FARGO, N.D. – Six of the eight candidates for two open Fargo City Commission seats debated issues on city debt, drug use and homeless issues and improving the downtown neighborhood on WDAY Radio and The Flag.
Candidates were asked if Fargo has a homeless problem.
“If we’re just arresting people and turning them back out, and arresting them and turning them back out, do we have a homeless problem? I don’t think we do. I think it’s a solvable thing that we need to get together with our community partners,” Anna Johnson said.
“We have a homeless problem, but it’s not as big I don’t believe as perhaps has been put out there. Yes, I think we do have a problem and we have people who simply don’t want help,” Nikki Gullickson said.
She added social services could help out more instead of the fire and police departments responding to every call.
Peterson talked about a downtown business owner called the police.
“The people from the [Downtown Engagement Center] showed up and gave them their card and said ‘Next time you have a problem, don’t call the police. Call us first. People are afraid to talk. We need to change the perception of what’s transpiring downtown. How do you do that? Additional police enforcement and open dialogue with civil servants, other police officers, I don’t care if it’s social workers,” Chad Peterson said.
Candidates were also asked about the needle exchange program and if they support it.
“If I’m elected, the first motion I would make is to remove the needle exchange program. It does not work, it is a detriment to our community, it’s a detriment to the people that live in that surrounding area. Over the last four years, our drug tickets and number of people we’re holding accountable for drug use is almost flat. If you listen to our human services as far as ambulance, medical providers, we are at a 40% increase in drug overdoses and Narcan uses,” Scott Brekke said.
“The needle exchange program, it’s one of those things that sounds great in theory to be a great idea, but in reality, it’s just not doing that. It’s more enablement than it is actual… I don’t want to call it a cure, but a helping of people that may actually have an issue that’s going on with them,” Jeremy Schaeffer said.
Mayor Dr. Tim Mahoney recently said at a City Commission the city is $1.37 billion in debt with the city going to be reimbursed for $41 million for the Fargo-Moorhead diversion.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily how we eliminate debt. I’m not aware of any community our size that’s growing as fast that doesn’t carry some sort of debt. Our cash reserves, we got downgraded by Moody’s because they want to see 25% cash reserves. We’re hanging right around 20%. Do we need to work on that? Yes. Is it catastrophic? No,” Aaron Hill said.
Candidates Derik Arneson and Tony Gehrig aren’t able to attend the debate.
