>> KETV NEWSWATCH 7, CHRONICLING
THE STORIES IMPACTING OUR
COMMUNITY.
STORIES MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
STORIES THAT MATTER TO YOU.
THIS IS KETV NEWSWATCH 7'S
CHRONICLE.
ROB: --
>> WE'RE LOOKING TO ADDRESS
THREE AREAS SPECIFICALLY E3
EDUCATION ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES WE'RE
LOOKING TO CREATE A HIGH WAGE
HUMAN CAPITAL POOL SO THAT
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO WORK TWO OR
THREE JOBS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE
TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.
ROB: AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE
AREAS EAN MIKALE THINKS OMAHA
NEEDS TO FOCUS ON IN THE FUTURE.
A FUTURE WHERE HE'S RUNNING THE
CITY AS THE NEXT MAYOR OF OMAHA.
GOOD MORNING.
I'M ROB MCCARTNEY, AND THIS IS
KETV NEWSWATCH 7'S CHRONICLE.
TODAY THE THIRD OF FIVE SHOWS
WE'RE DEDICATING TO OMAHA'S
MAYOR'S RACE, AND THE UPCOMING
PRIMARY APRIL 4.
BETWEEN NOW AND THEN WE'LL TALK
WITH EACH OF THE MEN AND WOMEN
RUNNING.
CHRISTOPHER GEARY, TAYLOR ROYAL,
EAN MIKALE, HEATH MELLO AND JEAN
STOTHERT.
THE FINAL SHOW WILL AIR 9 DAYS
BEFORE YOU VOTE.
AND ALL THE CHRONICLES WITH THE
CANDIDATES WILL BE ON LINE AT
KETV.COM.
THIS MORNING WE'RE TALKING WITH
EAN MIKALE.
FIRST A FEW FACTS ABOUT HIM,
ACCORDING TO HIS WEBSITE, HE
GREW UP IN POVERTY ON THE NORTH
SIDE OF OMAHA, IN THE MILLER
PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.
HE WITNESSED HIS FATHER DIE AS A
RESULT OF GUN VIOLENCE WHEN HE
WAS ONLY 4-YEARS-OLD.
AT FIFTEEN, MIKALE BECAME THE
NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON FOR THE
NATIONAL MENTORING PARTNERSHIP.
WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL AT CENTRAL,
AND AFTER GRADUATING BECAME THE
YOUNGEST PERSON AT THE TIME TO
INTERN FOR NEBRASKA SENATOR BEN
NELSON.
MIKALE THEN WENT TO HOWARD
UNIVERSITY, GRADUATED LAW SCHOOL
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.
HE WORKED FOR A YEAR AT THE
URBAN LEAGUE OF NEBRASKA, AS A
YOUTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR THEN
FOLLOWED HIS HEART BY BECOMING
AN ENTREPRENEUR.
LAST AUGUST WE CAUGHT UP WITH
MIKALE, WHO FOUNDED THE INFINITE
EIGHT INSTITUTE.
HE WAS WITH SOME TUSKEGEE AIRMEN
STARTING ONE OF THE FIRST DRONE
TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE METRO.
THE GOAL, IS TO GET MINORITY
TEENS INTERESTED IN THIS NEW
TYPE OF FLYING.
EAN: SO WE FIRST STARTED WORKING
WITH LOW-INCOME YOUTH,
CONDUCTING A DRONE PROGRAM AT
THE BRYANT CENTER, OFF OF 24TH
AND LAKE IN NORTH OMAHA, AND
THROUGH THAT INTERACTION, WE SAW
YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS THAT HAD AN
ENTHUSIASM FOR THE TECHNOLOGY.
ROB: AND THAT LOVE OF TECHNOLOGY
IS EVIDENT WHEN YOU TALK WITH
MIKALE.
WE WERE THERE AS HE KICKED OFF
HIS MAYORAL CAMPAIGN LAST MONTH,
AT HIS NEW OFFICE NEAR 20TH AND
LAKE.
HE'S ALSO AN AUTHOR AND A SOCIAL
ENTREPRENEUR AND INVENTOR.
MIKALE SAYS ONE OF HIS FOCUSES
WILL BE FINDING A GOOD
INTERSECTION BETWEEN BUSINESS
AND TECHNOLOGY.
