My Focus

Jobs, Economy and the Budget Defecit

My goal as Mayor will be to bolster inner city commerce and improve the economic conditions while creating jobs. I will also return stability to the city budget by eliminating the city's budget defecit by doing the following:

1) Immediately take a 58% pay cut in my yearly salary as Mayor

2) Providing all new businesses started within the City of Flint with a 100% tax break for 5-10 years to encourage entrepreneurs to open businesses within the city

3) Promote self-sustainability by bringing intentional "green" communities guided by the Flint Urban EcoVillage to Flint that will teach on how to live healthier, more energy efficient lifestyles while utilizing locally grown vegitation within these intentional communities to create businesses and essentially, much needed jobs and wealth

4) Require a 10% budget cut in every non-essential city department

5) Utilize the Emergency Managers bill and the powers it grants to emergency managers to strip all city unions (with the exception of the Police and Fire Fighters union) of all paid overtime

6) Lower city taxes by analyzing and reviewing the current city budget and cutting spending on programs that are not essential to the operation of government and economic stabilization. The current administration has demononstrated that they plan to 'solve' Flint's problems by increasing taxes and taking money away from families that simply dont have the extra money to pitch towards excessively higher taxes. Higher taxes are not necessary if the city budget is responsibly and properly managed.

Public Safety

Fire Prevention- To supplement for the shortage in fire fighters as an immediate fix to our problem, I plan to open a volunteer fire department for all qualified Flint citizens who wish to join. Volunteers part of this new department will also be allowed future employment opportunities.

Crime Prevention- The need for more police officers on the street is an absolute MUST for the prevention of crime. My economic plan will make it economically viable to stop the trend of laying off police officers and allowing for the rehire of those already laid off, but that alone does not solve Flint's crime problem. The reopening of the city jail is also a necessary measure to effective law enforcement.

Education

Education is an issue that affects us all.  In today’s highly competitive job market, more and more emphasis is being put on hiring the most educated individuals.  In Flint’s job market, having a college education, high school diploma, or even a GED is crucial to making yourself employable.  It is becoming increasingly hard to obtain a job in Flint as the job market continues to wane.  With so few available jobs available and over 34,000 unemployed people all applying to get the same jobs, the environment has turned to be a “survival of the fittest”, and whoever possesses the highest education, has more experience and the best skills, will get the job.

For our children, why set them up for failure?  Our children are our future, the city’s future, and it is our duty and responsibility to provide the best education we have to offer and give them every opportunity there is to obtain a good education, right up through college.  It is also our duty and responsibility to motivate the students that feel as if they cant get a head in school or in life.  We must show them the true value of an education and the rewards possessing one brings.  We must mentor and push our students to give their all in school and to do well not just so that they may obtain a good education, but so that they may have the satisfaction of knowing that they are on the path to life success and closer to fulfilling their hopes and dreams.

To ensure that our children grades K-12 are provided with the best possible education and are prepared for the 21st Century workforce, my goal is to put a laptop computer in the hands of every Flint middle school and high school student and modernize our classrooms to utilize both online and formal teaching methods. No child should ever be left behind, and with modern 21st century technology aiding in the learning and development of our youth, no child will be left behind.

The youth are the future of Flint and we have an obligation to provide them with every possible tool to succeed. It's time we put the emphasis back on the education and our youth!

Youth Education and Community Activism Initiatives
Student Scholarship Program Initiative #1
Youth Activism Recognition Program