Mayoral election in Omaha, Nebraska (April 6, 2021 primary election)

You’ve made clear what’s important to you. We have learned so much after hundreds of neighborhood and community meetings, and our Town Hall listening meetings.

These issues will always be our focus. Here is some of what we’ve accomplished together, and where we are headed next.

COVID Response and Recovery
While our city has weathered the pandemic better than most, we still have much work to do. My 2021 Priority List for COVID Recovery provides a framework to get us there. The best part? Most of this work is already underway.

My 10-Point Pandemic Recovery 2021 Priorities

My priorities for COVID recovery include advocacy and support for vaccine distribution and an extended mask ordinance. As a former critical care nurse, I know how important the vaccine is and I look forward to getting the shots when it’s my turn. Additional priorities include support for job training and work transition efforts, as well as significant financial assistance for those with housing insecurity.

I will also continue working with the Mayor’s COVID Advisory Board, which has been operational since March 2020. This group of community leaders and health experts has provided pivotal guidance in decision-making and best practices for all of Omaha. Our 2021 priorities include youth services, small business support, mental health and health equity.

We have already used various funding sources for rent and mortgage assistance, food distribution, mental health services and emergency shelter for people impacted by COVID. We will continue aligning resources with needs as we move into the closing stages of the pandemic. You can read and print copies of the checklist HERE.

What we’ve done so far

We activated our COVID Advisory Board in March 2020. Since then, we’ve worked closely with the Douglas County Health Department, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and many other local partners and leaders to make the best decisions for the safety and well-being of our residents and community.

From March until now, I’ve held over 25 news conferences with Douglas County Health Director Adi Pour to keep you informed about how COVID was impacting our community and steps we must all take to keep our community as safe as possible.

Our unemployment rate has dropped below 3.5% after jumping to over 9% last summer, but too many people are now underemployed or working multiple jobs to make ends meet. In 2021 and beyond, we will continue expanding support for job training programs and work transition efforts.

We know our restaurants and small businesses have been seriously damaged by the pandemic, and to provide some relief, we waived all late fees on the city restaurant tax from March through December, 2020. I was delighted when we were able to provide a gift to the Food Bank of over $105,000, money from swimming pool admission fees, made possible by private donor support.

Safer Neighborhoods and More Confidence in Public Safety
No issue is more important than the safety and security of everyone who calls Omaha home. The majority of our city general fund budget is dedicated to public safety, namely the police and fire departments.

Public Safety Budget Allocation

Percent of Omaha General Fund Budget Dedicated to Public Safety:

Omaha Police Department - 36.7%

Omaha Fire Department - 26.4%

Total - 63.1

Increasing Safety

One of our initial goals was to add nearly 100 new police officers for a total of 902 budgeted officers. We have now met this important milestone and we’ve done it without increasing the city property tax rate.

We built and staffed a new police precinct in Elkhorn to improve response times and provide better service citywide. Our department leadership has worked hard to build community trust by working with neighborhood and volunteer groups. These partners are critical to our work in reducing crime and supporting our youth.

Together, We’ve Made Great Progress

• More highly trained police officers are on the job now than ever before
• Annual crime numbers for the most serious crimes (Part 1 offenses) are the lowest in a * decade, even as our city has grown.
• More crimes are being solved now than in the past.
• Police response times for 911 calls have improved and are now better than we’ve seen in over 10 years.
• Officer-involved shootings are the lowest on record

Going forward, our goal is to make a very good police department even better.

How We Will Increase Safety

• Further reducing the incidence of crime, especially violent crime,
• Expanding the department’s mental health co-responder program so more resources are directed at mental illness and its impact on illegal behavior.
• Providing the best equipment possible, like body-worn cameras, so officers can do their job effectively and with greater transparency,
• Hiring a more diverse police force,
• Building stronger community/officer relationships, and,
• Providing citizens a better way to voice issues regarding law enforcement conduct.

In addition to Omaha’s 902 sworn police officers, our city has 663 committed employees in the fire department. These men and women dedicate themselves to public safety through lifesaving responsibilities like firefighting, training, education, and ambulance and emergency services.

Doubling Road Repair Work for Safer Driving and a Better City
Omaha’s decades-long frustration with potholes and rough roads, especially each spring when the freeze/thaw cycle damages roads quickly, required a bold initiative and the leadership to get it enacted.

Road Map to Better Streets

Voter approval of our “Road Map to Better Streets” plan in 2020 has provided funds for the start of new and significant road repair work that will continue for many years to come.

We had to move away from temporary road patching and commit to a long-term, comprehensive plan to dedicate more resources to finally fix the roads we all drive on each day.

Our plan was developed after extensive public input and community meetings. We knew Omaha taxpayers had to be partners in the solution from day one.

Working together, we proposed one of the most significant financial and community improvement initiatives in history. Omaha voters overwhelmingly approved our new roads program and a future levy increase to pay for it.

Our Focus for the Years Ahead

Here is what we are focused on in the years ahead:

• Managing city finances well so we can postpone the voter-approved levy increase for street repair as long as possible,
• Doubling the amount of road repair work done in Omaha each and every year,
• Requiring reliable and competitive bids so more road repairs and resurfacing can be accomplished with the funding available,
• Providing $6 million in new funding each year to address Omaha’s “unimproved streets”. These are streets that were not initially built to current city standards by subdivision developers,
• Eliminating government regulations that slow down road repair projects, and,
• Ensuring faster approvals and more funding for unimproved street repairs in high poverty areas.

All of the long overdue work on our roads will require our patience and it will take some time to feel like we are really catching up.