EAN: WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO
DIVERSIFY INTO OTHER SECTORS
SUCH AS VIRTUAL REALITY
AUGMENTED REALITY FURTHER
DIVERSIFY INTO 3D PRINTING AND
OTHER AREAS THAT WILL PROVIDE
OUT YOUNG PEOPLE A COMPETITIVE
ADVANTAGE AS THEY COMPETE
GLOBALLY IN THIS NEW ECONOMY.
ROB: AND JOINING ME NOW TO TALK
ABOUT THAT AND MORE IS EAN
MIKALE.
THANKS FOR BEING WITH US THIS
MORNING.
FIRST OFF, WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO
RUN?
EAN: I BELIEVE I AM THE BEST
PERSON FOR THE JOB.
RIGHT NOW OUR COUNTRY IS AT A
UNIQUE JUNCTURE, AND EITHER WE
ARE GOING TO KEEP PUSHING THE
PEDAL TO THE METAL AND GOING
OVER THE EDGE, OR WE CAN TAKE
SOME STEPS ACT AND THINK ABOUT
WHAT IT WAS THAT MADE THIS
COUNTRY GREAT TO BEGIN WITH AND
IMPLEMENT SOME OF THOSE SAME
IDEOLOGIES.
ROB: SOME PEOPLE THINK STEPPING
BACK MIGHT THROW UP A LITTLE
WARNING FLAG.
HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THEM THAT IS
A GOOD THING?
EAN:
EAN: REGURGITATION IS PROMINENT
IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.
I BELIEVE WE HAD FOUNDING
FATHERS THAT WERE INTELLIGENT
INDIVIDUALS THAT CREATED A
COUNTRY AND DID THE BEST TO GET
IT RIGHT.
WE HAVE VEERED AWAY FROM THAT
PATH.
ROB: WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE
BIGGEST ISSUES FACING THE CITY
RIGHT NOW?
EAN: ONE I THINK IS POVERTY.
THAT IS HUGE RIGHT NOW ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, AND IN PARTICULAR
HERE IN OMAHA.
YOU HAVE FOUR OUT OF FIVE
AMERICANS ON THE RINK OF
POVERTY.
EVERYONE, OR A LOT OF PEOPLE,
ARE ONE OR TWO PAYCHECKS AWAY
FROM POVERTY.
ONE MEDICAL BILL.
ANY TYPE OF UNEXPECTED INCIDENT.
HERE IN OMAHA, WE HAVE ONE OF
THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN
THE COUNTRY.
POVERTY IS A HUGE ISSUE.
I BELIEVE THAT TRANSCENDS INTO
THE WHOLE ISSUE OF VIOLENCE.
RIGHT NOW THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM IS HAVING SOME HARDSHIPS.
I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO
ADDRESS VIOLENCE FROM A
PREVENTATIVE STANDPOINT IN SET
OF BEING REACTIONARY.
WHY NOT REACH OUT TO THESE YOUNG
PEOPLE BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY GO
OFF THE CLIFF AND HELP THEM TAKE
A STEP BACK AND TO THINK ABOUT
THEIR FUTURE AND WHAT IT IS THEY
HAVE IN FRONT OF THEM IN ORDER
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
I THINK MY STORY IS SOMETHING
THAT RESONATES WITH THAT
CONCEPT.
ROB: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT
THAT.
YOU SAW YOUR FATHER KILLED.
EAN: YES.
ROB: WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT HAS
BEEN THE IMPACT ON YOU, BECAUSE
YOU WERE YOUNG AT THE TIME?
EAN: THERE WAS A DOMESTIC
DISPUTE BETWEEN MY MOTHER AND MY
FATHER.
MY FATHER WAS A PROMINENT MEMBER
IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE THING THAT
OCCURRED.
WATCHING THAT AND EXPERIENCE
THAT, IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT
LIFE DIFFERENTLY.
IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT HOW
FRAGILE LIFE IS, AND NOT TO TAKE
ANY MOMENT FOR GRANTED.
WHATEVER IT IS I AM PARTICULARLY
SEEKING TO ACCOMPLISH OR
ANYTHING I ASPIRE TO ACCOMPLISH,
I UNDERSTAND WHAT LIFE IS.
