Accomplishments

By James C. Wolf

During my first two terms on council I have restored several community events, sponsored legislation that has made our community safer, and supported a council agenda that has encouraged smart growth and redevelopment for our historic city.

As a member of the Park Committee, I have resurrected several events that were dormant for years. My first work on this committee was to bring back "Senior Citizen Bingo" on Wednesdays during the Summer. I have organized and volunteered as the caller during these events as local seniors play bingo, socialize, and win toiletry items. I brought this recurring event back in the Summer of 2006 and have kept it going each season since. The second event that I brought back is "Movie in the Park" night. Under my direction, the City purchased a new digital projector and we have utilized it to show several kids' movies each Summer as well as our first event for adults this past August. Look forward to Halloween where I will be running a double feature of a kids' Halloween movie followed up by a classic horror film. The third, and most successful, event that I brought back are the kids' campouts in the park. During these campouts, dozens of kids come out for midnight swimming, ghost stories, and sleeping under the stars. This Mt. Healthy tradition has been around for years but were canceled for nearly a decade, after much urging and my willingness to give up some sleep, we have finally brought these back. Finally, I have served as the volunteer coordinator for our newest event, "Celebrate Mount Healthy." This event brings the city together with a Car Show, Ice Cream Social, Live Music, and Fireworks.

Aside from my work in the park, I am also a tireless advocate for public safety. With my support, our council has strengthened property maintenance codes, evicted Eclipse Nightclub while opposing their liquor license, and supported the police department with cost of living increases each time they were brought to council. In addition, I sponsored legislation which repealed breed-specific vicious dog laws so that our officers can focus their attention on aggressive dogs regardless of breed.

Lastly, our current council has made a commitment to invest in our housing stock in an effort to raise property values and lower crime. With the help of HUD and NSP dollars, the city has purchased several problem properties to either demolish or renovate. Currently, we are working on a project to revitalize the center of our city by purchasing problem properties along Compton, McMackin, and Perry Roads. Buying these properties cheap in a tough economy will help us attract new developers and businesses when the nation comes out of recession. Aside from these properties, we are also working with a non-profit to rehab homes that we have purchased from HUD for $1, and also have our eyes on a bigger project that will hopefully be announced in December.

In all, I have worked for and supported a progressive agenda to revitalize our city, even in this time of economic downturn. From community events, to public safety, and housing investment; I have been tireless in my work to make Mt. Healthy the kind of city people will be excited to live in for a lifetime.

Thank you for supporting me over my last two terms, and I appreciate your support as I work towards my third.