Addressing blight and vacant buildings kicked off the second half of the mayoral forum hosted by the NAACP Pine Bluff chapter as mayoral candidates incumbent Mayor Shirley Washington, John Fenley, Charles Washington, state Rep. Vivian Flowers, City Council member Steven Mays, Joni Alexander-Robinson, and Sam Glover took turns discussing their views on various matters.
Beginning with Alexander-Robinson, she said all vacant properties needed to be registered as well as slum lords because a lot of property owners stay out of town. Alexander-Robinson said preventive measures must be put in place to create and maintain neighborhood stability.
Mays spoke about slum lords as well, stating they don’t take care of their property. He said under his leadership that would not be acceptable, stating Pine Bluff has been at the bottom of the barrel for too long and he doesn’t like that. Mays expressed his excitement to lead the city.
Fenley said the city lacks support for building owners. Fenley, who holds a real estate license, said the city is not providing enough incentives for people to own abandoned buildings.
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As a result, people are not taking care of these buildings and they are becoming a problem. He said the city needs to do more to support people who want to own and maintain abandoned buildings.
Glover spoke about code enforcement and his plan to focus on community anchors, such as schools and parks, and connect them to create successful neighborhoods.
He said abandoned buildings are a problem that can be addressed through code enforcement and community anchors and code enforcement is essential for creating successful neighborhoods.
City development and progress were the focus of Flowers’ answer as she spoke about enforcing ordinances and investing in the city being crucial for its progress. She said attracting people to live in the city requires addressing various issues. She also highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to city development.
Charles Washington said an abandoned building is a sign of progress, meaning the property owner has “moved on up.” He said the problem lies when the building is abandoned.
Shirley Washington spoke about responsible property owners and said the community is facing a problem with abandoned properties. She said a team of aggressive code enforcement officers are working to address the issue and property owners are responding positively to the efforts of the code enforcement officers.
The next question asked was about the candidates’ initiatives to involve the youth.
Mays talked about the community development center in his ward and the youth programs provided.
Fenley, who has a passion for science and technology, said he has enabled the development of educational apps for children. Fenley encourages the use of technology for meaningful purposes.
Enhancing educational opportunities, Glover said he had 25 years of mentorship experience and proposed expanding summer youth programs and using city departments for student internships. He emphasized the need for intentional resource use and attracting more students.
Flowers said students want opportunities beyond sports and that educated citizens are essential for society. She said the city needs to learn about students’ interests to serve them better.
Charles Washington felt a diversity approach was best with a plethora of information. He also said learning what the kids want is important.
Shirley Washington spoke about The Generator, which draws students in for activities and sports in Central Park.
According to Shirley Washington, Central Park offers various sports activities like tennis, pickleball, baseball, softball, golf, football and soccer.
The park aims to keep kids engaged and away from gang wars, and free swimming lessons and activities are available for youth and adults.
Alexander-Robinson said she advocated for a youth department under the city when she was chief of staff under Mayor Debe Hollingsworth. She said the citywide after-school system would be developed with events happening during the peak time for crime. She said parental and guardian support was vital, and providing youth transportation is part of her plan and platform.
Fenley said the city faced a waste management issue. He said a compost yard would help get rid of litter in Pine Bluff. He said a free dump day is a good start but the city needs more dumpsters. More frequent waste collection and cleaning services and additional resources and support are required to address the city’s waste-related problems, according to Fenley.
Glover said a public works department needs to be created to deal with the drainage, beautification and cleanliness of the city. During his tenure as parks and recreation director, Glover said he implemented a program to clean up parks and public areas and used resources to improve neighborhoods and public spaces.
Flowers addressed recycling and drainage issues, stating recycling and waste management responsibilities should be reviewed. According to Flowers, the city’s waste management and Street Department are responsible concerning litter and trash. She said the Street Department needs more resources to handle litter and drainage issues. As far as drainage, Flowers said the city has to prioritize the needs and the current budget of up to $2.5 million is insufficient for the required tasks.
Charles Washington said the citizens are responsible for the cleanliness of the city and that citizens need to pick up trash and stop throwing it on the ground.
Cleanup campaigns alone won’t solve the problem, according to Shirley Washington. Washington encouraged cultural change and educating children about littering.
She said she has conducted anti-littering campaigns in schools and spoke about cultivating a culture of ownership and respect.
Alexander-Robinson said it came down to a lack of ownership and that maintenance leads to problems in certain areas. She said as the mayor she can’t cultivate a culture of respect but can promote ownership.
Educating people about the impact of their actions on the community is important to Mays.
The forum’s next topic of discussion was changing the minds of citizens who may not vote. Glover talked about setting a good example for children. He also reflected on his role as a parent and the need for effective communication.
Flowers talked about how citizens should be involved in decision-making and communication about their community. She said people want to save their community, provide opportunities for their children, and maintain their property. She said the city has lost population and jobs and needs to address these issues.
Charles Washington said the city needs a new leader who can take the city in a new direction. According to him, the city has been struggling for years and needs someone who understands leadership and people. He said the new leader needs to be innovative and have a plan to move the city forward.
Shirley Washington said positive changes in the community have generated excitement. She said Main Street is now open after the completion of phase one of the streetscape project.
She said a new hotel will be constructed at the convention center to boost downtown development.
Alexander-Robinson encouraged people to participate in community work and to actively participate in ongoing community activities.
She said voting is important and giving up should not be an option. Alexander-Robinson emphasized her plan and desire to become the mayor.
Mays said Pine Bluff is a great city to live and raise a family in. He said he wants the best for Pine Bluff and will never give up.
Local elections and politics have a unique magic that cannot be found on a larger scale, according to Fenley. He said the process of choosing a mayor involves discovering the future and listening to the community’s needs and that everyone is involved in the process, regardless of whether they vote or not.
In their closing statements, each candidate used that time to say why they should be the next mayor of Pine Bluff. Alexander-Robinson used her time to talk about the efficient use of tax dollars and the role of the mayor. She said the operations department is facing limitations and challenges and various departments are not efficiently using tax dollars. She said the city needs to address inefficiencies before requesting additional funding.
Shirley Washington spoke about working diligently for community progress while reflecting on her commitment to the community over the past seven years. She highlighted her accomplishments achieved through collective effort and hard work and encouraged continued collaboration to ensure ongoing progress and success.
Her request for reelection included a promise of better governance.
Charles Washington expressed his desire to bring positive change to society with a plan to achieve this through education and community involvement.
He expressed his determination to make a difference and improve the lives of others.
Flowers focused on economic growth and safety, highlighting the approval of the casino and voter-approved medical marijuana, leading to changes in the tax code.
Despite resource availability, progress is lacking in infrastructure development, job creation and population retention, according to Flowers, who said it hasn’t been a priority in the past. She said focusing on economic growth, safety, and infrastructure improvement will attract residents and boost the tax base.
When it came to community development and infrastructure, Flowers called out Go Forward Pine Bluff, saying the Street Department is underfunded, but money is spent on superficial initiatives. She believes community development requires investment in infrastructure and people.
Glover said collaboration between agencies and community members is essential for progress.
He said the city’s future involves a purpose-driven approach, focusing on city culture and progress.
Fenley said technology and science are seen as key drivers of change, promising a shift from the past. He said crime and specific area problems will be addressed using thermal imaging.
He said problems can be overcome, and everyone should have a chance to succeed.
Fenley said the city should not hinder progress or hold things back and citizens should be able to interact with leaders and hold them accountable for their actions.