Joel Landau "For Positive Change"
Strong, Safe Neighborhoods
Open, Responsive Government
Clean Air, Healthy Environment
Encouraging Local Businesses
My vision of Greensboro is a city where people care about, respect and look out for one another. A city of fairness, where resources and opportunity are available to all. A city that is prosperous and a safe, healthy place to live. To these ends, I support the following:
SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS
Strong and safe neighborhoods form the basis for an enjoyable quality of life. They also make for a more connected and involved citizenry. Neighborhood associations merit local government’s full support and encouragement.
Restore budget money for the Police Department to distribute Neighborhood Crime Watch information.
KEEP GOVERMNENT OPEN AND ACCOUNTABLE
The public has the right to know how decisions are made, who’s making decisions, what’s being planned, and how public funds are being spent. In short, government activities should be as transparent as possible, and fully open to citizen observation and review.
ENCOURAGE CITIZEN INPUT AND INVOLVEMENT
Government exists to serve the public interest and welfare. The easier we make it for citizens to have a say, the better off we are as a City. As a Councilmember, my goal will be to actively seek input and be fully responsive to constituents.
STOP THE SPRAWL
Our current growth patterns are not sustainable. They also do not efficiently utilize city resources for providing services. We need to encourage infill development to efficiently use city resources, protect open spaces, minimize pollution, and promote mass transit.
IMPROVE HOUSING CODE ENFORCEMENT
Safe, affordable housing is an important goal. We can implement RUCO fully, and close loopholes in enforcement. The City recently adopted a suggestion I made that will close what had been a major loophole in enforcement. (See Letter to RUCO Board)
EMBRACE DIALOGUE REGARDING DIVISIONS IN THE CITY
The City needs to acknowledge divisions that exist, and bring people together in dialogue so we may better understand one another. Hopefully the result will be greater trust and a more united City.
SUPPORT LOCALLY-OWNED BUSINESSES
These are the lifeblood of our community, creating jobs and increasing local wealth. Increase training, lending, and advisory support for local entrepreneurs. Streamline the bureaucratic process where possible.
NON-DISCRIMINATION
City government should lead by example, giving everyone equal treatment regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, or ethnicity. City Boards and Commissions should be representative of all sectors of our citizenry.
ESTABLISH A RETAIL INCUBATOR ON THE EAST SIDE
This will help new small-scale businesses get going, by reducing overhead costs and providing expert guidance.
ADOPT THE U.S.MAYORS CLIMATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT
I’ve been instrumental with a group of citizens petitioning the City Council to join hundreds of other US cities in signing on to this document. It commits the City to pursue a healthy environment through decreased energy use and decreased emissions, and lists specific steps to be taken. The City needs a comprehensive energy policy; this Agreement forms the basis of one. (See Reasons to Adopt US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.) As a result of our efforts, the City Council is poised to adopt this Agreement, and a section on “green” initiatives has been added to the City website.
INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
(Since I wrote this the City has signed a “Performance Contract” for the Coliseum to improve efficiency and save tax dollars, with other City buildings to follow.) The City should undergo an Energy Audit to identify all areas for energy savings. More efficient lighting, insulation, thermostat controls, solar panels, LEDs in signs: these are a few of the ways to save money while reducing pollution. There are many resources available with guides as to what other cities have done in this area, how they’ve done it, and who to contact for step-by-step directions. (3 such sites are: ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives), US Conference of Mayors, Cool Cities Across America.)
The City can make all City vehicles as fuel efficient as possible, and cut down on vehicle idling by City employees. (The State is currently reimbursing cities 80% of the incremental cost of buying hybrids; let’s take advantage of this.) The US Mayors Agreement lists additional ways Greensboro can improve energy efficiency.
CONSIDER AN URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY (UGB)
A UGB would clarify how much land we need for projected growth, and where that land is. This in turn helps city planning and the achievement of other goals re energy efficiency, non-auto transit options, stronger neighborhoods, and quality of life. The Comprehensive Plan and Water-Sewer Boundary are steps in this direction, but not as focused as a UGB.
