f// Thursday, April 26, 2012

Frank wilds - Candidate Opening Statement

Good evening and thank C.O.V.E. for inviting me, for having me, and my wife of 44 years, Vivian Wilds. We have lived in the upper end of Ward 5, Lamond Riggs section for 35 or more years. I am selfemployed. We have a daughter, Nicole Wilds-Lewis; she used to live on Seaton Place. We are about education, plus my wife worked at Trinity University. I have been involved in the community since 1971, when Walter Washington was Mayor; involved in the election process in 1976 under Clifton Alexander that ran against Mayor Washington, throughout the years I have been involved with the Mayors and the Council, within Ward 5 and city-wide. I believe that I am ready to be your representative, I say that because I have been someone concerned about jobs, economic development, safety and education; I have been in business for a long time and I know about struggling as a small businessman, and I believe that we need someone with integrity. I am self-employed since 1983. I am concerned about the Ward. Q&A 1. What is your vision for the pace and character of community economic development in light of the changing demographics of Ward 5, particularly in the neighborhoods situated west of the train tracks? We have got to be concerned about not just the west end of the train track, but the whole Ward; if one is failing and the other is not, then we wont have a viable Ward. In the Bloomingdale area, the population has grown, the gentrification has brought many changes with it, but, weve got to stop being separating by neighbors i.e. Bloomingdale, Carver Terrace, this is Washington, we live in Ward 5. I see a vision of development on Rhode Island having walking, even using the trails which have become a matter of safety. Its time to stop talking about the upper end/west end. Let me tell you, I would be on the job working with the police department; we shouldnt have to look over our back when we walk out our doors. I read an email today, and one of the candidates said I am going to win the election by Bloomingdale, that tells us about the divide, we need to work together on all these issues. FOLLOW-UP a. How to do propose to revitalize our major corridors? First, I understand the government will have two buildings downtown that least will expire in 2013. I would propose that we jumpstart bringing them to Rhode Island to start economic development, I know we can do that because we have someone that understands development and knows how to work with people to bring economic development to this Ward 5. I have worked with Vincent Orange to bring in the Home Depot, Tony Williams and other Mayors to bring in major developments. b. How do you plan to maintain neighborhood integrity? The development has to fit into the neighborhood. We are not concerned with just bringing big boxes to the neighborhood; we want people to live in the Ward. We need small box stores; we want people to understand that jobs and education are our biggest issues. We cant have diversity that splits over where varied groups live. Weve got to come together as a Ward. c. What kinds of businesses would you encourage, and conversely, what kinds would you seek to limit or restrict? First, I would restrict strip clubs, marijuana medical centers; I hope you all understand the bill that was passed was only temporary, 60-100 days, it will open up again, and allow more strip clubs and
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marijuana centers. We should be looking at hotels, if not to be located on Rhode Island Avenue, then New York Avenues business corridor, that will keep visitors in Washington rather send them to Maryland, then they come back to DC in the daytime. We need to support the Mom and Pop restaurants. I have thoughts about bars closings at 2:00 AM and 3:00 AM in the morning. I am the only candidate who responded to the Mayor about Speed cameras; we need freedom in development, but we dont need that type of tough, we can think outside of the box, we dont need bars and restaurants open until 3:00AM in the morning to raise money, we need people living together. 2. How would you advance public safety so that residents (both long term and more recent arrivals) will feel safe in their homes and on the streets without fostering an environment which has the look and feel of a police state? Once I thought about a plan like in Baltimore, they have cameras all over the place, you stand on the corner, and they can take you picture six blocks away. I think where there are problems like on the trail, there should be cameras. I think back when Chief Ramsey was Chief, he walked the streets, we need more bicycle police, police to walk the streets, bicycle and segways, because if criminals go through alleys, the police cant go thru in cars. As neighbors weve got to take control, look out for one another, that is how we stop crime. In my neighborhood they call me the police on the block, because I look out of the window and I would say something. On Eastern Avenue, at the Monastery, one would call Lovers Lane, On Saturday, young people would come there and do their business and on Sunday you would see what they were doing. I used to be a walker, a guy would call us to take neighborhood walks together down dangerous Hobart Street, and we need to get