Vote Tuesday, April 7, 2015 Paid for by Freedom, Inc

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Vote Tuesday, April 7, 2015 Paid for by Freedom, Inc Paid Political Advertisement VOLUME 5/ISSUE 1 Councilmember At-Large 3rd District QUINTON D. LUCAS Councilmember At-Large 4th District Councilmember At-Large 2nd District KATHERYN SHIELDS Councilmember At-Large 5th District TERESA LOAR LEE BARNES Thriving Neighborhoods and a Vibrant City! VOTE TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015 Paid for by Freedom, Inc. Bruce Beatty, Treasurer. Page 2 VOTE TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015 Paid Political Advertisement Message from the Leadership Team FREEDOM, INC. FORWARD... ON THE MOVE! A few years ago Freedom’s leadership team convened a group of stakehold- ers to help develop a strategy for stabilizing the organization’s infrastructure. As an outcome of that effort, a strategic direction is now in place to help us better serve our community. We will continue our forward progress toward social and economic parity for African Americans by ensuring that we are equitably represented at the local, state, and national seats of government. We are pleased to report that, THANKS TO YOU THE VOTERS, the Board of Directors hard work of a committed and engaged board of directors, a hard-work- Leadership Team ing Nominating Committee, and a stellar group of active members, we are Senator Shalonn “Kiki” Curls Leadership Team (l-r): Dr. Gayle Holliday, Gwendolyn moving forward! Grant and Senator Shalonn “Kiki” Curls Gwendolyn Grant Our strategic plan is in place and we are working on your behalf to ensure that Dr. Gayle Holliday we fulfill our mission to impact public policy decisions, foster economic development and generate wealth to improve Ken Bacchus (Currently on leave of absence) the quality of life for African Americans. Bruce Beatty, Treasurer We believe strongly that the candidates we have endorsed to serve on the Kansas City, Missouri City Council have the requi- Gail McCann Beatty site skills, aptitude, and equally important, a commitment to the values and principles that are embedded in our mission. Craig Bland We believe that they are best suited to represent our issues, our priorities and our agenda. They are experienced, committed, Rodney Bland Melba Curls talented, focused and accessible. Randy Dunn For more than 50 years, Freedom, Inc. has been on the battlefield fighting for you, fighting for justice, fighting for equal DaRon McGee access, and fighting to ensure you have a voice at City Hall! Our history speaks for itself, but our future is in your hands. Darren Smith Keith Thomas WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT AND WE ASK THAT YOU VOTE THE ENTIRE FREEDOM, INC. BALLOT ON TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015. Your vote for every Freedom-endorsed candidate is a vote for Thriving Neighborhoods and 1202 Brooklyn Avenue a Vibrant City! Kansas City, MO 64127 816-483-VOTE (8683) Yours in service for Freedom, Justice and Equality, Fax 816-483-1246 Email [email protected] WWW.FREEDOMINCORPORATED.ORG Senator Shalonn “Kiki” Curls Gwendolyn Grant Dr. Gayle Holliday KC skyline photo courtesy of Raye Pond Photography. Freedom, Inc. and the community lost an iconic leader with the passing of “Rev. Fuzzy was a tower of a man, not only in stature, but in his quest Rev. Dr. Nelson “Fuzzy” Thompson for civil rights, social and political Fuzzy served as chairman of the Freedom, Inc. Nominating Committee for nearly 20 justice. His long and devoted years, stepping aside only when health issues made it too difficult for him to devote service to Freedom, Inc. helped the time and energy required. Even after his resignation he continued to offer input, forge a legacy of political strength in guidance, and his perspective on candidate endorsements. His main criterion was to endorse only those candidates committed to equal justice and the empowerment of the African-American community.” African Americans. We are committed to honoring his legacy. —Dr. Gayle Holliday Paid for by Freedom, Inc. Bruce Beatty, Treasurer. Paid Political Advertisement FREEDOM, INC. Page 3 KENNETH DISTRICT 5 CITY COUNCIL BACCHUS Now is not the time for on-the-job training... EXPERIENCE MATTERS! Ken served as Fifth District At-Large Councilman from 1991-1999. As Chairman of the Plans, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee, his expertise was critical to city development. He negotiated financing and development packages for job growth, business retention and expansion, and economic development policies. Ken also served as Commissioner for the City’s Redevelopment Authority and Tax Increment Financing Commissions for 15 years. Ken’s involvement in the Brush Creek Corridor Plan, stimulated urban development. His work with the Blue Parkway Boulevard Improvements and Shops on Blue Parkway led to the renovation and development of hundreds of housing units. H Create New Jobs and Businesses in the 5th District H Revitalize every Neighborhood H Demolish Abandoned and Dangerous Buildings H Implement the Prospect Corridor Redevelopment Plan H Expand Public Transportation JERMAINE DISTRICT 3 CITY COUNCIL REED LET’S KEEP MOVING