A city provides more services than anyone might imagine. Police, fire, roads, water, sewer, parks, downtowns, neighborhoods, industrial, business and commercial development-- just to name a few!
Police, Fire and Safety
Keeping our homes protected and streets safe is perhaps the most
essential job the city does.
Crime - We absolutely must continue to focus on violence,
gang-related issues and drug crimes. The terrible economy in Michigan is not helping.
These challenging times are driving more criminal activity in our neighborhoods.
Community and Police Partnering - We need to continue to build collaboration between police and the community. Neighbors want to be-- and need to be-- active allies.
Neighborhoods and Families
We all want to live in clean, safe, pleasant neighborhoods, whether they are
historical or new, urban or suburban. We need to make sure that all of our
neighborhoods are great places to raise our families and enjoy life.
Neighborhood decline – Neighborhood deterioration,
particularly in housing, is a severe drain on city services. When some folks don’t
take care of their properties, neighbors become frustrated. The city is taking great
steps toward improvements through America Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant funds –
as many as 100 dangerous and abandoned homes will be demolished in 2009 and 2010. Let’s
work together with community organizations to build our neighborhoods back.
Home Ownership - A number of organizations in town help residents become home owners. The city needs to work together with them to promote and facilitate ownership.
Economic Development
The bottom line is – we need to support business. Jobs provide opportunities for ourselves, our kids and our neighbors. We must promote robust and broad-based economic growth and business development. Efficient, effective city services are essential.
Trained Workforce - If we want strong and growing business and manufacturing, we need to make sure we have a ready, willing and prepared workforce. We need to explore any creative ways the city can support education and job training. This will take inventive thinking and stepping outside our comfort zone.
Downtown Development
Downtowns are different than what they used to be. We may not have the downtown department stores anymore, but our “Main Street” can still be vibrant and chock full of interesting restaurants and things to do. Downtown could be the center of community activities, festivals, seasonal markets, music events and a place for folks who work downtown to gather and share ideas. Upcoming changes at the Kellogg Company and the establishment of the National Center for Food Protection and International Food Protection Training Institute give us great opportunities to re-think our downtown. We need to be creative and “out of the box” about what businesses we can attract to downtown, how we can support and encourage downtown living, and how we can create interesting city living spaces.
Efficient, Effective, Responsive City Government
So how can City Government help accomplish all these priorities? We need to run a tight ship! City departments must be creative, dynamic and responsive to resident and business needs. We must keep costs down. Let’s keep our city government focused on the customer – residents, businesses, all of us.
We absolutely have to live within our means. I want to hold the line on taxes. City Government must work smarter.
Paid for by Committee for Susan Baldwin
James P. Baldwin, Treasurer
Designed by
Critical Computer Solutions, Inc.