I would also favor bringing the school system into the executive branch so that the mayor is ultimately responsible and can ensure that resources of other city agencies are also focused on improving our educational system. Describe in specific terms the most important steps you would undertake to make the police department more effective. Restructure shifts to foster community policing by allowing time for problem solving. We need to amend our tax structure and business fees to make the District competitive with the surrounding suburbs. Licensing, permitting, and other regulatory systems need to be reworked to minimize inconveniences to businesses while still protecting the public interest.
Businesses face arduous processes and long waits to conduct even the most rudimentary transactions.
Educating and training our young people and adults for jobs in burgeoning fields such as information and biotechnology must be a priority. The University of the District of Columbia could be the centerpiece of such an effort. UDC could structure its course offerings to complement the labor demands of local industries, including communications, technology, banking, insurance, entertainment and hospitality. I will also focus on attracting residents back to the city. In addition we must promote affordable housing to encourage the middle class to return to the city.