New city council celebrates the start of business

New council members Alissia Canaday and Lee Barnes, fifth district and Jolie Justus and Katheryn Shields, fourth district, took the oath of office with other council members on Saturday.

Mayor Sly James and the new city council were sworn in Saturday, with the mayor using the occasion for pep talk and battle plan outline.

The past council accomplished much, and set a high standard, he said. “Let’s continue to create a city where high expectations are the norm.”

The mayor said much still needs to be done on problems such as vacant housing, murders, development, jobs and more.

“I don’t believe in games. I don’t believe in politics, I believe in results,” James said.

Then there is the question of what to do about KCI, which needs replacement or what experts say will be a more expensive renovation.

“How that happens will be a subject of much debate,” James said of the airport issue.

But so much progress has been made that he also said: “The initials KC are as hot as Johnny Cuerto’s fastball. People are talking about us around the world and around the country.”

The ceremony was at the Gem Theater in the 18^th and Vine district instead of city hall.

James said much needs to be done on the east side, but officials will give neither favor nor disfavor to things like northland or southland or race.

The new council also took the first council action, which was creating the committees and assigning members.

James created new housing, airport, legislative, entrepreneurship and jobs,, and youth development committees. The public safety committee was also combined with neighborhoods.

They were set up for efficiency, he said, and to make the best use of expertise on the new council that includes nine new members out of 12.

Returning 1^st District at-large Councilman Scott Wagner was named mayor pro tem to act as mayor when the mayor is unavailable.

The new council is more diverse, with five women instead of three before and five African-Americans instead of four before.

Experts note that James may not have as smooth of sailing in this term, which is his last by law. That is partly because several of his colleagues will probably be going for his job in the next election.

The new city council:

• 1^st District is Scott Wagner (returning) and Heather Hall
• 2^nd District is Teresa Loar and Dan Fowler
• 3^rd District is Quinton Lucas and Jermaine Reed (returning)
• 4^th District is Katheryn Shields and Jolie Justus
• 5^th District is Lee Barnes Jr., and Alissia Canady
• 6^th District is Scott Taylor (returning) and Kevin McManus