I have received a questionnaire response from Marikay Abuzuaiter, who is running for an at-large position on the City Council. I appreciate her participation. Her responses follow:
1) What, in your opinion, is the single most important activity
in which municipal government engages? To give clear direction to the City Manager in order to have our city
supply its residents with appropriate and adequate services through efficient
and conservative use of our taxpayer revenues.
2) Do you favor taxpayer money being used to provide incentives for private real estate development? I would entertain the idea of incentives for infill development and "green" building development which would help create jobs.
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? We must find a way to build trust between our city government and all
departments which have been caught up in this controversy.
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? I prefer infill development.
5) Do you favor markedly expanding the usage of the White Street
Landfill for residential trash to save taxpayers' money? No - I believe we could have already had a solution to the landfill
problem. There are too many residents who reside near the landfill who have
concerns about health problems. I would like to see the Guilford County Health
Dept. complete the proposed survey of residents in the area of the
landfill.
6) Will you seek or accept the endorsement of the Simkins PAC? I have not sought the Simpkins PAC endorsement but welcome the
opportunity to be endorsed and have interviewed with them as have the other
candidates.
7) Will you seek or accept the endorsement of TREBIC-affiliated
organizations? I have not sought the TREBIC endorsement but welcome the opportunity to
be endorsed and have interviewed with them as have the other candidates.
8) What would you do to attract more employers to the city of
Greensboro? What would you not do to attract more
employers? I would do my best to promote Greensboro in a positive manner and would
hope that I could be instrumental in attaining this goal. Greensboro has so many
wonderful assets to promote for potential businesses to open and/or relocate
here. Our potential as a transportation hub could be a major attraction to many
businesses along with our quality of life with parks and recreation facilities
and cultural arts programs which could entice more families to want to relocate
to Greensboro.
9) Would you ever vote in favor of increasing taxes for Greensboro
residents? Not at this time. I believe we can operate our departments more
efficiently and can avoid raising taxes.
10) Would you ever vote in favor of increasing fees for Greensboro
residents? Not at this time - I believe the fees we impose on our businesses and
taxpayers are sometimes detrimental to our attracting new businesses and
retaining our current business.
11) What measures would you favor to limit the cost of benefits provided
for city employees? I believe we could limit the costs of benefits for city employees by
negotiating the costs with the providers or having those providers submit bids
for the services to get the most benefits for the lowest cost.
12) Do you support adding more police officers to the GPD? If so, how
many? Of course! Currently we have a need for about 150 more officers. At
the current rate we are not really adding to our police force. By the time a
recruiting class graduates there are many officers in the department who are
reaching retirement and many others are resigning or deciding to relocate.
13) Do you support bringing the police chief under the control of the City
Council? Not at this time.
14) Do you think our libraries' computers should be filtered to protect
young people? I believe our libraries' computers should be filtered and should supply
our youth with age-appropriate information.
15) Do you favor expanding mass transportation services in the city of
Greensboro? Yes. We have several new areas we have just annexed into Greensboro
and we are unable to supply them with mass transportation.
16) What approaches do you think the police department should employ to
decrease crime in our city? I believe we need more Community Resource Teams and Officers. When
officers are able to be in neighborhoods and educate the public on crime
prevention (i.e. community watch programs) there is always a drop in crime in
those areas.
17) Do you favor or oppose the city planning department merging with the
county planning department? Favor.
18) What types of projects should be funded through bonds for economic
development, and what types of projects should not be
supported? I am a strong proponent of infill development and believe that there
should be some use of the economic development bonds for this use. I do not, at
this time, have a specific answer for what kinds of projects should NOT be
supported for bonds.
19) Do you favor proposing bonds to fund capital costs, or do you favor
pay-as-you-go? Bonds for capital projects.
20) Do you favor giving special, increased standing to Action Greensboro
and/or the Greensboro Partnership in the formulation of policy
decisions? I believe that formulation of policy decisions is the City Council's
responsbility although input should always be brought "to the table" with
consideration given to all those affected.
21) Do you support bringing the city attorney under the control of the
City Council? Not at this time, but I would not rule it out. Currently the City
Council's only "employee" is the City Manager.
22) Do you favor providing taxpayer money to Action Greensboro or the
Greensboro Partnership? I believe that any taxpayer money given to any group must be seriously
considered and weighed with all pros and cons before it is automatically
given.
Comments