1994_Resolutions - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Our \mom How we s are the bene5s of our community, whether people feel they have a fair chance to get ahead rather than be left behind, and how well we communicate and Listen to each other are 0 key components a our success. We seek to reduce the problems of crime and drugs and to make every citize comfortable and secure about their personal safety. We seek to increase the opporcunitie: available to those who today have the least and to promote self-reliance. We seek to provide housing that will allow anyone who Strategic Questions Social Well Being wares and mnaibutes their labor to the commutity to be able to live here. We seek to improve race relations and to strengthen our sense of being one community. We recogz_e that a variety ofpeaple are needed in a cosmunity and seek to value each indi.idual for their contribution to ours. We seek to extend our health care to those who lack access. We seek to enrich our lives through strong cultural resources. In judging how well we we doing, we will "it ourselves, are we ... reducing crime and drug use? improving social justice and equity? improving communications and understanding among diverse individuals and groups? increasing the number of households able to rise out of poverty? narrowing the gap between the least wen off and the most well off households? increasing the supply of affordable housing? providing needed social services? addressing the needs of special populations? supporting cultural and recreational opportunities for all? increasing feelings of being one community? 400ur vision It is the strength of the overall economy that provides jobs and tax base and the means by which individuals, families, businesses and public institutions are able to afford the type of community we envision. 'Intelligent growth' is the way one citizen described their vision of change in the area. Intelligent economic growth provides our community with more meaningful jobs - those with better salaries and a future; enables us to employ our children who wish to stay in the area: contains a significant portion of community based and locally owned business including agriculture and Strategic Questions re e.e a • e e e r te forestry-, and which keeps the community well positioned for advances in information and other forms of technology. In dealings with potential business5ndustry, we hope to be clear about what we seek and to pursue appropriate economic opportunities. We will build on our past strengths but realize that the educational component of the University of Virginia will expand only gradually and that other University activities and other sectors will play a larger role in the future. We hope to diversity both in industry and firm s_e :n order to become more recession proof in future years. In judging how well we we doing, we will ask ourselves, are we ... maintaining steady low unemployment? providing a mix of jot opportunities for people of various skills!educational levels? maintaining a strong tax base? retaining and supposing existing businesses? encouraging new locally owned, minority and small businesVindusiries? taking advantage of research and related opponurities available because of the Univers.:y? taking advantage of tourism and other opportunities? suce..giry :r3c:ho•na! 3cricultural and forestal businesses? occinassrirots:ry wman can contribute the mes::o the area' par.,6ca:mg -n re^ylo.^.al economic and job develepmentl ..n:nlnc Selected Cots We must protect our city from dru:s crtz violence and abuse to women and ch -c -e-. • We should be known as a mmmuni:y with W tolerance for drugs and crime. I look forward to seeing the eime agar: when you have no fear to walk any sure: nigh:. • We need equal housing for all. We a's; need to strengthen our neighborhood cssocic:ions. • In a corrman;.y with so much weclt::, them s:l!! is poverty - this concerns me! • Segregation of economic and ethnic groups is still c significant problem in Char!o::esvi!:e. • We cre still lacking in terms of real integration of the black community. • We need to reduce the number of 'have hots' - and I don't mean by jarring hem ou: • Individuals need economic security as = baseline in their lives. • Some of our youth feel hopelessness. Instill pride! • Unti1 people con aoctpt d4,eree-,. and work for compromise, people will waste a io: of time hgh:ing instead of constructively getting something done. Selected Cormsoents • Ifyou don't have a job, you can't care about anything else. Our children do not have the same opporunitia for well paying jobs that we once had. We need jobs for all income levels. • We may only have.a 3% unemploymer.: rate but that doesn't reflect the loss of,%abs :h< area has ezperienced in recent years. • We should buildup jobs of quality, no: quantity, and aurae: jobs which improve ::.e community. • We should promote small business e.:d local investment that stays local. • We should be very cautious in our 'selling' of this area - we should pick and choose a.tol not 'sell our souls' • Reyonel growth is : best growl: - :ve shouldn't !brget our surround -*.:g a.'ettit- Money s not going in rite rigF= a:.-se:iO. :his is an agricultural mur_y and people a: r not stimulated to continue in farming. We mus: provide job opparu.:i:ies ,•'or those who arc not college edum:ed. • Educa:wn and the economy art -*irked. PVCC witl play a role.