Police-race queries roil LR forum

Jobs, crime, zoning among city director hopefuls’ priorities

Candidates for the Little Rock Board of Directors took part in a forum Saturday in which they discussed neighborhood involvement in city government, balancing economic growth in residential areas and police interaction with community members.

The Coalition of Greater Little Rock Neighborhoods and the League of Women Voters co-hosted the event. The debates were between the four contested ward seats in the Nov. 4 election -- Wards 1, 2, 3 and 6. Early voting begins Oct. 20.

Panelists from the sponsoring groups repeatedly asked candidates what they would do to improve relations between the black community and the Little Rock Police Department. One audience member, in a submitted question, also asked what Ward 2 candidates would do to ensure the black community doesn't have to beg for amenities the white community expects.

Ward 1 incumbent City Director Erma Hendrix, 84, said she was offended that the phrase "black community" was used.

"The chief of police has been hired to deal with the total community," said Hendrix, who is black.

However, because the question was specifically about the black community, she said, "I think that black people need to work with the family. ... Until we get the parents involved at an early age, I don't know what the Police Department or anyone else can do with the black community."

Hendrix has three challengers: Robert Webb, 45, a self-employed carpenter; Grayson Shelton, 30, a systems analyst at Little Rock Wastewater; and Herbert Broadway, 55, owner of La'changes Restaurant and Lounge. Broadway didn't attend Saturday's forum.

Ward 2 incumbent City Director Ken Richardson, 48, said he wasn't sure what was being used to define the "black community." He said he has worked to address the 2nd Ward as a whole and to emphasize development and direct resources in the most efficient way to move the community forward, particularly in the 12th Street revitalization project.

Richardson, who is black, is being challenged by former state Rep. Pamela Adcock, 52, a stay-at-home mother, who is white. Adcock said singling out the black community "divides us even more, and I hate that."

Adcock, who is not related to At-large City Director Joan Adcock, said she lives in a community where people are equal and where they treat each other equally and respectfully, adding, "That question just blew me away. I'm sorry. I thought we were past that. I guess not."

Other candidates agreed that the issue of police involvement in communities isn't specific to blacks. Webb, who is black, said the Police Department should send officers who are in training to the neighborhoods they will be patrolling to get to know the people who live there.

Richardson also said officers should live in the city to get to know the residents and that there should be incentives for them to do so. The Bridging the Gap Program, in which Police Department employees played basketball with black youths, also should be reinstituted, he said.

Pamela Adcock said the police chief, Kenton Buckner, is doing a good job and that the Board of Directors should ensure that he has the tools and funding he needs.

Ward 6 candidate Sandy Becker, 53, who is black, said that to build a good relationship with the public, the Police Department needs to be open and transparent in all situations and be responsive to the public's desire for information. Becker, an internal auditor for the Little Rock School District, is seeking to replace incumbent Doris Wright, 55, who didn't attend Saturday's forum.

Ward 3 candidates weren't asked the question about police interaction with black communities.

Two newcomers are running for the open Ward 3 seat being vacated by Stacy Hurst, who is running for a seat in the state Legislature. Former state Rep. Kathy Webb, 64, who is the executive director of Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, is competing against Geoffrey Yamauchi, 43, the vice president of sales and marketing at Habibi's Durable Medical Equipment.

The issue of balancing the city's need for economic development and residents' desire to maintain a livable neighborhood came up frequently. Kathy Webb said the city needs to take a comprehensive review of its zoning laws and should rely on the professional planning staff for recommendations when it comes to planning and zoning issues.

Yamauchi emphasized that neighborhoods themselves need to be part of the planning process. Growth and happiness can be achieved when the residents and the development community work together, he said.

Most candidates in some way acknowledged that residents' involvement is important, though Hendrix said that neighborhoods are often notified of issues going before city boards and commissions but still neglect to get involved.

Robert Webb said that if elected he will start a monthly town-hall meeting to reach the diverse constituents in his ward. His main goal is to create a redevelopment plan that has the support and input of residents and generates jobs, he said.

Ward 1 candidate Shelton wants to put a new face on the board and represent younger community members and those who are not originally from Little Rock but have chosen to live in the city. He can bring fresh ideas if elected, he said.

Ward 6 candidate Becker wants to focus on education and touted his work in the Little Rock School District with the Computers 4 Kids program, which provides refurbished computers to students who do not have computer access in their homes. As a part of that program, he said he successfully negotiated with various groups to help students.

Yamauchi, the Ward 3 candidate, wants to see an improvement in the perception of crime in the city, deal with infrastructure needs and improve education. He said he can bring a business eye to the city. His opponent, Kathy Webb, said her main goal would be a review of the city's zoning codes, but she added that economic development, infrastructure needs and public safety are also some of her priorities.

Richardson said he would continue to focus on ways to serve marginalized youths and how to provide jobs to the unemployed and underemployed. The city can't jail its way out of crime issues, he said, so it must develop sound policies to address such problems.

His challenger, Pamela Adcock, said she wants to focus on getting the whole community involved in city government and touted her 21 years as a neighborhood association president and 11 years as a member of the city's Planning Commission.

The candidate forum will be broadcast on the city's public access channel until the election. A list of air dates will be posted on the coalition's website at groups.yahoo.com/group/LRneighborhoods.

Metro on 09/14/2014

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