This new program will require daily management and oversight to get the work done right. I am proud to have proposed this successful initiative and I would be even more proud to manage it for Omaha for the next four years!

Job Growth & Economic Development
While most of the economic news focuses on the many large and important development projects currently underway in our city, I am just as excited about the small businesses that are hiring, relocating, and growing right here in Omaha.

Omaha Ranked #5 in the Country

A recent study ranked Omaha #5 in the country in their report “Best Cities for Young Professionals”. The work ethic, low unemployment, cost of living, exciting downtown, professional growth opportunities, and recreational and entertainment options in Omaha are hard to beat.

Welcoming Small Businesses

One of the best parts of being mayor is welcoming small businesses as they take on new employees, expand their business, or build an addition. Supporting entrepreneurs and witnessing their passion to compete in our free enterprise system is very exciting!

Workforce Bouncing Back After the Pandemic

Omaha has bounced back faster than most after a rough start nationally due to the pandemic. Employment and building projects have restarted quickly and I know 2021 will be a great year for our Omaha workforce.

How We Will Support Job Growth

Our work to support job growth and development will include:

• Providing high quality support and services to the many individuals and companies we work with, from issuing building permits to providing inspection services. In 2019 alone we issued building permits exceeding $1 billion in value,
• Meeting the commitments we have made to the many large scale construction projects that are underway in every part of our city. These include the redevelopment of Crossroads, the Blackstone District in midtown, the 500-acre Heartwood Preserve project west and south of 144th and West Dodge Road, Avenue One at 192nd and West Dodge Road, Millwork Commons, the Builder’s District, and Capitol District projects in our downtown core.
• Expanding support for job training programs and work transition efforts led by many of our local non-profit organizations.
• Promoting our business incentives, reducing government barriers and regulations that stifle business growth, and helping our business organizations recruit business and talent to Omaha, and,
• Enhancing the appeal of Omaha to young professionals who want an exciting urban setting that offers entertainment, retail services, social and recreation spaces, and low-cost transit options.

Tax Less and Manage the Money

My commitment to providing high quality city services to taxpayers – while keeping taxes as low as possible – is clear.

Keeping the City Property Tax Rate as Low as Possible

There are two primary sources of city revenue, the city sales tax and the city’s portion of the local property tax.

The sales tax rate remains unchanged since I first became mayor and we have lowered the city property tax rate twice. While the city portion of your property tax is smaller than some other taxing entities (and some of them have increased their rates) we are doing all we can to run Omaha efficiently and keep rates at the lowest possible level.

We’ve grown the economy, expanded city boundaries, added to critical efforts like public safety, and started transportation initiatives and park improvements, all while experiencing minimal growth in the city budget and reducing the tax rate twice. That’s a record I’m proud of!

My Commitment for the Next Four Years

My commitment to you for the next four years includes:

• Preparing every city budget with transparency,
• Adhering to and exceeding the best financial practices for government entities,
• Reducing expenses when certain city functions can be merged, reduced, or eliminated.
• Keeping all tax rates as low as possible while still providing the responsive services you expect, and,
• Delaying, until absolutely required, the voter-approved levy change that is allowing our city to double road repairs every year.

The Omaha Image – A More Welcoming City
Over the last twenty years, Omaha has established a national reputation that should make us all proud. I know I am!

The reputation we have all worked hard to earn was built on the rich history and tradition of the hardworking and dedicated people before us. Over decades, these individuals and families laid the foundation for a great and growing city and they have earned our respect and thanks.

A More Engaging City

Today, Omaha is a more engaging city with an even brighter future. We are a leader in business, medical services, transportation, finance, insurance and amateur athletics.

I love meeting people who have just moved to Omaha and those individuals and families who have moved back after once leaving. Their impressions of Omaha are so positive and encouraging. We have all worked hard to make Omaha the best it can be.

My Focus for Growth

In the coming years, I’ll work hard with you to advance our growth and positive image. Here is what I believe we need to focus on:

• Becoming an even more welcoming city for all people and all lifestyles. Our younger workforce is especially focused on a more inclusive and open city that welcomes everyone, and where everyone feels at home.
• Translating our enormous success as a host city for sporting events, especially amateur athletics, into the #1 city in the country for our level of community support, well-managed events and happy teams and fans.
• Encouraging development in all areas of our city to expand employment, housing, and retail services in economically challenged areas of Omaha and in our many historically unique neighborhoods,
• Promoting Omaha’s special talents in business sectors where we excel, like our quickly growing reputation as a leader in technology.
• Hosting more regional and national conventions and events, an especially important goal as more travel is booked in 2021 after a pandemic-impacted 2020,
• Expanding entertainment and recreational opportunities, especially in our downtown. One of the projects underway is “The RiverFront” which will completely rebuild Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America Park and Lewis & Clark Landing, and now includes an impressive new science museum. Including the new science museum, this $400 million project – of which 90% is funded by private donations – will forever change our city. It will be our St. Louis Arch; our Chicago Millennium Park. It will start to open in 2022 and I can’t wait!

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Our Omaha
When people arrive in Omaha from different places around the world and bring their unique backgrounds, experiences, and skills, Omaha becomes a better, richer place for all of us.

The Omaha Promise
Mark Gudgel’s Omaha Promise is simple: if you worked hard in high school and got into an Omaha area college, the City of Omaha will help make sure you go to college.

Marijuana Policy
The State of Nebraska’s current laws regarding the possession of marijuana are currently a burden on law enforcement and disproportionately impact communities of color, despite the fact that marijuana is used proportionately the same amount regardless of race.

