A “CALL TO ACTION” FOR

THE CITIZENS OF GADSDEN

(2018 CAMPAIGN PLATFORM)
 CAMPAIGN TO ELECT MITCHELL JAMES-MAYOR
A “CALL TO ACTION” FOR
THE CITIZENS OF GADSDEN

CRIME REDUCTION STRATEGIES

Youth Drug Awareness Program
(Adopt an existing program or design our own and coordinate with Gadsden City
Board to teach in local schools)

City-sponsored Youth Activities

(Expanded summer job program, recreational and sports programs)

City-sponsored Drug Rehabilitation

(Unite and organize “faith-based” existing rehabilitation services to develop cost
effective, inexpensive programs)

Deal with the Homeless Issue

(Utilize law enforcement, social services and mental health specialists to
deal with this major issue in our city)

Hire more Police Officers

(Create specialized units to increase police presence, fight property crimes, street
crimes, drug crimes and traffic enforcement)

MUNICIPAL COURT/CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

Evaluate and Monitor CRO and “Color Code” Program

(Scrutinize the local court referral officer program and provide effective oversight
to ensure clients are fairly evaluated and provided treatment as per state law)
 Evaluate and Reform Gadsden Municipal Court System
(Scrutinize and evaluate the municipal court to ensure that victims and
offenders are treated in a manner consist with the “spirit of the law”, while
punishment follows the “letter of the law”)

City of Gadsden Detention Center and Youth Detention Facility

(Public discussion to consider the construction of a municipal jail and/or a youth
detention facility)

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY PLAN

Budget Reduction Plan (2019)
(A “line-by-line” evaluation of the 2018 city budget for the explicit reduction or
removal of unnecessary expenditures)

Lowering of Sales Taxes (Future)

(After lowering our city budget, and lowering our current level of debt, our local
sales taxes should be lowered to 9%)

Lowering of City Occupational Fee (Future)

(After we reduce the city’s expenditures and debt, we should make an attempt to
relieve the taxpayer’s burden caused by unnecessary spending)

LOCAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS

Encourage Support of Local Businesses

(Our city government should encourage citizens to choose locally owned,
small businesses over national chain stores)

Citywide Commercial Development

(Our city government should take an active role in commercial development
of the entire city, not just the riverfront and East Gadsden)
Nationwide Advertisement to solicit New Businesses and Industry
(Our city government should advertise nationally, in an attempt to bring new
business and industries to Gadsden)

Incentives for New Businesses and Industry

(Offer tax incentives, local support for job training and offer unutilized city
properties as locations for new businesses.

Consider recruiting 21st Century and “Tech” Industries

(Robotics, Clean energy generation, I.T. jobs)

LOCAL IMPROVEMENT AND ENRICHMENT PLAN

Citywide Building and Infrastructure

(When funds are available, the city should began to repair or rebuild crumbling
and dangerous city buildings and infrastructure, which includes, but is not limited
to community centers, fire stations, “special needs” upgrades to parks, drainage
systems and streets or roads)

Citywide Neighborhood Clean-Up Program

(As soon as possible, we should initiate a citywide clean-up program, which should
include an “adopt-a-street” program to encourage citizen involvement, along with
a renewed effort towards recycling)

City of Gadsden Aquatic Center (Water Park)

(Public discussion to consider the construction of a public aquatic center/water
park within the city limits of Gadsden)

Neighborhood/Community Food Gardens

(As soon as possible, the city should support and encourage citizens to start
local food gardens in every council district)
 Establishment of Neighborhood Associations
(Assist citizens in forming “neighborhood associations” to give them a
greater voice in how our city is run, and to help them implement changes in
their own communities)

Civic Events and Entertainment

(Air show, River-fest and boat races)

Remove the “Retirement City” Stigma

(The leadership of Gadsden must change the attitude that our town is a
“retirement city”, which over time has hurt our growth; we all know what is
expected to happen after retirement)

“Where there is no vision, the people perish”

PAID FOR BY THE CAMPAIGN TO ELECT MITCHELL JAMES P.O. BOX 4224
GADSDEN, AL 35904