Mayoral candidate Jordan speaks about UA, Dickson Street
Miles Bryant
Issue date: 10/20/08 Section: News
"I'm very interested in light rail," he said. "Light rail, with one motor, will haul 15,000 riders. A boulevard road will haul 5,000."
Jordan also said he thinks Razorback Transit deserves more money from the city.
"We're giving Razorback Transit, I think, $50,000 a year," he said. "I think we need to give them around $100,000 and really partner with them."
With 38 percent of Fayetteville's population making less than $30,000 a year, Jordan has a plan to shift the middle class. He'd like to train people, through the governor's workforce plan, in green collar jobs and then recruit green companies to come to the city of Fayetteville.
"It elevates the blue-collar workers to a new standard of living, which creates a new middle class in this city, which then creates a disposable income they'll spend back into the community," Jordan said.
For the city park system, Jordan would like to section one-third of city parks into three sections: one section with trees, one section with Arkansas natural grasses and one section with a shared community garden.
"Anybody that wants to can get a piece of this garden," he said. "Either they maintain it or they lose it. They can take a section of this and grow their own food. It creates community."
Jordan also would like to see the new parks planted with a "sustainable" grass that grows five to six inches tall and only requires cutting once a month.
"If we start to sod the new parks in this grass, how much more do we save on gas just mowing once a month instead of once a week?" Jordan asked. "We create a sustainable park."
When it comes to businesses, Jordan's primary concern is keeping local businesses in Fayetteville.
"We've got to keep the local businesses that we have here solid and then recruit the new businesses," he said.
Jordan's most heartfelt answers come from questions about Dickson Street.
"I have not supported large hotels downtown, especially on Dickson Street," he said. "When I was here, Dickson Street was the most unique place in this whole town. It was a melting pot of different cultures and diversity, and different ideas, and free-flowing thought and entertainment.
"I think it defines this city. There's no place like Dickson Street to me, and I'm going to keep it unique; I'm going to keep it like it is."
Jordan also said he thinks Razorback Transit deserves more money from the city.
"We're giving Razorback Transit, I think, $50,000 a year," he said. "I think we need to give them around $100,000 and really partner with them."
With 38 percent of Fayetteville's population making less than $30,000 a year, Jordan has a plan to shift the middle class. He'd like to train people, through the governor's workforce plan, in green collar jobs and then recruit green companies to come to the city of Fayetteville.
"It elevates the blue-collar workers to a new standard of living, which creates a new middle class in this city, which then creates a disposable income they'll spend back into the community," Jordan said.
For the city park system, Jordan would like to section one-third of city parks into three sections: one section with trees, one section with Arkansas natural grasses and one section with a shared community garden.
"Anybody that wants to can get a piece of this garden," he said. "Either they maintain it or they lose it. They can take a section of this and grow their own food. It creates community."
Jordan also would like to see the new parks planted with a "sustainable" grass that grows five to six inches tall and only requires cutting once a month.
"If we start to sod the new parks in this grass, how much more do we save on gas just mowing once a month instead of once a week?" Jordan asked. "We create a sustainable park."
When it comes to businesses, Jordan's primary concern is keeping local businesses in Fayetteville.
"We've got to keep the local businesses that we have here solid and then recruit the new businesses," he said.
Jordan's most heartfelt answers come from questions about Dickson Street.
"I have not supported large hotels downtown, especially on Dickson Street," he said. "When I was here, Dickson Street was the most unique place in this whole town. It was a melting pot of different cultures and diversity, and different ideas, and free-flowing thought and entertainment.
"I think it defines this city. There's no place like Dickson Street to me, and I'm going to keep it unique; I'm going to keep it like it is."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Mark
posted 10/21/08 @ 9:58 AM CST
what a hippie.
D. Gold
posted 10/21/08 @ 3:07 PM CST
Good article!
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