Columbia mayoral candidates on . . . the homeless

QUESTION: Should the city give operational funding to the Midlands Housing Alliance’s homeless center on Main Street?

JOSEPH AZAR

Is MHA a city responsibility since it chose to proceed on its own? The city should facilitate cooperative efforts with all agencies that provide homeless services. With cooperation, there are enough private resources to provide solutions. For instance, though they do not receive government money, Christ Central has rehabilitation centers in the city and 29 statewide, including shelters, job training, education and drug rehabilitation. MHA could have chosen to work with them for even more success.

NOTE: Azar’s response was edited toward meeting a 75-word limit.

STEVE BENJAMIN

The city must lead in solving this region’s homelessness issue. Standing on the sidelines and not helping direct the MHA effort is a dereliction of duty. But that funding should be a carrot requiring certain things of the MHA like background checks on those utilizing the comprehensive services center. Downtown neighborhoods bear a disproportionate share of responsibilities in dealing with the challenges of homelessness. The city must secure these neighborhoods with greater law enforcement resources.

SPARKLE CLARK

I believe the city should share responsibility for the Midlands homeless population. The City can no longer dodge this issue.

KIRKMAN FINLAY

The shelter will force the city to spend additional resources to ensure safety around the shelter. This commitment will stretch the city financially.

AARON JOHNSON

I have received conflicting reports about this from different leaders of the MHA, but most I've spoken to assure me that the MHA can function with operational funding provided by HUD, United Way of the Midlands and private donors. If the MHA center can't be funded with private funds we need to come up with a solution that will not take desperately needed money out of our city's already overburdened budget.

STEVE MORRISON

Yes. It is less expensive to help people out of crisis and from the streets to a safe, stable environment than it is to leave them in constant crisis burdening our emergency rooms and jails. The city must also provide added security for the churches, businesses and neighborhoods in the MHA area. MHA and the city must work with other providers to bring about a comprehensive coordinated system of homeless services.

BONUS: ONLINE-ONLY QUESTION FOR THE CANDIDATES

QUESTION: Should the city raise property taxes to pay for the maintenance of the city’s fleet of vehicles?

JOSEPH AZAR

No.

STEVE BENJAMIN

Absolutely not. Not counting public safety, the average city Columbia’s size has one vehicle for every 10 employees. Columbia has one for every three. At the same time our police officers are working four to a car. By reducing the city’s civilian fleet by 30 percent, we could save over $1.3 million in maintenance costs alone. This city doesn’t have a funding problem — it has a priorities problem.

SPARKLE CLARK

No. I would seek competitive bids to optimize costs for the fleet, discontinue the practice of employees taking vehicles home with them (really!), unless that usage is fully justified, and insist that luxury vehicles owned by the city for its administrative staff be maintained at pro-rated charges to the employee. Only essential service vehicles will be provided full maintenance services by the City of Columbia. Hybrid and electric cars need to be added to the fleet.

KIRKMAN FINLAY

If it is the only option available, but only as a last resort.

AARON JOHNSON

Last time property taxes were raised, the city was in a situation where if property taxes were not raised, we would not have enough police cars for minimal patrols. I will implement long-term plans to prevent these sorts of last-second bailouts.

STEVE MORRISON

No. I am against raising property taxes at the bottom of a recession — it is anti-business and anti-jobs. My car has 150,000 miles on it. The city will need to “make do” until we can get growing again.