I believe I can offer
the District refreshing leadership which puts the voices of working folks first.
Under Mayor Williams we've had our only Public Hospital closed down, an overpriced
convention center built, massive gentrification, and more recently the choice
to build a publicly financed baseball stadium. Meanwhile, our most important
social systems -- education, healthcare, childcare, housing and shelter, and
job training -- have all been purposely under-funded and under-valued. The result...
massive migration of longtime Black and Latino District residents away from
their homes for many generations to places like Prince Georges county. It's
time we undo the damage done by Williams and the policies of the City Council
over the past decade. I can help you with this lofty endeavor if you elect me
Mayor. 1) Does
it help long-time working-class DC families? If the
answer isn't YES to all of the above, it would not be considered a worth while
venture that an Otten administration could entertain. 1)
Educational and Economic Stewardship The priorities
of city leadership over the past decade have been questionable
at best. Baseball has taken priority over education -- step
into our schools for a moment. How about our libraries--city
officials want to demolish MLK and build a so-called mixed use
library whereby MLK shares space with Starbucks and condos!
What happened to adult education? Did you know there is only
one vocational school remaining in the District. Do you think
the lack thereof is the reason why construction companies developing
the city cannot cull capable DC residents to join their construction
teams? It's time to shift
our priorities with your help. 2) Retain
Citywide Diversity While I
don't disagree we should welcome new residents to the District,
it should not be at the expense of long-time District residents,
who are typically working-class Blacks and Latinos. Ever wonder
who possesses the means to purchase these brand new million
dollar condos? If you guessed rich suburbanites then you know
why this city is being squeezed of its color and culture. As
more and more condos are built, more and more rich single suburbanites
move into our city and thus more and more working-class families
will have to leave due to rising housing costs and diminishing
social services. This
must stop, here's how! 3) Empower
our Advisory Neighborhood Commissions ANC Commissioners
are the most accountable elected position in our city. They
are elected every 2 years, they are our neighbors and we can
visit them at home, and they attend the many neighborhood citizen
meetings and listening sessions. They are the eyes and ears
of each District neighborhood. The question is why does the
Mayor and City Council continue to ignore most of their decisions?
If elected, I will make sure
the Mayor and City Council won't be able to ignore them. It's very
important to know why I am running under the DC Statehood Green ticket. Actions
speak louder than words as they say, and my actions both during my campaign
and after I'm elected will be guided by The
DC Statehood Green Party Platform. Please review our platform
and join the party which is really striving to achieve some results -- The DC
Statehood Green Party.
Otten
for Mayor 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||
