I have received a questionnaire response from Ms. Nettie Coad, who is running for a Greensboro city council seat in district 2. I appreciate her participation. Her responses are as follows:
1. What, in your opinion, is the single most important activity in which municipal government engages? Serve the community.
2. Do you favor taxpayer money being used to provide incentives for private real estate development? Yes, in some cases. Particularly for non-profits.
3. What actions do you believe are necessary to correct the wrongs our city government committed during late 2005 and thereafter with its response to the Police Department controversy? The truth must come out. How can we correct something if we don't know the truth of what happened?
4. Which pattern of development do you prefer for the city of Greensboro's future-- higher levels of density with infill, or a more suburban pattern? Higher levels of density.
5. Do you favor markedly expanding the usage of the White Street Landfill for residential trash to save taxpayers' money? No. I favor supporting the quality of life for the citizens in the area.
6. Will you seek or accept the endorsement of the Simkins PAC? Yes.
7. Will you seek or accept the endorsement of TREBIC-affiliated organizations? Yes. I will work with all people.
8. What would you do to attract more employers to the city of Greensboro? Clean up neighborhoods. Improve roads.
What would you not do to attract more employers? I would not engage in any "backdoor" deals.
9. Would you ever vote in favor of increasing taxes for Greensboro residents? Yes. It would depend on the needs of the city.
10. Would you ever vote in favor of increasing fees for Greensboro
residents? Yes. I would have to examine the policies.
11. What measures would you favor to limit the cost of benefits provided for city employees? I would not reward inefficient service.
12. Do you support adding more police officers to the GPD? If so, how many? I support examining the current use of officers and where there are needs and gaps before making decisions.
13. Do you support bringing the police chief under the control of the City Council? Given the sensitivity of the issue, I think there would need to be detailed discussion. However, I don't believe this is what the Council is for.
14. Do you think our libraries' computers should be filtered to protect young people? Yes, some should be filtered for exclusive use by young people.
15. Do you favor expanding mass transportation services in the city of Greensboro? Yes. Expanded mass transportation would reduce parking needs and traffic jams for starters.
16. What approaches do you think the police department should employ to decrease crime in our city? I don't believe that jail is a deterrent for crime. There needs to be increased engagement and dialogue about what we are currently doing.
17. Do you favor or oppose the city planning department merging with the county planning department? I need to continue to study this issue as does the city and county.
18. What types of projects should be funded through bonds for economic
development, and what types of projects should not be
supported? The benefits to the city would need to be extensively reviewed before
determining if a project should be funded through bonds.
19. Do you favor proposing bonds to fund capital costs, or do you favor pay-as-you-go? Again, the investment gains for the city as a whole would need to be considered.
20. Do you favor giving special, increased standing to Action Greensboro and/or the Greensboro Partnership in the formulation of policy decisions? Both have done great things for the city. I think they should continue to adhere to existing policies.
21. Do you support bringing the city attorney under the control of the City Council? This would need further study, but I don't think the Council should be micromanaging.
22. Do you favor providing taxpayer money to Action Greensboro or the Greensboro Partnership? It would depend on the project, but I would consider it. There have been successful and beneficial ventures funded this way in the past.
Ms. Coad give the most sensible answer I've seen yet on the question of library computer filtering.
Posted by: Roch101 | August 20, 2009 at 02:14 PM
Seriously.
Posted by: brandonB | August 20, 2009 at 04:32 PM
So what's the definition of "young people"?
Who determines that?
Who enforces it?
Who checks IDs?
Posted by: bubba | August 20, 2009 at 05:59 PM
I don't think id checking would be neccessary. There could be some computers in the children's section where parents know the kids are less likely to come across inappropriate websites.
Posted by: brandonB | August 22, 2009 at 12:34 AM
Oh yeah, I wanted to mention, Dan Fischer suggested the same idea in his questionnaire.
Posted by: brandonB | August 22, 2009 at 12:35 AM