PETERSBURG – Have you learnt who’s working to signify your pursuits, in your metropolis, the place you reside?
That is the second installment of a 3 half sequence bringing you a snapshot of native politicians working for workplace in Petersburg. What do they suppose concerning the metropolis’s present path? What are the problems? The place ought to town go from right here?
Metropolis Council seats in Wards 2, Four and 6 are up for reelection this 12 months. Click here for an interactive ward map of town.
Every candidate was requested by e-mail to answer a sequence of 5 questions every by way of e-mail. Candidates are listed within the order by which they are going to seem on the poll.
Solutions had been flippantly edited for size, model and readability.
Ward 4
Sam Jean
What prior expertise do you have got that may make you a very good match for political workplace within the Metropolis of Petersburg?
My experiences embrace enterprise within the leisure subject and I’ve negotiated contracts, advocated for people with completely different talents, and labored as a group activist for a number of years. Political life is available in completely different varieties and I imagine my earlier expertise speaks quantity as I’m an awesome assist of people which are marginalized and I wish to assist the low and center class households. As well as, we’re seeing an unlimited shift with companies in Petersburg and I wish to improve this enterprise and entrepreneurship tradition in our rising group.
How do you charge the efficiency of Metropolis Supervisor Aretha Ferrell-Benavides and her employees?
It’s troublesome for me to evaluate her efficiency right now as a result of I’m not positive what’s her construction of the workplace she at present holds. Nevertheless, I do acknowledge that she has a tricky job and as soon as I’m a member of town council, my job would additionally entail understanding and supporting efficient management and guaranteeing that the logistics and the funds of Petersburg are dealt with accordingly.
Which initiatives/votes from the present metropolis council do you assist and why? Which do you oppose and why?
We have to consider all elements of metropolis council nonetheless any agenda on the metropolis council degree ought to be made public to all. I imagine in transparency. Any issues that the folks have will probably be addressed as soon as I’m elected to workplace. My job is to assist our constituents, present environment friendly assist, and guarantee that the folks’s agenda is firstly.
What do you see as the largest points going through Petersburg?
One among my issues is that Petersburg lacks group involvement. Metropolis council must do a greater job at listening to the constituents, bridging the hole between previous and new era, and guaranteeing the residents of Petersburg, VA that we warrant recognition and that our wealthy historical past and tradition shouldn’t be ignored.
If elected, what actions or ordinances would you convey earlier than council for a vote?
The ward that I’ll signify is actually diversified. One among my best issues is the difficulties people have dropped at my consideration about opening companies in Petersburg particularly in Ward 4. To ensure that us to increase commerce in Petersburg, we have to permit potential enterprise homeowners to hunt alternatives in our metropolis. It’s going to even be our obligation to supply assist to those companies for sustainability. My first step will probably be an ordinance or vote to encourage and improve companies in Petersburg.
Charles H. Cuthbert Jr. – Incumbent
What are your private highlights as a councilor this previous time period?
As I believe again over my first time period on Petersburg Metropolis Council, 4 highlights stand out.
1 – I helped get the Walnut Hill Hearth Station reopened, which provides major safety to Wards 2, Three and 4. The town closed this station final spring due to mould. My work demonstrates the significance I place on responding to constituent wants.
2 – I pushed to interchange the St. Andrews Road/Mingea Road Bridge. The town closed this bridge in 2006 because of superior deterioration. Since my time period started in 2017, a constructing alternative has been a significant precedence of mine. It’s going to make it faster for first responder to get to their locations and add public journey comfort.
3 – I wrote and sponsored the movement to finish discussions about promoting our Metropolis’s water system, which handed unanimously. Promoting it made no sense to me. If we had offered, Metropolis Council would have misplaced all significant management over water charges and our residents would have been obligated to pay the brand new proprietor a return on his funding.
4 – I’ve labored with metropolis employees to deal with blight in our neighborhoods. After I joined council, our property upkeep code enforcement was ineffectual. At my urging, we now have a brand new, dedicated code enforcement employees with motion plans and follow-up. And we now have outcomes.
How do you charge the efficiency of Metropolis Supervisor Aretha Ferrell-Benavides and her employees?
I salute the Metropolis Supervisor and her employees for a job effectively accomplished. For instance, I level to enhancements within the Metropolis’s monetary well being. In line with the Metropolis’s Licensed Annual Monetary Experiences, for the fiscal 12 months ending June 30, 2016, the Metropolis’s Uncommitted Fund Steadiness (consider it because the Metropolis’s “Wet Day Fund”) was unfavorable $7,728,395. In distinction, as of June 30, 2019 (the date of the most recent figures obtainable to me), this identical fund was constructive $8,060,337. That’s a swing of $15 million, from minus 7 to plus 8! The keys to the Metropolis Supervisor’s success had been hiring proficient folks and decreasing expenditures.
After all, there’s all the time room for enchancment. The Metropolis’s utility billing and collections efficiency continues to disappoint. Too typically, Metropolis employees doesn’t reply residents’ phone calls. These are critical shortcomings and I’ve introduced them to the Metropolis Supervisor’s consideration. That stated, the Metropolis Supervisor has developed plans to deal with these shortcomings. These plans embrace a brand new, less complicated billing system. I stay up for seeing the outcomes the Metropolis Supervisor’s plans promise to provide.
Is there something that Metropolis Council might have accomplished higher throughout your time to this point? What are the successes of Metropolis Council as a complete throughout your time period?
As to issues Metropolis Council might have accomplished higher, Metropolis Council has no long-term plan to form the Metropolis’s future. However who can dispute that Metropolis Council has had its palms full responding to substantial monetary challenges?
