Candidate Q&A: Lisa Lewis
Office sought: Davenport, 4th Ward
What are the most significant challenges facing neighborhoods? How would you address them?
Davenport's established residential neighborhoods are experiencing a slow but steady erosion. The 4th Ward in particular is at a crossroads, and I believe that the decisions we make and the actions we take in the next five to 10 years will determine whether we preserve our "good" areas or allow them to go downhill. We're starting to see as many "For Rent" signs on single-family homes as "For Sale" signs, and that should be a wake-up call.
We have to be proactive if we're going to turn this around, but also diligent and thorough when crafting policy. For example, the recent unanimous council vote creating loopholes for rent-to-own properties is bad policy and cannot stand. Likewise, we need to restore the Neighborhood Enhancement Office to ensure timely, professional inspection of rental properties and efficient removal of debris and other eyesores. We have to encourage good landlords while we hold the slumlords accountable for their actions. No more political handouts for those who don't have the city's best interests at heart.
Programs such as 100 Homes are a step in the right direction, but we need to do more to revitalize our housing stock — north of Locust Street as well as south. It's time for someone to do the right thing and be a true advocate for homeowners and taxpayers in the 4th Ward. I will do just that by stepping up and working with others to improve our quality of life in west Davenport.
What's most important, providing basic services or adding amenities for residents and visitors? What approach would you take?
Both are important, but one can't come at the expense of the other.
Davenport's population growth has flat-lined, and while the cost of providing basic services increases annually, the number of us splitting the bill remains the same. If it costs more to live here than in one of the surrounding communities and we don't offer any more bang for the tax buck, it's only natural that we'll continue losing current and potential residents to other towns. So while we need to keep pace with other cities in order to compete for visitors and convention business, I still believe that the best "amenity" we can offer is high quality basic services. We must do more to compete with the bedroom communities for residents — and current taxpayers deserve the best value for their dollar in terms of city services, schools and infrastructure, too.
The first step in putting our tax dollars to better use is cutting wasteful spending, and I will be aggressive on this issue. I know we can do more with the same money, and we must find creative ways to attract new residents and tourists without breaking the bank.
What are the city's most important infrastructure needs?
No one can argue that our aging sewer system needs attention — and nowhere is this need more obvious than in the 4th Ward. Something must be done to put an end to the drainage and flooding problems that plague our neighborhoods. We need to complete the West Diversion Tunnel project, and look for other opportunities to increase economic and population growth in west Davenport.
We also need to focus serious attention on our residential streets and alleyways. Again, we can't expect to compete with other cities for homeowners when so many streets in our middle-class neighborhoods are in need of repair. Sometimes a patch isn't enough, and it's time we gave the taxpayer added value in this area. And as rough as some of our alleys can be on our personal vehicles, it is wasteful and short-sighted on the city's part to be sending our new sanitation trucks up and down these dilapidated, pothole-ridden roads every day.
Davenport also needs to focus on developing a more competitive fiber optic, broadband and wireless infrastructure. Other cities are way ahead of us on this one, and we can't afford to be left in the dust.
How would you approach economic development?
While I support the growth and development in our downtown and northeast areas, I believe it is well past time for the city and the chamber to help support and improve our older, more established business corridors.
In the 4th Ward, we need to develop the area along Hickory Grove Road, in order to encourage more light industry — and attract more good-paying, middle-class jobs. We also need to beautify and update Five Points and the Locust Street business corridor, and we must give some attention to improving Washington Street south of Locust. This is an area on the National Historic Register, which makes its deterioration all the sadder and our responsibility all the greater.
Finally, we need to challenge the city — and DavenportOne — to make our homegrown and smaller businesses a higher priority. In plain English, we need to find a way to offer tangible support to our mom-and-pops just as we do with the mid-sized and larger companies. While we absolutely need to attract and sustain as much of a corporate tax base as possible, we must also encourage and sustain as many local entrepreneurs as we can. Of course, a community of this size needs the big-box retailers and should take on all the industry and tech centers we can handle, but a thriving local economic community is equally vital. It is a global marketplace for everyone today — not just big business — and that makes it much harder to survive, let alone grow.
