Question from Andy McDonald

Ms. Smart, thanks so much for joining this forum. I'd like to begin by asking: You've been involved in downtown redevelopment. If you are elected, what would you push the city to do that is not being done now?

Rita Smart answered:

I have worked with the city the past two years as a consultant for the Main Street program. Using the national Main Street model which includes a four point approach-Economic Restructuring, Design, Organization, and Promotion, I feel the city should make a decision to fully-fund the Downtown Redevelopment project with a comprehensive redevelopment plan. The last plan I could locate is 1993 and since that time, it has bascially been piece-mill projects. The successful downtown programs I have observed include long-term plans with citizen-run committees. Some examples are Paris, Georgetown and Winchester