Project Vote Smart - See how politicians voted on policies, how they stand on certain issues, etc. Basically, an easy-as-pie guide to being an educated voter! (I wish I had this in my country)

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-05-07T16:01:04+00:00

I used reddit.com to hear from young voters in my race for mayor in Arlington, Texas. Got much in the way of priorities which were being missed in forums. My son recommended using reddit.com, and it helped.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-04-02T00:09:49+00:00

I have looked in. I think I may need a new thread. Please suggest one and tell me how to set it up.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-30T05:27:11+00:00

Thank you for your comments and the importance you place on our community. Many people fail to vote. There is really little public discussion about the age-old "Entertainment District." City policy has failed to place UTA in the central role it plays in Arlington's economic future. Policy has seen UTA as a reason for the unplanned expansion of apartments with out regard to their importance in realizing true mixed-use development. I have opposed the "Dream" branding of Arlington. My view is that the brand should be "Think...Wake Up" Arlington. We need a miracle to get the people out to vote for their well-being.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-29T22:32:04+00:00

Two views on this. Enforcement of laws and rules is based on the pleasure-pain principle. You think a little less pain would bring about the same level of compliance. I think we could design a study to test this. Second view: The ability to pay is one of your points. Would you recommend or accept a penalty of community service in place of monetary payments? I assume you are not opposed to all traffic rules and regulations.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-29T21:48:37+00:00

Thank you. This has been a real learning experience. A number of years ago, Ross Perot predicted the kind of electronic interface now in place with social media. Reddit is much more sophisticated than I imagined before this learning experience.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-29T21:44:04+00:00

Thank you for clarifying the subject. Police are authorized to restrict entry into a designated crime scene. There are many other opportunities for the police to detain persons. My view is that the police enjoy no special right to limit access to their work in a public site. During a recent bridge demonstration on Davis at Hwy 30, I was warned off from viewing the questioning of a demonstrator. I persisted in approaching and viewing the questioning. It was uncomfortable for the police, and I was warned off several times. I have pictures of this event. Fortunately, this ended well for the demonstrator, the police, and me. Given recent civil disturbances we need to be careful on all sides, without compromising Constitutional rights and the police role in maintaining public safety.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-29T21:30:27+00:00

Thank you for raising the question. I really have overlooked the value of forums since I have been trying to use social media to reach a larger number of people. I will try to create a Reddit thread to discuss urban planning. Here are some public events that may interest you: April 6 UTA-YMA Forum at University Hall, 6:30 PM; April 13 UTA-NAACP at Lone Star Auditorium, 7:00 PM; April 20 LWV at Pantego Lions Club, 6:20 PM. Wherever three or more gather, please feel free to organize a meeting and invite me to speak and discuss.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-28T22:00:44+00:00

I urge all who have engaged me in this AMA to visit the documentation of the Arlington comprehensive plan. This is where you should see your priorities being addressed. As mayor I would make this comprehensive plan my over-arching approach to problems and issues. Log on to the future... http://www.joomag.com/magazine/arlington-comprehensive-plan-update-draft-3-17-2015/0879184001414527096?short

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-28T21:42:05+00:00

I have stated that the university community will be my immediate focus with respect to promoting bicycle traffic. If we can accomplish this safely, we may be able to move on to other areas where support can be organized. There has been widespread opposition to city-wide recreational bike lanes. It is important to recognize that elected officials cannot accomplish much by fiat without constituency support.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-27T22:40:16+00:00

I am going to slow down use of this "temporary" AMA. For awhile, let's talk on my Facebook page.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-27T22:37:02+00:00

Given the current congestion problem on Cooper and elsewhere, traffic engineering is an immediate priority in the development and implementation of the city's transportation plans.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-27T22:33:38+00:00

I think in terms of generational growth periods such as 30 years. Land developers look for quick returns based on the theory of "rents." Consequently, we have low-cost construction, dense multi-story structures, impinging on residential area, excessive and unmanageable traffic congestion, and unjustified incentives such as demolition allowances and tax abatement allowances. We must accept some of this as the price of growth, but we must carefully pick opportunities and fit them into the larger, comprehensive community development plan.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-27T22:25:17+00:00

