D. Michael Collins' 2013 mayoral campaign platform http://dmichaelcollins.com Before it disappears from the intertubes ... h2. Platform http://dmichaelcollins.com/platform *D. Michael Collins' Platform to Change Toledo* +Cut Taxes+ * Place before the voters the opportunity to eliminate the temporary income tax of .75% * Place before the voters a permanent income tax of 2.20%. This will save our citizens $3.4 million per year * Utilize Capital Improvement dollars to restore streets, not for operating expenses +Cut Crime by Increasing Police Strength+ _Public Safety Plan to reduce Crime by increasing police strength 25%_ * Hire 40 police officers per year to cover attrition and reach the goal of 575 officers * Open the West Toledo District Police Station within 90 days of taking office * Re-establish “beat integrity” which will mean officers will be assigned to the same neighborhood and be more responsive and understanding of the neighborhood problems * Re-energize the Block Watch program by providing more city support +Cut City Budget and Executive Positions+ _Save $15 million while maintaining service levels in the neighborhoods_ * Cut Mayor’s staff by 30% * Cut all other executive positions by 20% * Cut water/sewer operating budget by 10% * Implement performance based budgeting * Process payroll internally * Restructure the Utilities, Service and Parks/Recreation departments, utilizing best practice examples from other cities, and create a Department of Public Works with a flattened management structure +Work with Private Sector to Create Jobs+ _1,000 new jobs and reduce “The Brain Drain”_ * Facilitate and establish new tax incentive plans, that will support development at Southwyck, Northtowne, and Capital Commons * Revitalize the downtown riverfront * Initiate a small business development plan to work with new and existing business owners to make sure that their concerns are heard and addressed by the city. This will include a concentrated effort of outreach and assistance to small business owners, the backbone of our community. Assign two staff members to be my liaisons to our small business owners and visit each owner to determine what we can do to make sure they remain, or expand their business in Toledo. * Expand the use of Joint Economic Development Zones (JEDZ) and Joint Economic Development Districts (JEDD) with neighboring communities * Consider for implementation recommendations in the Meta Plan which was developed under the leadership of the University of Toledo with input from Community Business leaders but never used +Reduce Water bills for Seniors by 40%+ * Adjust the senior discount to 40% * Modify the water deposit policy +Restructure Neighborhoods Department+ * Restructure department and cut management staff by 25% * Hire four new code enforcement inspectors * Increase inspector productivity by 25% thru the use of new technology and better work assignment * Discontinue inspector rotation and assign them to work specific neighborhoods so that they will become more familiar with the issues and be more responsive to our citizens * Increase Nuisance Abatement enforcement by 40% * Establish a code enforcement Task force by 7/2014 to recommend changes in our Nuisance Abatement procedures +Improve Customer Service+ * Replace multiple customer response points with an efficient and responsive customer service program which will operate from 8am-8pm Monday through Friday * Require calls to the Water Department be answered with a waiting time of no more than 10 minutes and expand hours of operation from 8am-8pm, Monday through Friday * Require a 3-day response time to citizens’ nuisance complaints * Hire 30 New Paramedic/Firefighters every year to maintain a rapid response time and quality emergency service * Support and implement recommendations from the performance audit of the Utilities Department * Consider expanding the Performance Audit process to other Departments if there is a sound return on investment from the Utilities Department audit +Provide Accountability+ * Be accountable to the citizens of Toledo. Schedule “Meet the Mayor” meetings each quarter to listen to citizens * Commit to being transparent in all city business practices * Eliminate spending on wants; spend tax dollars only on needs * Brand Toledo as a user-friendly city * Stay in Toledo, work hard, and tell people the truth _Collins, an Independent Thinker with a Definite Plan of Action!_ h2. Endorsements http://dmichaelcollins.com/endorsements_accomplishments 2013 Mayoral Race Endorsements Toledo Police Patrolman's Association Toledo Firefighters Local 92 Ohio Veterans United United Association Local 50 - Plumbers, Steamfitters & Service Mechanics Toledo Police Command Officers Association Boilermakers Local 85 Toledo Federation of Teachers Local 250 UAW Region 2-B Greater Northwest Ohio AFL-CIO Retired Toledo Police Officers Association Teamsters Local 20 AFSCME Ohio Council 8 / AFSCME Power in Action Northwest Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council Ironworkers Local 55 Sheet Metal Workers Local 33 IBEW Local 8 Cement Masons and Plasterers Local 886 Roofers Local 134 Amalgamated Transit Union Local 697 The Toledo Blade OCSEA/AFSCME Local 11 Farm Labor Organizing Committee Heat & Frost Insulators Local 45 h2. Accomplishments Accomplishments Making sure every dollar of your tax money is spent wisely Sponsoring legislation which restored funding to 2012 levels to Toledo's homeless shelters Testifying before the Ohio Senate and House of Representatives regarding the effects of Senate Bill 5 on the public sector safety forces Working with our many Blockwatch coordinators to safeguard our neighborhoods Bringing to light stories of bid rigging and intimidation of contractors by the City's Dept of Neighborhoods resulting in a shake-up in the dept Uncovering a $22 M outstanding income tax delinquency and demanding the Administration aggressively pursue Calling attention to a City contractor's handling of sludge resulting in the EPA ordering meaningful water and soil data collection Disputing the Administration's claim that the city has a surplus from 2011 whereas the city actually has a $5.7 million deficit because the money in question is restricted for specific uses and cannot be used for other purposes Fighting for new police and fire classes Exposing the Administration's purchase of 2 luxury SUV's under the pretext of equipment replacement for street sweeping vehicles Fighting for jobs to go to local workers in the Marina District sale and that the contract have a buy-back provision if there is not substantial development within a specific time Fighting to keep the Turnpike from being sold by the State Sponsoring legislation which imposed a license fee and a fee per machine on internet cafes Sponsoring legislation to replace the vicious dog ordinance with a non-breed-specific ordinance Serving in a leadership role on the committee that brought about the new VA Clinic located on the University of Toledo Health Science Campus Supporting park boards; helping citizen groups form park boards for Pickford and Crossgates Uncovering the "secret funding" to convert Bay 4 at the Erie Street Market into a nightclub Sponsoring legislation which added catalytic converters to a list of items deemed as "restricted" under Toledo's municipal code. Fighting for District 2 to receive its fair share of CIP dollars for street repair Working successfully to save Walbridge Park Board by defeating the Administrations's plan to abolish park boards Helping the Reynolds Corners neighborhood save 13 acres of wetlands Saving River Rd park by defeating the effort to rezone & sell it Forcing the Administration to fulfill the commitment to finish the Townley-Burroughs street, water and sewer project Fighting for the median curb cut project to ensure safety for students at Bowsher High School Reducing exposure to flooding by ensuring funding commitments to the Haefner Ditch project Maintaining regular contact with the owners of Southwyck to facilitate future development; seeing that the structure was torn down to prevent the neighborhood from going to blight Creating and distributing a district-wide Email newsletter resulting in better communication within District 2 Serving as guest lecturer to speak about local government to students at Start, Bowsher, Rogers, Harvard, Beverly, Burroughs, and Hawkins schools #toledo - #politics