Sustainability Plan
There are a lot of things that are up for debate in politics, and there is plenty that is open for discussion. No other policy matters, however, if we do not do our part to ensure that Omaha is still livable 30 years from now.

COVID-19 Response
The past nine months have shown that the people of Omaha have unbelievable resilience and courage. As a city we have seen our community step up in ways we hoped they would never have to in a time of crisis.

Proposal to Move City Election Dates
When elected, Mark Gudgel will make it a priority to adjust the dates of the elections in order to save money and increase turnout, all of which will dramatically improve Omaha’s democracy.

LGBTQ+ Bill of Rights
With Mark Gudgel as our mayor, we will introduce city ordinances that will help ensure these inalienable rights to a particular community that is so often excluded from all three of these most basic rights: the LGBTQ+ community.

Our Roads
With Mark Gudgel as mayor, we will make sure you stay safe and the roads become drivable.

Supporting Local Businesses
Locally owned businesses are the backbone of our city, country, and society in general. As the son of small business owners, Mark is fully aware of the struggles, costs, and joys of business ownership. In order for Omaha to thrive, the city must embrace and support both small locally-owned businesses as well as welcome large and growing companies to make Omaha their home.

Housing Plan
Our country was founded under the principles that all people are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and property. The right to have a roof over your head and to be able to afford your home is a basic human right.^[55]

The Omaha that we love is beautiful and diverse. We’re hardworking, everyday people who want to make it better. We have solutions.

We need a leader who will listen.

Improve public safety
The best way to keep our communities safe is to invest in solutions that address the reasons people come into contact with the criminal justice system in the first place. We need to prioritize working on the root cases, such as mental health, poverty, and inequitable access to resources.

By prioritizing these services and addressing patterns of police violence and misconduct, we can reimagine a new community policing model.

Restore the public's trust.

In order to restore trust in our community’s law enforcement, we have to increase the transparency and accountability of police data and practices. As Mayor, I’ll ensure we join the Lincoln Police Department and over 120 other police departments across the nation in the police data initiative.

Reinstate the police auditor position and restructure our community oversight board to include investigative powers and authority. There's insufficient evidence to show that increased police surveillance results in fewer crimes and greater public safety.

Require a special prosecutor to process cases of alleged police misconduct.

Prioritize an approach to public safety that’s about prevention and not criminalization.

Within our first year we will create a pilot network of community-run violence-prevention programs in partnership with law enforcement, rooted in evidence-based practices that have seen success in communities like ours.

Focus on preventing people from coming into contact with the justice system. Scale back over-policing, especially for minor ‘broken-windows’ offenses that criminalize communities of color especially.

Programs will include collaborating with a network of existing and new mobile crisis services, peer crisis services, neighborhood-based safety centers, and crisis hotlines and warmlines.

Introduce a transparent process for police accountability.

Work with local law enforcement to create a three strike program for officer misconduct to increase transparency and public accountability necessary to take community trust in our local law enforcement.

Safer outcomes with demilitarized local officers.

Demilitarize our local police, making their jobs and our communities safer.

Recommit to trauma-informed de-escalation trainings.

Help Omaha heal from COVID-19
Omaha needs a proactive response to COVID-19. It is imperative that we listen to our health professionals and create citywide plans that allow us to maximize vaccine distribution, help small businesses survive, and keep our residents safe until we can fully manage the virus.

I studied alongside some of the world-renowned public health experts leading the fight against COVID-19. Because of that experience I know that in order for our community to recover, we must finally flatten the curve, advocate for vaccinations for essential workers and vulnerable Omahans, and work on healing the trauma caused by COVID-19 to our community.

Our city leadership failed us when the pandemic began, by not letting our world-renowned public health leaders direct us. As your Mayor, I promise to build a coalition to ensure that does not happen again.

Reimagine proximity, contact and accessibility in public spaces

As Mayor I will help our city reimagine what proximity and contact looks like in public spaces - from restaurants to public parks to City Hall.

Flatten the curve of COVID-19 and get Omaha back to work.

As Mayor, I’ll work with Douglas County Health Department to continue to monitor exposure rates through continued testing, expand our contact tracing and reporting practices, and closely monitor and report any COVID-19 variants within the state

Prioritize equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to address access by removing barriers due to online registration, transportation, appointment availability and wait time.

Coordinate an expansive communications strategy that shares accurate, culturally competent information about the pandemic and the vaccine for informed decision making to increase vaccination rates

Essential workers should be treated like they’re essential. I plan to establish a community network designed specifically to connect essential workers to essential services, from health care, to healthy food & food assistance, to accessible transit, etc.

Healing the trauma of the pandemic on families and businesses in every neighborhood.

Facilitate equitable distribution of CARES Act Funding received by the city of Omaha for rent and utilities assistance, food supplies and small business support

Reanalyze our commitment to healthy neighborhoods

Work with our communications department, Douglas County Health Department, and other community stakeholders to create communication and education awareness around the COVID-19 virus, vaccine and other health and wellness challenges impacting our families.

Recommit to addressing systemic health disparities affecting our families.

Collaborate with community leaders, advocates and activists in our Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) communities to increase communication for informed decision making and dispel mistrust around the historical mistreatment by medical/healthcare systems

Reorient our emergency response plan

As Mayor, I’ll build a coalition with the Douglas County Emergency Management Agency, Douglas County Health Department and UNMC College of Public Health, along with other community stakeholders and subject matter experts to update our Local Emergency Operations Plans. It’s time to assess our strategies and implement innovative best practices for emergency preparedness, including lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that communities like Omaha across the country have implemented for future response and recovery.