DON'T WASTE TIME AND GET IT DONE
BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN YOUR
LIFE CAN BE TAKEN FROM YOU.
ROB: WHAT HAPPENED?
YOU WERE WHAT, FOUR YEARS OLD?
EAN: MY MOTHER AND MY FATHER GOT
INTO IT.
EVERYONE WAS OUTSIDE WHEN THE
INCIDENT HAPPENED.
MY FATHER WAS TRYING TO REMOVE
ME FROM THE HOME.
LIKE ANY MOTHER WHO WOULD WANT
TO PROTECT THEIR CHILD, IT ENDED
UP SNOWBALLING INTO AN INCIDENT
WHERE MY MOTHER SHOT AND KILLED
MY FATHER.
LIKE I SAID, BEING EXPOSED TO
THAT, IT GAVE ME THE ABILITY TO
EMPATHIZE WITH A LOT OF THE
COMMUNITY WHO HAVE RELATIVES OR
FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT HAVE
BEEN KILLED AS A RESULT OF GUN
VIOLENCE.
ALSO, SEEING SOMETHING LIKE THAT
IS THE WORST THING THAT CAN
PROBABLY HAPPEN TO A PERSON.
BEING ABLE TO BOUNCE BACK FROM
THAT AND TAKE THAT SITUATION,
SOMETHING NEGATIVE AND TURN IT
INTO SOMETHING POSITIVE I THINK
IS THE STORY OF MY LIFE.
LOOKING AT THE CITY OF OMAHA, WE
HAVEN'T NEGATIVES AND POSITIVES
ON BOTH SIDES.
HOW DO WE TAKE THE GOOD THINGS
AND MAKE THEM BETTER?
HAD WE MAKE THE AREAS WHERE WE
ARE LACKING, HOW DO WE BOLSTER
THOSE AREAS AND GET THEM UP TO
SPEED?
ROB: THAT IS THE QUESTION WE
KEEP TRYING TO ANSWER.
LET'S TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
DO YOU THINK OMAHA IS A SAFE
CITY?
EAN: THAT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU
LIVE.
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH CITIZENS
THROUGHOUT THE METRO AREA.
THERE ARE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE DO
FEEL MORE RELAXED.
WHEN I OPEN UP A DOOR TO KNOCK,
THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THERE ARE
NOT LOCKED DOORS.
WHEN YOU GO TO THE NORTH AND
SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY, THERE
ARE A LOT OF LOCKED DOORS.
A LOT OF APPREHENSION AND
ANXIETY AS YOU WALK UP ON YOUR
NEIGHBOR.
I UNDERSTAND LIVING IN A
COMMUNITY GROWING UP WHERE WE
HAD TO DRIVE BUYS ON A REGULAR
BASIS.
WE KNEW PEOPLE WHO WERE SHOT OR
HAD BEEN KILLED.
I UNDERSTAND AND I EMPATHIZE
WITH THAT SITUATION.
IN ORDER TO REALLY CHANGE THAT
SCENARIO IN -- AND THAT
NARRATIVE, IT WILL TAKE SOMEONE
WHO HAS COME FROM THAT COMMUNITY
THAT IS ABLE TO ARTICULATE ON
BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS.
ALSO, MY FAMILY HAS BEEN IN
OMAHA ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE
GENERATIONS.
A LOT OF MY FAMILY, SOMETIMES I
SEE A RELATIVE'S NAME POP UP ON
THE NEWS, FOR GOOD OR FOR ILL.
I CAN MAKE PHONE CALLS AND I CAN
HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH THE
COMMUNITY THAT TO BE HONEST NO
OTHER CANDIDATE PROBABLY WOULD
BE ABLE TO DO.
ROB: YOU SAID ONE OF THE KEYS IN
HELPING FIGHT BACK IN THE
BALANCE IS EDUCATION -- THE
VIOLENCE IS EDUCATION.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES IS
PROPERTY TAXES.
DO YOU THINK TAXES ARE TOO HIGH?
EAN: I THINK WHAT IS HAPPENED TO
AN EXTENT IS GOVERNMENT HAS
BECOME LAZY.
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO BETTER MANAGE ITS OWN
FUNDS, AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME
FIGURE OUT HOW IT AS AN ENTITY
CAN CREATE NEW REVENUE STREAMS,
AS OPPOSED TO EITHER ANNEXING
NEW AREAS OF THE CITY OR JUST
RAISING PROPERTY TAXES.
