ISSUES

Public Safety

Ward 7 has not seen the crime decreases seen in other parts of the city. Auto break-ins, murders, sexual assaults, and assault with a deadly weapon statistics have remained steady since 2003. I will work with the Metro Police Department to make sure there are more officers on our streets. Dark streets create a potential crime hazard for people waiting for public transportation and walking throughout the Ward. As your council member I will work with the Department of Works to fix dim streetlights and remove overgrown trees that could be potential crime hazards.

School Zone Traffic Safety

Through Ward 7 we have had far too many children accidentally hit walking to and from school. Once elected I will draft legislation that would require speed humps near all D.C. schools.

Non-Violent Offender Community Service

Once elected I will draft legislation that will require non-violent juvenile offenders to do mandatory community service. Doing community service allows youths to put back into the communities they have taken away from. Also, I will coordinate non-profit and faith-based groups to design activities for youth to keep them off the streets.

Education

I believe school principals and teachers have the best insight into solving the problems in the Districts education system. I will work with our school superintendent and mayor to give principals more management authority in their own schools. Giving principles more authority removes government bureaucracy and allows them to make faster decisions on the ground level. I would also let principals have more control over teacher hiring, rewarding, and retraining decisions. Finally, I would allow principals to seek private and non-profit contributions for their own schools in addition to government funding.

Ethics

I believe that all monopolies are suspect to corruption. The district government is seldom held accountable for its actions and sometimes unethical behavior. A true multiple party system makes sure that the promises we make our citizens are kept and that the council is working with its citizens best interest in mind.

Council Ethics Reform

Once elected I will draft legislation that will band council members and their staff for receiving gifts from lobbyist and make council member pay their own parking tickets.

Council Compensation Resident Approval

Once elected I will draft legislation that requires any council pay raise over cost-or living be decided by the voters during elections. This act would also repeal law that states that the council chair has to make ten thousand dollars less a year than the mayor.

Community Development

The city has the responsibility to prepare its graduates to compete in one of the most competitive job markets in the country. As councilman I will implement a youth “internship” program that prepares young residents to be competitive in today’s global economy. This program would arrange summer internship opportunities for eligible high school students who are interested in pursing blue and white-collar careers. D.C. youth will be able to establish relationships with private sector businesses, which will encourage more D.C. youths to start businesses of their own.

Advisory Neighbor Commissioners (ANC)

I believe Councilmembers should have open relationships with their ANC Commissioners. Once elected I will communicate with ANC Commissioners at least bi-weekly on issues facing Ward 7.

Economic Development

Lower taxes allow residences to keep more of their earnings so "all" citizens can afford to keep up with the rising cost of housing in the Ward. Lowering taxes will also allow more citizens to invest what they earn so they can retire in the district if they choose to. Lower taxes also lets small and minority business owners operate and expand in the district, which will create more jobs.

Fair Act (Congressional Voting Rights)

The district currently holds no voting power in Congress but district residents pay equal federal taxes. Having two parties lobbying for voting rights would be beneficial for all city residents.