Innovative + sustainable infrastructure
We deserve a timely and innovative approach to modernizing Omaha’s gray, green and blue infrastructure. There are elements of our city’s master plan that hasn’t been updated to the public since Mike Fahey & Jim Suttle’s time in office. The challenges of our city are constantly evolving and we have to evolve with it; it should not take our leadership eight years to create an urgent community need, like a climate action plan or a mobile application.

It’s past time for Omaha to provide reliable, equitable transit, modern city services with equitable accessibility, and an active commitment to sustainability that reduces and offsets Omaha’s carbon footprint. We are also in desperate need of simple, innovative ways for residents to talk with City leaders. Omaha citizens will have access to every single department, and provide feedback and input on how their programs and projects are affecting families in every neighborhood. I will always prioritize you, and make it easy for you to get in touch with me.

City services that make sense.

We’ve had generations of mayors who make promises to “fix our trash”. I will work with the local experts in our community to actually build a waste management solution that will resolve our city’s complex needs - that includes community composting, a diversity of recycling solutions that can meet the demand of our community, and reliable, equitable waste collection that minimizes our carbon footprint.

21st Century transportation.

We need to connect our community; we’ve missed out on key transportation initiatives that could have enabled us to thrive in the same ways as our major competitors. Right now, people in our community can’t get from one side of the city to another, let alone to other areas throughout the region without access to a car. I’ll work with MAPA and other regional transportation advocates and stakeholders to ensure we have a plan to bring our transportation infrastructure into the 21st Century, advocating for the creation of a light rail to connect regional transportation.

We’ll expand the bikeability of our community and increase the offerings of scooters and other transportation offerings across Omaha.

We’ll increase the walkability of every neighborhood in our city, by making sure every single neighborhood has accessible sidewalks, curbs and gutters. Neighborhoods in our urban core, especially those built after World War II, are still lacking these basic necessities.

We’ll provide transparent access for our community to the Community Improvement Plan, allowing Omaha to provide direct feedback and input on the plan that directly impacts them and their neighborhoods.

As your Mayor, I will invite community advocates and stakeholders to the Vision Zero planning team, so we can have a more equitable and inclusive lens that reflects the diversity of the city and its needs.

Accessible energy solutions

Communities large and small are creating innovative solutions to our energy needs. Omaha once had a nuclear plant that was able to supplement the needs of our local community’s electric demands. Hastings has a solar energy park that helps power its community. And residents want to find accessible, affordable ways for our city and its citizens to participate in renewable energy that diminishes our reliance on fossil fuels.

Keep our community connected.

Starting Day 1, I will meet with the heads of every single department in our city government, about how we can work together on including you in our plan to solve our community’s challenges. I will ask each department head to make a commitment to meaningful transparency with the people of our community.

We need to be offering accessible opportunities for our community to engage in civic processes so they can make their voices heard and concerns are taken seriously, addressing barriers like City Council hearing times, innovation hub, community feedback that’s reflective of the availability of the community, transparent communication. Public WIFI & a commitment to a smart cities initiative.

Commitment to efficiency.

Add a department focused on innovation and efficiency, hiring a Director of Innovation and an efficiency team that works with all city departments on improving the data collection, efficiency and efficacy of our work.

Environmental accountability

As Mayor, I’ll ensure that all city buildings adopt sustainability action plans for reducing our current energy footprint and working with local sustainability experts to implement renewable energy systems in community spaces directly under our supervision. I commit to reducing City Hall's carbon footprint by 21% by the end of my first year in office, and promoting key changes that include:

1. Plastic bag ban: The City Council passed a plastic bag ban last year that was vetoed by our current Mayor. When I am elected, I will work with the City Council to ensure the passage and implementation of the ban.

2. Renewable energy: Creating a pilot program with city structures that enables us to test implementing renewable energy resources in city government buildings.

Economic recovery + resiliency
With the loss or significant change in the local commitment of major corporate businesses that were key investments, like TD Ameritrade, Conagra, and Union Pacific, our city has struggled on how to balance its budget accordingly. The taxpayers have had to pick up the bill, with incremental increases in property and infrastructure taxes, and when COVID-19 hit our local economy suffered. Small businesses shuttered, tourism stopped, and key revenue opportunities have been put on pause which has lasted for almost exactly a year. Our leadership played politics rather than following the guidance of the world-renowned specialists in our own community, and it has cost our community our once thriving local economy. Omaha needs a mayor that can guide our community with a prudent, innovative and equitable approach to our city’s economic recovery. We have to build a plan that strengthens our resiliency in times of challenges, so that we come out even stronger and better than before.

Actively empower small + local businesses.

Support, amplify and empower our existing entrepreneurship programs and encourage collaboration between them, to help provide a holistic network of support for aspiring entrepreneurs in every industry.

Streamlining of small business support and access to things like contracts, permit applications, and pertinent information in one user-friendly portal

Phased deployment of a living wage.

Since the early 1990s, more than 120 cities and counties across the country have passed living-wage ordinances, which set wage standards for city employees, government contractors, and companies receiving public subsidies, to ensure that public spending creates good family-supporting jobs. Living-wage rates vary from city to city based on the local cost of living and political context; most range from about $9 to $16 per hour.

Support ethical applications of collective bargaining.

I fully support unions negotiating for fair and equitable working conditions, wages, and benefits for their members when that process is used equitably and fairly.

Reimagine our collective approach to workforce development.

