Candidate Profile: Rodney Jordan (Norfolk City Council – Superward 7)

Name: Rodney A. Jordan

Age: 59

Website: VoteJordan.us

Why are you running for this office?

I am recognized as a Resilient City Builder who led a resident-driven, healthy neighborhood approach to neighborhood revitalization and competitiveness which was impetus for the Norfolk’s Neighbors Building Neighborhoods initiative.

Our campaign exists to lead, to grow, and to advance a Norfolk where residents in genuine partnership with our city government create a Healthier Norfolk — a city of neighbors who work together to manage their neighborhoods on a day to day basis to a successful outcome, where it makes sense for residents and businesses to invest their time and energy and money, and where the result does not forcibly displace low and working income families.

Our campaign believes Norfolk is a great city with great people who live, work, and employ here. We believe to grow a more prosperous city for each family and each neighborhood, we must invest in our greatest resource – our residents. A stronger Ward 7 makes a stronger Norfolk.

What is the top challenge facing Norfolk, and how would you address it?

A top challenge in Norfolk is a lack of a clear vision of what we want to be as a city, how each resident is included in the vision, an honest assessment of how we get there, and transparent reporting on our progress. We have a Vision Gap + End Game Gap + Trust & Transparency Gap – collectively “The Gap” which too often denies our residents and our community as vested partners for transformative, sustainable, and equitable outcomes – a Healthy Norfolk… Each Family, Each Neighborhood, One City.

We must reward performers and performance. I am advocate for resident-led, healthy neighborhood development where wealth, capacity, and opportunity rise at the neighborhood/community level. The top-down model — a few people at the table making the decisions and limiting who benefits — does not serve our city well as we compete with other cities and other regions.

Norfolk residents possess great talent, creativity, and strengths. I will continue to honor those strengths and support investment in our residents and our organizations who produce positive outcomes for our neighborhoods throughout our city.

What is your view addressing the affordable housing crisis?

In a recent piece for CityWork, Alex Fella wrote “The way we speak about the housing shortage matters.” I agree with Mr. Fella’s statement. At the root of the crisis for many is personal or family income – too many do not make enough money to live in neighborhoods of their choice or in places near their work. Increasingly many middle-income families are struggling to find or to a^ord quality homes at prices they can afford in neighborhoods of their choice. In a landlocked, older city with large swaths of state and federal land not taxable or development but nevertheless with significant urban advantages…

My recommendations include:

• Fair Share Housing Policies
• Community Benefits Agreements with taxpayer-subsidized developments that improve living wages employment jobs for Norfolk residents
• Density Bonuses
• Community ownership and cooperative models
• Norfolk providing regional leadership on low-income housing
• Adoption of Healthy Neighborhood Principles combined with Middle Neighborhood Strategies and Implementation
• Restructuring of the Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority including greater enforcement on fair housing and protection of residents right to purchase
• Incorporation of Responsible Development principles

In July 2006, I wrote an Op-ed where I noted, “I believe no bolder immediate action could be taken to make our government ‘a force for good and optimism in the lives of its people’ than the creation and adoption of a comprehensive housing policy that a;ords those pursuing their American Dream the opportunity to live in neighborhoods of their choice and choice neighborhoods. Housing policy is school policy, is health policy, is quality of life policy, is workforce policy, and is wealth policy.” I hold the same is true today! If elected, I will lead its creation.

What is your view on transparency and how do you feel the city can improve, if at all?

“The Gap!” The Trust & Transparency Gap that exists between our local government and the residents and businesses we serve strains and often prevents Norfolk’s competitiveness to attract positive investment and talent and sustain and grow what we possess.

There are many community-based and grassroots efforts to bring Norfolk residents together across divides of race, class, geography, education, and many other characteristics that we allow as barriers. I will support and advocate Ward 7 residents open and set their tables and invite others we perceive as being from “the other side of the tracks” to those tables and find common ground.

Do you believe the city focuses too much of its efforts downtown at the expense of other areas in the city?

Strong downtowns can be strong economic engines for cities. We need a strong and vibrant downtown. However, where I believe our city misses the mark is the mindset that overvalues downtown voices and undervalues the voices in other areas in the city. Additionally, our city views public financial support in downtown as “investments” and at least in Ward 7 as subsidy or charity. I believe downtown is strong with the capacity to stand on its own two feet and the investments, the lessons learned, and the opportunities may shift to other parts of our city. Ward 7 is ready, willing, and more than able.

A recent overvaluing and undervaluing mindset example was the Greater Norfolk Corporation’s Innovation Corridor — a “technology zone”, enabling qualifying startup firms and firm expansions to receive certain tax incentives to grow business and jobs. The city focus in Ward 7 is too often on poverty management zones. Entrepreneurs, creatives, social innovators, start-ups and mature firms exist beyond downtown. We must value their contribution to our city and their ability to grow business, jobs, and wealth.

What is your view on taking money from individuals who will likely have business before the city?

Individuals interested in advancing a Healthy and Equitable Resident-Led Norfolk are welcome to support my campaign toward those goals. In my 20+ years of public and community service to our city, our region, and our state, neither the threats to my livelihood and family nor inducements of any kind influenced my vote… they only hardened my resolve to move forward.

Norfolk has long been accused of having a shadow government, in which decisions are made by influential business leaders who support certain elected officials. Is this a fair criticism?

Yes, it is a fair criticism! The shadow operates beyond supporting certain elected officials; the influence is such that individuals seeking to invest in Norfolk are often “encouraged” to choose certain firms to increase their likelihood of having their plans or projects approved through the government approval process. Political cronyism lowers quality services to our residents, increases the cost of living and doing business in Norfolk, hinders innovation, drives away potential investment, and increases dependency on government subsidy in public-private partnerships. Moreover, it drives away talented public administrators from our city and hinders the creativity of those who stay. To change that status quo, residents must own the change!