1. Please describe your educational and professional background and how it has prepared you to serve on the City Council.
While attending City College High School, I co-founded a youth Organization that focused on empowering youth and improving the community. Subsequently, I obtained a masters degree in Business Administration, which helped me gain leadership and managerial experience to better serve my community.
2. Why do you want to serve on the council? What would your top priorities be if you are elected?
I want to help create legislation that will restore pride, beauty and safe and healthy neighborhoods to Baltimore City. My top priorities would be: To implement more youth and family oriented programs. Restore vacant and blighted properties and restore safe and clean neighborhoods back to Baltimore.
3. Do you support Baltimore's current crime-fighting strategy? What changes, if any, would you advocate for to improve public safety in the city?
(1) No, I do not. (2) I would advocate bringing Baltimore City's Police Force/Dept. "up-to-date" and making the police force more visible to regain the residents of Baltimore's trust.
4. Do you support the recent reforms in the Baltimore City school system? Do you believe any changes are needed in the schools' governance structure (such as direct mayoral control or an elected school board)?
Yes I do. Yes, I believe that legislation should be put in place to encourage 100% parental involvement and standardization for reducing class sizes.
5. How would you address the city's backlog in school maintenance and renovations, estimated to be as much as $2 billion?
I would encourage faith-based organizations, small businesses and investors to volunteer and contribute financially towards educational funding. Also, encourage inmates and interns to help carry out renovation projects, resulting in cost effectiveness.
6. Property taxes have become a major issue in this year's election. Do you believe the city's tax rate needs to be cut? If so, by how much, and what steps would you take to keep the city's budget in balance while lowering the rate?
Yes I do. I believe cutting it by 40%, over a 5 yr. term would work. Also, increasing the property tax on vacant and abandoned properties, but keeping the commercial property tax rate the same, should offset some of the costs.
7. The city has faced large budget shortfalls in recent years. If that trend continues, what top priorities would you protect from cuts? In what areas would you pursue spending reductions?
Education, law enforcement and fire departments should not be cut. I would pursue spending reductions via furlough and freezing or cutting job positions that are no longer a necessity for the growth of the city, resulting in a leaner, but stronger government.
8. Baltimore has lost tens of thousands of jobs in the last decade. What would you do to encourage economic development and provide employment opportunities for city residents?
I would provide entrepreneurial incentive classes and provide career training programs to increase the city's employment rate. I would encourage the increase of local job positions for local residents.