I’ll expand our current workforce development opportunities and pilot a new program within the city that’s reimagining apprenticeships & fellowships - giving candidates with the transferable skills necessary to do entry- and mid-level positions the opportunity to gain work experience to overcome the barriers of education often listed as a prohibitive but unnecessary requirement to perform the work of essential jobs.

Local and targeted hiring policies require or incentivize businesses that receive public resources, such as government contracts or tax breaks, to hire workers living in a particular geographic area or from specific populations within the community. This is usually done by revising employers’ hiring procedures to build in connections with referral sources that can promptly send qualified local and targeted workers in response to employer requests.

Fair Chance Hiring

Many employment applications ask job applicants to check a box to indicate if they have a criminal record. Fair Chance Hiring policies prohibit this practice, so employers look at a job candidate’s qualifications first, and only ask about criminal history later in the process, if necessary. These policies can eliminate one of the many barriers to economic security faced by people with criminal records.

Retain our Next Generation
Omaha must become a city that values the input and progression of its young people. Our young people and young professionals will step into leadership roles as our city population continues to age and we must prepare and empower them to be a part of the solutions that will create an Omaha of the future.

In order to encourage young Omahans to stay in Omaha, we must begin to address the reasons why they feel they have to leave. Having a feeling of connection to Omaha through its people, places and culture and addressing the same underlying issues that impact the rest of the community, like affordable housing, employment opportunities, and transportation around the city, are integral when coming up with ideas to keep our young people in Omaha.

The city government must lead by example and become more involved in setting the tone for how we plan to work with young people and young professionals to engage them in how Omaha will look and function in the future. This will be achieved through:

Increase connectivity and direct opportunities for civic participation.

Active involvement in creating an equitable and inclusive culture in the city leading by example through partnerships with the Greater Omaha Chamber’s Commitment to Opportunity, Diversity and Equity (CODE) program, Douglas County Department of Health and other partners addressing race relations in Omaha

Incorporation of the Mayor’s Millennial Advisory Committee and Youth Advisory Commission into the other Boards and Commissions so that young professionals are included in the developments of Greater Omaha and their perspectives guide the planning and sustainability of the city

Expand entrepreneurship and business development opportunities.

Increased collaboration with the Greater Omaha Chamber, Nebraska Department of Economic Development and other entrepreneur programs for access to resources for business start-ups

Expansion of technical assistance for different business industries through Omaha’s extensive and experienced business executives and established programs

Create an intentional and robust mentorship & community advancement program.

Foster relationships for a young professionals mentorship program that focuses on identified fields of study and career interests with partners in the public, private and educational sectors

Treat essential workers like they’re essential.

Give essential workers - those that work in retail, food service, sanitation and other under-appreciated industries access to the services and support they need to survive and thrive. We’ll work with community partners to establish equitable workplace protections, and in City Hall, we’ll fight for a living wage, freedom from discrimination, expanded family and sick leave, preserve SNAP benefits, improve our transportation infrastructure and advocate for safe, affordable and accessible housing.

Safe + affordable homes in all zip codes
The United States is dealing with one of the worst housing crises since the Great Depression. We are shouldering the weight of this reality here in Omaha. According to the Omaha Community Foundation’s The Landscape Community Listening Report, homelessness is increasing, about 75% of people living at or below the federal poverty line live in substandard housing, and 43% of renters spend more than the recommended amount of income on housing costs.

Access to safe and affordable housing should not depend on a person’s zip code, income, race or gender. The quality and affordability of housing impacts access to education, jobs, healthy foods, overall well-being, and more. In order for Omaha to work for and benefit everyone, we must address the housing crisis by applying an equity lens with efforts through:

Housing equity begins with better language and an increased diversity of housing options.

1. Establishing working definitions in use at the local government level for affordable, safe and quality housing to ensure all efforts are approached from an equity perspective and promote mixed-income housing.

2. Work with developers and community advocates to increase the priority of affordable middle income housing housing offerings.

3.Effective and efficient administration of the landlord registry and rental inspection program with adequate resources and funding

Create a task force ready to provide active solutions for people experiencing homelessness.

1. Creation of a multi-faceted task force that will include housing and homelessness prevention advocates, impacted individuals, and service providers to develop Omaha's strategic plan to provide active solutions to our housing challenges of affordability, quality, quantity and to end homelessness through prevention and intervention

1. Revise our current zoning laws and restrictions to enable a more inclusive approach to the housing needs of Omahans experiencing homelessness.

2. Expand and encourage the availability and quantity of innovative approaches to emergency and transitional housing needs such as tiny homes, auxiliary dwelling units and multi-family units to address in-fill and availability in proximity to accessible transportation

3. Increase the quality of existing housing through the identification and remediation of safety and health hazards, design to improve connection and quality of life

Addressing homelessness begins with decriminalizing it.

Decriminalize homelessness by repealing the panhandling ordinance and work with community leaders to establish a Tenants Bill of Rights and increase accountability for inequitable and inhumane eviction policies.

Improve access to homeownership.

Improve access to homeownership especially among Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC), low income residents and their families by advocating for the elimination of redlining tactics, through partnerships with organizations that focus on financial counseling and homebuyer education, and encouraging production of affordable starter homes.

Building equitable access to opportunity
We have to embrace the diversity of today to prepare for the Omaha of tomorrow. By 2050, the majority of Douglas County will be non-white people of color. People in every neighborhood are struggling, and are asking for nothing more than equitable access to opportunity.

Conduct a comprehensive audit on city government’s diversity, equity and inclusion.

We know that our city government has failed to be accessible to Omahans as a whole; we need an audit to understand where those gaps are, so that we can build action plans to fix them.

