The Jersey City Independent "

All photos by Steve Gold

Last night, the Martin Luther King Drive Merchants Association held a “Meet the Candidates” forum at the Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center. The event was rightly centered on problems and policies in Ward F, and close to 200 residents came out to hear what the candidates for that ward’s council seat had to say.

A common theme in the remarks of all six candidates — Tyrone Ballon, Omar Barbour, Ron-Calvin Clark, Calvin Hart, Viola Richardson and LaVern Webb-Washington — change, specifically change from within. Change is needed from the rampant crime, violence and poverty in Ward F,  the candidates said. They also talked about the much-needed physical change of converting abandoned property into productive housing and businesses.

Specifically, the candidates addressed three topic areas: economic development, housing and public safety. Here’s our quick & dirty highlight reel.

Economic Development

Clark: Said economic development will be based on businesses coming in and bringing financial revenue into this ward. Pledged to work with state officials to use stimulus money appropriately for the community.

Ballon: Discussed how economic development could help the community address some of the root problems of crime like poverty and unemployment. Noted that Ward F’s streets were finally being paved — a month before an election. Said the ward needs additional city resources.

Richardson: Leaned on her record, saying she has increased the number of minority contractors on development projects around the city through apprenticeship programs and advocated for vocational training.

Webb-Washington: Said that too many people were excluded from the city’s current apprenticeship programs because they require GEDs and drivers licenses.

Hart: Advocated for second chance programs to allow ex-offenders to become a part of the community and their families again.

Barbour: Stressed his leadership skills as the best way to guide the ward’s economic development.

Housing

Richardson: Said she supports both mixed-income and affordable housing. Stressed that the old-school high-rise projects are no longer acceptable forms of housing.

Clark: Agreed with Richardson on mixed-income housing, but stressed that the city needs to stay on top of how that housing is allocated. Advocated a first-time home buyer’s program and called for more oversight of abatement money.

Webb-Washington: Pointed out the difference between affordable housing and low-income housing, and said that it was hard to move up the housing ladder without a job.

Barbour: Said that foreclosed and abandoned homes should be seized by the city and put back on the market.

Public Safety

Barbour: Criticized the current administration for not having a zero-tolerance approach for TO low-level crimes like public urination. Said that vigilance will bring about change.

Webb-Washington: Said that she’d work to make the streets safe by engaging the community. Criticized the timing of additional cops walking the streets lately.

Ballon: Called on the community to step up and work with the police to fight the scourge of crime in the neighborhood.

Richardson: Touted her experience as a police officer and said she knows how to bridge the gap between cops and community. Said the community needs to work out some of its social problems before asking the police to solve the crime problem.

Steve Gold contributed to this report.

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