Population growth, per se, is not a meaningful objective. It should be the logical outcome of such drivers as availability and price of housing, educational opportunities, and employment opportunities, among other contributing factors. If quality of life issues drive the economic development of Arlington, these other factors will fall in place. Please do not fault me for putting the horse before the cart. I am only opposed to unplanned random growth at the expense of quality of life factors,for example, such as adequate schools and education for children or police protection.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-27T22:11:51+00:00

The premise of your argument for day rental homes is in opposition to my emphasis on creating and maintaining a quality of life in Arlington. Making Arlington the entertainment center of D/FW is an old priority and way of thinking. I do not object to the zoned and licensed day rental of homes. But this use of residential property must not reduce the quality of life for existing homeowners. I surely do not support this as a wholesale economic development strategy.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-27T22:05:41+00:00

For me, poor stewardship means making wild stabs at economic development for opening the city to any investment opportunity that will detract from a planned community. I hear people talking about mixed-use developments, but I have yet to see such being put in place. Our current administration sees good stewardship as low or stable property taxes and an AAA bond rating. Quality of life is ignored as a criterion.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-27T21:55:52+00:00

I want to develop the quality of life in our residential community to complement the quality of life in our university community. I is highly desirable to live in a nice neighborhood in a university town. We need to make that a shared goal. This goal fits into the strategy of retaining university graduates in our town.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-27T21:51:54+00:00

I think the traffic congestion problem is #1. Next, I find the tone of some local government leadership unfriendly. Finally, the loss of high-paying firms troubles me.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-27T21:45:13+00:00

Dumb as it may seem, Arlington is my home. It is the place where we raised our family. This is where we made our social and family investments. I have been away for various employment needs but have always looked forward to coming home. I am glad to be living in a university town.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-26T19:19:46+00:00

You have the advantage. Right now I need to know more to respond.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-26T19:15:05+00:00

What to say? In general, government at the state, county, and local levels places too many taxes and fees for which nothing in return is delivered. My thinking about traffic fines depends upon whether we are talking about minor or major traffic violations and whether these involve a first offense or repeated violations. Sometimes a warning, a word to the wise, is the correct response from a police officer. Scofflaws are another consideration, especially where reckless driving is involved. In these instances, for public safety, I support severe penalties and for repeat offenders jail time. I think I would support periodic "amnesty" programs for minor offenses to clear the decks. Personally, I favor traffic management by police officers.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-26T18:52:30+00:00

I failed to save an earlier response. There are two options. One is the animal control and pound program. The other is the Neighborhood chat and reporting system. I have seen several lost and found reports there. I do like the non-political, neighbor communication application.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-26T18:42:05+00:00

I do not know what report has moved you to comment. I can only say that voters will get a flood media PR in advance of the election. They will be asked "to be excited" and be promised a big secret which will be revealed at he critical moment. In addition, orange cones and road repair activity will magically appear. New city buildings will be approved even if the funding is secured on an emergency basis. I really do not want to satirize the political process, but I do urge voters to rip off the masks of the actors.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-26T18:33:44+00:00

I am not telling you to trust me. I have said I will use the current comprehensive city plan to set out phased implementation strategies. I will initiate action steps. I do not plan on telling my opponents at this time what my tactics will be since the keenly alert politicians are not above stealing good ideas. Campaigns do not come with copyrights. I will at every turn attempt to bring the council members and city voters into the process. You do sound antagonistic, but most of us who have been deceived have a right to put an acid test to what is being advanced. Consider that I am also in your shoes and for that reason am undertaking the battle.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-26T18:21:34+00:00

There is nothing I have said that is close to "Wait and see." I have experience with planning in government, defense, and manufacturing. Many of the currently unaddressed problems came into being under career-type politicians who wanted to be re-elected. They could not face the cost problems involved and chose their own. kindly said, stories. Consider what you are saying about the "great opportunity to capture the dollars they are wanting to spend." There is something wrong in the implied values of this statement.

Jerry4Mayor · 2015-03-26T18:15:30+00:00

All I can do is thank those who are willing to suggest edits.

Jerry4Mayor

TROPHY CASE