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Travis Knight, the Democrat endorsed to run for the Jamestown City Council in Ward 1, recently replied to three questions posed by The Post-Journal for all council candidates.
Responses by Knight's opponent, Brent Sheldon, ran in an earlier edition of The Post-Journal.
Q: Is there one recurring theme you're hearing from voters as you go door-to-door? How do you think the council can best address those voters' issues?
A: The recurring theme I hear in Ward 1 is improving the sidewalks, curbs, overgrown trees and dilapidated houses in neighborhoods. I feel we have to take a comprehensive approach to address these issues! If there are homes that are beyond repair, do we tear it down and if so can we do it safely, or can it be salvaged? As a council member I want to continue to work on a plan to develop and implement neighborhood grant programs allowing large scale investment in homes in our neighborhoods. We must continue to inform our residents of (ARPA) programs and grants they can use for home improvement. I know residents who are renters that would love to buy a home, we need to give them an opportunity to follow their dream. So it is important to give the residents in wWard 1 especially potential 1st time home buyers a path to buy a house. As the representative councilman of Ward 1, I want to help renters buy.
Q: Homelessness, affordable housing and code enforcement have long been identified as growing problems in the city. What actions do you think the city and the council should take to address these problems?
A: I feel we have to look at the problem of homelessness addressing why there is more homelessness in our town than ever before. The pandemic really affected the mental health of many in our town. Is the growing homeless caused by loss of income, foreclosure because of the inability to pay bills, loss of job and mental health.
The council has to work with the agencies to help find programs to help people in need.
Build up programs
Help with first-time home buyers
Also, as I mentioned in my previous question, homes that are beyond repair need to be demolished safely if they cannot be saved.
The city and council also need to support code enforcement and create legislation to support violators (overgrown lawns, unkept lawns)
Q: Eight buildings were identified as key redevelopment opportunities in the Urban Design Plan. Three of those parcels have found new tenants, while five are largely unchanged – the Furniture Mart building, Viking Building, Key Bank Building, the former Craft World and Action Hobbies building on Third Street and storefronts in the Hotel Jamestown. Are you satisfied with the progress made in new futures for those buildings over the past five years and how can the council stimulate development in those areas?
A: I think it's great that some buildings have found tenants:The Beer Snob- a long term tenant, Hotel Jamestown is occupied, craft world is privately owned, Key Bank is privately owned, but it's important to stimulate development in the remaining areas. The council can offer incentives working with city developers to revitalize our city. We have to remember our city 5 years ago is different from today's post pandemic economy. We have to collaborate with agencies to come up with creative ways to revitalize downtown Jamestown.