1) Tell us a little about yourself, and the biggest issue impacting your neighborhood.
I’m 52 and I’ve been married for 32 years. We have four grown children and 7 grandchildren. My family is everything to me and I’ve been a present father. I’ve worked for the Tallahassee Urban League, the Florida Commission on Human Relations, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. After working at the Youth Services Center, I decided to start the Dream Center, serving kids in the juvenile justice system. I am a pastor and a community advocate. I served as Chair of the TPD Citizen Advisory Council.
In Griffin Heights, our key issues are public safety, protecting our youth, including college students in the neighborhood, and our businesses.
Rudy Ferguson website
2) Based on your experience, how well do you think public participation is working in city planning and development? Is there anything you would like to see the city/county do differently?
There is always room for improvement. Commission meetings start at 3pm when most people are at work and can’t attend. We need to change that. We need to have regular meetings out in the community, say quarterly. I am an engagement facilitator.
3) What role should citizens and neighborhoods have in deciding on the use of public properties and how do you think that should work, for example at the city’s Northwood Mall site or the county fairgrounds?
Citizen should always be heard. The commissioners need to listen. Not everyone will necessarily be happy but they should be heard. Commissioners need to listen and then lead and incorporate these ideas.
What would your vision for that property be?
I thought when we bought the Northwood Mall property it would be used for businesses, I never envisioned the police department there. But we do need a new TPD building. With the rest of the site, I think we should do something to benefit the community. There could be a park, or dog park, or Police Department programs to help the community be more engaged.
4) Do you think Tallahassee is growing in a way that sustains our neighborhoods as well as business?
There is a divide- we need to protect our natural beauty and our businesses. We need to support our local businesses; they are our driving force. We need to be responsible in our economic development. Businesses understand the market, they keep our youth here with jobs and they add to our economic base.
From your perspective, what is the role of the Comp Plan in guiding development and protecting neighborhoods?
Our Comp Plan is our guiding force, it’s our blueprint for density and land use. Many people are not familiar with it; it provides very detailed direction. It’s our development bible.
5) Do you think we have a housing shortage? If so, who does it affect and how do you think the Commission should address it?
Yes, we have a big housing shortage and many people cannot afford rent and mortgages are skyrocketing. We need more affordable homes. We need rapid rehousing. We need to work with those who know how to do that, for example to tap into the State Housing Initiatives Program. We also need to rehab the dilapidated housing we already have. We need to have a serious conversation with people who know how to do this and work with other levels of government, be a coalition. And we need to get the homeless under a roof.
6) Do you believe we have an issue with protecting our local environment, our trees and water quality?
Waiting on a response.
7) Why do you think we have so much gun violence in Tallahassee and what should we do to address it?
Too many people with limited resources, limited income, who think this is the only way to survive. When jobs go up, guns go down. That’s why attracting businesses like Amazon is so important- they have employed over 800 people who live in our poorest zip codes.
8) Why do we have so much homelessness, and what should we do to address it?
Homelessness is a national crisis. The Kearney Center is underfunded. Others try to help but the problem is so big. For example, my church works with Second Harvest, Farmshare, and runs a clothes closet. Tallahassee also has a migration of homeless people coming here. It becomes a public safety issue. We don’t have unlimited resources. Our community’s job is to protect our citizens and work with social services to help them, but we need policies to differentiate between people from our community and those who come from other towns and states to use our resources.
9) What do you see as the appropriate role of staff and the commission in decision making?
I love the structure the city has. The city manager governs the staff while the Commission creates the policies. It’s important that the commissioners not interfere. They should make sure staff have the proper tools to do their jobs.
10) Is there anything you haven’t had a chance to tell us yet that you would like our neighborhoods to know?
City Hall has become chaotic and disrespectful. The 3/2 split doesn’t have to be. I want to bring civility. I’m a unifier. I have no personal quarrels with any of the sitting commissioners. I bring 35 years of community advocacy and experience.
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