City Council Candidate Questionnaire-- Joel Landau, At-Large

I have received a questionnaire response from Joel Landau, who is running for an at-large seat.  I appreciate his taking the time to complete and return the questionnaire.  The following are his responses, unfiltered:

1. What do you regard as the single most important function or purpose of local government?

Public safety.  To me this includes fire and police protection, clean and reliable drinking water and safe disposal of waste.

2. What would be your specific plan or approach to attract new employers, and retain exist employers, in the City of Greensboro?

Foster a business-friendly atmosphere. 

Simplify bureaucratic procedures; have one staff person who can guide businesses through the regulatory process, and help resolve conflicts.

Maintain a high quality of life, to make Greensboro attractive to business owners, help them attract key employees and entice college grads to stay here.

Keep tax rates low, or at least moderate.

Have sufficient infrastructure in place, including a trained work force.

3. What would be your specific plan to reduce crime in the City of Greensboro?

Fund the police unit dedicated to combating gang activity.

Fund additional police officers as needed.

Emphasize community policing.

Work with schools, recreation centers, libraries, churches and other groups to provide positive supervised activities for youth. 

Provide support services for Neighborhood Watch programs.

Have job-training programs for displaced workers and other unemployed.

Increase the local minimum wage so more people can earn enough to meet basic needs for themselves and their families. 

4. Would you ever vote in favor of a tax increase?  Yes.  My first choice would be a tax decrease, secondly no change in the tax rate, and last would be a tax increase if I considered it necessary to balance the budget as required by state law. 

5. Are your going to seek or accept the endorsement of the Simkins PAC? Yes.

6. Are you going to seek and accept the support of TREBIC? No.

7. Do you support same-sex domestic partner benefits for city employees?

Yes, providing we have legitimate criteria for determining eligibility.

8.   What would be your specific plan to clean up the Greensboro Police Department?

Make it clear that we will not tolerate discriminatory or unprofessional conduct by any member of the Department.

Give full support to Chief Bellamy.  He is new and deserves time to realign the department.

My reaction:

I want to thank Mr. Landau for participating and for providing thoughtful responses.

His response to the first question is better than most, but provides a very broad definition of public safety.

His response to the second question regarding the process of attracting and retaining employers is good.  He does not specifically address incentives.  He mentions maintaining a high "quality of life" which at times can mean increased spending.

His approach to reducing crime includes a mix of emphasizing preventive approaches and enhanced police protection.  But raising the local minimum wage could adversely affect some small employers, and young people looking for work.

He leaves an opening to raise taxes, but says he prefers to reduce them.  His proposals in other parts of the questionnaire have the potential to increase spending, if adopted.

It is unfortunate that he is seeking the Simkins endorsement;  but interestingly, he will not seek support from TREBIC.  I personally disagree with his support of domestic partner benefits.

His approach to the police department includes the status quo, but also the following proviso: not tolerating unprofessional conduct.

Mr. Landau provides an interesting mix of positions.  Comparing the various candidates in the at-large field is a bit complicated.

 

The remainder of the questionnaire results may be found by clicking "Council Candidates" below, or at the top of the right column; and links to the questionnaire results may also be found by going to this web page.

Comments

[David Hoggard]

Joe,

I've been keeping up with these questionaires and thank you for taking the time to compile them.

I have noticed that to your "domestic partner" question, all of the candidates have answered that they support them in one form or another. Also, we already have them in place for the most part.

Are you looking for a candidate that will repeal this city policy? Or just one that doesn't support it or its expansion?

[Joe Guarino]

David, I think if you go back over the questionnaires, you will find some candidates who oppose domestic partner benefits.

The question, as written, was to elicit support or non-support. At the time the questionnaire was prepared, many of us were unaware that Mitchell Johnson had changed this policy and instituted domestic partner benefits. There was some coverage last year in Yes Weekly about this change being considered; but when the policy change was actually instituted, it seems many of us missed any prominent coverage of the issue.

I would like to see a city council gutsy enough to initiate repealing it. But in practical terms, that person would risk getting pilloried mercilessly.