As to Metropolis Council’s successes after I turned a member of Metropolis Council, there have been many. As addressed above, Metropolis Council re-opened the Walnut Hill Hearth Station, began the method to rebuild the St. Andrews Road/Mingea Road Bridge, fought off those that needed to purchase our water system, re-animated our property upkeep code enforcement effort, and elevated our Unrestricted Fund Steadiness by thousands and thousands of {dollars}. Metropolis Council employed Ms. Ferrell-Benavides as our Metropolis Supervisor. Additionally, we employed Mr. Anthony Williams as our Metropolis Legal professional. He’s educated within the subject of municipal legislation and has made vital contributions to our Metropolis’s persevering with restoration.
What do you see as the largest points going through Petersburg?
Petersburg wants a plan to allow us to share within the financial success of our neighboring jurisdictions, whereas preserving these options that make Petersburg a novel, particular place. At current, we’re the poor man of the Appomattox River Basin. This was not all the time the case, and there’s no purpose why we are able to’t do higher.
What initiatives do you hope to introduce throughout your subsequent time period if reelected?
If reelected, I intend to see the St. Andrews Road/Mingea Road Bridge undertaking via to completion and to proceed to work to enhance the Metropolis’s funds, to combat blight, and to answer constituent wants. As well as, I’ll work with Metropolis Council and Metropolis employees to maximise the potential for increasing Petersburg’s biotechnical trade now anchored by AMPAC, thereby rising job alternatives for our residents. And I’ll encourage Metropolis Council to plot a long-term plan to revive Petersburg’s financial vitality.
Marcus Omar Squires
What prior expertise do you have got that may make you a very good match for political workplace within the Metropolis of Petersburg?
I acquired my Bachelors Diploma in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth College. My diploma has given me the data and background for public workplace by specializing in studying the legislation, learn how to write coverage, systemic considering and analysis abilities, organizational abilities, and logical analyst abilities. I used to be additionally awarded a scholarship to review overseas in Paris, France. There I attended Novancia Enterprise Faculty, the place I gained an understanding of methods and key points in new enterprise growth and operations. I used to be beforehand the president of the Richmond Sister Cities Fee; a NGO primarily based that targeted on citizen-to-citizen diplomacy around the globe. I’ve lived in Petersburg for the final 4 years and spearheaded the struggle on blight within the metropolis and proceed to be a citizen activist for the folks. I plan to make use of my experiences to convey the world to Petersburg and Petersburg to the world by specializing in group wealth constructing. My method is proactive, not reactive.
How do you charge the efficiency of Metropolis Supervisor Aretha Ferrell-Benavides and her employees?
Presently Aretha Ferrell-Benavides is just as robust as her weakest hyperlink. I perceive that I will probably be working together with her so I’ll reserve my remarks relating to her efficiency for discussions with fellow councilors. However publicly, I’ll state that we should search for expertise right here in our metropolis and cease importing mates or acquaintances from different states.
Which initiatives/votes from the present metropolis council do you assist and why? Which do you oppose and why?
I oppose the council’s choice and path to reduce citizen engagement at council conferences earlier than and through COVID-19.
I oppose how the council has not correctly protected the residents from COVID-19 by holding again PPE for political benefits and utilization, solely distributing the PPE throughout campaigning occasions.
I don’t approve of the council’s choice to maintain water shut off through the pandemic.
I oppose the council’s and town administration’s efforts to pull their toes with CARES coronavirus reduction {dollars}. They need to be utilizing these funds to help the residents with utilities, taxes, and rental assist, all allowable underneath grant provisions.
The present council and administration usually are not placing the residents of Petersburg first relating to points with poverty and employment.
I assist the initiatives to implement the code on blighted buildings. I helped facilitate the Warfare on Blight within the Metropolis of Petersburg. I lobbied my native officers to behave on blight.
Presently extra work have to be accomplished relating to blight and I hope to proceed addressing this most cancers in our metropolis.
For a lot too lengthy this present council has allowed the developer to let the previous Ramada constructing go from an eyesore to a public security challenge. The council should enact the reversion clause or compel the developer to abate this blighted constructing, at his price, together with demolition if it involves that.
I oppose the council’s choice to not convey ahead the problems relating to customer support on this metropolis and demand the Metropolis Supervisor treatment the problems in billing and collections in addition to the problems with the water payments.
I’m very involved that a number of members of our council are supporting the reopening of the landfill.
What do you see as the largest points going through Petersburg?
Crime, Faculties, Poverty, Job Creation, Billing and Monetary Points, Neighborhood Wealth Constructing Alternatives, and Well being. The shortage of continuity relating to the enforcement of rules within the metropolis, interdepartmental communication points, and the fixed excuses, that are being introduced relating to the faults of the present regime. One other set of main points may also be seen relating to infrastructure and the way forward for town jail.
If elected, what actions or ordinances would you convey earlier than council for a vote?
These are the primary actions I might pursue with council:
Including further inexpensive housing necessities geared in the direction of the advance of these residing within the models/ houses.
Creating a greater billing and collections system, together with emphasis on offering credit to residents who’ve been overcharged previously.
Quick monitoring workforce growth applications to deal with development within the pharmaceutical trade in Petersburg, concentrating on post-school age residents to make them aggressive for employment within the new well-paying jobs.
Making a Authorities Operations Council that focuses on each side of presidency in our metropolis, and critiques all departments, boards, commissions, companies, and different our bodies.
Guaranteeing, earlier than public funds are used on capital enchancment initiatives, that each one obtainable grants are sought out.
Directing town supervisor to have her employees correctly label blighted constructions and maintenance our metropolis owned property.
And too many extra to record right here with the phrase limits.
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