Update the current advisory board structure - we’re a team, not a hierarchy.

Our city’s advisory boards, especially those with members of impacted populations, are expected to speak on behalf of all of those who share those identities, rather than actually intentionally providing the community an opportunity to engage directly. Their ability to guide the work of the city is entirely reliant on the Mayor's whims, with little to no transparency from city government to the Mayor’s “advisors.” They are also hand-picked by the Mayor and her staff, and therefore often fall short of reflecting their diversity of perspectives and lived experiences necessary to reflect a reasonable sample of our community.

As Mayor I will make sure that these boards are approached as teams, and immediately work to diversify each of these teams so that their membership is reflective of the community we have. I know that their guidance, expertise and community commitment are necessary for our community to thrive.

Expand worker protections, filling in the gaps.

Many employment applications ask job applicants to check a box to indicate if they have a criminal record. Fair Chance Hiring policies prohibit this practice, so employers look at a job candidate’s qualifications first, and only ask about criminal history later in the process, if necessary. These policies can eliminate one of the many barriers to economic security faced by people who’ve come in contact with the criminal justice system.

Freedom from discrimination based on your identity or your immutable characteristics, specifically including LGBTQIA+ protections, BIPOC protections, disability protections.

Advocate for our immigrant and refugee friends and neighbors.

Omaha will become a sanctuary city. Already immigrants make up one-fifth of our community’s population growth; contributing to the vibrancy and success of Omaha.

Structurally including accessibility.

Our community is overwhelmingly inaccessible for those who are not able-bodied and neurotypical. I will make sure every single department prioritizes accessibility as we reimagine our public spaces, communication and transparency.

In order to move forward together we have to reconcile our past.

Our community has to fully acknowledge and take accountability for its racial history, and the impact it's made on BIPOC families. Racism has been declared a public health crisis by our Douglas County Health Department, and we’ve seen the impact it has on the health and safety of Black, indigenous and other people of color communities in Omaha and across our state and nation. We’ll work with our community leaders to develop a plan to build awareness of our racial past, the systemic challenges they embedded that hinder equitable access to opportunity, and work together with Omahans to reconcile.

As Mayor I will fight for equitable access, opportunity and inclusion for all Omahans:

Essential workers. Black and African American people. Trans men and women. Neuro-divergent people. System-impacted people. Youth. Healthcare workers. Gender nonconforming people. Small-business owners. Asian American people. Bus drivers. Bisexual people. Veterans. New parents. Two-spirited people. Pansexual people. People experiencing homelessness. Trades professionals. Immigrants and refugees. Native and Indigenous people. Religious people. Grandparents. Lesbian people. Janitors & sanitation professionals. Jewish people. Gender-fluid people. Teachers and educators. Elders and Senior Citizens. Atheists. Latinx and Hispanic American people. Gay people. Entrepreneurs. Spiritual people. Union members. Sex workers. Gender-less people. Differently-abled people. Working poor. Farmers. Nonbinary people.

And all under-represented identities, including those not listed above. No matter the identities you carry, you deserve to be represented equitably in our city’s leadership. I want to build a better Omaha with you, advocating for a city that’s accessible, equitable and adaptable. ^[55]

RJ's Pathway to the Future
Omaha needs a leader with vision. A leader that looks to the future and prepares our great city for the next generation. I believe that I am that leader, and I ask for your support.

Under my leadership, I will make Omaha a city of the future. I will correct the city services, and make sure that we get the basics done right. I will improve our processes and bring new programs and initiatives that provide Omahans with the changes that they want to see in our city.

My Pathway to the Future will serve as what you can expect from me as the next mayor of Omaha. My Pathway includes my plans, my commitments and my promises for the future of Omaha.

My Pathway to the Future includes plans for:

COVID Reset Plan
The Coronavirus pandemic demonstrated even more clearly the direct relationship between economic and public health in Omaha.

Just over half of Americans polled in September 2020 by the Pew Research Center reported that they expect their lives will still be changed in major ways after the pandemic.

We need a plan that includes future stimulus packages and funding and we need Greater Omaha Chamber and city-led partnerships between Omaha financial institutions and small business owners. This targeted reset plan does just that and will ensure that Omaha’s economy bounces back faster, stronger, fairer, and healthier.

As mayor I will:

• Appoint a pandemic czar who will provide key metrics for Omaha’s COVID recovery and coordinate with UNMC, federal government, public health officials, academic institutions, employers, and other key stakeholders to provide all Omahan’s with access to resources for COVID-19 recovery

• Reallocate 5% of the restaurant tax into the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote Omaha attractions for 2 years up to $4,000,000.00

• Advocate from the mayor's office for any and all future stimulus funding to include cities of Omaha's size to the direct city funding criteria, and allocate the funds properly to local businesses and toward rent and utility relief programs

• Develop a small business recovery task force that will build a city-led partnership between Greater Omaha Chamber, Omaha financial institutions, and Omaha's commercial property landlords that will support the growth of local restaurants, start-ups theaters, mom and pop shops, etc., are not left behind and are able to thrive in 2021 and beyond

Climate and Sustainability Plan
Addressing the changing climate should be a priority for Omaha. The United Nations estimates that nearly 70% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. It is imperative that we leave Omaha and all our cities better for the next generation. A healthier community and a city working toward a sustainable future will also help retain and attract young families and young workers.

