Place 4
Daniel Aleman, Jr.
(incumbent)
Pastor
Number of years in the city: 21
What is the most important issue in your city and how would you solve it?
The most important issue in our city and a top priority in my campaign is public safety and specifically, crime reduction. Citizens want to feel safe in our city and we must be proactive in continuing to move towards that endeavor. In solving this issue, we must continue to do more to get more officers on the streets. Our police department does a great job of investigation and catching criminals. But, our patrol officers need more support on the streets. I support increasing pay and other benefits that would help us better recruit officers and better retain our current officers.
What are some ways that you think city council and residents can do to aid in crime prevention and police transparency?
Some of the ways that city council and residents can aid in crime prevention and police transparency include working with our neighborhood watch groups around our city. Our city has recently added a Neighborhood Vitality Director and this individual will be involved in training more leaders to multiply our neighborhood groups. This is all a part of our Police Chief’s strategy of “community policing” where we multiply the number of eyes and ears around the city and in our neighborhoods with the same goal of crime watch to make it more than difficult to even consider trying to commit a crime in our city. This needs to extend to our commercial retail sectors as well, in developing watch groups for businesses in our city around our local neighborhoods. We must also continue to increase the participation of our citizens in Our Citizen’s Police Academy, and continue to be involved with the Alumni of that same group. We must also increase the interest of our youth and especially those that are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement to join our Police department’s Explorer Program which is designed for the youth of our community. Each one of these programs: Neighborhood Watch Group, The Citizens Police Academy and Alumni, and the Explorers Program are designed to help with police transparency but requires the involvement of the community. One final thought – we must continue to reach out to our minority groups and their involvement in our city with Neighborhood Vitality.
Bike shares have become an increased concern for many residents, how would you propose to remedy this?
The number of bikes being left lying around in our city has been increasing. Seeing these bikes on the ground, leaning on trees, left in a parking lot or on a sidewalk in a neighborhood is definitely a frustration to many residents. I propose that if the bike company is not willing to do more to address this issue, then we need to start charging them for picking up and storing their property.
Do you feel like transportation is an issue in the city? If so, what are your thoughts on resolving it?
Transportation is an issue in our city in regards to public transportation made available to our citizens. A definite top priority in our public transportation is to continue providing transportation for our elderly and our disabled that need that transportation. No question, we must continue to make that available to them. Also, connectivity within our city is a need for shoppers to the mall or other major retail areas and to our Dallas County Community College (Eastfield College) which would help many of our high school graduates and be an asset to the college as well. A solution of a loop around our city for both college students and shoppers that need transportation should be a possible consideration. There are others that use the public transportation to get to work every day. We must take a close look at the options that we have as a council and certainly be good stewards for our city in the transportation that is selected.
Where do you feel the city should focus development efforts – revitalizing downtown or new development?
Our city can and should focus on both revitalizing downtown and new development. Because the economy is strong right now in our city, we are seeing housing developments coming up along the I 20 corridor such as The Bloomfield Homes at Hagin Hills where they sold out their first phase of homes during the summer of last year and there will be a phase 2 and a phase 3. There are also housing development plans that are happening at Ridge Ranch, Heartland, and Polo Ridge (all in District 4 along the I 20 corridor). With these developments and others that will be coming, there are now plans for a new elementary school that will be built and with all the homes that are being built and the population increase in that area….I anticipate major businesses will be coming in along that corridor to meet the needs that are increasing in that area. We are also anticipating the most recent projected date that has been given for the George Bush Freeway, Hwy190 to be extended to I 20 in the year 2027 and that is less than 9 years away. Our economic development is continuing to strengthen. Our city has also recently hired a Downtown Development Manager for our downtown area and is already focusing on revitalizing our downtown area. There is already a family appeal to our downtown area with yearly events that come through, such as “Christmas on the Square,” “Pumpkin Fest”, our annual “Rodeo Parade,” “Kid Fish” at our Downtown Area City Lake Park, and our bi-monthly “Farmers Market On the Square” with “open air music concerts.” But, there is so much more that can be added and our Downtown Area is ready for additional shops on the square, an additional family restaurant like a “Babes” or something similar that would be a major draw into our square for families and more interaction in our community. We can definitely focus on both.
Questions and Answers published by the Mesquite News at Star Local Media on April 19th, 2018.