candidate for
If elected, I would see that the mandate for department of code enforcement was changed. They currently seem more focused on who hasn’t mowed their lawns in a timely manner rather than whose yard is over flowing with debris, buildings with broken windows, burnt to the ground structures still in piles of rubble with no point of action being taken to rectify the situation. Store fronts with broken windows missing and ply wood installed, sidewalks blocked because the building their in front of us is loosing glass tiles, vacant store fronts, businesses and homes that need a coat of paint or some wood working and bricks fixed or replaced. So many would rather let a building rot and then tear it down over refurbishing it and keeping it as part of the city’s landscape. Code enforcement fines for violators should be stronger. Then let’s work with the business and home owner to accomplish great things. This is where neighbors helping neighbors and where the non profits can help build up a city. Home can be worked on kind of like a habitat to humanity deal, repaint / repair the exterior, freshen the yard, clean up the yard, volunteer hours, Scouts, youth groups, work day of actually doing things. Wards can submit likely projects and with home owners and non profits assisting logistics, and championing. The homes could be made to be fantastic and owners would have pride in ownership once more. New products wouldn’t need to be primarily purchased everyone has some kind of handy man project with supplies they over-bought. Volunteer time and materials. If the owner is out of town and neglectful let’s get them to be a better owner for the sake of our city and the residents herein.
Is this a question of a need for more affordable single family homes, apartments or section 8 housing? There is a lot to this question not being asked. It is difficult to conjure up affordable housing when the prime is 3.5% , overall inflation is at 8.5% or more and growing, individual items see price increases daily. People are eliminated non essential cost items from their budgets to afford fuel and food. Housing is typically 1/3 of a persons income, roughly 30%, this has been the standard for years and I imagine it will be for years to come. It is not going to be popular to say; however it is not governments job or responsibility to provide people with affordable housing. There’s nothing in the Bill of Rights about it either, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness not affordable housing. We have the liberty in this Republic to spend more or less than the standard on our housing, freedom to rent, to buy to say yes or no to a cost. Living with in a budget doesn’t mean the local government is responsible to help create a housing budget for you. I believe people have the freedom to exercise their choices and need to do so more Sometimes freedom involves saying no to something not with in a budget, something not affordable.
If elected; I’d like to eliminate much of the red tape small business must muddle thru to even consider opening a business. Example, one small business needed a flood plan, drawings and so much other stuff, environmental studies that would have cost thousands. He went back and forth of what he would need to do, he’d agree and then what he would need to do was changed on him by the City. Ultimately he did have to provide plans and have them stamped by a KY engineer to the tune of $2,000.00. He wasted time, resources and almost wasn’t able to actually open for business and when he did his business was so delayed in opening that his first few weeks of being open was during the later half of the year and all the year end holidays. The City needs to be champion of small business. Encourage small businesses to open, promote them, again the use of social media is a powerful tool and promoting in social media posts is a zero cost item. Be it a soap business downtown or a popcorn business on the Blvd. champion small business and their owners. As I live and breathe I see a lot of businesses advertising they’re hiring. I speak to some employees; (major food chains) staff interviews people and never seems to hire anyone new, why? Senior staff member didn’t know. Businesses are closed for supper hour due to staff shortages. Business offer higher wages yet no one is hired. Maybe it’s NOT always the business’ fault. Many people are without focus or drive and perhaps with out the guidance to see what they could be doing for a career and not just a job. We have job fairs. I’ve been to many in my working career. I don’t know if they actually work. Non profits government and business leaders need to be invited (sometimes you have to invite yourself) into the schools to talk careers and life with children in middle and high school. If they don’t plan ahead. They’ll have no head for a plan. It’s a community involved issue.
There is a lot more to this question, I heard the chief of police talk about cameras around town and how one was used to catch an out of state criminal that's well and good. I'm glad. However; it was the same week or the week prior we had several shootings resulting in death(s). I heard the police chief say he has 71 staff, the ability to hire more. Hiring of the more doesn't seem to be what's at issue. I believe we need the ones we have to out on the street, on the sidewalk patrolling, in the community a part of the community, not apart from the community. We need more than 1 patrol car each shift patrolling our city. We need the safety patrol officers to be active, not actively sitting at the edge of town awaiting a call. Police should and need to be visible. Enlist a community outreach cash/gift card for guns. These types of programs used to eliminate the illegal weapons from the streets have garnered support and shown themselves useful. Be tough on crime and the criminals. Be kind and compassionate to those in distress and need and law abiding citizens. I had interaction with a woman trying to commit suicide, in turn I had interaction with a couple of officers from HPD; one responding officer didn't want to give me the time of day. I approached him to apprise him of the situation he demanded I get back in my car, another officer on the scene, wanted to know what compelled us to stop and offer assistance and talk to this woman, we told him we had share Jesus loves her, we love her and her life has value. He said he wished more were more people like us. I said me too!
Sunday alcohol sales, won’t make everyone a raging alcoholic and I am pleased to see the current city council getting to the matter at hand. It seems most agree on it. Some don’t see the light. We also have many businesses, mainly small businesses who are only open Wednesday thru Saturday or Sunday because the business next to them has the same hours. This makes sense when one business is open on a block and no one else business is slow or non existent. So shops open collectively on the same days. Customers also know the shops are all open those days as well. Hosting a meeting of the downtown business to the city council chambers to hammer out a plan. (Not a luncheon or a supper) a real working meeting. What can we the city do to help the downtown businesses? All the businesses would need to work together to be open on day they’re normally closed, and the city needs to be their biggest social media promoter. Hyping it up on socials isn’t a cost item. To anyone. We are all on social media. Hourly. If not minute by minute. We need to find a business for a drawing in of families, young adults, singles, dads and moms, marrieds. All of the people. Not an eatery or a boutique. How about a selfie studio, bring your craft project make it here and leave the mess, paint and sip. Just paint and sip your own beverage or eat your own snack. No shopping. Regular hours of fun and affordability. I have spoken to many families who biggest issue is there is not much to do with my family in this city besides eat. We need to help facilitate a change with that issue.
Stop the wasteful spending. The police chief and second in command, all the police officers and first responders as an acceptance of employment be required to live within the city of Hopkinsville or with in 10 miles of their place of business. Enough of paying the city’s police to drive police cars home at taxpayer cost. Some officers drive more than 50 miles ones way. If you’re going to defend, protect and serve our wonderful city, then you should also support, love and live within our city. As a candidate for city council ward 9. I’m required to live IN my ward for which I’m running. Employees vital to the city of Hopkinsville should also be required to live IN or near the city which they serve and protect. I have more; however, I was told to be brief.