FORWARD! Jermaine was first elected in 2011 and assumed office as the youngest city council member in Kansas City history! His public/private urban landscape renewal plan helped revitalize KC’s urban core with over $200 million in investments, and serves as a model for urban centers nationwide. Councilman Reed is a member of the following committees: Public Safety and Emergency Services (Vice Chairman); Transportation and Infrastructure; Neighborhoods, Housing & Healthy Communities; and Small Business. Councilman Reed (center) celebrates the groundbreaking of the new Aldi Food Market at 39th & Prospect in 2014. H RE-ELECT for H RE-ELECT for H RE-ELECT for CONTINUED PrOGRESS EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS • Two full-service grocery stores • Provided over 750 jobs for residents • Sponsored 120 anti-violence programs • Aggressive plan in place to demolish • Secured over $1 million in youth job training • Secured funding for community policing along the abandoned and dangerous buildings • Built and renovated over $150 million in Prospect Corridor • Improved trash/bulk-items pickup services commercial properties and residential housing Paid for by Freedom, Inc. Bruce Beatty, Treasurer. Page 4 VOTE TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015 Paid Political Advertisement AT-large disTRICT AT-large disTRICT TERESA CITY COUNCIL 2 KATHERYN CITY COUNCIL 4 LOAR SHIELDS RevitaliZING INNER-CITY A HistorY of Working WITH THE NeighBorhoods IS A PrioritY! INNER-CITY CommUNITY! Teresa is a lifelong resident of Kansas City and graduate of Park University. She served Katheryn served as Councilwoman under Mayors Berkley and Cleaver where she two terms on the NKC School Board, one year as President. As a City Councilwoman, worked to protect equal rights and equal access to jobs and housing. She was elected 1995–2003, she assisted in managing and balancing the City’s $1 billion budget; three times as Jackson County Executive, where her “Asset Management” program served on the Aviation Committee, where she oversaw past improvements to KCI; resulted in better and safer roads and bridges and the restoration of the Downtown and the Neighborhood and Community Service Committee, where she formed the Courthouse. Shields focused on Crisis Management Training for police officers to Northland Neighborhoods Inc., a community development corporation that focuses make both police and civilians safer, creating a Mental Health Unit in the jail annex on neighborhood stabilization and prosperity. Loar and funding Mental Health courts to reduce recidivism. also served on the Operations Committee and the She created the plan that resulted in the renovation of Infrastructure and Public Facilities Committee. Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums and negotiated H Economic Development in the the long-term contracts that kept the Chiefs and Urban Core Royals here in KC. H H Provide Tax Increment Financing Neighborhood Renewal Over for Inner-City Projects Big-Ticket Projects H H Create and Attract Good Allocate our Tax Dollars for Jobs with a Living Wage Basic City Services H Implement Programs to Foster Safe Neighborhoods AT-large disTRICT CITY COUNCIL 6 Scott was Vice President of the Center School Board and a COMBAT Commissioner for Jackson County’s anti-drug program. He was Chair of the first-ever KCMO SCOTT Small Business Committee. He advocated strong support for small “mom and pop” businesses, which in turn helped revitalize and anchor neighborhoods all over the City. He championed a microloan program for small businesses to make it easier TAYLOR for them to secure loans, start up and hire workers. To date, 154 loans have been made under this program in Kansas City and 51% of these loans have been made RE-ELECT AN East of Troost. Advocate for H Economic Redevelopment in the Prospect Corridor SMALL BUsinesses H Safe and Prosperous Neighborhoods East of Troost! H A Living Wage for ALL Workers Thriving Neighborhoods and a Vibrant City! VOTE TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015 Paid for by Freedom, Inc. Bruce Beatty, Treasurer. Paid Political Advertisement FREEDOM, INC. Page 5 AT-large disTRICT QUINTON D. CITY COUNCIL 3 L UCAS NEW LEADERSHIP! Quinton grew up in the City’s urban core. As a child, his family moved around often and at one point stayed in a motel. He did not allow these setbacks to hold him back. H Create Private-Sector Jobs and As a young man he understood the value of hard work, Job-Training Programs education, employment and perseverance in building a H successful life for himself, his family, and his community. Improve Basic Services and Public Transportation After earning his law degree from Cornell University in New York, Lucas returned home to Kansas City where he H Balance Progressive High-Dollar began working for a federal judge and practiced business Projects with Needed Basic law. At age 28, he was appointed to a law professorship Improvements at KU, making him one of the youngest law professors in H Generate Home Ownership in the the U.S. Urban Core Lucas serves on the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA), Lucas responds to questions at a Freedom, Inc.
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