Does the city have enough police officers? Are they deployed properly? What is the council's role in promoting public safety?
The council's role in promoting public safety is a critical one, and I believe there is vast room for improvement. In recent years, we've seen council members express strong support for public safety at election time, then turn around and vote not to fund it. This sort of hypocrisy must become a thing of the past.
As a victim of crime, I know firsthand how important it is that a 911 call be responded to quickly. As an active community policing volunteer in Chicago (and stepdaughter to a retired state trooper), I've also learned how frustrating it is for the police when they are unable to respond as fast as they should. I've met with Davenport patrol officers and union officials and listened to their concerns, and there can be no doubt that we need more cops on the beat and fewer of them doing civilian work. The new police chief will need the support of council to restructure the department in such a way that academy trained officers are not stuck behind a desk or answering phones — and the city council needs to step up to the plate and help find the funding required to keep the city safe.
We need to expand community policing — and reenergize the NETS and VIPS programs. I would also support restoring our Street Crimes Unit and would work to develop a dedicated beat officer program for our most challenged neighborhoods, so residents can establish a productive, ongoing relationship with the department.
How would you handle situations in which you disagree with another council member or members? Or does it matter?
Years of experience serving on large national boards and committees has taught me that the first step in building consensus is identifying common ground. My approach to resolving conflict is simple — stay focused on the issue, and work the problem on the table. It's to be expected that folks will vigorously oppose one another's ideas from time to time, and dissent is essential to a healthy democracy. But damage is done when people put personalities and politics before policy and progress.
I am fortunate in this race to be supported by people with many different points of view, perspectives and political affiliations. I know how to build bridges, resolve conflicts and find win/win solutions to problems. As a group, the next city council must be held accountable for finding consensus on its own. We should not be permitted to take every vote to impasse, expecting the mayor to break the tie. Factional voting and political posturing have done a great deal of harm to the city and it can't continue. We've got to restore respect in city hall — and it's up to the voters to elect people of good will who can come together in good faith for the common good.
Should the Isle of Capri take over the RiverCenter South? If not, what should the city encourage the Isle to do?
No — at this time, I see no reason to allow the Isle of Capri to move its Davenport operation into the RiverCenter. That said, we can't throw the baby out with the bath water and must remember that the gaming industry casts a large shadow in our community. The monies returned through the Riverfront Development Authority are not small or easily replaced, and the Isle employs a great many of our friends and neighbors. This issue has to be handled with great care, and we must look at the situation from all sides before making a decision on how to proceed.
The next council should address this matter immediately, and not wait for the clock to run down on the license. We must be proactive and offer solutions of our own, as opposed to just sitting back and waiting for the Isle to bring proposals for us to approve or reject.
The solution might be found in relocating the Isle of Capri near the interstate, or in shopping the license to other gaming companies. But if we go that route, we have to look well beyond those companies who already have a footprint in this market (and that includes the Meskwaki tribe — Tama is too close.)
Whether we continue to do business with the Isle or one of their competitors, our message should be loud and clear: Davenport will not play second banana to other properties. We're nobody's loss leader.
What is your vision for Davenport?
I believe that all the challenges we face are connected, and positive action in one area will lead to improvement in others: better infrastructure plus well-maintained homes equals a lower crime rate and better quality of life. It's time for the 4th Ward to experience tangible improvement in all these areas, but we have to act now to reverse the current trends. I'm running because it's time for positive change — in this ward and all of Davenport.
We have a lot to be proud of — if you've ever played tour guide and experienced Davenport through a visitor's eyes, you know what I mean. Yet every day I see possibilities for growth and room for improvement. I will work to restore pride in our established residential neighborhoods and business corridors. I'll help us pull together as a community to make Davenport more attractive for employers and encourage a greater variety of economic growth and development. A few years from now, I want Davenport to be the city people are moving to instead of the city people are moving away from.
When I was growing up, this was one of the best places in the country to raise a family and put down roots. I am proud of my hometown and will do whatever it takes to see to it that we get that reputation back. I am excited at the chance to work with others from across the city to restore Davenport's dignity and expand our opportunities.