uploaded to flickr by Theresa Thompson
Last week, THIH wrote about the candidate forum for the ANC5B-06 special election that is taking place this Thursday, January 21st, from 7-8:30 PM in the gym at Joseph H. Cole Recreation, 1200 Morse Street, NE. At that forum, I asked the candidates, George Jackson, Tontalya Terceiro-Wright, Thalia Wiggins and Bernice Hall-Gates, to share their platform. Platforms were made available by Wiggins (via Frozen Tropics) and Hall-Gates, so follow the jump to see what they have to say about their goals for the neighborhood.
Thalia Wiggins
Being born and raised in the Trinidad Community has opened my eyes to the needs of its residents. It’s one of the reasons I have helped to start a pet-sitting business with my brothers and to help found the Trinidad-Ivy City Community Garden Club with my like-minded neighbors.
The Residents of 5B06 are starving for both knowledge and change. Phone calls to residents and government representatives to discuss issues are something I am willing to do; I have and will continue to visit my neighbor’s homes to go over problems and solutions, and I am excited to witness the changes to DC happening to us and around us. It will be an honor to bring awareness to my neighbors and to represent them whenever possible.
I can’t stress enough how blessed I am for this opportunity. I am willing to do what it takes to help my neighbors get both the resources and answers they need, as well as making sure there is accountability from those who wish to come to our community to do business or to live.
Wiggins has been endorsed by retiring 5B-06 Commissioner Wihelmina Lawson and Frozen Tropics.
Bernice Hall-Gates
Mission: “Bring Forth Transformation” Emergency services (jobs, job training, GED, rental and utility payments, food, clothing, furniture, housing assistance, community development, etc.)
Objective: “Reform the Current Culture” of crime, repeated offenses, unemployment, lack of education, lack of job skills, lack of appropriate elder/child care and ex-offender re-entry.
Goals:
1. Bridge the gaps between the community and its resources and benefits.
2. Change the culture through courage, compassion and commitment.
3. Provide effective and efficient wrap around quality care coordination of social services and social justice to the citizens of Ward 5.
4. Generate: emergency services, e.g., jobs, job training, rental payments, utility payments, food, clothing, furniture, housing assistance, GED and college enrollment.
5. Restore and reposition the community (One Church, One Family, One Man, One Woman, One Youth, One Child, One School and One Business at a time.)