Mayoral candidates share platforms on crime, education, economy, education and more

Volunteers and supporters of the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation initiative in Selma (TRHT Selma) sent questions to mayoral candidates in the Selma election to demonstrate their platforms regarding key issues impacting the community.

Four of the seven candidates responded to these questions similar to Q&As performed in previous city and county elections.

TRHT Selma worked with several focus groups over the past two months to develop the questions that are related to racial healing, equity, economic development, the criminal legal system, narrative change, and positive cultural transformation.

TRHT Selma is a community-based initiative committed to dismantling the enduring effects of racism and building an equitable future through the power of truth-telling, healing, and systems change. They serve as both a local movement and a national model for how communities can address racialized trauma while transforming policies, practices, and narratives.  

Since its introduction, TRHT Selma has hosted hundreds of racial healing sessions, empowered youth through leadership and storytelling projects, partnered with schools and civic institutions to increase equity, and supported citywide planning processes grounded in the values of truth, justice, and community. TRHT Selma plays a vital role in helping Selma move from symbolic civil rights history to living racial equity transformation—one relationship, one story, and one system at a time.

Written responses to the questions provided allow candidates to share their perspective on the issues with Selma. Here are the answers in alphabetical order.

Values and Vision

1. How do you define vision? Humility? Courage? Integrity? And Competence?  Please share with us an example of your experience that demonstrates how you embody these values.

JOHNNY MOSS III Vision is the ability to look beyond current challenges and imagine a better Selma, one that is safer, cleaner and united. Humility means remembering that the Mayor works for the people. Courage is about making tough choices, even if they aren’t popular. Integrity is doing what you promise, whether or not anyone is watching. Competence is having the skill and discipline to turn plans into results.

When I became School Board President, our district was under state intervention. I listened to parents, teachers and students before making changes (humility). We had to close schools and shift resources to serve students better (courage). I shared hard truths publicly, even when they were difficult (integrity). I led the transition out of state control, and today we are building a new $19 million school (competence).

At Wallace Community College Selma, I’ve connected students to job training, scholarships and industry partnerships. In real estate, I’ve helped families secure safe homes and supported neighborhood revitalization. These experiences show I can bridge education, housing and workforce development to deliver lasting results.

As Mayor, I will bring this same vision, humility, courage, integrity and competence to City Hall. That means cleaning up neighborhoods through my Clean Selma Now initiative, partnering with Wallace and local employers to connect residents to good jobs, and ensuring City Hall operates with transparency and accountability. Selma needs leaders who can dream boldly, act decisively and deliver real progress, and I’m prepared to be that leader.

JAMES PERKINS Jr. Vision is a divine gift enabling one to see a future that others have not seen. Humility is recognizing that there is a presence and power greater than your own. Courage is a willingness to stand on a code value, even if you must stand alone. Integrity is doing what is right even when you think no one else is watching. And Competence is having the knowledge, wisdom and courage to efficiently and effectively perform a task through completion. Through divine intervention and great teamwork, as Mayor, I have led our community through three major natural disasters which occurred during a pandemic and currently continue leading us through housing, economic and infrastructure recovery including being awarded over $152,000,000 in outside government and commercial funding.

JARMAL SANDERS First, I think that vision, humility, courage, integrity and competency are all one item. They are equivalent to morality. I have experienced many immoral instances, and I use morality to circumvent the experiences that I encountered. It took humility, courage and integrity as well as competence to acquiesce the moral peace.

TEMEKIA SYKES I define vision as aspirations for the future. I define humility as reflecting a view of oneself and others. I define courage as a person doing something outside their comfort zone. I define integrity as abiding by moral and ethical values. I define competence as comprehending how to effectively perform a taskor duty. I’ve embodied all of these values campaigning for the office of Mayor.

2. Considering Selma in the next 20 years, what is your long-term vision for city development?

MOSS In 20 years, I want Selma to be a city where people choose to stay, not leave. That means neighborhoods free of blight, streets that are safe and well-lit, and an economy that offers fulfilling careers. I see restored historic districts alongside new housing and business developments that create pride and jobs. I envision thriving small businesses supported by policies that make it easier to start and grow. I see schools performing among the best in the region, attracting families and retaining local talent.