PRESERVE THE TREE CANOPY
A healthy and abundant tree canopy is essential for clean air, clean water, aesthetic quality, shade provision and energy efficiency. We tend to forget that trees help replace the oxygen we take out of the air, and trees remove some of the CO2 we produce. These two functions are essential for human health.
PROTECT OUR WATER RESOURCES
Clean water is essential to good health; we must strictly control run-off and development around our streams and lakes.
STOP FLUORIDATING CITY WATER
There is no scientific basis for adding fluoride compounds to drinking water. Dentists will tell you that the benefits of fluoride come from topical application, not from ingesting it. Plus the chemical fluoride compounds commonly used have health risks, so water fluoridation is a waste of taxpayer money.
INCLUDE BIKE LANES ON ALL ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Any time we widen a road, bike lanes should be part of the plan. It’s cheaper to include them during a road project than to come back later and add them. It’s official (and sensible) City policy to accommodate bike transportation; let’s get on with it.
PROVIDE BIKING FACILITIES IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
Every time someone uses a bicycle instead of an auto, the City benefits from decreased air pollution, decreased traffic and parking congestion, and decreased wear and tear on roadways. We can encourage biking by having safe, easy-accessible covered bike racks in city buildings; also, shower facilities for City employees if needed and feasible.
REQUIRE COVERED BIKE RACKS IN SHOPPING CENTERS
We require developers to spend large sums of money laying down parking lots to accommodate automobiles. For a small sum, we can have covered bike racks throughout shopping centers to accommodate cyclists.
BUILD MORE SIDEWALKS
We need to move ahead quickly with providing sidewalks wherever needed for the safety of pedestrians, and to encourage walking. Sidewalks help bring neighborhoods together. Also, as with bicycles, every time someone walks instead of driving a car, the City benefits from decreased air pollution, decreased traffic and parking congestion, and decreased wear and tear on roadways.
IMPROVE BUS FACILITIES
To help encourage bus ridership, we need to provide sidewalk access to bus stops, plus benches, shelters, safe lighting, and route signs and maps. Perhaps we can get more shelters built for less money by offering local businesses advertisement space if they pay for a shelter.
HAVE A CITY ENERGY COORDINATOR
Currently there is no one on City staff to coordinate inter-departmental energy efficiency measures. This new position would save each Department from having to figure it out themselves, saving us money while reducing energy consumption and pollution.
ESTABLISH A REVOLVING LOAN FUND FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES
The City can consider low-cost or no-cost financing options for aiding citizens and businesses interested in equipment changes to improve their energy efficiency.
REDUCE GARBAGE GENERATION – ENCOURAGE WASTE REDUCTION, RECYCLING, & REUSE
There’s been much debate about whether we should have contracted for the new garbage transfer station, or just continued full operations at the White Street landfill. Missing from the debate has been the most important aspect of containing costs: namely, generating less trash. There are ways we can encourage or require it.
Improve the recycling program to increase participation and reduce cost. Require mandatory recycling in all City buildings and offices. The City can also take the lead in purchasing recycled paper and other products made from recycled materials.
INCREASE THE LOCAL MINIMUM WAGE
The buying power of the minimum wage has declined tremendously in recent years. The current minimum is woefully inadequate. One result has been increased public sector spending on social programs, in essence subsidizing low-paying private employers. An increase in the local minimum wage is the right thing to do, and will also boost the local economy through the subsequent increase in local spending.
CREATE AN INTER-DEPARTMENT COORDINATOR
Sometimes a citizen has business with the City that involves more than one City department. Having an Inter-Department Coordinator would help the citizen or business navigate multiple requirements, and resolve any conflicting demands from different departments.
IMPROVE EFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT
Review procedures, staffing, and budgets to see that City government is operating efficiently.
COORDINATE EVENT SCHEDULING BETWEEN THE COLISEUM AND WAR MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM SO EVENTS DON’T LET OUT AT THE SAME TIME
Sometimes two events let out simultaneously. The result is traffic gridlock and general consternation. Event schedulers could usually avoid this by checking with each other when booking events.