HARD-WORKING PEOPLE PAY ENOUGH
FOR ALL KINDS OF THINGS FROM
HEALTH CARE TO PROPERTY TAXES.
HOW CAN GOVERNMENT DO A BETTER
JOB ABOUT LESSENING THE BURDEN
ON YOUR AVERAGE PERSON, AND
REALLY HOLDING UP ITS OWN END OF
THE BARGAIN?
ROB: WHAT IS YOUR PLAN THEN?
HOW DOES GOVERNMENT IMPROVE?
EAN: ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT
NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS NEW STRAINS
OF REVENUE.
WHAT WE PROPOSE IS THE GREEN
PLAN.
IT IS ESSENTIALLY AN ACRONYM FOR
GREEN ZONES, FOR RAIL OR LIGHT
RAIL, FOR ELECTRIC ENERGY, AND
ALSO FOR BUILDINGS.
WITH GREEN ZONES, WE WILL
DESIGNATE ZONES, AREAS THAT ARE
GOING TO HAVE CERTIFIED -- THE
HIGHEST GREENS CERTIFICATIONS IN
THE RURAL -- IN THE WORLD.
FOOD, JUICE BARS, THINGS OF THAT
NATURE.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CREATE A
HEALTHY POPULATION.
A POPULATION THAT ALSO IS
TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM SOME OF
THE OTHER ENERGIES THAT ARE NOT
RENEWABLE.
THE LIGHT RAIL SITUATION, ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN A HOT
TOPIC HAS BEEN THE ELECTRIC CAR.
REALLY BRINGING THAT DOWNTOWN
AND MIDTOWN.
THAT IS ABOUT A $150 MILLION
PROJECT.
ACCORDING TO STUDIES THAT HAVE
BEEN DONE AS EARLY AS 2010, A
LIGHT RAIL FROM HERE ALL THE WAY
TO LINCOLN FROM THE MEMORIAL
STADIUM, THAT WOULD COST HALF OF
WHAT IT WOULD COST THAT
STREETCAR.
YOU THINK ABOUT THE JOBS IT
WOULD CREATE.
IT WOULD ATTRACT TALENT TO
EMPLOYERS HERE IN THE
METROPOLITAN AREA.
ALSO, A LOT OF PEOPLE BACK AND
FORTH WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK NOT
ONLY IN OMAHA, BUT IN LINCOLN.
A LOT OF TRAFFIC FATALITIES
HAPPEN ON THE ROAD BETWEEN HERE
AND LINCOLN EVERY YEAR.
HOW CAN WE ADDRESS THAT AND BE
ABLE TO REVITALIZE OUR COMMUNITY
AND BRING IN TALENT FROM OTHER
PLACES?
ROB: THAT IDEA HAD BEEN PROPOSED
20 SOME YEARS AGO.
IT COMES UP EVERY ONCE IN A
WHILE.
DO YOU THINK THE CLIMATES NOW IS
BETTER FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT
TO HAPPEN?
EAN: ABSOLUTELY.
IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE
DISCUSSING CREATING A $150
MILLION PROJECT THAT IS NOT
GOING TO TAKE ANYONE MORE THAN A
COUPLE MILES THROUGHOUT THE CITY
, THAT IS NOT A SOLUTION TO THE
TRANSPORTATION ISSUE WE FACE.
IF WE HAD A LIGHT RAIL THAT
WOULD START FROM DOWNTOWN AND
THAT WOULD GO THROUGHOUT THE
CITY, HAVE STOPS AND ALSO GO TO
NEBRASKA CROSSING AND BE ABLE TO
STOP ON SOME OF THE SMALLER
TOWNS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, IT
WOULD HELP REVITALIZE THE
SMALLER TOWNS AND WOULD HELP
WITH COMMERCE AS WELL.
I THINK THE FACT THAT THAT HAS
COME UP AND WE HAVE A DEBTOR
ALTERNATIVE THAT HAS A LOT OF
RESEARCH THAT HAS ALREADY GONE
INTO IT -- EIGHT BETTER
ALTERNATIVE THAT HAS A LOT OF
RESEARCH THAT HAS ALREADY GOT
INTO IT.