Achieving this future means closing the gap between our symbolic history and real progress. As Mayor, I would focus on three pillars: Unified Leadership, Clean Selma Now (a ward-by-ward cleanup with workforce training) and Public Safety & Opportunity (youth crime prevention, stronger policing and job pathways). If we commit to these actions consistently, Selma won’t just be remembered for its past, it will be celebrated for its transformation.

PERKINS My long-term vision for city development is a functioning logistics industry that is utilizing the existing air, water and rail infrastructure, and including the needed interstate transportation channels, all fueling retail (hospitality and shops), housing (multi-family and single family) and tourism development, while supporting and growing the existing industrial base.

SANDERS I don’t have a long-term vision. I only have a short-term vision. For the past 200 years, there have been engineering masterplans, and with those masterplans is connected with projections that project how the city would be. I would review these plans and select whichever plan is best for city development.

SYKES More businesses, retail stores, sit-down restaurants, more modernized buildings, stronger economy with higher paying jobs.

Competency and Leadership

1. What professional experiences have prepared you for the role of Mayor?

MOSS - I am a well-rounded leader with experience in education, business and community leadership. For nearly 20 years, I’ve served as Director of Marketing at Wallace Community College Selma, where I’ve partnered with schools, businesses and government agencies to expand opportunities. I’ve worked closely with Dr. Donitha Griffin, now the new president of Wallace, for over two decades, building programs that link residents to education, training and careers. This relationship means that on Day 1 as Mayor, I will already have a trusted ally to align workforce development with Selma’s economic goals.

As a two-term School Board President, I’ve managed multimillion-dollar budgets and led during state control, the pandemic and after a tornado. I’ve overseen tough but necessary decisions about closures, construction and resource allocation, always with transparency and accountability. As a Realtor, I’ve seen firsthand Selma’s housing challenges and the role city policy plays in revitalization. Serving on numerous civic boards has strengthened my ability to listen, build consensus and deliver results. These experiences have prepared me to lead Selma effectively as Mayor.

PERKINS My professional experiences include the following: Mayor, over 12 years; executive management over water and sewer utility, nine years; founder, 100% owner, C-level entrepreneurial experience of Information Technology company, 20 years; software engineer and systems integrator (coder, analyst and project manager), 10 years; Also, senior pastor, over 10 years.   

SANDERS There is no level of professional experience that can prepare you for the role of the office of Mayor. The only thing you really need to understand as someone who ascends to the office of Mayor is that bills connected to your view of how society is dictates how the society would be shaped if you draft the bills correctly with the citizens at large and their problems in mind in connection to the draft.

SYKES Managing the office for the Selma City Council (nine years), the entire circuit of District Attorney’s Offices(Bibb, Dallas, Hale, Perry & Wilcox counties) for four years. 

2.        If you could implement one transformative policy, what would it be?

MOSS If I could implement one transformative policy, it would be Clean Selma Now, an eight-week, ward-by-ward cleanup that removes blight, creates jobs and documents our infrastructure needs. Crews would remove trash, cut overgrown lots, clear dumping sites and board up abandoned houses. At the same time, they would log potholes, drainage problems and damaged infrastructure so we can plan repairs.

This program would partner with Wallace Community College and local contractors to train residents in landscaping, debris removal and restoration. Workers would leave with certifications, hands-on experience and stronger job prospects. Clean Selma Now would also include strict code enforcement, incentives for redevelopment and a public dashboard to track progress. It’s more than a cleanup, it’s about uniting the city, creating jobs and setting the stage for long-term renewal.

PERKINS Restore the authority of the Mayor to build his/her executive management team so that the people can rightly hold the Mayor responsible and accountable for the executive branch performance, especially in public safety. Everything about education, community health, and community and economic development centers around public safety. This is why the most critical relationship any Mayor has is his/her relationship with public safety leadership. It is critically important that this relationship within Selma be restored. Everything depends upon it. 

SANDERS There are several policies that I would like to implement, but my key policy would be a bill called “Let Us In, Let Us Win” to establish a city ordinance that would place each community member on each Selma city council committee. This bill would encourage the citizens to review all city records for the past 200 years and sue if the Selma City Council doesn’t act to resolve whatever issues that are facing the citizenry at large. This bill will also encourage that the committees expand from the existing number of committees to mirror the same number of committees as the Alabama Legislature and U.S. Congress.

SYKES My transformative policy would be to create more unity, transparency and accountability between the mayor’s office, city council and the community. 

Race Relations

1. Do you believe that Selma is still impacted by poor race relations?  If so, please share at least two examples of how you have directly helped to bridge racial divides in the city.  If you do not believe that Selma is still impacted by poor race relations, please share examples of how Selma exemplifies a community no longer divided by race.

MOSS Selma’s history ensures race will always be part of our civic conversation, but today’s challenges are more about equity in opportunity, resources and representation than daily conflict.

As School Board President, I worked to make sure every school, regardless of neighborhood, had equal access to technology, building improvements and academic support. Transparency in budgets and decisions gave every parent a fair shot at being heard.

At Wallace Community College Selma, I’ve built partnerships with employers and organizations across racial and geographic lines to expand scholarships, training and adult education. These efforts brought diverse groups together around shared goals, helping residents gain skills, find work and improve their lives.

Bridging divides isn’t about ignoring differences; it’s about showing up in every community, listening, and ensuring fairness in policy and resources. That’s how trust is built over time.

PERKINS I believe the nation is still impacted by poor race relations, and I know Selma is within the nation. Therefore, we are not excluded. Two examples: First, I teach and advocate for the idea of intra-personal reconciliation. This is a principle that promotes aligning one’s beliefs with one’s behavior, thereby becoming intra-personally reconciled. Second, as a pastor of an African American Baptist congregation, our congregation has teamed with a White Presbyterian congregation to carry groups of young people on an international trip to broaden our understanding of human conflict and efforts to reconcile. 

SANDERS No comment.

SYKES Yes. I organized the City of Selma’s Unity in the Community event for two years to unify citizens of different ethnicities together through food, music and worship. 

2.        Please describe how city planning can create a more equitable community.

MOSS City planning can close divides if done equitably. When investments go only to certain neighborhoods, others feel forgotten. Equity means mapping needs across the city and distributing resources fairly.

That might mean repaving streets in one ward while fixing drainage in another, adding lighting to high-crime areas or building sidewalks where children walk to school. Planning should also include public input through town halls, surveys and neighborhood meetings before decisions are finalized. My vision is that every Selma resident should see tangible improvements within my first term.

Planning can also connect communities by creating shared events and gathering spaces that bring people together. A fair, inclusive planning process builds pride, safety and belonging citywide.

PERKINS To understand the question and my answer, I feel that it is necessary to understand what I believe to be the difference between “equity” and “equal.” The simple way to do that is to share this example. Selma is divided into eight wards. Each ward has different needs. Let’s assume that Selma receives $8,000 to be used within the city as we choose. Equal would give each ward $1,000. Equity would assess the needs of each ward and the community at-large and use the money to address the greatest need that can be addressed with $8,000. During disaster recovery, specific to infrastructure repairs and housing, recognizing that we cannot do it all at once, this administration has leaned into an equity model by addressing the hardest hit with the greatest needs first. Now we are moving to expand the support to other areas as resources become available.  

SANDERS I noticed that with city planning there is only a focus to develop certain areas of the city. I think this is wrong. My goal is to focus on the city at large and give each community an equal level of representation. As far as city planning is concerned, my primary focus will start on the outskirts of the city limits to create a model example of an equitable community related to city planning.

SYKES Making sure all communities have the same opportunities and host more multicultural events.

Economy

1. Despite efforts to increase wages for all City employees and encouraging local industry to do the same, data suggests that there are economic disparities that persist in Selma.  Please share your thoughts and personal examples of how economic disparities have impacted our city.

MOSS Economic disparities in Selma are deep and visible. Too many residents work full-time but still can’t make ends meet. We see it in families juggling multiple jobs, empty storefronts and young adults leaving due to limited opportunity.

As a Realtor, I’ve worked with families eager to buy homes but unable to qualify because of low wages or unstable employment. At Wallace, I’ve seen students with talent and drive struggle to finish training programs because they couldn’t afford the costs without aid.

These gaps weaken our tax base, limit business growth and perpetuate poverty cycles. Closing them isn’t just moral; it’s necessary for Selma’s survival. We already have resources in Wallace, local businesses and state programs. The challenge is aligning them, making access simple and ensuring employers value skills with fair pay.

PERKINS We should pay livable wages, and the city should “lead by example.” When we underpay skilled and unskilled personnel, we get what we pay for. We should not/must not continue expecting five-star services while paying two-star wages. This model is a recipe for staying poor and underdeveloped. During my administration, I have fought for and increased the minimum pay for city employees from $5.25 per hour to $12 per hour. Still our city continues underpaying laborers, clerical, middle management and exempt executive level professionals. To receive better, we must treat the people who serve us better.

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SANDERS It is clear that there are economic disparities that have impacted our city at large. This is because of failed public policy of city administrations—current and past. I don’t think it is local industries’ responsibilities, legally or otherwise, to be responsible for wage increases or anything else related to policy that is in the purview of city government. It is only the city government’s responsibility to exercise this authority to offset disparities. I plan to create a city ordinance that requires local government to set a wage at $47/hr for anyone employed within city limits.

SYKES The lack of higher paying jobs. I worked a job for nine years with the City of Selma without a pay raise.

2.        Based on your thoughts and examples, what approaches would you use in the role of Mayor to address economic disparities over the next four years?

MOSS As Mayor, I’d address disparities with two main strategies: skills training and wage growth.

First, I’d expand partnerships between the city, Wallace Community College and local industry to create short-term programs leading directly to jobs in trades, manufacturing, healthcare, aviation and technology. This effort is strengthened by my long-standing collaboration with Dr. Donitha Griffin, Wallace’s new president. For over 20 years, we’ve worked together on programs that directly benefit Selma residents. From Day 1 as Mayor, we’d align training with employer needs and connect residents to good-paying jobs.

Second, I’d work to attract employers committed to fair wages, using incentives strategically to require local hiring and equitable pay.

We’d also streamline licensing and provide assistance to small businesses, especially in underserved areas.

Over four years, my goal is more Selma residents in careers, not just jobs, that build stability, allow home ownership and grow our economy.

PERKINS As Mayor, I will continue my efforts to get the governing body to vote on and approve the pay plan developed by Auburn Government and Economic Development Institute (GEDI). They were hired by the city to develop a fair, competitive and equitable pay plan and to develop job descriptions that parallel with the proposed pay plan. They did their jobs well. However, the political will to adopt and implement the proposed solutions did not exist and stopped the implementation of the proposed solution. As Mayor, I will continue pressing to position Selma to grow and not to remain the same.

SANDERS One of the ways that I plan to address economic disparities is by establishing much more opportunities for development. For example, I would like to build a stadium modeled after the Dallas Cowboy’s stadium.

SYKES Creating opportunities for higher paying jobs and fair wages.

Housing

1. A 2024 survey of Selma and Dallas County residents revealed that housing is the top priority. What are some examples of solutions that you have directly been a part of or have understanding about that you believe could work to positively impact the availability, quality and affordability of housing in Selma?

MOSS Housing is one of Selma’s greatest challenges. As a Realtor, I’ve seen how the shortage of quality, affordable homes pushes families away or into substandard conditions.

I’ve worked on property revitalizations and understand the hurdles: financing, permitting delays and risks developers face in smaller markets. I also know how city policy can slow or accelerate progress.

To improve housing, we can incentivize rehabbing vacant homes, streamline permits and partner with nonprofits for affordable projects. Land banking abandoned properties and preparing them for sale to responsible builders is another tool.

We must also enforce property codes to ensure rentals meet safe standards. Housing is about more than shelter; it’s about stability, dignity and health. When people have quality homes, schools improve, job stability rises and neighborhoods thrive.

PERKINS As Mayor, I directly recruited NACA to enter into our community with a commitment to build 100 homes. As Mayor, I currently work with the Housing Authority and developers to build two additional multi-family apartment complexes in Selma. As Mayor, I facilitated the transfer of ownership of nearly 200 residentially zoned properties from the State of Alabama delinquent list to the Housing Authority so that we, the Housing Authority and City, can restore abandoned houses that are salvageable and build new homes on vacant lots. This work is happening now. 

SANDERS The first thing I want to deal with is identifying the amount of housing available, whether they are owned by someone or abandoned. Then, I would establish a city ordinance to make it a local law that through interment domain the property will be seized, and the people without homes will be placed in these homes. The homeowner would receive a reasonable amount of compensation for there to be an economic accommodation. They would receive $1,000 monthly for a three-bedroom house. The city would incur all expenses related to refurbishing and repairing the home.

SYKES In my role as a Victim Service Officer and as a Board Member for Sabra Sanctuary, I work with victims who need safe housing during crisis situations.

Infrastructure

1. How can infrastructure development improve quality of life in our city?

MOSS Infrastructure is the foundation for safety, growth and quality of life. If streets flood when it rains, sidewalks don’t exist for kids or internet is too slow for remote work, then infrastructure is failing families.

As Mayor, I’d start with a citywide assessment to identify needs in every ward. That means repairing potholes, drainage, lighting, broadband and public facilities.

We can’t fix everything at once, but we can aggressively pursue state, federal and private grants. Programs through the U.S. DOT, USDA Rural Development, FEMA hazard mitigation and broadband expansion could bring millions into Selma without overburdening taxpayers.

Better infrastructure encourages businesses to invest, residents to stay and neighborhoods to feel connected. Every part of Selma should see visible progress, not just the areas with the most attention.

PERKINS Infrastructure development is traditionally considered brick-and-mortar projects. But there exists something called human capital infrastructure that begs our attention as well. However, because this question is so broad, I will address only one aspect of infrastructure development, that is, potholes. Over the past four years, our Public Works department has placed 1,039.71 tons, or 259.93 truckloads, of asphalt into potholes. Selma is old, and because of the age of our underground infrastructure, as we fix potholes more potholes will continue appearing. Truth is that potholes are a symptom of a much bigger problem, and filling in potholes is nothing more than a patch, and patching is not a solution to this problem. The solution is replacing or reinforcing the 150-year-old underground sewage and drainage systems and removing and resurfacing the streets. Every Mayor of an old city/town in the nation realizes this, and every candidate who wants to be Mayor uses the lack of understanding about this national crisis to challenge incumbents. But please know this: there is not an old city in America that has enough money to keep up with our crumbling infrastructure. The good news is, we have resurfaced 80 city blocks and have solicited funding to resurface streets in the disaster area from Old Orrville Road to Marie Foster Street. This funding source is only available to Selma because of the disaster. Basically, even though the disaster was a lemon, we are taking the lemon and making lemonade by utilizing the funds to repair as much of the broken infrastructure as possible. This is only the beginning of a real solution, but Selma, the nation’s infrastructure is in trouble, and we must make the decision to either pay to fix our own problems or continue patching our way through the crisis. 

SANDERS It is clear to me that infrastructural development is nonexistent in the city of Selma. Positive quality of life is affected by infrastructural development from the standpoint of actually doing development. An example of positive infrastructural development would be to do an engineering assessment of the entire city to identify where development needs to be done and make corrections for it.

SYKES It develops more community pride and could boost property values.

Safety and Law Enforcement

1. What is the Mayor’s appropriate role in public safety and how would you work with law enforcement leadership to offer support and address the community’s concerns about violence?

MOSS The Mayor’s role in public safety is to set the tone, ensure police have the tools they need and hold them accountable to the community.

I’d work with law enforcement leadership to strengthen community policing -- officers visible in neighborhoods, not just responding when something goes wrong. Training in de-escalation and cultural competency must be emphasized, along with technology that helps solve crimes faster.

We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin’s PEACE strategy and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy combine enforcement with prevention, mentorship and youth engagement. Selma can adapt these proven approaches on our scale.

Prevention is key. Mentorships, after-school programs and summer jobs must be part of the plan. Public safety is about prevention as much as response, and Selma can use tested strategies to move faster and save lives.

PERKINS Under the current structure that is defined by local ordinances passed by the Selma City Council, the Mayor does not play a meaningful role in local public safety. It is my professional opinion that this is the most critical issue facing the citizens of Selma during this election. On this matter, the solution is in the hands of the people. Your vote will decide whether this gets fixed or whether we continue operating in this dysfunctional way. The way I have worked around the aforementioned challenge is by developing strong collaborating relationships with other outside agencies. These relationships have been instrumental in assisting local law enforcement to address violent and property criminal activity.

SANDERS There is a legal framework for interacting with law enforcement officials. The Mayor’s appropriate role is to appoint a Police Chief. The state law limits the Mayor’s role in terms of defining the Mayor’s role in how he deals with law enforcement. There is a U.S. constitutional role that requires the Mayor to go further than the state law suggests or demands. The U.S. Constitution connected to landmark decisions demand that the appropriate role for the Mayor is to go further than the state law demands. I will by bill make it a city ordinance to establish a border patrol at each entry and exit point and place officers and drug dogs there connected to the boundaries of the city of Selma. I will order that all guns purchased by the city of Selma for police officers be only smart guns. I will encourage each defendant in each case involving them as defendants to take conflict resolution courses. Any community concerns could be followed up in the Selma city committees.

SYKES To ensure first responders have the necessary resources to effectively perform their duties. I will work with all law enforcement agencies I already have connections with to come up with a strategic plan.

2.        What uncomfortable truths about systemic inequalities that contribute to violence in Selma have you worked to confront?

MOSS One truth is that violence often grows from lack of opportunity, unstable housing and generational poverty. These aren’t excuses but realities we must confront.

On the School Board, I’ve supported mentorship and career pathway programs to give students alternatives to violence. At Wallace, I’ve expanded scholarships and training opportunities, because a steady job can change a young person’s future.

As Mayor, I’d continue this approach: focusing on prevention by expanding opportunity, while ensuring accountability for crime. It’s not either/or; it’s both. Prevention and accountability must go hand in hand if we want lasting safety in Selma.

PERKINS The moral compass of the nation, including Selma, is broken, and many among the moral leadership are publicly silent. Data proves that families are in crisis, and men are missing in action. As Mayor and Pastor, I am on the front line in this battle and not ashamed of my efforts to keep the Recreation Department funded, expand STEM both in public and private initiatives, mentoring scores of boys and girls, and counseling families through the challenges of life. Through it all, I see a bright future for Selma and the nation. We will rise! We will fix this, the Right Way. 

SANDERS One uncomfortable truth about systematic inequalities that contribute to violence is that Black folks are governed by other Black folks who encourage violence. I noticed that Black leadership has had an opportunity to rectify inequalities in connection to Black folks via bills but refuse to do so. I also noticed that Black folks tell Black leadership how bad they are affected by lack of positive public policy via bills. Whatever communications that go from the general public to the public official cause the public official to be violent when it is revealed they are not doing what they are supposed to do. It is my goal to confront these inequities by resolving them via public policy and/or bills that will lead to the establishment of city ordinances to address systematic inequalities that contribute to each category of violence.

SYKES Limited opportunities for youth. I’ve hosted several city events throughout the years.

Education

1. How can city resources indirectly support educational outcomes?

MOSS As School Board President, I know firsthand what our schools need. While the city doesn’t run them, it can support them in powerful ways.

That starts with infrastructure, fixing roads, drainage and lighting around campuses so kids can get to school safely. Public works can also ensure zones stay clean and maintained, while police presence during peak times improves safety.

To attract and retain qualified teachers, we must improve Selma’s overall quality of life, safe streets, clean neighborhoods, good housing and local amenities. Teachers want to live in a city that invests in them.

The city can partner on after-school programs, summer learning and access to technology. Safe recreation spaces and youth programs keep students engaged outside of class.

Education and economic growth are linked. By connecting employers to schools for internships and job shadowing, students can envision careers in Selma. Strong schools build a strong city, and I’ll ensure the city is a committed partner in their success.

PERKINS As Mayor, my administration has made major improvements with football, baseball, track and field, and tennis facilities. We have strengthened our youth “fundamental” athletic programs, thereby producing better prepared student-athletes. We have made it easier for the education system to gain access to city facilities and services. Further, I have encouraged and allowed students to shadow the Mayor to gain more civic knowledge. However, we should not only “indirectly support educational outcomes.” We should also boldly stand in support of doing our part by allowing the people to vote and decide whether we should adequately fund our children’s education. The primary source of funding public education is property tax. To stand in total opposition to allowing the citizens to vote on whether they want to increase funding for education and other critical government services shows a complete lack of vision and a lack of confidence in the intelligence of the people. We should let the people vote! 

SANDERS City government and the city of Selma’s education system are two separate political entities. It would be illegal to be involved myself directly and indirectly in school system business. All my bills would straighten out the city at large, and there would be no need for me to be involved.

TEMEKIA SYKES - Safer neighborhoods, cleaner communities and more youth programs.