The following is City Council District 2 candidate Lance Jones's complete response to our survey. Click here for the list of questions.
Lance Jones
• Date of birth: 5/4/1964
• Professional background: Commercial mortgage broker www.emeraldintl.com, north Carolina state correctional officer, on-line travel agency www.affordableone.globaltravel.com
State of North Carolina
• Previous political experience: Previous run in approx 2000
• Highest level of education: Several courses taken and completed most recent Rockingham county basic law enforcement police academy
0. Greensboro and surrounding municipalities are participating in the EPA’s Early Action Compact program to reduce the area’s excess levels of smog and particulate pollution. Do you think the city is doing enough to curb air pollution? Would you suggest any changes to the compact? Answer; in my opinion there is always more that could be done however, I would encourage the council to establish a committee to look into the possibilities to curb pollution of varying types in our city and county.
0. How would you prioritize the following transportation projects: New roads, increased bus service, more bicycle facilities, and light rail. Why? Answer; The recent sink hole which occurred on wendover ave last month proves a point that I have been pushing since the fall of several bridges around the country. It is my opinion that immediate mechanical and physical inspections of our cities overpasses & bridge / walkways is a must and is long over due. Included in that is the inspections of additional roadways particularly roads where waterbeds or weakness may exist due to outdated underground engineering. I would seek to have transportation issue pushed to the fore in this order road improvements and additions, increased bus routes and gasoline sub stations. More bike lanes, immediate talks with Amtrak to establish sheltered passenger routes along the current tracks leading downtown and other areas. A media push and selling if its’ cost effectiveness, restfulness, beauty and reduction on roadway pollution may continue to increase GTA ridership.
0. According to a report issued earlier this year by professor Keith Debbage, Greensboro’s economy is recovering slower than other cities in North Carolina and is still more dependent on manufacturing. What strategies would you propose for stimulating the economy? One way I hope to see established is a committee to sell our city and all it has to offer major companies here and abroad. That committee could steer business to districts where needed while selling incentives and achieve the objective of growing small businesses and creating jobs for a many qualified college grads and seasoned work force.
0. Do you support the use of economic incentives? What factors would you consider when weighing an incentives request? Incentive 1. larger companies receive incentive for moving here and contracting with Greensboro based small business who would be listed a our preferred supplier list.2 incentive for conduct summer job programs for our youth which may help them gain marketable skills and help reduce gang enrollment.
0. How can the city best support local businesses? A public private marketing of our gods and services via tourism pamphlets and other creative means.
0. Do you support the initiative launched by the Greensboro Minimum Wage Committee to create an ordinance requiring businesses within Greensboro’s city limits to pay employees a new minimum wage of $9.36 per hour? Yes
0. Do you support fringe development or would you favor reining in the expansion of the city’s geographical footprint? I support fringe development because it increases our ability establish more business and residential development space available.
0. Do you support the Heart of the Triad concept? Why or why not? Yes Greensboro has some of the most beautiful historical real estate and the new vitality given to downtown over the recent years make our city a fun place to come and have a great family evening and its’ continued beautification will attract additional tourism for many mile away.
0. Where do you stand on the city’s handling of allegations of racial discrimination under the administration of former police Chief David Wray? I think the mayor had a responsibility a year or two ago to make an announcement to reassure our citizens that every step would be taken to find the truth and then work publicly with the new chief to regain the confidence of our effected communities and restore or create a new image of our cities police dept.
0. Would you support the creation of a police review board with subpoena power? Why or why not? Yes, with subpoena power. It could only serve to gather more information which could be used in a formal investigation by our police dept and other law enforcement agencies.
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