As mayor I will:

• Implement a Climate Action Plan for Omaha in my first 12 months

• Appoint a Sustainability Officer to my cabinet

• Become a member of Climate Mayors - a bipartisan network of mayors showing climate leadership

• Join OPPD’s net-zero carbon goal for electricity generation and work with them to set goals for carbon reduction, responsible growth, and waste reduction by 2050

• Build a more sustainable transportation system and decrease the city's wasteful consumption

• Increase commercial recycling and access to recycling in all areas of the city, and increase the types of materials accepted

Equity Plan
Omaha is a great city but it struggles with racial inequity. Racial inequities have been embedded in housing and the economy long before COVID-19, although COVID has made the situation even more challenging. Redlining, racialized zoning, segregation, predatory lending and exclusions in federal programs are examples of public policies that have produced the racial disparities that permeate housing and economic policy today. Omaha can do better and I am committed to meaningful racial equity as your next mayor.

As mayor I will:

• Develop a 4 year plan to expand and correct city services so that they are equitable and accessible to all parts of Omaha

• Elevate the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Manager to a cabinet-level position: This will ensure all major decisions are made through the lens of equity and will help build a more diverse City Hall that reflects all of Omaha. Produce a report card on the city’s progress toward equity

• Directly address the impact of redlining in communities of color through targeted housing programs and incentives that provide a pathway to homeownership and rebuilds our struggling neighborhoods

• Commit to hosting bi-monthly “Community Conversations” throughout the city where the community can voice their concerns to the mayor

• Work to remedy inequities in public health through partnerships with Douglas County Health Department, UNMC, OneWorld, Charles Drew and others

Talent Retention Plan
The City of Omaha is a great place to live and to raise a family, with numerous amenities and a good quality of life. However, over the past eight years, Omaha has struggled to attract and retain young people, especially young professionals. While many mid-size cities have successfully drawn talent from bigger coastal cities, under the current mayor Omaha has unfortunately not kept pace with places like Milwaukee, Cleveland, or even Kansas City in the competition for the next generation. I am committed to reversing brain drain and will work tirelessly to improve our city so that it attracts and retains new talent.

As mayor I will:

• Offer grants of $5-10,000 to young individuals who relocate to Omaha from cities like Chicago, New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles

• Empower and appoint younger people to boards that will shape the future of Omaha

• Invest in and promote multi-modal transportation, creative neighborhoods and opportunities for younger developers, businesses and creatives.

• Improve coordination with relevant players (business, academic, medicine, entrepreneur, tech) benefitting from the presence of talent in Omaha

• Identify and support key driving sectors for retaining/attracting talent, and report on metrics

• Mitigate/remove structural impediments/barriers to attracting talent

• Integrate these efforts with Cabinet-level Equity Officer to ensure growth of young professionals of color and LGBTQIA professionals in Omaha

Public Safey Plan
To create a city that is safe for everyone, we must have a focus on the root causes of crime and violence and provide community-based public health and youth development programs.

To rebuild the trust of all communities in our Police Department, we must have an open dialogue between our communities and our Police as well as reform and accountability. Omaha’s fire department needs to be fully staffed and needs the necessary equipment to keep response times low and provide the best care and protection during emergencies. And our police officers need additional training and resources to do their job most effectively.

As mayor I will:

• Increase evidence-based de-escalation and anti-bias training and incorporate it into the policy academy education

• Roll out a crisis intervention program that will send social services unit to assist emergency responders for non-violent 911 calls ​

• Increase support for P.A.C.E. programs and other community-building projects in Omaha

• Invest in trauma-based crime prevention resources for Omaha youth

Neighborhoods
As Mayor I will:

• Create 1,600 additional affordable housing units in the first 4 years

• Empower neighborhood associations, for example changing the $250,000 neighborhood snow-watching contracts from engineers to One Omaha

• Initiate innovative city-led programs that provide incentives and second mortgages to spark interest in neighborhoods that need it and create homeownership opportunities

• Provision more available and entitled sites for workforce housing units

• Revitalize targeted communities with HILC (High Impact Low Cost) projects every year

• Create a partnership with Omaha Realtors for an initiative that will flag and provide attention to houses that are eligible for renovation and city-support

• Provide support to current programs that renovate existing housing stocks in order to keep elderly and low-income homeowners in their homes^[55]

Creating New and Better Jobs
Kimara Snipes previously worked in the job placement field, helping persons with limited means and experience find gainful employment pathways. Her responsibilities included training job applicants basic work skills and work ethic, expertise she continues to share with jobs professionals. Her primary focus took her to businesses, where she performed workforce needs assessments. While most mayors support these efforts to employ the working poor, Kimara adds actual hands-on experience helping people obtain the dignity and financial security of a job. She knows Omaha prospers best when more of Omaha prospers.

As an elected member of the OPS Board of Education, Kimara helps govern one of the nation’s largest urban school districts, with more than 80 school buildings serving a diverse population of nearly 52,000 students who speak over 100 languages. Few candidates for Mayor can fully appreciate the challenges and opportunities in ensuring our economy embraces and lifts all our families.

Beyond making our students job-ready, Kimara supports community college and labor-based training initiatives that meet the needs of a growing city. Expanded training bolsters our economy, brings new health to our trades and industry, and opens new avenues to prosperity for our workers.

Investing in Our Youth
Kimara Snipes recently left a position with the Omaha Public Library to run for Mayor. When she worked at the Washington Branch Library, Kimara saw the boredom and frustration of youth who lost many of their activities because of the pandemic. She knew these young persons had often faced other trauma in their lives. She created “Teen Talk About,” to promote literacy and reading as a path to grow through trauma and to replace despair with hope. The program was successful and librarians from other parts of our city came to observe and learn from her efforts.

