MLive coverage of the Grand Rapids 3rd Ward Candidates gives the public vague answers to vague questions

Last week, I posted a critique of the MLive coverage for the Grand Rapids City Commission 1st Ward candidates, and today I will do the same regarding the six 3rd Ward Candidates.

The MLive story on the six 3rd Ward candidates follows the same format, a brief introduction of each of the candidates and then responses to the same 4 questions that was asked of the 1st Ward candidates. Those four questions are: 

• What in your experience makes you the most qualified candidate for this position?
• What are your goals should you be elected and how will you work to accomplish them with currently limited resources? 
• What are the most important challenges facing our community, and how do you propose to address them? 
• What will you do to support a vibrant economy in our community?

As I stated previously, these are not compelling questions, nor do they address some of the most pressing issues in the city and specifically in the 3rd Ward. According to the MLive article, one of the six candidates, Al Willis, did not respond to the candidate questionnaire. 

In the post I did about the 1st Ward Candidates I wrote an overview of responses bases on each of the question asked. Today I want to focus on the responses from each candidate in the order they are listed in the MLive article. 

Joyce Priscilla Gipson – Regarding what goals she has, Gipson wants to end Proposal 3, since she is against abortion, plus she has questions about making the “new stadium or aquarium” priorities, when children’s lives are “in the balance.” Regarding the challenges facing the Grand Rapids community, Gipson said that she would monitor sex education and then give those students that meet the requirements should each get $2000. First, Gipson doesn’t seem to be aware that as a City Commissioner they have little say in state policy (Proposal 3) or GRPS policy (sex education). Gipson offers no concrete solutions on how to address pressing issues facing Grand Rapids and doesn’t even respond to the question about the economy. 

Bing Goei – He says he wants to reduce poverty, but offers no concrete solutions on how to do that. Goei acknowledges a disinvestment in the 3rd Ward, but also doesn’t offer what real investment would look like, except to say he would prioritize “strengthening and growing the existing small businesses economy in the Third Ward and the City by prioritizing Black Owned and Hispanic Owned businesses” How exactly will that reduce poverty in the 3rd Ward. Prioritizing Black and Latino/a business might benefit the families of those businesses, but it would unlikely benefit others unless those businesses plan on paying a living wage with good benefits. On the most important challenges the city faces Goei thinks the city should “retain diverse, International talent.” On building a vibrant economy, and Goei suggests supporting small businesses. 

Reggie Howard – He wants to keep widows in their homes, get services to Veterans, go gun storage, help people become home owners and help people open more businesses. Howard says all of this without any concrete plans. Regarding most pressing issues in the city, he says gun control and building trust between Commissioners, the GRPD and the community. Again, no concrete solutions. On the matter of a vibrant economy Howard does say people should be paid “good wages”, but wages are only good if they meet the needs of those earning the wages. 

Marshall Kilgore – This candidate says they are a human rights advocate and that he wants inclusive policies for the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. This sounds like a positive things, but there are no concrete solutions offer that would benefit BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. In response to the questions about goals Kilgore says increase the 3rd Ward Equity Fund, support solar initiatives and make affordable housing a priority. However, Kilgore offers little in concrete solutions and only talks about getting state and federal funds for housing. Responding to challenges faced in the 3rd Ward, Kilgore simply restates the need for expanded investment and more affordable housing options. On the matter of creating a vibrant economy Kilgore again talks about investment and fair wages, both of which come with no actual numbers. Why is it that candidates can’t say a living wage or wages no lower than $25 an hour? 

John Krajewski – This candidates wants more commercial districts and more staffing for the GRFD and the GRPD. If MLive wanted to do journalism instead of simply providing candidates with an open forum to say whatever they want without their comments being questioned, then MLive would have told readers that Krajewski wants to add more cops because he received $12,500 from the Grand Rapids Police Officer’s Association PAC in campaign contributions. Regarding the biggest challenges facing the city, Krajewski says housing, with no solutions, then talks more on policing and building community trust. On the matter of creating a vibrant economy Krajewski says more safety for businesses to thrive in and more business districts. Again, no real solutions are offered and he says nothing about working class people or poverty in the 3rd Ward.

The Grand Rapids 3rd Ward is already the most policed area in the city. The 3rd Ward has the highest percentage of African Americans living in that ward, which also translates into the fact that there are more Black people in the Kent County jail than any other group of people, because the GRPD targets the Black community. None of the 3rd War candidates really talk about racism, specifically structural racism. If MLive would chose to ask more probing questions and follow up questions to the candidate responses, the public would be better served regarding where the candidates stand on critical issues. Instead, the public is left with vague questions and relatively vague answers from the candidates. Commentators often wonder why there is low voter turnout or the lack of enthusiasm for candidates, but rarely do they talk about the low quality of candidates themselves.