rate is one of the lowest in the state. As the May, 2012 Garner Report pointed out, the elected body of the city should focus on quality-of-life issues and strengthen our workforce. This can help attract more business and jobs to the city. Our revenue from industry is less than one half of one percent. We must lift the burden off the backs of our property owners. We recently annexed the 500 acre Cedar Creek Business Park, which has been designated as a Foreign Trade Zone. The Alliance has been focused on likely foreign manufacturers, and we should support the current incentive program that has been developed to bring them into our community. These are all excellent ideas, and I support them. But public safety is the ultimate quality-of-life issue. If our County and City don't get a handle on crime, we will never attract the 24 OCT. 30 - NOV. 5, 2013 businesses and jobs we need. UCW: With diminishing federal funding, how can Fayetteville continue to provide quality services and where / how can alternate funding be raised? My positive experience with Fayetteville Beautiful has made me a strong believer in the power of committed volunteers. We have to attract more volunteers to community betterment projects they can believe in, and we have to support them with effective, committed leadership. Volunteers can save some costs — but not everything can be valued in dollars, and this is one good example. I realize we must also take a conservative approach with our budget until the economy improves. Programbased budgeting will go into effect next year, and that will allow us to determine what programs in each department are effective and efficient. Finally, we have to take a fair look at the Public Works Commission and see if PWC and the City of Fayetteville can cooperate and possibly eliminate duplication of efforts and costs. UCW: What is your vision for the city's Parks and Recreation? Parks and Recreation is an important function of city government. I support the gradual expansion of our parks and recreation facilities to improve quality of life. This should enhance other economic development opportunities and offer more activities for our youth, seniors and families. 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? Build more roads to disperse the traffic. Fayetteville has to be willing to accept its growth and the pace of that growth. She needs to steadily improve the quality of life. I think she desires that. Clean up our image as a culturally diverse population; this includes reduction of crime, attracting school enrollment to all of our schools not just one or two schools and evidence of businesses addressing cultural needs of its children and families. I propose to 'build up'...taller buildings throughout our city. This is not a town anymore. We've a huge bedroom community here. Also, exercise initiatives to modernize the extended growth in the city by paving bike trails, a river walk, a substantial mall with parking decks. Treat Fayetteville like a city. UCW: With diminishing federal funding, how can Fayetteville continue to provide quality services and where / how can alternate funding be raised? A supplement of PWC funding assistance should be used. The Fayetteville people pay into that monthly. PII (Private International Investors) who are always looking for ways to capitalize. We are going to have to let people in…. UCW: What is your vision for the city's Parks and Recreation? Colin Powell once said, "Music and theater are essential disciplines that give people a sense of place in the world." I would like to see an inexpensive multiethnic expansion of cultural arts; also more educational opportunities to inform youth about abuse. UCW: In your opinion, what qualifies you to make hard decisions for the people of Fayetteville? Definitely not the fact that I've earned a doctorate degree but the fact that I possess a degree of consciousness; being aware of problems that affect the quality of life for all people and my willingness to serve and act on that awareness. Additionally, I qualify through my studies of communities, schools and state government. I am an average citizen harboring the same concerns as most residents of Fayetteville. UCW: In your opinion, what qualifies you to make hard decisions for the people of Fayetteville? My extensive experience and leadership in both government and business qualifies me to make tough decisions. My Christian values and conservative principles guide me in making decisions, because they anchor me to the long-term considerations in life, things beyond the next election. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM