City Commission Candidate Bob Lotane has announced his platform on a number of issues. Ryan Dailey reports Lotane says his plan will in his words, “preserve and advance the city.”
On paper, Bob Lotane’s comprehensive platform is so expansive it covers five pages and is divided by subject. Lotane says its intention is to both modernize the City and preserve its historic beauty.
On crime and policing, Lotane stresses decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana.
"If they don’t want to legalize it, at least don’t destroy people’s lives over it," Lotane said. "Especially African American kids on the Southside, they’re having a tough enough time trying to get a foothold in life- we don’t need to be ruining their lives over a couple of joints, it’s crazy."
Lotane also suggests an alternative for moving the Tallahassee Police headquarters, floating the idea of a Midtown headquarters with substations on the North and Southside. He’s also pushing for term limits on the City Commission capped at eight years, more stringent ethics standards, and a rotating mayor system.
"The mayor’s office – rightly or wrongly – and this happens in other places and I’d rather not see it here, is kind of used as a political launching pad," Lotane said. "And I’d rather see the five City Council members we have concentrating on dealing with local issues."
On the environment, Lotane wants to limit the amount of lawn fertilizer used during certain times of year, and ban plastic bags in the City. And to help alleviate the problem of food deserts, he is proposing a study on public transportation to supermarkets for those living in affected areas.
Lotane is up against Dianne Williams Cox in the November election.
