Why I am running for City Council

By Jim Reed

My positions on various issues in our City

I have seen no change. So, I am running again to change the direction that our City is taking.

Ten years ago the city surveyed citizens asking what was important to them. The categories included Growth, Street Maintenance, Downtown Development, Parks, etc. Ten years later, not one of the issues the citizens indicated were important to them has been pursued, and, in most cases the opposite has been done.

The council has voted in a restrictive uptown-downtown plan, several bike paths and commitments to grants that sell out our city sovereignty to entities that don't live here. Our city is heading in a certain direction that is opposed to what our citizens have asked for. The citizens have finally been made invisible and irrelevant.

21st Street is a good example of what is directing our current City Council. Outside agencies and interests designed changes to the street that eliminated parking spaces, hurting the businesses on that street. The changes narrowed driving lanes. One of the jobs we ask of our City Government is to maintain our roads. Our streets are for the public to drive upon. What has been done is not in the best interest of the citizens. Instead of spending $1.8 Million of tax payer money on the changes to 21st Street, that street plus many other streets in our City could have been repaved.

At the time of the last election citizens stood up to an unconstitutional ordinance that would authorize city employees to enter a business anytime they wanted, to open closed doors without a warrant and if a property owner resisted, the city employee could use any legal force to make their unwarranted inspection. The ordinance was stopped, but only for a short time. Later an amended ordinance was passed despite objections from citizens. And, in fact, a second such ordinance was then passed relating to backyards of citizen's homes and other private property.

In watching council members approve every plan the city staff comes up with, it becomes obvious we need make some changes. I see the need for strong, principled leadership that WILL listen and actually represent the views and positions of the Citizens. For too long the council has allowed city government to run over citizen's wishes and rights.

This practice is unacceptable. On many occasions I have heard City employees actually say they, "... do not work for you." (citizens). That attitude pervades City Hall.

It is time for a change. If you share my concerns, I urge you to connect with me and help change this dangerous direction our city has been going in!