MEMPHIS, Tenn. - We asked our viewers to call in with what they want to see from their elected council people to improve their communities and the city overall. We took your questions to the candidates vying for your vote, and here is how District 4 candidate, George Walker, answered.
From street litter to blighted properties, many of the concerns we heard overwhelmingly dealt with cleaning up their neighborhoods. Many callers complained about overgrown lots as a haven for vermin and crime. What can you do to make owners of abandoned properties responsible for cleaning them up?
In recent years the problems of blight and neighborhood with overgrown weeds, trees and property have plagued the city of Memphis. The appropriate solutions would be to work on several programs that help Memphians understand city beautiful meaning by educating property owners and community residents. Next offer incentives that help students and others in the community to ban together for cleaner and renewed areas of the city. And finally work closely with city beautiful for month nominations of clean and beautiful years and landscapes (which will also be offered to business in District 4). Making the owners responsible by though subjective penalties through education and fines that should be strictly enforces with counteract some the problems with clean up and abandonment.
What about keeping streets clean? Several viewers stated that they try to maintain their neighborhoods, but the city rarely sends sweepers to clean up the litter.
Working closely with government and city contractors will help ease the tension of city cleaning personnel. Recent problems with budget and garbage collectors have made the stressors seen and heard causing widespread filth in district 4 and other community. Use a program like operation Clean sweep in specific area of the district that will help control trash and other unwanted trash that convent the local neighborhoods. Use community leaders in the designated area to soliate volunteers and youth that need community service hours to pick up trash using a city worker (collector of trash pick-up) to get the areas cleaned on a Saturday. It is also a GREAT community service for several of the local churches in the area.
Of course, voters are worried about jobs. A report by the U.S. Census calls Memphis the poorest large city in the country, citing loss of jobs and lack of education. What plans do you have to boost jobs in your district?
Working with other leaders and people wanting to bring ideas to the table would greatly increase the power of district 4. Actively pursuing grant writers, small business owners, and others the district 4 is an excellent hiring point or starting point for their business to grow and create better job opportunities.
How do you see the merger of Memphis and Shelby County Schools affecting your district?
Currently, there are 35 emerging schools in district 4 which will create a demanding and definite impact on the system merger. Clearly drawing lines with funding, programs and imitative should be discussed in forums where community members should be involved. Understanding all the rules, regulations, and guidelines also stand to be a test not measured by only me as councilman. Creating a community team of educators, parents and business professionals would also help the pulse of district 4 heard and active in this change. Community representation is going be a large part of the by-in process which councilman and other leaders will have to understand in moving forward with educational changes in District 4.
What issues do you feel are unique to your district, and how do you plan to address them?
District 4 is a close rooted area of the city with Orange Mound being it focal point and Melrose High School bringing others to the area through business activity, civic organizations, Neighborhood Associations, and Community Awareness makes it a unique point and stand out. The change needed to combat the issues would be involvement in schools, diversified leaders for change in crime, blight and organized services that would help the community branch out with through education, business and technology. Each aspect of these elements is unique due to the fresh perspective the Walker campaign can bring. The plans for this promising candidate would be ensure the thoughts, ideas, and issues of the community are met and challenged as needed. It is not my office but the office of district 4, creating an open door policy for in need.
If you are elected to the city council, what's going to be your first priority for your district?
There are so many issues plaguing our district: blight, crime and business morale going down. I think our incumbent is out of touch with the community and government. If elected I would focus on bringing more jobs to the district, which would also help reduce crime and blight. If you get strong businesses, they will set goals and work for a better community. With
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