By Edward Okpa Â
Many people are curious as to why I should be elected as mayor of the City of Dallas.
Two words – Servant Leadership. I have been involved and served our citizens through the public sector as well as a successful business owner in the private sector. I implemented a $50M real estate project on Main Street in Dallas which consists of 185 apartment units and 30,000 square feet of retail space. And I am a Community Bridge Builder who knows the tough issues facing Dallas. I serve on several boards, including the Dallas Permit and License Appeal Board and Chair for the Business and Economic Development Committee to give a voice to citizens of Dallas who would not have one otherwise to effect change in their communities. I received the Samuel G. Winstead Award for raising more than $1 million for Park South YMCA. I have led with and without authority to build consensus among my colleagues, working together to bring about transformational, not just transactional, change for the citizens of our city.
My main concern for the citizens of Dallas is simple – No neighborhood left behind.Â
First, I want to ensure that we transform Dallas from the inside out. The morale of the city- police, fire, citizens, and taxpayers is down. You have half a million people living in the Southern Sector without the very simple amenities afforded to other areas – no movie theater, no restaurants, no Fedex Office Kinkos, no Container store. We have to address this issue and organically develop all of our neighborhoods so ‘No neighborhood is left behind’. For example, the area surrounding the VA hospital in the Southern Sector requires high density development to attract residents and appeal to employees similar to the development surrounding the Parkland Hospital area and take advantage of the transit line.
Achieving this means a gallant effort on the part of the city council and citizens working together as one. My PhD (Passion, Hardwork, and Determination) along with city council will help Dallas be the best city for its citizens first and then for others and as someone who understands the needs of all citizens, I will create transparency in our local government and an open door policy.
Secondly, I will implement a budget initiative that seeks to minimize conducts and practices that enhance deficit and bloated budgetary practices. I will ensure that lay-offs are only an absolute last resort and cuts are only done when a service is not needed. Since most in America adjust to changing times and most will not lay off their spouse or children because times are tough, the city must apply such austere [belt tightening] measures in dealing with public resources. I will seek to reduce redundancy in the budget to whereby it is no more than 5% as opposed to 15% that is typical in most municipal budgets and it gets wider as the budget amount increases and initiate deficit cushioning measures that will be used to fund budget shortfalls which will minimize incessant tax hikes and increases.
Thirdly, I will seek to ensure public safety for everyone. Police officers living within the city limit will bolster police work and reduce crime in city they live. When officers of the Police Force live within the city, their presence will reduce costs associated with majority of them driving more than 40 miles to work and help Dallas neighborhoods. If we pursue a citizen backed program, so all members of the police rank and file live within the city, the revenue that will accrue from their real estate and sales taxes, will add a tremendous amount to the city. Most major cities in US seek and demand that their officers live in the city they police, because the presence of police officers reduces crime. It will not be a demand but an opportunity to provide an incentive to police officers willing to live in Dallas. He asks “What do you do when you see a police car on the highway? You slow down and you make a mental check of your vehicles registration date etc’. The same applies to having police live (not patrol) in high crime areas. Dallas will experience a tremendous decline in high crime areas if such an incentive based program is adopted by our police department.
Fourth, I will work with the Dallas Independent School District and the PTA to collaborate on ways to get parents more involved with our children’s educational future. Education is not an equalizer but an enabler. Schools are the ground where new leaders are nurtured. While other candidates feel you can throw money to improve this issue, it is my belief that this is not an issue that can be resolved by money alone. If the parent is not involved, the child will not have an appetite to learn. My goal as mayor is to engage the parent and to create the appetite for the parent to be involved with their child. My leadership is for ‘NOW’ and the ‘future’.
Finally, I will work with small and big businesses to increase Economic Development and Job Creation. There are two factors that weigh in on the discussion about the Economic Development and Job Creation for our city. One is big business-the Fortune 500; the other is small business-the backbone of our country. Eighty-five percent of our tax dollars are generated from small business. Charity begins at home. Before we reach out to try to bring Fortune 500 companies in to assist with our economic development, we need to take care of our own. That means, we patronize our small businesses and provide incentives. As your mayor, my goal is to look into the tax abatement issue which provides incentives for 15% of the businesses who generate over $1,000,000 in annual income. Once we assist in this area, we look at ways to attract big business. In order to attract big business, we need to improve the look of our city as a whole, which includes the Southern Sector. If the eye does not like what it sees, you will not to eat.
Many people talk about endorsements from big names and political action committees, but there are no big fish without the little fish and I have been recommended by the everyday citizen. Dallas citizens have the unique opportunity to elect a man of vision, talent, and influence. I am about bettering Dallas through effective and responsive leadership that connects public needs to business opportunities. I desire to pursue effective neighborhood revitalization and make improvement in programs that unleash the full economic potential of its communities.
I am running for mayor on behalf of the citizens of Dallas. Join the citizens of Dallas and vote #4, Edward Okpa for Dallas Mayor, on May 14.
Learn more at okpa4dallas.com or email info@okpa4dallas.com.
