There’s only three seats available, but six candidates are running for the At-Large positions on the Jamestown City Council.

The candidates include incumbent Kim Ecklund, who is endorsed by the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties; Tamu Graham-Reinhardt, who is endorsed by the Democratic, Independence and Working Families parties; Gregory Rabb, who is endorsed by the Democratic, Independence and Working Families parties, Jeff Russell, who is endorsed by the Republican and Conservative parties; Taylor Scott, who is endorsed by the Democratic and Working Families parties, and Ravan Mason Thompson, who is endorsed by the Libertarian Party.

In August, Greg Lindquist, who was endorsed by the Republican and Conservative parties, announced that he was no longer campaigning for the position due to personal circumstances.

The Post-Journal asked each candidate still running two questions.

Question: What can the City Council do to encourage neighborhood improvement efforts on the part of landlords and tenants in Jamestown?

Ecklund: Jamestown took a great first step in addressing this concern and relationship with the landlord registration that has already been implemented with good results to date. Along with this it is imperative that all lines of communication remain open through in person, on line and any other way possible. With the current percentage of rental versus single family homes at a 52-48% rental, it is imperative to continue to evaluate, expand and even improve any area where necessary. The City Council serves as the legislative body of government so the day-to-day enforcement and or encouragement will have to lie in the already over taxed Department of Development. However, the best chance for success and improvement is involving all participants to be a part of the solution and find ways that will help incentivize not only the tenants to take pride but also some opportunity for landlords. Programs such as the (Jamestown Renaissance Corp.) community building grants and the lead abatement programs as well as taking pride and incentivizing landlords and tenants will also help.

Graham-Reinhardt: Continue to seek out funds through neighborhood stabilization grants to stabilize neighborhoods that have suffered from foreclosures and abandonment. Through the purchase and redevelopment of foreclosed and abandoned homes and residential properties, we can start to see a resurgence in affordable housing in properties that are in need of repair. Increased communication to city constituents about how to report properties in need of inspection and/or improvement could assist those homeowners and their neighbors in increased care and attentiveness to properties in their neighborhoods

Rabb: Landlords who try to do the right thing to provide adequate housing to tenants, many of whom are at or below the poverty level, have a difficult time making an adequate profit to stay in the business and that’s what housing is, a business. I am a former landlord who left the business because at best I was breaking even, even in the good years. We need to provide incentives (both policy and financial through partnership with nonprofits and banks) to encourage landlords to improve their properties, but the incentives cannot come from property tax credits as that simply shifts the tax burden to other property owners … the “stick” of building code enforcement without the carrot of incentives is simply ineffective. We need to increase home ownership by working with partner nonprofit agencies as well as local banks (through the Community Reinvestment Act), of which we have many, to develop new, affordable, singly family “infill” housing in our neighborhoods (requiring a change in current land use policies) owned by their occupants, which would give people a “stake” in the future of our city and their neighborhoods. Our future demands a city of homeowners but the City Council cannot do it alone.

Russell: As a retired Jamestown police officer, I can attest that the JPD can do more to coordinate with the Department of Development(DOD) with more DOD violation notices. There is an established relationship between JPD and the DOD with serious violations, however, a more proactive involvement with JPD on minor DOD violations would aid in ensuring that neighborhood residential violations are addressed in a more timely fashion. I am proposing a city task force be formed consisting of DOD inspectors, a liaison officer from JPD and a heavily involved corporation counsel. The long term residents are deserving of effective enforcement of the current laws and codes that will ensure and protect their property values.

Scott: In my opinion it’s up to the council to be the leaders in not only implementing, but encouraging and educating our community in programs available to improve and develop our neighborhoods. If we could create a rental registration system that would provide incentives for landlords to improve and maintain their properties that would maximize compliance to create safe and healthy neighborhoods. I currently sit on the Healthy Housing Task Force and we are exploring ways for the city and private sector to reward responsible landlords as well as educate the community on issues surrounding lead poisoning and how to move forward with abatement to keep our children safe. Through this task force, I hope I’m able to implement a plan to provide access to a revolving low interest city loan for small repairs, provide free advertising for cooperating landlords, discounted rates on goods with local merchants for complying with our program and finally provide complimentary liaisons for one on one support via attorney or police officer for issues surrounding property management.

