Candidate Q&A: Jeff Justin
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By Times staff | Saturday, September 29, 2007 |
Office sought: Davenport, 6th Ward
What are the most significant challenges facing neighborhoods? How would you address them?
Davenport is a diverse city and I am fortunate to have been born and raised here. We have areas of the city that are very safe and have excellent infrastructure, while there are other areas that need focused attention on these issues. Public safety is our first responsibility, and I am a member of the Hazard Mitigation Advisory Committee, the Emergency Management Accreditation Committee, and provided input to the Fire Department Accreditation and police chief hiring process. As stated in my candidate announcement, we must continue to focus on crime, infrastructure and fiscal responsibility. With the limited resources and variety of demands placed on local government, the City of Davenport, particularly the City Council, needs to set priorities for neighborhood enhancement, work together in a civil manner, and focus on including citizens and community stakeholders in achieving these priorities. Sound and efficient basic services, a solid capital investment plan to maintain and improve what we have, and innovative partnerships with our stakeholders to expand our tax base and grow our community are key to addressing the challenges facing neighborhoods. I feel that my civic involvement and position as Davenport community contact volunteer for my employer provide an excellent background for me to work with members of the council as we address these neighborhood challenges.
What's most important, providing basic services or adding amenities for residents and visitors? What approach would you take?
Providing basic services is a core function of city government and our citizens expect us to deliver those services efficiently. We have made good progress in that area. According to city staff, crime has trended downward in the last five years, and the police department is at its highest total and sworn strength in history. I attended the public input session for the new police chief, and attended the grand opening of our new police station to learn more about our public safety opportunities. In addition, we have developed volunteer programs, improved technology, and received state accreditation for our efforts. Other basic services continue to improve, and focused operation/maintenance and capital budgeting will continue the improvements that our citizens expect and deserve.
Providing amenities for residents and visitors is also important, as long as we can afford to do so. We should take advantage of state and federal incentives to help us fund amenities, and include citizens and community stakeholders in the decision making process. The RiverVision plan was created with public input to take advantage of our unique relationship to the river. I attended many input sessions, and feel we have the best riverfront in the Midwest. We should continue to work on implementing this plan, as well as provide other amenities within budget that our citizens desire.
What are the city's most important infrastructure needs?
We must address street and sewer problems and aging infrastructure in our city. We need a solid capital investment plan to maintain and improve what we have. Our citizens deserve a sewer system that is operational, and city streets and alleys that we can drive on. These needs vary from ward to ward and I will work with the council to develop a plan to address these needs. The West Side Tunnel is an opportunity to develop more than a third of Davenport's land area and build tax base to fund basic services. We should work aggressively to find funding sources for this capital improvement project to create jobs for our citizens. In addition, we must complete the rail spur project to our Industrial Park for the same reason. The Northwest Boulevard resurfacing project that will begin shortly is another project that will improve one of our entryways to the city. The council must work together in a civil manner to set priorities, and work with community stakeholders in a progressive and aggressive way to achieve the growth in tax base needed to fund our infrastructure needs.
How would you approach economic development?
One of the main reasons that I announced my candidacy for 6th Ward alderman was to help in this area. Council Bluffs recently announced a $600 million investment by the Internet search engine company Google that will create hundreds of high-paying jobs. In addition, other major cities in Iowa continue to show progress in economic development. Davenport must improve in this area. For a company to invest millions of dollars in a community, they expect city leaders to work together, and to conduct city business with integrity, maturity and intelligence. We must build relationships with state and federal entities and be progressive and aggressive in our approach to grow our tax base. Economic development is the way to fund our needs, not by raising the taxes of homeowners. I will work with existing businesses to help them reach their desired potential, and be aggressive in the pursuit of companies that offer good jobs and benefits to our citizens.
Does the city have enough police officers? Are they deployed properly? What is the council's role in promoting public safety?
Public safety is the council's main responsibility. We have a great police force and must provide them with the tools and equipment to do their jobs. We must also ensure that our officers are doing their core function, keeping our streets safe, and are not forced to do administrative tasks due to staffing issues. I attended the public input session for the new police chief to gather information about the hiring process, and toured the new police facility. I'm encouraged by the increased role of citizens in public safety, and the leadership role that our officers have taken in promoting community policing. The department developed a volunteer program and is the largest accredited department in the state. In my discussions with officers, resource management technology may provide additional support for our officers. We should evaluate opportunities in this area to eliminate multiple data entry requirements and bring transparency to the dispatch and booking processes. Consolidated dispatch is another example of forward-thinking approaches to the police function. I am anxious to work with police staff to determine the staffing and deployment needs, and to provide the support for our officers.
How would you handle situations in which you disagree with another council member or members? Does it matter?
The conduct of council members is a direct reflection on the people that elect them. It is extremely important. In any decision-making process there is bound to be disagreement. I personally feel that the more diverse the inputs in a decision-making process, the better the output. We must govern with integrity, maturity and intelligence, and appreciate the opinions of other council members. In some situations, the council has exhibited a confrontational style that has alienated prospective businesses and the key community partners who make significant investments in our community. We must do better. The council must focus on specific objectives, work together in a civil manner, and include citizens and community stakeholders in the decision making process. Davenport deserves professional conduct from elected officials.
Should the Isle of Capri take over the RiverCenter South? If not, what should the city encourage the Isle to do?
The Isle of Capri must show a commitment to Davenport, and partner with us so we are both successful. I don't think leasing the RiverCenter South will accomplish this. In addition, I attended two public input sessions where this topic was discussed, and public input was not in favor of the move. The Isle must determine what area of the city provides the best location for their success, and the city must determine if that location is in the best interest of our citizens. What is most important is a financial commitment to our city's future, just like any other potential business venture. If the Isle would like to stay downtown, are they willing to partner with our existing convention businesses to increase their business? Will staying downtown provide the increase in downtown foot traffic that is lacking in the current situation? Is the projected increase in revenue from a downtown location from an increase in gaming receipts per person, or from more people visiting the new downtown location? Will they promote a downtown destination and partner with the Adler, River Music Experience, Figge, Blackhawk and the many other attractions that are we have to offer? I look forward to open and honest discussions with Isle officials as they decide if they are committed to Davenport's future.
What is your vision for Davenport?
Davenport is a great city and I am glad that I had the opportunity to stay here. I see Davenport as a city with great potential and endless opportunities. We have a beautiful riverfront, good schools and citizens who are engaged and care about our future. We must capitalize on our diversity, and work together to achieve the growth in our tax base necessary to fund our future needs. We must be active in promoting a safe community and work with neighborhood groups and law enforcement personnel to accomplish this. We must welcome new business and assist existing business so they have an opportunity grow. We must support our heritage, including the Village of East Davenport as they create the shopping destination of the Midwest. We must continue to support our downtown and take advantage of our investment there. We must evaluate our processes and procedures to eliminate barriers to growth, and provide city staff with clear direction so they have an opportunity to successfully implement out plan. We must be responsive to our citizens and become better listeners. No great idea entered the mind through an open mouth. We must be fiscally responsible, run the city as a business with a qualified board of directors and a competent staff, and we must have professionalism in leadership. Davenport is my hometown, and I'm anxious to use my education and business experience to implement our vision for the future.
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