By Emily Evans
The Truth Toledo
On Thursday, August 14, Blair Johnson, candidate for an at-large seat on Toledo City Council, hosted a Pastoral Brunch at Warren AME Church – Fellowship Hall
This event was a call to action for Toledo’s faith leaders to gather for food, fellowship and a candid conversation about how the church and city government can work together to improve lives in every neighborhood. The brunch’s purpose was to spark collaboration and brainstorm on ways to support families, seniors and struggling residents across Toledo.
Johnson during his address and question and answer session with the religious leaders focused on issues in the community such as:
Empowering Our Youth
Johnson is advocating to: expand mentorship, apprenticeship and after-school programs to give young people a path to success; strengthen partnerships with local businesses and trade schools to provide career training opportunities; support community centers and organization that keep kids engaged and off the streets.
Cleaning Up Blight & Strengthening Neighborhoods
Johnson suggests: holding absentee landlords accountable and pushing for stronger enforcement on abandoned properties; investing in neighborhood revitalization programs to repair homes, improve public spaces and restore community pride; supporting small businesses and local entrepreneurs to create thriving business districts.
Enhancing Public Safety
Johnson hopes to enhance public safety by: strengthening community policing efforts to rebuild trust between law enforcement and residents; advocating for programs that focus on crime prevention, intervention, and youth engagement; working with city leaders to ensure first responders have the resources they need to keep Toledo safe.
Creating Economic Opportunity
In order to create economic opportunity, Johnson believes that legislators should: cut red tape and make it easier for small businesses and entrepreneurs to succeed; push for workforce development initiatives that connect people with high paying jobs; support infrastructure improvements that attract new businesses and investment to Toledo.
Making Government Work for the People
To increase government efficiency and effectiveness, Johnson stated that he will want to: increase transparency and accountability in city government; hold regular town halls and community meetings to hear directly from residents; focus on real solutions not politics as usual.
Members of the community in attendance asked Johnson multiple questions which he answered with precision. One of the questions, for example, was about the abandoned homes in Toledo and what the city planned to do about the unkempt lots, overgrown grass and buildings where crime is common.
Johnson has acknowledged the issues in the neighborhood and addressed how he plans to assist with the issues we see on a regular basis as a community. The grass, for example, he said, is a breeding ground for pests and even dead bodies have been found in it..
Johnson plans to tackle all of the issues he can, one by one. He said he knows it takes a village to handle things and wants the community to reach out to him personally, once in office, since he cannot address issues he is unaware of. Citizens all have issues in the community no matter how big or small and instead of harboring resentment towards the government or waiting on them to save, those citizens must know that they are the only ones who can save themselves.
It is imperative that people work together as a community, said Johnson, and reach out to those in power to share complaints, describe living conditions and issues as well as those matters people wish to improve upon so they will be heard as a community.
They must not continue to mourn loses due to empty homes where bodies are hidden and disposed of, homes next to them where their children play that are used for drugs and crime and grass so high that a new colony of rats thrive and take over the neighborhoods, Johnson added.
For any questions and if you would like to speak with Blair Johnson or his team, he can be reached at the campaign number:419-407-6512 website:BlairJohnson4Toledo.com, Email: BlairJohnson4Toledo@gmail.com.