Addressing Greensboro’s Issues
Keep what’s good in Greensboro.
Improve the rest.
Marikay is passionate about making sure that Greensboro residents feel safe and secure in their homes and places of employment. She is continuously active in many policing initiatives, including Railway Safety Operations, VisionZero, Community Walk & Talks in high-crime areas and serving on the CrimeStoppers Board. Marikay is most proud of her involvement with the Family Justice Center and watched it take shape from its beginning into a model program and facility that has greatly reduced the incidences of domestic violence in our city and our county.
Marikay is equally supportive of the Fire Department. Its ISO1 rating ensures that the citizens of Greensboro has one of the lowest homeowner insurance rates available. Our Fire Department has outreach initiatives with programs to replace smoke detectors, install smoke detectors and CO2 monitors and has several programs to teach families and children about Fire safety.
She supports the critical GM911Public Safety division. Dispatchers are the first to speak with those who are in distress and are trained in National, State and Local Programs.
Public Safety Concerns
Transportation & Infrastructure
Marikay believes that a modern and well-maintained Infrastructure ties in to Economic Development that brings employers to the City. One of the most visible ways she ensures that our infrastructure is maintained is serving as Chair of the Municipal Planning Organization and the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation. Both organizations bring in county and surrounding municipality representatives monthly to discuss improvements in transportation, road improvements. bicycle and pedestrian concerns and projected solutions. Maintaining and improving our water and sewer infrastructure along with our transportation needs and road maintenance serve the public in various ways.
As a lifelong supporter of the City’s economic development efforts, Marikay has supported and helped plan many Economic Development endeavors. These include:
- Multiple efforts to attract new businesses to Greensboro,
Encouraging and supporting existing businesses to remain in Greensboro, - Championing and encouraging small businesses’ efforts to prosper and grow in Greensboro,
- Focusing on workforce development needs from company input and focus on public investment on high impact priority projects in targeted areas, corridors and impact zones.
Growing Economic Development
More & Attainable Housing
Attainable housing options encompass a variety of residences accessible to a broad spectrum of potential buyers and renters. Our community requires single-family homes, multifamily units, and rental properties across all price points. To realize this vision, we are exploring developments that offer a diverse range of homes for purchase, apartments for rent, and transitional housing for individuals who may not yet be ready for homeownership. Additionally, attainable housing should feature innovative construction methods that comply with all relevant regulations. Our city council is committed to doing everything within our means to facilitate the City Manager’s goals of over 10,000 additional housing units in the coming years, complementing the nearly 18,000 potential units we approved for 2021 through 2024. As mayor, I will collaborate with our partners, including the city manager and his team, to engage with developers in order to achieve the 10,000-unit target within the designated timeframe.
Greensboro has a wonderful array of parks, trails and recreation facilities. My job as Mayor will be to continue to ensure that our policies, rules and regulations help maintain, provide for and plan for their sustainability. As a proponent of outdoor activities as a healthy option, I have, while on Council, advocated for increased safety, repairs to existing structures and sustainability options for the future. Also very important to me is the planning that goes in to developments – I have always promoted walkability, biking and proximity to parks/trails or recreation facilities for our residents. When those are not feasible, I want to make sure that transit opportunities are made and readily available.
Greensboro boasts numerous parks and recreational areas complemented by facilities which are frequently mentioned as desirable by companies who show an interest in Greensboro. We also have hiking trails, bike trails, bike lanes, tennis course, sports complexes and a nationally recognized aquatic center. As a member of the Sports Foundation Board, I can wholeheartedly say that Greensboro is fast becoming a hub for youth sports.
Greensboro has numerous venues that attract business and people who want to spend their entire lives here. From our top-notch venues like the Tanger Center, the Carolina Theatre and many others – cultural experiences enhance lives and attract employees who want to stay with their companies, raise their families and experience a quality of life. In speaking with prospective companies and even companies who have newly arrived, Greensboro’s quality of life was one of the top reasons they either decided to come to Greensboro or were heavily considering coming to Greensboro. As Mayor I want to continue building those relationships so more businesses will be able to experience the gifts that Greensboro has to give.
Recreation & Quality of Life
Culture and the Arts
As Mayor, I will continue to promote, help sustain, and advocate for the many arts and cultural organizations located throughout our city. From the Cultural Arts Center, the International Civil Rights Museum, the Greensboro History Museum, the Carolina Theatre and others, our arts, performing arts and cultural community is thriving. We have amazing art galleries and performing arts venues located throughout the City.
Many arts and cultural arts organizations are housed in the Cultural Arts Center and provide all levels of engagement to help residents get to know our different cultures and the arts. From the African-American Atelier to the Theatre productions held in the VanDyke Performance Space, there is always a high energy level of activity located in the Cultural Arts Center! One can learn to dance, draw, paint, act, write, produce and perform all in one building.
