Clarkston Morgan

Nonpartisan

Along with my current endeavors, I will unite communities and businesses with diverse viewpoints to reach common goals that offer a better quality of life for all. I will make decisions based on what’s best for the community, and not for the purposes of political positioning. I will work cooperatively with my colleagues to provide results and not dissension.

The Kentwood parks and indoor spaces (libraries and recreation center) are the face of our city. We will support the existing Parks and Recreation plan to update all parks and walking paths.

To eliminate fears and stigmas, which stem from the lack of cultural intelligence, I will partner with community leaders to host citywide events that educate the community. An example of these types of events is the new Juneteenth Food Truck launch.

Where refilling potholes is no longer a viable solution, we will budget to repave roads to save cost in the long run. Thus minimize damage to residents’ vehicles.

We will look to increase safety for bikes and non-motorized vehicles, by providing a safe space for individuals and families to travel on roads.

We will ensure Parks and Recreation has an adequate staff, resources, and budget to keep our city clean and help our communities feel safe.

I will empower residents to be part of the solution by raising awareness of the concerns and impending issues. This effort will allow for the current city infrastructure plan to become more inclusive and to better reflect the diversity within the community.

With numerous Kentwood City employees retiring within the next five to ten years, we will need to fill positions in the areas of maintenance for buildings, streets and drains, and grounds. We will seek to recruit qualified multicultural candidates—specifically young residents of Kentwood who are passionate about impacting our city.

To keep our families safe, we will support the Fire Department’s initiative to provide free fire alarms and CO2 detectors to families.

We will increase support, awareness, and expansion of ARCH Programs that provide after school care and summer tutoring for students.

Kentwood has previously instituted the use of body cameras by officers. We will make sure the public is aware and has access to recordings via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

During winter months, I will work with my colleagues to add additional workers to clear the roads and streets for safe for travel.

We will set a fund budget for water and sewer that allows Kentwood to continue providing clean water to residents and also affordable sewer rates.

As we hire officers, we will provide resources to help them better engage communities of color. This would include, but would not be limited to, extended cultural intelligence training and community engagement programs that would allow officers to connect with various families to understand the diverse cultures.

We will provide continuous support for food pantries to make sure they have the necessary staff and food to provide to the community.

With a goal to remain debt free, I will review the annual budget to ensure we maintain all essential services. At the same time, I will propose innovative ideas on how we can enhance and sustain community growth.

There is a hidden issue of homeless children and teens in Kentwood. In recognizing them as our most vulnerable citizens, we will empower local non-profit organizations to work with schools and churches to care for them.