back to basics. Weve got a lot of seniors, weve got to be concerned about protecting them, once in a while, we have to knock on their doors and look out for them. I would like to see the Chief walk the neighborhoods. We have to take our neighborhoods back. We need to take walks. We have got to be our Brothers Keeper. Weve got to be concerned. We got to knock on doors and ask if we can help. We dont have to have a Police State. I would like to see Chief FOLLOW-UP a. What do you propose to do to ease racial tension? We have to have more community meetings, bring people together in the diverse groups like here tonight, sit down and talk together in all parts of the Ward with blacks, white and gays, this city has changed. We have to communicate and talk with one another. When we walk down the street, we should speak; when you dont speak you have a problem. We have got to communicate. Up in precinct 68, I had a lady tell me the other day, they dont speak (you know who they mean White residents), it shouldnt be that way. b. What ideas do you have for reducing juvenile crime and delinquency? Education, idle minds, young folk without jobs, they are going to prey on those who do have jobs. We have to create some kind of training programs and give them something to do, to feel proud of themselves. Schools have to play another role with after school programs, partner with after with after school programs and churches. We do have UDC training programs, but what good is that if you dont have money to get to the training program. People like you Bradley, have to take some of the young folk to say, I did, you can do it. Same thing with me and my wife, we worked and went to school. I heard a preacher last night mention, we need to get respect back into our young people tell our young people, Pull up your pants, dress too short, advertising parts. Help to prepare them for the work world; we
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have to cultivate the relationships. When I see our young folks with pants down, I tell them that either they are gay or you just got out of jail. But, we cant just walk by them and not speak, we have to work with our young people, cultivate relationships, they are smart and have potential. If they can walk about all day and learn how to make a living on the street, imagine what they could do in the classroom. 3. What will you do to help insure that children in Ward 5, and for that matter, adults who are so inclined and so motivated, have the opportunity to attend quality schools without leaving their community? In 2013, we will have a middle school again, they will open up the first in ward 5 again, three are plans for three here: Brookland, McKinley and Trinidad. We have got to talk about education with our young people; if they have an education they can get jobs. Weve got to develop educational programs to make sure our children are prepared. Back in the 80s my wife and I were on the PTA, We raised money for PTA, not with candy, but parents gave $25 dollars to buy computers, mentor, and take students on trips. The most important part of education is the Parents. Once, when my daughter was a student at Deal, I went there, and one guy said when he saw me, he said, I know him he works here. As parents, we participated in PTA, when you participate you kids get more. People thought I was an employee. How many heard about the young men from Cesar Chavez, who won a full-time scholarship at Georgetown University, he said he was so far behind, but he was pushed by his teacher. We need to make sure TV is off and children do their homework. FOLLOW-UP a. What is your position on the tension between regular public schools and the public charter school movement? I dont think there is tension, they want the same thing, they all want all the money, lets balance the money. Charters can be selective, but DCPS has to take everyone. I applaud Council Member Vincent Orange who says students should be able to read by 3rd grade level. But, I believe what Kaya is doing is right, pushing these schools, we will see the difference in about three years. You cant have 13 Council Members telling the Chancellor what to do. We need to give her the authority and let her continue doing what she is doing; she needs to report only to the Mayor. We have good Principals in our schools; look at Langdon its growth because of the Principal. b. What strategies would you implement to prepare our children for college or vocational training beyond secondary school? There have been a lot of talk about the SAT and ACT tests, that all students should take those before they graduate, thats not the answer, everyone will not go to college, why waste time and finances. Those that want to let them go through this process. We have got to prepare our students for other opportunities in technology and plumbing, good jobs that afford good living. 4. How do you propose to address the mounting issues of traffic gridlock and walkability in Ward 5, particularly west of the train tracks, especially given the significance of development projects that are either already underway (Rhode Island Row), or planned for the near future (McMillan), inside or just outside the boundaries of our neighborhoods? First, we have two look at our public transportation, the buses are the main transportation. We can

