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Ruth Marshall - Candidate Opening Statement

Thank you for inviting me to this forum. I am excited to be running for Council Member of Ward 5. I am a candidate out of the Queens Chapel community in DC. I am the former President of the DC Federation of Civic Associations. I was trained to be active in civic duties and raised to take care of family, thats what I am all about. I first considered running two years ago because I was disenchanted with the Council Member at that time, but was restricted due to the need to care for my mom, now I have the opportunity to do so. I look forward to talking to you and hearing some of the questions you have. I dont have academics, due to family situations, I did not go back to get my degree, but I have a vast amount of life experiences that will go well with my leadership as Council Member. 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? One of the challenges of our area, but exists in all neighborhoods when economic development comes, is often long-time residents, who contribute to the neighborhoods, dont get hired to work on development projects. I will ensure that City Council addresses hiring thats beneficial to residents. A lot of time when you look at the work force on these developments, they dont reflect the persons who live in the community. There is the First Source ruling, but it is not effective. Mayor Gray is working on amending the 1st source rule; I do know that the rule has a hole big enough to drive a truck through it, the rule declares that developers must hire 51% of all hires; but now developers come and bring their own workers. Also I will work to ensure that residents are job ready. City Council members must inform citizens of jobs and allow training for job readiness. FOLLOW-UP a. What kind of businesses would you encourage, and conversely, what kinds would you seek to limit or restrict? The businesses I think should be services, arts, things that are tied to education; because we are in Ward 5 and tied to the largest land area, it is often open to strip clubs, medicinal marijuana facilities; the bottom line is we need to change the zoning laws, to disallow what we call Loos Loos, strip clubs and marijuana facilities. 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? New arrivals, they do feel safer because of the police presence, bike patrols; other areas dont have such visibility. I think when a police officer lives in the community; they dont come off as presenting a police state and is known. The point is the lack thereof, makes citizens more conducive to criminal behaviors. FOLLOW UP: a. With the recent Marijuana Cultivation/Distribution Centers, How will you address the need for substance abuse treatment?
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We need more facilities to address substance abuse, whether its alcohol, tobacco. Some people would like to get out of it, but dont know where to go, I thing that if we better educated citizens on the harm it does and how to Let go of addictions, such as alcohol and drugs, that would be a good way to help them. Moderator: What is meant by Let go? Marshall - Let go is how to get out of addictive behaviors, get over stigmas (what people think and say) and find resources. b. How will you combat truancy? The first thing, I would do is to look at the school curriculum. Sometimes students dont feel connected to school curriculums. I say that because I raised my niece who experienced disconnection because she did not want to be there due to the curriculum, I would drive her there and watch her go into the school, but, she would leave. Also, we need to get a partnership with Metro to ensure our children have transportation and are not late? We have to answer these questions. 3. 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? I would like to really see community training centers, meaning when I worked with United Way and the White House, they had this program Opportunity Youth for young people who had dropped out and did not want to go to school. We need to use resources we have, such as empty buildings which can be used as wrap-around centers and develop programs for youth, drop outs and young adults. FOLLOW UP: a. What is your position on the tension between regular public schools and the public charter school movement? I am a public school advocate and lack the understanding of why charter schools take funding, but dont want to be under the rules and regulations of DCPS. To me they behave as private schools they want the Cream of the crop of our students, and then pass on those that dont do what they require to the public school, while they keep the money. What could I do to ease the tension; more communication on a regular basis may help. b. What are your ideas on opening one or more public middle schools in Ward 5? I am totally for middle schools; I think middle schools are important to transitioning from students from elementary to the middle school level. We should have at least three for the size of the Ward. Middle schools are the missing link that prepares the student for transitioning to high school and college. 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? I would hope that they would have much more consideration for the people who live there. I think we would have to engage in traffic calming, i.e. speed humps to decrease traffic flow; I understand they
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are talking about expanding the rail system over on H Street, we definitely have to increase public transportation that coincides with the needs of the community, this would work toward diminishing Gridlock. As it relates to the McMillan development and traffic, I have not really focused on this development, I would like to know, if you could tell me what are they doing with it now? I really dont know, is the project ready to go now? Moderator - Basically, they are looking at retail spaces, townhouses, condos, parks with a focus on green space. Marshall I really have not thought about that, thats why I asked, because they have been talking about this for years. I believe that if they are going to develop, they need to do a traffic study and then put in traffic calming. From what you are saying, the problem would be the same as before they want all of that stuff there that would create traffic concerns, the same as long ago. [Audience Questions] a. What is your position on speed cameras? If a police is there, he is there for your safety; if a camera is there, it is there for money. I believe that if a camera was there, residents should have to follow speed limits, however, they need to reduce the fines for offenses. I believe the constituents should have input. Recently, it was raining, I went through a light because I couldnt see, if a police was there, he could have warned me. If residents know in advance, they are likely to follow rules and reduce speed limits, they need to know when cameras are coming and where; the fees for violations also need to be reduced. b. If elected which Committee would you like to chair? I would like to chair the Public Service Commission, I forget the name of the Committee, but the Public Service is on there. I tell you every time I turn around the utility companies are increasing rates; its unconscionable with such poor service. c. How would you hold school officials accountable for truancy on all levels, and what oversights would you put in place? First of all when the police officers bring kids back to school from truancy let me share my personal story, I used to drop off my niece to school and watch her go into the school, but she did not attend school on many days; when the police brought her back to school, they would not have had a record of her absence, I dont really think they keep good records. I think they have to all be held accountable at the top, the Principal and each police officer would have to give a report, these records should coincide. d. How would you get recreational centers to become more functional? I used to volunteer for the North Michigan rec center, but there werent many volunteers. I dont know if we should pay stipends, but I do know that the kids feel safer, and we have to beef up volunteering. Increase the number of recreational centers, increase volunteers, particularly with adults, this tends to make the environment feel safer, provide maximum care and programs are better utilized. Closing Statement These have been good questions. I am running to change the paradigm of past and present leadership. I worked with Vincent Orange, I thought he was good, and Harry Thomas, I know him personally, but it seems that often people forget why they are voted into office. I am a good candidate, concerned,
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and mature. I am already active in the community, and I want to be involved with constituents. Constituents need to stop voting in the same personality, those with the most money into office, money doesnt vote and dont care if your trash is not picked up, your streets are fixed. Look at me as an alternative I want to be your servant.

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