Newspapers / Winston-Salem chronicle. / Oct. 30, 1997, edition 1 / Page 9
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CANDIDATES froiu page AI One candidate, however, scoffed at the idea of airport jobs as a panacea for poor blacks in Greensboro. _ "Most people who need these jobs won't have transportation," noted Keith Bryant, who is chal lenging incumbent Cltiudiette Burroughs-White for the District 2 seat she has held for the past four years. According to Bryant, a self employed. recent graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, city officials will have to "work on expanding bus service to the airport"; jobs there will benefit people who live in the inner city. Bryant criticized the city council for how they previously prioritized mass transportation. Greensboro spends 15 percent of its budget on cultural recreation, but only 12 percent on transporta tion," Bryant said. He added. "We have all the best parks in the world, but we can't get people to work." Bryant suggested that the city get transportation students at his alma mater to study the matter and produce a report with recommen dations. He said the local govern ment often turns to other universities for research but has overlooked A&T in this regard. Not long ago. the city paid a consultant $70,000 for such a study. The result was the elimina tion of some routes and reduction in hours of service on others. Candidate Jim Kincaid said the increase in jobs at the airport may completely alter the results of this study and he would "make arrangements to meet the present needs." District I candidate John Harris said the problem is that the busses are running at the wrong time. "They're either too late or too early for the people who need to get back and forth from work." said Harris, who operates a small grocery story. Every day he watches the blisses go by. often with ram /?!? I\rt ^onnson i v. ? v?i 11 vr passengers. More accessible public trans portation is high ort Yvonne * v Johnson's list of priorities. Johnson, who has lived in Greensboro for 52 years and now holds an at-large seat on the city council, says she has campaigned on that issue. She echoed Bryant's suggestion that the city should have students at A&T study transporta tion. Some in the audience groaned, however, when Johnson said she would consider raising taxes, "as a last resort," to improve public transportation. Current City Council members have not ignored the need for changes in public transportation, particularly out to the airport, said Don Vaughn, an at-large incum bent who has previously enjoyed strong support at the polls from black voters. Vaughn said the city just began a $2 shuttle there. Jobs at the airport alone won't revitalize the sluggish economy of east Greensboro, contends Bryant. He noted that in the 24 years since the city first had black representa tion on its council, little has been done to generate new black-ow ned businesses. "Everyone keeps talking about jobs, jobs, jobs. If you can't create your own job, you won't survive in the future." Bryant said, explaining that entrepreneurship is,the only real way to sustain east Greensboro. "How come we can't get people to move into a business instead of mov ing into a job?" At last week's forum, candidates were also asked if they would pro pose or support any reallocation of funds for housing. The concern is that North Carolina's welfare reform pro gram, Work First, will render homeless many of those now receiving Harris rent subsi \ dies. Cooke said the key will be to help people who got into homes "maintain them and get equity out of them." Banker and one-term incum bent Keith Holliday, however, said the city cannot focus exclusively on home ownership. What's needed, he said, are "good, affordable rental units." John Key, a candidate in District 3, said affordable housing is linked to jobs. "You have to have good jobs to afford housing," he said. Ed Koch suggested that all affordable housing should not be placed in one area. He also said if elected he would create more opportunities for sweat equity as a means to acquiring a first home. The discussion on affordable housing moved into a broader dis cussion of the black community. Although incumbent mayor Carolyn Allen has had strong backing from black voters, at the forum she was accused of hot look ing out for the best interests of all neighborhoods. "Some time ago. there was a proposal for a detention center in east Greensboro. I opposed it because of its proximity to three schools," Venable said. "The mayor didn't vote against it and I consider that a blatant disregard for the community." To that. Allen humbly replied. "I'm not right all of the time." burroughs-White seized the oppor tunity to remind voters that she "took the leadership on this" and helped residents fight the proposal. Several candidates did not attend the forum. District 3 candi date Robbie Perkins, an incum 1 bent, did not come. Neither of the District 5 candidates. Sandy C a r m a n y and James r ii. aryanr riiuuncr, participated in the forum. Philip Segal, who is running for the District 4 seat, was another no-show. Black voters make up about 5 percent of that district, said his opponent, Nancy Mincello. Mincello did attend the forum, and told those in the audi ence that even though most of them would not have a chance to vote for or against her. if elected she would still represent them "Even though I would be elect ed from one district, I would repre sent the entire city." Mincello said. Also absent from the NAACP forum was Earl Jones, whom his challenger John Harris publicly described as "the 14-year incompe tent." Jones, executive director of Guilford County Community Action, has served seven terms on the Greensboro City Council rep resenting District I The majority of Greensboro's black residents live in either District 1 or District 2. District I is now repressed by Earl Jones, who is being Challenged by John Harris. Claudette Burroughs White represents District 2 and is being challenged by Keith Bryant. Residents in those districts will also cast ballots for at-large candidates. They include Don Vaughan. Keith Holliday and Robert Koch. WINSTON-SALEM DESERVES THE HIGHEST QUALITY LEADERSHIP \ / 4 ? Responsible city leadership e A place at the table for all citizens e Progressive Economic Development Program providing more and better jobs ? Strong law enforcement & tough-on-crime policy ? Establish Commission on Minority Affairs e Effective education & workforce training JACK CAVANAGH - MAYOR VOTE #14 "7 have worked hard as your Alderman and NC State Senator and now I want tojserve you as your Mayor" Paid for by the Committee to Elect Jack Cavanagh Mayor, Robert W Watson. CPA. Treasurer I Opening In November 5***** OTP A n >3 1 /YJtv Supermarket Discover The Difference of Over 80 Years of Combined Management Experience and the Enjoyment of Shopping at a Full Service Supermarket _ ?
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