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develop more bike lanes, have it more walkable. Bike lanes make the area more walkable. Street cars are coming soon down the road. We have got to look at the different kinds of cars, smart cars, bikes, We have got to ensure the parking spaces are available, and neighborly and friendly with the neighbors. We want to walk and bike the short distances to the stores. FOLLOW-UP a. What is your take on the parking space conflict between some of our longstanding traditional churches and some of our newer residents? We need to work closely on this issue. You cant put out the people of longtime attendance at the churches; we need to work with community. You saw what happened to Metropolitan Church, it had to move, its a very important institution in our neighborhoods. I know when some folks come into the neighborhood they buy their homes; they feel they should have their parking spaces, we need to have communication, when churches have special events like funerals, Sunday and week night services, they need to try to work something out with the churches . b. What do you believe the city can and should do to increase pedestrian safety for our seniors, especially those whose diminished mobility leave them particularly vulnerable at street crossings? I will tell you one thing with those thirty second lights, we are all at risk. We have crossing guards for the children, we must come up with sound solutions; we should work on a plan on how to look out for seniors walking about in neighborhoods

{Audience Questions] a. What are your thoughts on new housing develops? Good question, I brought this with me tonight, my campaign, we conducted a research on Ward 5, we studied the plan on housing and developers, in Baltimore they have this plan they developed: if anything is developed over 100 0square feet, the Developer has to contribute to training programs. We can train our young folk in carpentry and plumbing, they can buy houses. We need jobs that help families take care of themselves and have opportunities. They talk about affordable housing, what is affordable to me, may not be affordable to someone else. We need to work on what is truly more affordable. Bottom line is to create housing and job opportunities. b. What will you do to help young people who are bullied and are not sure where to turn? We must work with the schools, police, teachers and parents. We need to start teaching our kids early to tell someone, dont hold back, thats the only way they will get help. For instance, let me tell you a story, when I grew up in third grade a big bully picked on me, my older brother told me you have to defend yourself, he wasnt going to, I had to stand up to this much bigger bully. Today its different One kid at my church hung himself because he was bullied, they put the word out that he was gay. Youve got to make sure we have these conversations with our kids. Parents are a part of this support, they need to tell someone and tell the school.

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c. What legislation would you propose to reduce the $1 Billion Medicaid budget and invest more into education? I might have to get back to you on that, we have so many people in the city on Medicaid; we spend a good portion of our budget on medical issues. I am thinking about centers in the neighborhood, if you get a sprang, you should be able to go to a neighborhood center, rather than Providence and pay a much higher medical bill, Walker Jones in one of the centers in our neighborhoods, we need more. d. What are your thoughts of the development of McMillan Plans? In 1979, I was with a Group, we wanted to develop McMillan. We wanted to put an office complex, church, hospital related to Howard, we bid on it, but, it didnt work out. We had Mr. Kincaid, Ms. Balboa. Mr. Kincaid would say over his dead body, he still lives, he wanted green space. I talked to a guy name Mike; he wanted to know what % of green space we wanted, I told him I couldnt tell him, its important to find out what the citizens want. I told him about shops in South Africa. Where you could walk along for distances with shop, they had green spaces on the roof tops. There is need to develop this viable piece of land. The community should have the final say when stores come in, not much big box stores, but I am for developing. e. Why did you not come out and meet with the seniors at a candidates forum was held at the 635 Edgewood Senior building? We had a prior commitment; my campaign manager insisted that I could not walk out on those people raising money for me. I know the seniors are having another forum next week, and I must attend. I did not know about the conflict. I support Edgewood, I support seniors, I am a senior, I thank God I still have the energy to knock on the doors. I believe in old fashion politics that is the reason I didnt make the last forum at Edgewood. I was at S.O.M.E. yesterday. I had to cancel another meeting to make C.O.V.E. tonight. Jean called you to make sure you got me in, and I thank you for giving me another chance. Closing statement First of all, thank you all for a second chance. I am a long time residence as I spoke of earlier; I have worked in this Ward for candidates for all campaigns. I know the Ward, I understand the Ward, and I am not running for a job, I have a job, my own business. My background as a businessman, the work Ive done in the Ward with former Mayors and the Council. I bring something different. I believe in diversity and education. I am someone who has stability, honesty, and integrity. I have not received money from strip clubs, marijuana facilities. I support economic development, crime and education, but the most important thing is having someone with the integrity to lead. I have been in Ward 5 for a long time. I am above aboard, I take no campaign favors. One candidate said he helped to build McKinley; he wasnt even in the city. I have worked with Vincent Orange, Tony Williams and others, before I do anything in this Ward that will affect the people, I will come to you and get your opinions, and to learn your concerns.

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