10 Questions with City Council Candidate Khrystian King
Wednesday, August 05, 2015
GLW: What is the single most important issue that you would like to address immediately if elected for City Council and why?
KK: Good, decent paying jobs that you can support a family on. As a social worker, I have worked with families in every neighborhood in this City who are struggling to find a job or support their family with the one they have. If we want to move Worcester forward, it’ll begin with more job opportunities. Creating more and better paying jobs will primarily mean supporting existing and new small businesses. My father Leon King, God rest his soul, was a small business owner and I watched him growing up and how hard he worked to support not just our family but those families of the people who worked for him.
GLW: You ran for State Rep in 2013. What did you learn about campaigning during that election?
KK: That most of us want the same things. It doesn’t matter what your background is or your skin color is or how rich you are, etc. We all want safe neighborhoods, quality schools, programs to support our Seniors and Veterans, and good decent jobs. Now, we don’t always agree on how to go about accomplishing those things but far too often in politics, we focus on what divides us instead of what unites us. That’s what happening every day in Washington DC and too often it happens here in Worcester. I want to get back to putting people and families first and the leave all the political gamesmanship to someone else.
GLW: Over the next few months you will be highly visible on Worcester’s political landscape. What challenges do you foresee heading into September’s primary?
KK: Between now and September 8, I have to meet as many people as I possibly can and in the second largest City in New England, that’s no easy task. I am knocking doors every day, calling voters, attending community meetings, and anything else I can. But I'm a father, I’ve got a full time job and I'm continuing to run the Crompton Park Summer Basketball League for 20th straight year; so I want to ask the readers a favor. If you want to know something about me or you’ve got a question or simply want to introduce yourself, give me a call or an email or a text. My cell phone number is 774-922-0368 (call or text) and my email is [email protected].
GLW: What’s one message that you would like to convey to Worcester’s voters?
KK: As I introduce myself to people, I try to tell them what has motivated me to run for City Council. If you’re going to vote for someone, I believe it’s important for them to know why you’re in it, why you want the job. For me, it goes back to when I was a teenager.
I lost three friends to violence on Worcester’s streets before I turned 20 and decided then that I was going to dedicate my life to serving youth and families in our community. I’ve been a social worker for 20 years now, run a youth basketball program to give positive structured activities to our kids, and i work day in day out as a professionally trained social worker to make a Worcester a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
You can trust that I’ll put people and families first because it’s what I’ve done my entire life.
GLW: If you were a member of the City Council right now, how would you like to see Worcester's crime issue addressed?
KK: 1. Expanded Community Policing. We need officers walking the streets, meeting home owners and business owners, and building positive relationships that will make our neighborhoods safer. As a social worker, I have seen how effective this model can be right here in Worcester. If we need to hire more police officers to make this happen, let’s do that.
2. Support Our Crime Watches and Neighborhood Associations. These groups already exist (and where they don’t let’s figure how to start them) and should be viewed as critical partners in addressing the recent surge in violence.
3. Youth Jobs and Recreational Activities. It’s no coincidence that the Summer leads to a surge in all types of criminal activity among our teens. I have seen first-hand how important a part-time job, a spot on a team, or accessing the arts can be as an alternative that keeps a kid in or out of trouble.
GLW: Safety in Worcester Public Schools has been a key issue of candidates for both city council and school committee. What changes, if any, would you like to see to improve the safety in Worcester's schools?
KK: Certainly everything in the previous question would help in this regard. I think the Audit that has been talked about for months needs to be done ASAP – not sure what the hold-up there has been, but if we’re really going to dig into this issue we need as much information as possible as quickly as we can get it. I’d also like to see each school with its own safety plan, not a cookie cutter approach that treats all of our schools the same.
GLW: There's roughly four or five weeks left of the Summer. How will you spend that time?
KK: That’s also just about how much time is left until the September election so I’m out meeting voters every day. I’m still running the Crompton Park Summer Basketball League as I mentioned and make sure to spend time with family and friends but it is crunch time to meet voters. I also look forward to spending time with my daughters as well as my fiancé.
GLW: Where are some of your favorite places to go in Worcester? Any restaurants that you frequent?
KK: There are so many things to do here in Worcester. My family and I are fairly active and enjoy playing Tennis in Newton Square and now more recently at Greenwood Park's tennis courts; but there is nothing I enjoy more than playing 18 holes at the Green Hill Golf Course, where my dad and I shared many rounds.
There are so many great options to eat in the city of Worcester, amongst my favorites are Paesanos, Joey's Bar and Grille, El Basha, Addie Lee’s Soul Food, The Wonder Bar, Sazon Latino Restaurant, The Banner, Mezcal, and Kelly Square Pizza. They're are so many eateries to choose from you cant go wrong.
Lastly, one of the most enjoyable activities for my fiancé and I is attending Perfect Games' Bike Night right on Water Street!
GLW: The community race discussions wrapped up last month. From those discussions, what have you learned that may help how you handle relationships with Worcester residents?
KK: What I personally will take away is that it’s important that we continue having discussions about race but not just at Department of Justice sponsored meetings. We need to have them in our living rooms and churches and diners and wherever we can. We need to value all opinions, even those different than our own. As a social worker, I know the importance of bringing people together to resolve problems. It’s that collaborative approach, that focus on bringing everyone together – that I think makes me unique as a candidate. Too often, politicians are interested in one of two things – taking credit or assigning blame. That doesn’t solve anyone’s problem except maybe the politicians.
I have worked with parents, police officers, teachers, clergy, community leaders, and more to improve the lives of children and families across this City. That’s the same approach I’ll take as a City Councilor.
GLW: A story that's dominating the headlines - What's your take on the four game suspension of Tom Brady being upheld by the NFL?
KK: Four games because it’s “more probable than not” that he knew something about something??? As the Vice-President of my own union, I’m glad Brady has got his union fighting for him.
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