Forum

By Joyce L. Randall

Inglewood Leadership Council Candidate Forum Questionnaire

Question #1 What is your vision for economic development in Inglewood specifically in retaining and obtaining employment for citizens?

My vision for economic development in Inglewood specifically in retaining and obtaining employment for citizens includes: 1) Develop partnerships with developers who agree to employ at least 40% hard to place citizens from the Inglewood Zip Codes. 2) Develop multi-use structures to ease the parking crunch. 3) Maintain a City Council Office in District 2 for job training and refresher courses for those already employed 4) Actively work with the school district making sure we hire those who care and are duly qualified. 5) Actively work with businesses seeking grants to upgrade businesses. 6) Actively work with at risk programs to secure funding as these programs seek to help those who have challenges. 7) Develop a solid relationship with law enforcement to identify discontent among at risk young people that could immediately be met with positive reinforcement of jobs. 8) A free medical clinic in District 2 to serve those with no insurance in a dignified setting. 9) Free childcare for low income and no income families to impact the needs of our babies for the future.

Question #2 What is your opinion on spending taxpayer's dollars on litigation, and what could be an alternative, if any, to litigation for solving problems.

In my opinion it is very bad business to spend tax payers dollars on litigation and the alternatives to such nonsense is: 1) Town Hall Meetings where truth is delivered. 2) Mailers to the constituency that are honest in stating the facts. 3) Maintaining personal contact with constituency base to develop trust. 4) Maintaining excellent relationships within city hall so people trust you and give you all the "facts" 5) Be honest and stop making the baby sick to be in the care taker position. 6) Have a good relationship with media outlets to deliver the truth.

Question #3 What do you feel is the image of Inglewood to potential businesses, residents and tourists?

I feel the image of Inglewood to potential businesses, residents, and tourists is: 1) Inglewood is centrally located to anywhere you need to go, with easy access to all freeways and major streets. 2) Potential homebuyers are eager to reap the benefits of home ownership where equity has doubled since 1989. 3) Businesses see enormous untapped potential in Inglewood and are eager to set up shop. We are the safeguards to make sure the citizens of Inglewood benefit as well. 4) Tourists flock to residence inns that are centrally located to grocery stores and enjoy leisure walks during all times of the day. 5) We have undeveloped property and land that is begging for development.

Question #4 What factors do you see as the biggest stumbling blocks to Inglewood's growth? How do you plan to address these issues?

The biggest stumbling block to Inglewood's growth is that we do not currently have a spirit of cooperation that is council friendly to economic development in the 2nd District. I plan to address these issues by bringing to the table: 1) My years as a trained California Teachers Association Bargaining Team Representative and my years as Grievance Chair of the Inglewood Teacher's Association. 2) My years of on the job experience under economic development guru Rev. Cecil L. "Chip" Murray, immediate past Pastor of First AME Church and CEO of FAME Renaissance. 3) A spirit of asking the hard questions, resolving conflict to create a win-win situation, finding a way to say yes and moving on to develop a better Inglewood where business owners, homeowners, and citizens at large are happy to call Inglewood home. 4) Develop a 2nd District Roundtable where senior citizens have a voice for low cost prescription drugs and service for seniors, specific to a Pharmacy located in the 2nd District.

Question #5 What importance does honesty and integrity play in meeting the needs of your constituents? Be specific.

Honesty and integrity are key elements in making the cake called meeting the needs of the constituents. 1) We hurt our own constituency base when we are dishonest. 2) Economic development in the 2nd District is not flourishing because of all the misinformation that has been specifically planted in the minds and hearts of those who trust they are being told the truth. 3) We are being dishonest when we close our eyes to jobs for those who are hard to place. 4) We are showing no integrity when we become the devil's advocate. The devil doesn't need advocates. A lie travels around the world before truth can even put on shoes. 5) We are dishonest when we create an atmosphere of distrust by constantly suing and causing chaos.