• Non-Incumbent
• shawn@shawntaylor.com
• 304-414-6019

1) What do you feel are the best strategies for addressing the homelessness/unsheltered population issue in Charleston?

Our CARES (Coordinated Addiction Response Effort) and Homeless Outreach Coordinator Kevin Johnson is proof that our city government is attempting to ameliorate the challenge. The CARES team offers overdose response and follow ups, mental health crisis response and follow-ups, outreach to unsheltered and vulnerable individuals, connection to appropriate services/treatment, SUD treatment options, mental health follow – up and treatment options, family reunification, housing services, Narcan Training/Distribution, birth certificate assistance, Social Security card,ID retrievals, emergency insurance assistance, and transportation to services

2) What is your position on economic development incentives and how can the City work with economic development partners to incentivize business relocation and expansion?

The current administration has done an excellent job at securing grants – for example, the $13 million recently received from the US Dept. of Commerce for the LIFT Center. Continuing coordination with the Charleston Area Alliance and the WV Department of Tourism have been effective and must continue.

3) Charleston City Council has 26 council members. Do you believe that this number is too large to be effective or it adequate? Please explain your answer.

It is my understanding the our city council voted to create a committee to evaluate the number of members on our council. I look forward to the committee’s published findings.