Oct. 31, 2017

Opponent Kenny Smith left his chair at the presenters’ table empty. Many voters left theirs in the audience empty as well. Early voting is picking up from its initial snail’s pace, but with indictments in Washington and foreign conflicts and natural disasters and the threat of nuclear disaster, what is a local mayoral candidate to do?

Vi Lyles showed up.

Citing her experience in city government and her focus on creating policy that solves dilemmas the city actually faces, Lyles kept the Forum crowd this morning busy absorbing all she has learned, about city governance, about working with the state, about working with people.

In answer to a question from former City Council member Malcolm Graham, Lyles said that the city’s plans for transportation – rail, cars, streetcar, etc. – are mostly fine. The unaddressed challenge is creating funding mechanisms so those plans can become reality. The city’s future, she said, hangs in the balance.

In the video below, Lyles’ presentation begins at minute 15:02. The Q&A starts at minute 24:18.