Please participate in the 2010 Ward 2 Council Chair Candidate Forum!
Featuring the Honorable Kwame Brown and the Honorable Vincent Orange.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Academy for Educational Development (AED)
Conn. Ave. NW & T Street NW
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27 comments:
With DC's executive and legislative branches routinely at loggerheads during sometimes very visible fights, sound public policy decisions as well as the City's image have suffered. What is your vision/goal for improving Council relationships with the Mayor's office if you're elected Chairman, regardless of which mayoral candidate wins?
There has been a significant reduction in the number of city employees during the Fenty administration. Something I believe in the range of 2,500. Additonally, teachers and librarians have been let go. Do you support these measures and will you seek ways to further reduce the number of city employees?
One of the roles of the Council Chairman is to ensure the DC budget is balanced and sound. Do you feel it is necessary to practice what you preach - meaning your public fiscal responsibilities should mirror your private fiscal responsibilities. And, do you have a plan to address the financial situation facing DC in FY 2012 and beyond?
Can anything be done to reduce the noise from ambulance and fire engine sirens? It is really necessary to have these sirens blaring sometimes even at 3 AM on streets with no traffic?
I heard recently that Mr. Orange is challenging Mr. Brown's financial campaign contributions. Is this just "blowing a smoke screen" to evade tackling the important issues that City residents are facing?
The wanton disregard of traffic laws by all users of the District's streets and sidewalks -- car drivers, cyclists and pedestrians -- has a major negative impact on the city's livability. This disregard slows traffic, contributes to a culture of discourtesy and hostility, and causes accidents. Will improving compliance with traffic laws be a priority if you win and, if so, what steps will you take to implement that priority?
In your opinion, which agency heads have turned out to be Mayor Fenty's best 2 or 3 appointments, and why?
The Council has a large role to play in confirming mayoral appointments. Please describe your idea of how the Council should approach this task. Should the Council generally defer to the mayor's choices? Where is the bar or threshold for blocking a nominee?
DC recently came as close as ever to getting a full, voting member of the House of Representatives. Do you think we should have accepted the compromise of our gun restrictions in order to get a full voice in the House?
There is a ballot initiative for the November 2010 ballot to provide DC with an elected attorney general. Do you support this initiative? Why, or why not?
If the current economic stagnation continues through next summer, how do you plan to ensure that the City can afford its FY 2012 budget? What are the tough choices that need to be made?
Do you support the current work and new plans for streetcar lines throughout the District?
Do you think Chancellor Rhee should stay on as Chancellor? In your opinion, what she done well, and what has she not done well?
In your respective terms on the Council, you have both been strong advocates of local economic development and job creation. What is the most important next initiative for us to take, and why?
It is January 2011, and you have just been sworn in as Council Chair. What is your number 1 priority item for your first 2 months in office?
What do you think is the best way for us to achieve full House and Senate representation?
There have been a lot of news stories about Council Member Brown's personal debt. Should this affect our vote?
Of all the legislation that you introduced on the Council, which do you think has been the most effective at improving the City?
Describe an instance during your term on the Council when you changed your position on a key issue, and what made you change your mind.
Are there any bills that you now, in retrospect, regret voting for (or against)?
As a new Council Chair, what things would you do differently than current Chairman Vincent Gray, and what things would you continue or emulate?
Do you support the parking fee increase for Ward 2?
What is your position on the new Open Meetings legislation?
Do you support the increased network of bike lanes in the District?
Should rent control be made permanent? Does our rent control law work?
Assume there will be a five percent cut in revenues to the District next year, with the economic slump and fewer federal stimulus dollars. We can't keep taking money from the rainy day fund. Where do you look FIRST to cut?
Does the racial divide in the Mayoral campaign worry you? What can you do about it? Especially when several councilmembers - from Ward 5 and Ward 8 - have been criticized by the Washington Post and other media for needlessly injecting race into DC politics.
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