mincow 05-23-22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ed Rand Interview Mr. Rand made introductory remarks discussing his career in project management and how the skills he applies in his job would translate to the role of councilmember. He remarked that he is a life-long resident and wants to give back to the community. In response to a question about the biggest challenge facing Ward 4, Mr. Rand identified the high number of renters and the rapid increase of housing and rental costs. He described the scenario of residents being forced to leave the city that has been their home for many years and potential new homeowners being priced out of the market. He committed to helping raise awareness of city programs that could help these individuals and to investigate what is behind these price increases. In response to a question about whether he would run for the seat, Mr. Rand stated that he would and that he has been considering it for a few years since he was approached by Councilmember Rader when he was going door-to-door. In response to a question about an area where he has room to grow, Mr. Rand identified public speaking. Noting the many strategies the city uses to communicate with residents, Councilmember Shachner asked what Mr. Rand would do differently to reach out to residents. Mr. Rand remarked that many residents may not have access to electronic resources and that he would hold regular meetings and communicate about resources face to face with residents. In response to a question about how he would equitably represent the ward, Mr. Rand replied that he would conduct regular town halls,polling, and emphasize the most suitable resources to assist resident. In response to a question about how the city can meet its sustainability goals, Mr. Rand stated that sustainability is a major focus of his. He advocated for an expansion of the city's community gardens and for programs to offset the costs of planting gardens, composting, and rain barrels. He also advocated for installing more solar panels in city property. In response to a question, Mr. Rand spoke more about his career. He stated that he works in operations-focused projects and takes pride in making things go smooth for frontline workers. In response to a question about the former Lakewood Hospital site, Mr. Rand stated that the closure of the hospital could have been handled better and that it reduced health care access, likely raised costs, and did not contribute to an improvement in quality for residents. He expressed interest in studying the impact of the closure. Regarding other development projects in the city, Mr. Rand expressed excitement about the potential revitalization of the lakefront and the east end of Detroit.