It is critical that the legislative body of our city speak with a strong and proactive voice, to aggressively develop policies and implement ordinances which directly improve the quality of life for every citizen of New Bedford.
- Henry Bousquet

Community Service as a Common Goal

Is it safe to say? The objectives we all share together are; to improve our lives, our families and our homes; to support and grow our business community; and to make New Bedford the jeweled landmark of the South Coast. Below are some of the dynamic solutions discussed by myself and other community leaders. As we try; in our own unique ways to better our community and neighborhoods for the future of our children through the act of donating our time and a little bit of effort. We can all do a little more of that each year.

Take Pride City Wide!

We need to take programs like Operation Clean Sweep and develop them more and get more people involved. Why not a campaign for a cleaner, greener New Bedford? This program can create and nurture an environment of incentive driven homeowners and neighborhood involvement and improvement. Possible incentives might include an on-line poll for most attractive home, yard, and neighborhood with accompanying neighborhood and city-wide recognition, folks of New Bedford can be proud of the hard work they do and pride they take in keeping their homes beautiful.

Ordinance Officers

We should work with our Executive Branch to find funding for dedicated ordinance officers assigned to retail, and densely populated districts across the city. Their areas of responsibility might include litter law enforcement, proper trash storage, public lighting, vagrancy, pan-handling, loitering, and maybe even hours of operation enforcement in certain retail districts. These same officers can help enforce the noise and cleanliness standards across the city as their patrol will focus on already in place ordinances and their enforcement. This will leave the regular police free to patrol as usual without worrying about handling the many nuisance complaints.

Tax Payer as the Consumer

The City worker is one our most valuable assets. It is important for them to have the opportunity to invest in their own professional development. The city might convene workshops for city contractors and employees, stressing customer service and follow through skills. The aim is to improve the taxpayer’s overall experience when dealing with city services of all types.

Term Limits for City Councilors

The city council was not intended to be made up of dynasties, made men, power brokers or lifetime appointees. Public service for lawmakers was always intended to be temporary and to ebb and flow with the changes in public opinion. Some councilors feel they do a good job just by showing up, but I think the council needs fewer experienced councilors and more experienced leaders with some fresh ideas. It is with that intention I would propose a 5 term limit to councilors. Ten years, 5 terms, is plenty long enough to be a city councilor. I suggest we keep the two year election cycles, but limit service to ten years so that it gives a councilor sufficient time to execute a vision and see through a plan. Yet maybe not time enough to dig such a deep encampment that citizens feel overwhelmed and undaunted if they decide to run against someone who is incredibly well financed like, for instance, our 8 and 12 term councilors.

To Be Proactive

Adj. Acting in advance to deal with an expected difficulty; anticipatory; to prepare in advance for.

As a community leader, a public servant, a parent, and a teacher I spend my time wisely to make sure each one of my responsibilities or projects has the best possible chance for success each day. I make sure this can happen by simply planning for it. By being proactive and doing my due diligence before the decisions must be made or in the event something goes awry, I am confident with the decisions I’ll make. Because I know I have read all the up to date information and have been briefed by all the people involved. Even if that requires extra time and effort I make sure to get it done. If you have any questions about my work ethic just ask someone I work with.

Where is the Master Plan?

Twenty five or more years in the making and still nothing cohesive to hang our hats on. I will dig in and get that master plan to you, the taxpayer. Finished or unfinished we need to know where we are in the process. We need to feel more engaged in our future for this city. Right now the city is split into too many factions. South end, north end, downtown; this imaginary division is taking its toll on the city and its sense of community. We need to feel like one united group of citizens. Realizing this plan could have that ability to excite the people of New Bedford to rally behind it. So I say, let us see it. Publish it on the web and in the paper.

Questions, comments, suggestions? Agree or disagree with me on any of this? Post to one of my blogs and let’s discuss…