The following is City Council District 1 candidate Dianne Bellamy-Small's complete response to our survey. Click here for the list of questions.
Dianne Bellamy-Small
• Date of birth: Oct. 18, 1952
• Professional background: Trainer/consultant, Exception Children’s Assistance Center
• Previous political experience: City council member since 2003
• Highest level of education: bachelor of arts, UNC-Chapel Hill with graduate work at Duke University and UNCG
• Website: triadblogs.com/smallforcouncil
1. Greensboro continues to address excessive levels of smog and particulate pollution. We have expanded our PART Bus Service. We began in August 2006 a new HEAT Transit Service for area colleges. We are using bio-diesel fuel for our bus fleet, hybrid cars for staff and we have done several promotions to encourage citizens to park, walk, carpool or take the bus. There are no suggested changes I would make to the compact at this time. Greensboro is currently meeting EPA standards. (82)
2. Priorities for transportation: a) bus service, b) new roads and sidewalks, c) new bike facilities, and d) light rail — not cost effective it appears at this time. (28)
3. We need to make sure our work force has access to training to attract new types of jobs. We should continue to work closely with the economic partnership. Strategies: a) Encourage regional partnerships to attract new businesses; share resources to attract new living-wage jobs; b) Encourage local businesses to grow and develop; c) Enhance our mass transit systems in the region to more effectively move workers to and from work; d) Effectively fund public safety needs to reduce crime; and e) Earnestly address the image issues that keep coming up for Greensboro. (93)
4. I support incentives when our criteria for economic incentives are met. An incentive is a grant and is paid back through taxes from the investment the company makes in real property and jobs. It is not a giveaway. Factors considered: Job creation, rate of payback through taxes, MWBE record, rate of pay, number of minorities and women at all employment levels. (62)
5. The city can better support small businesses by forming a small business advisory council.
Competitiveness in our business fees and services for businesses. (24)
6. I support pushing for a livable wage for workers. I am not sure we should mandate this in the our city limits. That could cause employers to leave Greensboro. I think the best way is to push for federal and state legislation for a livable wage increase. (48)
7. I support fringe development when it makes sense. We need to be careful about expanding beyond what we can responsibly handle with our infrastructure, public safety and transportation. (29)
8. Yes, I support HOT. The Triad region needs to work together. Regionalism is smart government growth and keeps the needs of the whole in check. (26)
9. I have been supportive of the city manager taking all the necessary and appropriate steps to correct any problems of discrimination of any type in the police department and throughout the city. I feel the police department is on target in dealing with concerns raised since David Wray’s resignation and in the RMA Report. I feel the council has acted responsibly in informing the public of what we could, when we could about the ongoing internal and criminal investigations. Chief Bellamy has taken steps to run the daily operations of the department and take corrective actions in clearing up the numerous problems created from past police administrations. (108)
10. A police review board with subpoena power cannot be done under current state law. I suggested a review of complaint review committee, which is a subcommittee of the Human Relations Commission, in December 2006. I encouraged citizens to utilize the CRC in February 2007 to access the effectiveness of it. I met with Chief Bellamy in the spring of 2007 to suggest a different strategy for a police review board. I presented my proposal at the Aug. 6 council meeting. My proposal is a citizens’ police review board made up of a representative from each district, a member from the Human Relations Commission, Commission on the Status of Women, ESL Community, two members from the police department (one line officer, one supervisor) and a liaison from the city council. The Human Relations Department would provide staff support to this board. The board would chose its own chair and vice chair. The board would be convened when a citizen is not satisfied with the results from a police internal affairs investigation of the initial complaint. The findings of the board would be sent to the city manager for appeal when necessary if the board’s findings were different from internal affairs’ findings. If the board finds in favor of the citizen, a written report would be sent to the citizen with corrective action taken. The board would report quarterly to the manager on types of complaints received and if there seems to be a pattern in types of complaints. I recommend these board meetings be televised, this would help citizens see the process and hopefully that it works. (267)
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