POLICIES
& ISSUES

In the city council, Garrett will chart a new strategy for public safety, rather than relying on the same approaches that have brought trauma to communities across the city. Garrett will work with law enforcement and first responders to invest in community-based interventions that de-escalate conflict, reduce violence and make our neighborhoods safer. Garrett will devote his time and resources to ensure our streets are safe regardless of zip code. Garrett will accomplish the following:

• Create an Office of Community Safety

• Invest heavily into Mental Health Clinics

• Invest in drug aversion programs

• Fully fund year-round youth programs and employment opportunities

• Invest in adult education opportunities and better access to city programs centered around learning technical skills and entrepreneurship

• Foster partnerships between communities and law enforcement to make critical investments preventing crime before it happens.

At the foundation of it all, Garrett's administration will attack the root causes of crime and poverty by investing in the basics: good schools, good jobs, housing and mental health.

Every single resident within the City of Richmond deserves to have a safe roof over their head. It is the moral responsibility of a mayor and their administration to develop and protect affordable housing for each resident of the City. It is not only the right thing to do morally, but ensures our neighborhoods are safe and strong. Let us be clear; Garrett believes that we create public safety by directly addressing the poverty, economic, racial and environmental injustices that create disorder in our communities. This will allow us to promote student achievement, and grow the jobs and resources Richmond needs. The cornerstone of that vision is our ability to confront our city’s housing crisis.

One of the longstanding issues within the City has been how City Hall works for all residents. We must continue to modernize our City online systems. For example, our current permitting process does not work for residents working to complete standard projects, for businesses attempting to open their small business or for developers looking to push forward their projects. There is no reason that for a City of our size that we have months to a year to wait to get a permit approved. We must do better.

Garrett believes that we must also do a full performance assessment of all city departments to ensure they are working for YOU! Garrett will commit the first six months of his term to completing a thorough assessment of department functionalities. Garrett is not afraid to roll up his sleeves, identify inefficiencies, and develop plans of action. He is also committed to ensuring the public is aware of the work being done to ensure their tax dollars are being put to good use.

As a product of Richmond Public Schools, Garrett is deeply invested in the success of EVERY student within the school system. He has devoted his adulthood to ensuring that students across all nine districts have access to resources through his work on the Northside Coalition for Children, Board of Directors for the Richmond Public Library, and countless other organizations. Garrett is committed to ensuring that every student in Richmond—regardless of their race, income or zip code—receives a fully resourced, supportive, safe and healthy learning environment. In the city council, he will work to expand sustainable community schools from pre-kindergarten to the City Colleges and Universities, providing academic, health and social support beyond the school day.

School communities need direct investment, guarantees of staffing and program offerings. Every school should have a library and librarian, adequate clinicians and counselors, thriving arts offerings and sports programs and teams. And the mayor of Richmond has an obligation to be actively fighting in partnership for the revenue required to fulfill those basic needs for every school in the city, not just some.

Garrett has the belief that if Richmond is going to compete successfully in the 21st century, we need to ensure that our children, from every community, possess 21st century skills. We need to tie workforce development efforts into our schools, starting in the earliest grades, and help social services and our community partners to do their work by providing needed support around school safety, helping students traumatized by violence, expanding school-based health centers and improving access to technology.