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Jacqueline R. Amos-Norris
Name: Jacqueline “Jacquie” Amos-Norris
Candidate Web site(s): No Website
Age & Date of Birth: 42 yrs. Old, June 6, 1966
Education: Began at Jackson State University.
ESADE School of Barcelona (Marketing/Spanish)
Studied Criminal Justice at Park College
Current Job: Jackson Academy, Assistant girls Basketball Coach, Head Swim Coach
Recently Interned at Jackson City Hall
Past Public Office: None
Spouse/family names: Audie James Norris, Husband; Alessandro Monterey Norris, Son; Nicos James Norris, Son; Jasmina Reina Norris, Daughter
Contact Information:
Email: Electjacquieamos_norris@yahoo.com
Coachjnorris4@yahoo.com
Campaign Manager: Jonathan Hardin (cell: 601-954-8066; email: mrjhardin@yahoo.com)
Platform:
1. Explain how and why you would provide good leadership for your ward.
I would stay on top of all issues facing the city, communicate on a regular basis with the neighborhood associations in the ward and will make an all out effort to effectively represent all the residents of Ward 4.
2. What are your infrastructure priorities, and how would you pay for infrastructure repairs?
Repaving the streets and improving the water sewer system. I would strongly urge the council to seek an annual cash payment in lieu of taxes from the state legislature. Over half of the capitol cities in the country receive a payment in lieu of taxes from their state legislatures. State buildings comprising over 25% of Jackson’s real estate but Jackson does not receive one penny in tax revenue from them. The Citizens of Jackson can not continue to be taxed to subsidize the rest of the state. The State legislature must adequately compensate Jackson for the loss of taxable property.
3. What measures would your propose/support for combating crime in the City?
It should contain no less than 500 officers, we need 650. This payment in lieu of taxes from the state legislature could also be used to bring on more police officers. The crime prevention unit must be reinstated.
4. How would you handle the police chief position? Would you support returning to a full-time chief? Why or why not?
Jackson must have a full-time police chief. A city as large and challenged as Jackson currently is, must have someone as police chief who fulfills that role 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
5. What are your economic development priorities for the City?
Jackson needs to appoint a qualified and capable economic development officer whose responsibility will be to discover economic development possibilities for the city. The administration and council need to give this person all of the instruments needed to be successful in these endeavors. And lastly a fully staff and funded police force that is successful in the reduction of crime will be invaluable to the effort.
6. How would you alter the employee pay/benefit structure?
While I am not completely aware of all of the issues regarding employee pay/benefits, I do plan to work towards annual cost-of-living increases for all city employees, hazard pay for police and firemen, and health care benefits that are affordable for all employees. I do believe that pay increases and percentage increases by performance evaluation is a great morale enhancer.
7. How would you improve transparency in government?
The city must rigidly follow the Freedom of Information laws passed by the legislature. The Citizens of Jackson have a right to know what goes on in City Government, period.
8. There are various proposals that would ostensibly help with flood control on the Pearl, and perhaps increase development and/or green space for the City. What program would you support and why?
From an environment and development perspective I am familiar with the Two-Lakes Project proposed by John McGowen. The floods of 79 and 83 clearly revealed our vulnerabilities. Another flood could easily cost us any where from 600 to 800 million dollars in damages. Two-Lakes creates a concept that mirrors the reservoir and also presents an excellent caveat for entertainment, residential and retail all with a “green” focus thus creating green jobs, economy and living.
In summary the project would take what I think is about 10,000 acres of land and eliminate 96% of all flooding. Jackson and Rankin County river bottom and would be dredged, deepened and cleared, allowing flood waters to pass without endangering homes or businesses. The river would be damned to create an 11 mile long pair of lakes.
The biggest issue is cost. Right now we’re looking at 90 million with additional costs for construction. But the tax base that will result is expected to offset the cost of the entire project. Yes, federal dollars and stimulus money must be a part of the equation but we must ask ourselves are we ready to move Jackson forward by making investments now or are we going to continue to be fearful of thinking outside of the box. It is imperative that we look into the options put before us for more information on Two Lakes Project go to www.twolakes.com.
9. What needs to happen to improve the relationship between City Council and the Mayoral administration?
Jackson needs a Mayor who respects the function of the City Council and the Council members. There was never this much turmoil prior to the current administration that I can recall.
10. What role should the City play to help the youth o Jackson? Please provide specific plans.
I will be very active in the Parks and Recreations Department. It needs to provide more after school activities for our youth. The areas public schools should be used to provide some of these activities. The city should be dedicated to the well-being of our youth. Drug and alcohol education prevention will by my passion as Councilwoman.
Youth activities should include Standardized Testing Prep and foreign languages. There should also be a reasonable summer jobs program for eligible youth. There should be specific requirements such as passing grades, recommendation from a teacher and no problems with the law.
11. How would you bring new funds into the City of Jackson’s coffers?
As I stated before the state legislature must begin to give Jackson a payment in lieu of taxes as is done in over half the states in America. Jackson must not continually be made to suffer for being the Capitol City.
12. Do you support making Capitol Street two-way?
Unless Capitol Street is going to be lined with lucrative retail business, Cafes etc. to make arriving and departing from those businesses easier, I would have to say that the money that would be spent doing this could be put to better use paving streets in other parts of Jackson.
13. What can you do/support to make the City more attractive to residents?
We need to pave the streets and make sure there is adequate police presence in every neighborhood. Crime must decrease before the city will be attractive to residents. Abandoned and dilapidated homes plague our city. This must be handled immediately.
14. What can you do/support to make the City more attractive to businesses?
Without hurting the revenue needed to operate city government some tax incentives must be made to lure business to Jackson.
My response to the previous question also applies here.
15. What is something fun/interesting about you that few people know?
I am very serious about hygiene, particularly with foot care. I give my husband, daughter and my boys pedicures once a month. I believe that when your feet look and feel great, your day to day performance is GREAT. When my husband Audie played professional basketball, I gave him warm foot messages before every game.
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