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In the last installment of The Gazette's election series, candidates were asked to address a specific neighborhood issue that the wanted to address if they were elected.

Shelley Aloi (R)

In the recent NAC 5 meeting, citizens expressed concerns regarding overcrowding, gang activity and littering. I will work together with citizens, law enforcement agencies, code enforcement and non-governmental organizations serving the community to ensure public safety and quality of life in every neighborhood by:

- Evaluating and implementing best practices to ensure effective response to citizen concerns

- Continuing support for pro-active policing (citizen police academies, gang resistance education and training courses, PAL)

- Examining rental registration

- Empowering code enforcement in cooperation with law enforcement agencies

- Developing partnerships with non-governmental organizations

- Supporting neighborhood clean-up efforts

Bill Ashton (R)

I do not want to discount other neighborhoods of the city, but the Hillcrest area has two strong issues, crime and overcrowding. In reference to the overcrowding, I would advocate the Frederick County Sheriffs Office with the 287G program team up with the city's code enforcement division to seek out the illegal immigrants, and on the crime issue the FCPD keep using the foot and bike patrols

Amanda Haddaway ( R)

The city has a responsibility to keep ALL of our neighborhoods safe and the current administration has failed in protecting rental properties. Approximately 10,000 of the city's homes are rentals, yet Frederick does not have a rental registration program in place. Code enforcement and the police are limited in what they can do to solve sanitation, parking, overcrowding and crime problems at rental units, so I am proposing a rental registration program for all homeowners who are renting their properties. Rental registration protects both the landlord and the tenant. The details of my plan are available at www.voteforamanda.com.

Andrew Kotkin (D)

Using the NAC designation, I will say NAC8 currently requires the most attention. Public safety is the #1 priority for this area, and if elected it will be a priority of mine to increase patrols of uniformed officers and code enforcement agents to combat the problems plaguing what is probably the densest residential section of the City. This can only occur with revenue in place to support such ambitions, which will also be a priority of mine. Once public safety is addressed then NAC 8 and the "Golden Mile" can continue to become viable opportunities for new economic development.

Carol Krimm (D)

Many of Frederick's neighborhoods are dealing with overcrowding. The city has a livability code but it is difficult to enforce. We need to remove the impediments to enforcement with an ordinance that addresses the ambiguity in this code and provides code enforcement the tools necessary to properly implement it. Some of these overcrowded units have other problems besides overcrowding. I will be attending a best practices discussion about the Safe Streets initiative of the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention on September 9. This program may help us address the multiple public safety problems in these units by improving communication among government agencies.

Donna Kuzemchak (D)

A number of neighborhoods have issues caused by overcrowded households. I plan to move forward with Rental Registration/Licensing to help take care of some of the problems. When a house is overcrowded it causes safety issues throughout the neighborhood. Rental registration/licensing can help landlords get rid of bad tenants and can help neighborhoods when landlords won't take responsibility for problems caused by bad tenants. This isn't meant to harm good landlords with good tenants; it's to make it easier for Code Enforcement to do its job when necessary.

Alan Imhoff ( R)

In deference to all of the city's neighborhoods, I do not believe any one neighborhood should be chosen to illustrate this question as some "issues" change over time. As an alderman even when addressing individual neighborhood "issues" you need to consider the effects of any decision across the entire city, like speed bumps. When considering a particular neighborhood "issue" I often investigate to see whether the "issue" is occurring in other locations. Many times the "issue" may be easily resolved by referring it to the right individual or department within government. On rare occasions it may require legislative action.

Michael O'Connor (D)

Some common issues neighborhoods through the city are facing include increasing drug and gang activity, residential overcrowding, and traffic. I would not want the identification of a single neighborhood and its issue to imply the city cannot multitask. The next administration must be able to address related and unrelated neighborhood issues city wide. Specifically, I am looking forward to addressing the rejuvenation of the west end, and the positive effect renewed economic development, enhanced police services and increased code enforcement can have on the quality of life for residents immediately north and south of the Golden Mile.

Kelly Russell (D)

I have been involved directly, with both residents and city officials, in trying to resolve long term parking issues in several residential neighborhoods like Amber Meadows and Hillcrest. Commercial trucks, boats, large RV's, and trailers are being parked/stored on city streets, causing sight distance problems, congestion, and other hazards. Our current laws are insufficient to address this. I drafted an ordinance almost two years ago that was introduced at a Mayor & Board workshop twice. Disagreement on some details amongst our elected officials has delayed approval however, and it has stalled. I plan to see the ordinance through to fruition.

John William Shupe (R)

Starting with the West end I will work with our police Department and give them what they need from City Hall. I believe a weekly meeting with the NAC groups throughout the city as well as talking to people on the streets about the problems they are having in their neighborhoods would be a huge help in knowing what is going on and what is needed to be done. You cannot sit in City Hall and look out the window you must go out with the people. I will spend a lot of time out on the streets talking and working with the city residents and business owners.

C. Paul Smith (R)

We should begin work on the Thomas Johnson Dr. - Opossumtown Pike intersection—perhaps the worst congested intersection in the city. The City and State have coordinated plans to improve this intersection when the State rebuilds the bridge over US 15. But we should begin now to add an extra lane on Thomas Johnson Drive and an extra lane on the southbound side of Opossumtown Pike, so that more cars can turn from Thomas Johnson Drive onto Opossumtown Pike during one light cycle. Also, we might need to adjust the timing on those traffic lights.

Karen Lewis Young (D)

I would like to tackle crime in NAC 4. No one should have to fear being on their street at night. I would recommend a joint task force made up of NAC members, the police department, code enforcement and several community agencies. Their charge would be to identify the source (s) of crime, recommend action plans to address root causes and identify resources needed to combat it. I would also look to see if grant money is available to support addressing this issue. Effectiveness would be measured by querying residents prior to implementation and then again 3-6 months later.

Email Erica L. Green at egreen@gazette.net