Kimara knows a lack of gyms and other recreational options contribute to misplaced energy and lost opportunities for young Omahans to learn essential life lessons through sports and other activities. We know greater access to community centers will help all Omahans find expanded avenues for personal growth. Kimara has faith in an even better Omaha, where young people experience hands-on learning that fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility.

Public Safety
Kimara rises above the candidate field through her experience working with the community and police to improve contact and relations. As a neighborhood leader, her association has won awards for public safety programs. As president of the South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance, Kimara includes Omaha law enforcement representatives in her meetings and sees command officers at meetings of Omaha 360. She serves on the Southeast Police Precinct advisory council and is active with the South Omaha Violence Intervention and Prevention (SOVIP). This unique experience provides her with insight and adult leadership to identify problems and see opportunities to improve. And, among the candidates for Mayor, Kimara alone already asks tough questions to hold officials accountable.

As a person of faith, Kimara believes people are better than their worst moments. She has the unique ability to speak from a faith perspective about redemption and people’s capacity to set a right and better course for their lives.

Under Kimara’s leadership, the City will work with the non-profit sector to address homelessness, chronic unemployment, and other root factors contributing to lapsed behaviors.

Sadly, our police-community relations have degraded under the incumbent Mayor. Kimara personally lives with those results because the worst consequences impact communities in South and North Omaha. She’s committed to improving those relationships and restoring mutual trust making Omaha neighborhoods safer for citizens and officers. Public confidence in law enforcement opens lines of communication, helping prevent and solve crimes.

Kimara offers a bold vision to move Omaha forward. As more people lose faith in local law enforcement’s accountability, Kimara will implement her plan to improve our current structure.

For example, Kimara will lead an all-civilian oversight and review commission for her first year in office to assess how to restore public trust in our system.

There are no easy answers, but the status quo has failed to make our city safer and preserve faith in our institutions.

Moving Through and Beyond COVID-19
As the pandemic moved from a global to national concern, Kimara Snipes immediately went to work locally, organizing task forces in both North and South Omaha to address the threat the virus posed to high-risk populations in our community. Viewing her success, the City of Omaha would follow suit with a more focused response to the virus.

Still, among America’s 100 largest cities, Omaha was the last to adopt an ordinance related to wearing masks in public buildings. And even then, there was no leadership from our current Mayor, who said she would allow the City Council to act without facing a potential veto from her office. Kimara’s response to this severe threat to the health, safety, and livelihood of her follow Omahans is an example of leadership, which stands in stark contrast to the hesitant and uncertain response of Mayor Stothert. Kimara Snipes is the trusted leader who can move Omaha through the end and recovery from this pandemic.

Connectivity for All
As a School Board member, Kimara endorsed and addressed the importance of providing computer technology and Internet access for students learning remotely from their homes during the pandemic. We know that modern society has evolved to the point where Internet access is an essential need for people to conduct their daily lives, from lifelong learning, banking, applying for jobs, commerce, and social communication. Our economy revolves around communication and the Internet is a key component to the connectivity of Americans.

Disparate access to the Internet separates rural from urban, affluent from poor. A growing number of cities have made modest investments to implement free public WiFi, particularly in downtown city centers. This helps local citizens gain more connectivity and aids tourists looking for restaurants and destinations. Among the cities that have implemented public WiFi in downtown districts and other areas are Cedar Rapids and Dubuque, Iowa, Houston, Indianapolis, Miami and San Jose, to name a few. Omaha has always been a national leader in communication infrastructure, but we have failed to be bold in this arena. A Snipes administration will prioritize development of a WiFi access program that makes Omaha a 21st Century city.

Kimara is committed to a transparent and responsive City Hall, that always strives to make more services and more information accessible online.

A Focus on Sustainability in City Services
Kimara Snipes will lead our city to a more sustainable future. As a Board Member for Mode Shift Omaha, she knows we can make additional progress improving our transportation infrastructure. That includes the continued modernization of our bus system. It includes restoring street paving standards to match our climate zone, so our improved streets last and potholes will not appear with as much frequency. This also means our transportation infrastructure and trails should be safe for persons to walk, jog or cycle. In a 21st Century city, people expect to have easy access to multiple modes of transportation, including those alternatives that are more sustainable and less costly. Snow removal should enhance efficient mobility, not create additional hazards. Placing snow gate arms on plows will clear the end of residential driveways, not create frozen walls of packed snow where your driveway meets the street.

Kimara will prioritize our parks and boulevards once again. Dead or dying trees pose a threat to property and public safety. By restoring Omaha’s recreational areas and tree canopy, we enhance the quality of life for our residents and also present a more inviting destination for visitors. Seeking green solutions to the unfunded federal mandate for storm water abatement will not only produce more environmentally sound alternatives, such efforts can also reduce the long-term costs this mandate poses for taxpayers.

Omaha becomes a more complete and sustainable city when we fully address chronic homelessness. Our non-profits continue to lead the way in providing shelter and outreach to this vulnerable population. Kimara Snipes will work with these providers to make sure City Hall is cooperating and facilitating their efforts, including application for public and private grant funding; and connecting those in need with existing housing assistance programs. The Mayor and city leaders should participate in a robust effort to address homelessness in our community, and Kimara will bring greater focus to this important issue.

Waste collection and recycling remain contentious issues in Omaha. Change has come with loss of repurposed yard waste, reduced or limited collection of recycled items and yard waste, and bulky containers for trash. Kimara will ensure service does not suffer and that the Mayor’s office on her watch will respond promptly to complaints about waste pickup and recycling operations. ^[55]