Fort Wayne, in, January 5, 2023 – Today Jorge Fernandez filed to run for Fort Wayne mayor. He stated the following regarding his run:
As I knocked on doors last year, I encountered Fort Wayne families struggling to get by. I have heard many of their stories, and it seems pretty clear that more can be done. Our city should step up to focus on those that need it. Let’s also make sure to deal appropriately with actions that violate the public trust and damage the ability of institutions to function. In general, unfortunately, I think elected officials often expect and are often held to a lower standard than the general public for their misactions. However, I think they should be held to at least the same standard and an even higher standard in regard to the political consequences and other consequences outside of the judicial system.
Jorge Fernandez released the following priorities:
The commission would also look at what accommodations Fort Wayne Police Department uses for those with disabilities and what would be needed to make sure, for example, that deaf individuals are not hit by rubber bullets; the possibility of using so-called “visor cards” for deaf individuals should be explored. This report would include the recommendations from various disability advocacy groups on the matter as well.
I would also have a status report created on the status of recommendations in the commission on police reform and racial justice (e.g., whether each one was adopted or not). the declared reason the commission on police reform and racial justice didn’t look at response to the Summer 2020 Protests was apparently then ongoing litigation.
I would also have the Board of Public Safety look into why law enforcement facing serious allegations of domestic abuse and other sexual misconduct like exposing themselves to citizens have been seemingly being allowed to remain on patrol duty for so long after evidence emerges. This is unacceptable. The Board of Public Safety would be asked to come up with recommendations to make sure this does not continue to happen.
The above matters would be considered when appointing members of the Fort Wayne Board of Public Safety.
I also intend to make sure that the Fort Wayne Police Department does not fail any more federal finance audits including in the “The U.S. Department of Justice equitable sharing funds”.
I also intend to work to move the City of Fort Wayne towards sustainable practices. I want to push any electrical utility serving the city to move to more renewable energy and want the city to install renewable energy at local government-controlled sites. I also want to improve energy efficiency and lower the carbon footprint of local government offices and other property.
Jorge Fernandez has not discussed his intention to run for mayor with any current Fort Wayne City Council Members including the democratic members who he is supporting in their re-election bids.
Jorge Fernandez is an educator. He has worked as a teacher in several Indiana Public School Districts. He has experience working in middle school and high school settings and tutoring students of many ages up to the college level. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry Education from Taylor University and has lived in Fort Wayne since graduation.
Jorge Fernandez will be seeking the democratic nomination for Fort Wayne Mayor.
As I knocked on doors last year, I encountered Fort Wayne families struggling to get by. I have heard many of their stories, and it seems pretty clear that more can be done. Our city should step up to focus on those that need it. Let’s also make sure to deal appropriately with actions that violate the public trust and damage the ability of institutions to function. In general, unfortunately, I think elected officials often expect and are often held to a lower standard than the general public for their misactions. However, I think they should be held to at least the same standard and an even higher standard in regard to the political consequences and other consequences outside of the judicial system.
Jorge Fernandez released the following priorities:
- Supporting Working Families – I plan to work to make sure that all proposed contracts from the City of Fort Wayne include language reinforcing worker protections under the NLRA (National Labor Relations Act 1935) to provide an enforcement mechanism at the local level as well. I hope to push for further labor protections in contracts beyond that like those in the proposed pro act. this would be something considered when looking at Fort Wayne redevelopment commission appointments. I would also work with the City of Fort Wayne City Council to try expanding collective bargaining right to employees not currently covered (currently limited to police and fire).
- Equitable City Grants and Loans - I also want to also make sure that the processes that the City of Fort Wayne uses to award grants and loans are equitable and properly consider women or minority-owned business. I want to also work on improving access to affordable housing, and refocus efforts and resources dedicated to improving public investment including infrastructure in parts of the community that have been historically marginalized.
- Review of the Fort Wayne Police Department – I hope to put more resources into use of social workers and utilize them, for example, either as part of a “988” function working with state, creating a separate hotline, or as an expansion to the Crisis Intervention Teams. I also plan to create a commission to look at the Fort Wayne Police Department response to the Summer 2020 Protests. This commission would look at reporter Chris Darby being seen on video being pepper sprayed while covering the Summer 2020 Protests including the related policies in place at time and recommendations to ensure journalistic freedom is respected going forward.
The commission would also look at what accommodations Fort Wayne Police Department uses for those with disabilities and what would be needed to make sure, for example, that deaf individuals are not hit by rubber bullets; the possibility of using so-called “visor cards” for deaf individuals should be explored. This report would include the recommendations from various disability advocacy groups on the matter as well.
I would also have a status report created on the status of recommendations in the commission on police reform and racial justice (e.g., whether each one was adopted or not). the declared reason the commission on police reform and racial justice didn’t look at response to the Summer 2020 Protests was apparently then ongoing litigation.
I would also have the Board of Public Safety look into why law enforcement facing serious allegations of domestic abuse and other sexual misconduct like exposing themselves to citizens have been seemingly being allowed to remain on patrol duty for so long after evidence emerges. This is unacceptable. The Board of Public Safety would be asked to come up with recommendations to make sure this does not continue to happen.
The above matters would be considered when appointing members of the Fort Wayne Board of Public Safety.
I also intend to make sure that the Fort Wayne Police Department does not fail any more federal finance audits including in the “The U.S. Department of Justice equitable sharing funds”.
- Transparency – I intend to make sure that the City of Fort Wayne aligns its polices with state public records law, but beyond that, I intend for the City of Fort Wayne to go above that in making information allowed to be released to the public accessible, unless in specific cases where there would be a good reason not to.
- Reduce Tax Increment (TIF) Use – While the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission with majority of voting members appointed by the Fort Wayne Mayor seems to have been going the opposite way by seeking to expand the use of TIF, I would encourage the opposite. TIFs have been redirecting property tax funds that would otherwise go to local school districts and other local units for years and at the very least if we don’t phase out TIF use, we should at least create pass-throughs so that money that would have otherwise gone to school districts, township government, and other local units is not redirected. The problem is even worse when that money is instead used on private projects without any clear public benefit.
- Environmentally Conscious Decision-Making – We have to do better at being good stewards of the environment in the City of Fort Wayne. I intend to set up clear environmental expectations when looking for vendors and creating contracts for the City of Fort Wayne and giving out incentives. I intend for appointments to the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission to reflect this. I also am against the exclusive use of public property for a for-profit business without any clear public benefit, especially without any clear expectation of compensating the public entity for the privilege. That is why I am against current proposals regarding riverfront access on Spy Run. The mayor appoints the Fort Wayne Parks Board, and this would be a consideration in any appointments to that board.
I also intend to work to move the City of Fort Wayne towards sustainable practices. I want to push any electrical utility serving the city to move to more renewable energy and want the city to install renewable energy at local government-controlled sites. I also want to improve energy efficiency and lower the carbon footprint of local government offices and other property.
Jorge Fernandez has not discussed his intention to run for mayor with any current Fort Wayne City Council Members including the democratic members who he is supporting in their re-election bids.
Jorge Fernandez is an educator. He has worked as a teacher in several Indiana Public School Districts. He has experience working in middle school and high school settings and tutoring students of many ages up to the college level. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry Education from Taylor University and has lived in Fort Wayne since graduation.
Jorge Fernandez will be seeking the democratic nomination for Fort Wayne Mayor.