Mott Park holds mayoral debate

Mayor Dayne Walling and mayoral contender Darryl Buchanan squared off in a question and answer session at the Mott Park Neighborhood Association meeting Oct. 3.

In their opening statements, both candidates acknowledged Flint is facing tough times.

"It saddens my heart to see Mott Park the way it is today," Buchanan said. "You deserve a safe neighborhood like the one you had when I was growing up in Flint. Then you had adequate police protection and the golf course was open. Ask yourself, are you better off now than you were two years ago?"

Walling said the city is facing tough challenges and he is not hiding from answering tough questions.

"This is the toughest time our nation faced since the Great Depression," Walling said. "In the face of the economic downturn my administration has generated new initiatives to transform the city in the 21st century." Walling said. "The blight on the East Side has been demolished, General Motors has stepped up investment and Buick City is being cleaned up. We've gotten 60 public safety positions from competitive grants."

Then the candidates turned to issues such as crime and economic development.

The first question dealt with handling public safety with limited tax revenues.

Buchanan said he'd put the sergeants, lieutenants and captains on the streets along with the chief.

"That would increase our police force by 30 without spending a dime," Buchanan said. He said he would work to reduce police response time and pursue grants for the fire department.

Walling countered saying the front line officers are already on the street and so is the chief.

"What we need is a crime fighting system. We don't have space at the jail or enough prosecutors. Offenders plea-bargain their way out and turn around and go right back to what they were doing. We need a public safety system that works from top to bottom," Walling said.

Asked about creating jobs with livable wages, Walling pointed to Diplomat Pharmacy and the construction jobs at Hurley and McLaren hospitals.

"It's a slow process. It's going to take a long time to achieve a balanced and diverse economy," Walling said.

He pointed to the new GM jobs and the Smith Village development as positive improvements.

Buchanan hit Walling on the Smith Village development, saying that the prefabricated homes there were built in Indiana -— not in Flint.

"Thirty percent of the work force on this project was supposed to be local. I would have fought to find a prefabricated home builder in this region. We need to take care of the home front," Buchanan said.

The candidates were asked what plans they have for collaborating with schools for recreation opportunities for young people.

Buchanan pointed to the high truancy rate and said his priority would be to decrease it with the court's participation.

"We need to get kids back in school. Look at what Prosecutor David Leyton is doing with Project Chalkboard. We need programs like that," Buchanan said.

Walling replied that he has done a lot of work with schools. When he took office the Haskell Youth Center's doors were locked.

"Today the doors are open and the center is a safe haven for youths in a very troubled area," Walling said.

Recycling is a major concern of Mott Park residents. They established their own recycling program several years ago.

"What are your plans for recycling?" President Chris Monk asked the candidates.

"That's a tough issue," Walling replied. "Our sanitation budget is 60 percent of what it was three years ago. The weekly garbage pickup is subsidized by the general fund. The sanitation service is being challenged by our economy."

Buchanan argued that Walling didn't follow the deficit plan that was laid out after the state appointed takeover.

"There was $900,000 a year designated for sanitation. You didn't follow the plan," he said.

Asked what role the Neighborhood Stabilization Fund (NSF) would play in Mott Park, Buchanan said the funds should be used for blight removal and rehabilitating rentals.

Walling said that city used the NSF funds to demolish more than 600 structures last year and to reinstate the blight control office.

Asked where each candidate stood on street and sidewalk repair, Walling said that sidewalk repairs were in the hands of Flint City Council.

"Council members will take responsibility for their wards," Walling said. "They will approve a list of sidewalk and street repairs. Under city ordinance, homeowners are responsible to fix their own sidewalks."

Buchanan took a different view asking why homeowners should be responsible for sidewalks and streets when in Smith Village the developers are responsible. He also said that the city paved 31 miles of streets each year under prior administrations, but under the Walling administration only nine miles of streets have been paved.

The future of the Mott Park golf course was the last question.

Buchanan said that the course should have never been closed because it was a moneymaking operation. He said he recommended partnering with Kettering to lease the course.

Walling said that he is working hard to get the course leased to a nonprofit community organization.

In other matters Councilman Sheldon Neeley (Ward 6) reported that the Mott Park golf course negotiations with the newly formed local group are at a standstill. He said that property values surrounding the course have fallen faster than others and that's its imperative the course be opened again — even if for a different use.

Neeley introduced Diana Phillips, Kettering University chemistry professor, who he asked for an assessment of the Rowe Engineering water study endorsing the Lake Huron pipeline. Phillips said the study was comparing apples to oranges when looking at the costs of using Flint River water versus lake water via the pipeline. She said the Flint River was a viable option and a less costly one.

Five homeowners received $50 gift certificates as part of the association's home beautification contest held on their Facebook page.

Sandra McKellar reported a $600 profit from Art in the Park and the continuation of recycling the first Saturday of the month.

The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 5. No location was set.