Issues to Demand Accountability & Deliver Balance
SAFETY & CRIME
Our city ended 2021 with alarming statistics on all types of crime in our neighborhoods and communities. Reported rapes were up 19%, vehicle thefts were up 5%, vehicle break-ins were up 4%, guns and violence in our schools and neighborhoods are rising, and sexual assault cases involving a non-stranger were up 23%.
This is an awful representation of Charlotte.
Residents no longer have the faith or confidence in safely sending their children to school, driving to work, or even taking the family out to eat, while violence and guns continue to surface at an alarming pace.
After extensive discussions with CMPD officers, so much of the crime and violence comes from people leaving their guns in the cars. Then gangs or unscrupulous individuals send juveniles to steal these guns. I will work hard to bring awareness about people leaving their guns in cars. If we can accomplish a reduction in gun theft, we can positively impact the violent crimes across our city.
And what are the results of the City Council's programs and money spent to stop crime and violence? Who is accountable for the dollars we spend on programs like ATV Alternatives to Violence?
I will fight on your behalf to restore your faith and confidence in our City Government and work with all City Council members and our mayor to develop and enact real safety plans and programs that hold us accountable. You, the citizens, deserve a balanced plan of action that works to keep our city safe and holds criminals accountable for their actions.
EXPOSING WASTEFUL SPENDING
Are you receiving a good return from your City tax dollars?
Accountability and balance of your hard-earned tax dollars spent on special interests and failed government programs is no where to be found from this Democratic City Council.
When I am elected, I will help decide how much your property taxes will be and how they are spent!
You need to see the real RESULTS from all programs so we can eliminate programs that are wasteful or just don't produce results that can be measured. For example, how is Project Zero Vision doing? Why has there not been a project meeting since July 2021?
I will be vocal and loud to ensure that every citizen is represented, not just the "special interests" of Democratic board members.
Please support and vote for me in the July 2022 City election. I pledge to you that I will bring accountability and balance while returning our City Government's focus to quality of outcomes over politics of outcomes.
charlotte 2040 plan
Charlotte is a city in its current status from a development plan that really began a little over 100 years ago.
Today you can look around Charlotte to see where they "really nice" neighborhoods are and where the fringe or "not as nice" neighborhoods have been built. As members of your City Council, we need to learn from the history of our city's growth to look forward on how to grow responsibly.
Charlotte's 2040 Plan has components that will push out some groups of people or leave them out entirely. I am 100% against pushing out or excluding any groups of people in our city!
The 2040 Plan is supposed to champion our minority communities with more equitable housing options. And the plan includes millions of dollars for affordable housing...at the expense of limiting property owners and how they can build in their neighborhoods.
The Plan's four essential components include:
- All citizens have access to essential amenities, goods and services;
- All citizens have access to employment opportunity;
- All citizens have access to housing opportunity;
- All citizens participate in environmental justice to minimize environmental hazards.
VOCATIONAL & TRADE SCHOOLS
I believe investments into more Vocational and Trade Schools will help our citizens learn valuable trades to create higher living wages for all citizens.
The pace of technology and increasing automation of jobs means the success of Charlotte’s future employment ecosystem will require an unprecedented level of reskilling and upskilling support to fill tech-centric positions across most of our industries.
Vocational and Trade Schools teach our citizens real skills and trades that can give them rewarding careers and higher paying wages for a lifetime. Let's help prepare our citizens for the global stage of business.
Vocational & Trade Schools Can Drive Change for Our Citizens.
Investing some of your tax dollars into developing programs with Vocational & Trade Schools is a win-win for Charlotte. These schools and programs are more affordable than traditional colleges and can help our citizens to focus completely on their chosen field and develop career-relevant knowledge and skills.
I think more trade programs like The Roc here in Charlotte. This program specifically teaches and trains people to pursue a great career or college in the construction technologies sector.
These citizens then find solid jobs right here in Charlotte!
Most of the vocational and trade program graduates are filling high-demand career jobs that Charlotte businesses need now.
Again, I will support these programs with an accountable and balanced approach to measurable results. These are your tax dollars and you should demand performance and accountability from your City Council members. I will deliver transparency to all City citizens.
CATS & CITY EMPLOYEE SAFETY
Our CATS transportation drivers and city employees are exposed everyday when they go to work. I will fight to protect them.
Earlier this year, I joined the conservative members of City Council, along with other conservative candidates, to form a transparent coalition called "The Slate." Our purpose as The Slate is to address Democrat Mayor Vi Lyles and Democrat city council members who have not been meeting the needs of city residents and employees.
We presented a solid solution to keep CATS bus drivers safe while they operated their bus. This followed the tragic shooting death of CATS driver Ethan Rivera back in February 2022. In March 2022, we presented our solution with a bulletproof prototype transparent cab to protect Charlotte Area Transit System bus drivers from bullets.
Watch The Slate Video Press Announcement Here!
It took just one week from an idea to developing the first prototype. This is ready to bolt in as soon as OSHA says "yes." The prototype cost less than $5,000 from the manufacturer. No answer from City Council if they are proceeding or not.
I will work with the Mayor and City Council members to create new ideas and routines to keep our CATS drivers and city employees safe while working in the public.
We can do this with transparency, public collaboration and sharing real accountability with how your tax dollars are being spent.
I support protecting our city employees.