Thompson: I have recently been on a rent collection run with city landlords. It is a direct way to stay connected with the vast number of tenants/landlords in our community. I believe it should be every council member’s responsibility to routinely see firsthand the landlord/tenant relationship to best determine policies and practices set by our governing body that can better the relationship. The Department of Development/housing’s neighborhood improvement activities could use such firsthand knowledge from the City Council, to establish an effective advocacy council for tenants, landlords and property owners. Efforts as, quarterly landlord/tenant/property owner advocacy meetings and active involvement by the City Council through citywide rent collection runs, can more effectively enforce the appropriate rights/responsibilities of both landlord and tenant, helping to improve governing citywide relations.

Question: If money was no object, what policies or programs would you pursue to bring more businesses to downtown Jamestown or encourage additional foot traffic at downtown businesses?

Ecklund: With the recent improvements and growth in downtown Jamestown, I truly feel that we are just beginning to embark on our potential and path for our future. Policies and programs that will encourage the mixed and adaptive reuse of the current infrastructure as well as expand the current entertainment events and festivals will be an additional asset and having them as best as we can given our weather etc for outside events (tap into current facilities for indoor). The use of current infrastructure as well as the availability of funding to improve our existing buildings will encourage small business expansion, small commercial development and offices that will generate not only foot traffic but also revenue for the city of Jamestown. The true key is a mixed-use downtown as it will not only bring in new businesses and development, but also build upon our current strengths in what we have with the arts and entertainment as well as dining and staying in our downtown core. Jamestown has been very fortunate to receive many funding initiatives to help spark all of these things and I feel it is imperative to continue to look for future assistance as well as become the place people want to visit, live, work, and do business.

Graham-Reinhardt: To encourage larger businesses into the area, the city will require a viable airport for business travel and/or a reliable and direct train/Amtrack system to deliver commuters or business traveler to minimize business travel time. Revise the business loan program to include mentors training on how to develop solid business plans to include marketing, developing revenue and ways to reinvest in and grow their business. A partnership with the Small Business Development Center at Jamestown Community College may also be a requirement of the program.

Rabb: We need to work with the state to “calm” down the traffic on Washington Street to better connect the two attractors: the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts on the east side and the National Comedy Center and Northwest Ice Arena on the west end. We need an attractive, centrally located multi-use staffed transit center with an indoor waiting room providing easy connections between inter-city buses, CARTS buses, tourist trolley, dedicated thruway bus to the Amtrak stations in Buffalo and the Buffalo airport, and bicycles including bicycle storage and rentable bicycles. We need to develop some retail geared toward visitors and downtown residents, remembering the downtown is a neighborhood and should be treated as such. We need more housing (new and re-use) options downtown for retirees and professionals including condominiums. We need a permanent 12 month indoor/outdoor farmers’ market, which would also double as a holiday market during the festive holiday season.

Russell: Our community has one of the most cost effective public utility producers (Jamestown Board of Public Utilities) in the state, and those benefits are underutilized with creating incentives to attract new business to our community and downtown area. With the exception of tax barriers, downtown Jamestown has many opportunities to offer. Creating tax incentives to attract businesses that would gradually taper down over a 10-15 year period will provide incentive over areas that are less taxed. One of the primary reasons I am running for the City Council is to bring forth ideas that use our best resources to attract businesses to the community. It is clear that what we have been doing the last two decades have been overall ineffective.

Scott: I’ve been fortunate enough to work in commercial real estate and development right here in downtown Jamestown. Our primary objective is to retain businesses downtown and continue to draw in new sustainable businesses. What we would like to see is more of a diverse residential base downtown paired with an anchor grocery store, promoting walkability. Also reframing our focus to grant money that’s predominantly for structural issues rather then facade (which hinder developers from acquiring properties) while simultaneously creating a culture downtown.

Thompson: Money is the object. It is what drives people downtown to shop and do business. I believe it is the City Council’s responsibility to actively provide equitable policies for tax incentive packages for businesses, to build up downtown traffic. Offering improved tax abatements for example, can bring the added jobs, business development, and expansion that will bring the people that brings the money, downtown.