ROB: SOME PEOPLE SAID THEY WOULD
TAKE THIS TEXT OF INCREMENTALLY.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
EAN: I WOULD BE HONEST -- I
WOULD BE OPEN TO FEEDBACK FROM
THE RESTAURANT COMMUNITY.
MY EXPERIENCE CURRENTLY FROM
PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT HAVE
RESTAURANTS OR ARE IN THE IS
NOTES, THEY JUST ACCEPTED AS A
COST OF DOING BUSINESS.
I HAVE NOT REALLY SEEN PEOPLE
WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ON THE LEVEL
THAT THEY HAVE ABOUT PROPERTY
TAXES AS FAR AS WITH THE
RESTAURANT TAX.
I DO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY MAY
HAVE CAMPAIGNED ON THE PLATFORM
OF DOING AWAY WITH THE
RESTAURANT TAX.
IT BRINGS IN A LOT OF REVENUE.
AS WE UTILIZE THINGS SUCH AS
ELECTRIC ENERGY IN ORDER TO
CHANGE OUR ENTIRE MUNICIPAL
FLEET OF CARS INTO ELECTRIC CARS
, AND ALSO BRINGING THE SOLAR
WIND TURBINES HERE WITHIN CITY
LIMITS, WITH THOSE TWO, FROM
ASSESSMENTS IN WHAT IT IS THAT
WE HAVE RESEARCHED, WE CAN BE
ABLE TO SAVE TAXPAYERS $20
MILLION A YEAR.
THAT IS $200 MILLION OVER A
DECADE AND $1 MILLION OVER 50
YEARS.
-- ONE BILLION DOLLARS OVER 50
YEARS.
IN ORDER TO HELP US PROGRESS AND
AT THE SAME TIME THE BURDEN, WE
WOULD HAVE MONEY TO FIX STREETS
AND BOLSTER OUR POLICE AND
FIREFIGHTERS AND AT THE SAME
TIME TO BE ABLE TO MAKE OUR
SCHOOLS BETTER.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE
REGULARLY AVAILABLE TO US.
WE JUST HAVE TO PEEL BACK SOME
OF THE LAYERS AND GET THE JOB
DONE.
ROB: WE WILL TAKE A QUICK BREAK
AND CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION
WITH MAYORAL CANDIDATE EAN
MIKALE.
ROB: YOU'RE WATCHING KETV
ROB: YOU'RE WATCHING KETV
NEWSWATCH 7'S CHRONICLE.
JOINING US THIS MORNING, IS
MAYORAL CANDIDATE EAN MIKALE.
I WANT TO ASK YOU, YOU ARE A BIG
PROPONENT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
HOW WILL THAT PLAY AND HOW
IMPORTANT WOULD THAT BE IN A
MIKALE ADMINISTRATION?
EAN: IT WOULD BE A FOCAL POINT.
THE FACT I HAVE BEEN SO INVOLVED
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WITH THE
ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITY IN THE
GREATER OMAHA AREA, THERE HAVE
BEEN CONVERSATIONS AMONGST MY
PEERS ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THE
COMMUNITY MORE VIBRANT.
ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE WANT TO
FOCUS ON AS FAR AS ENTREPRENEURS
IS ACCESS TO CAPITAL.
AS FAR AS OTHER AREAS OR
DEMOCRAT -- DEMOGRAPHICS,
MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE SIMILAR
SIZES THROUGHOUT THE REGION,
OMAHA GIVES OUT OR ACTUALLY
INVEST THE LEAST OUT OF ANY
OTHER CITY.
RICH DAD, POOR DAD, WE HAVE TO
INVEST IN OURSELVES FIRST AND
PAY OURSELVES FIRST BEFORE WE GO
OUT AND SPEND OUR MONEY ON OTHER
THINGS SUCH AS STREETCARS.
WE HAVE TO INVEST IN THE
ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITY.
FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES ARE NOT
JUST GOING TO FALL OUT OF THE
SKY AND LAND EVERY DAY.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT LIKE A
SNAPCHAT, THEY RECENTLY DID AN
IPO.
THEY WERE HOMEGROWN.
A SMALL ORGANIZATION THAT HAD AN
INVESTMENT AND GREW TO BECOME A
LARGE CORPORATION MIGHT THEY ARE
NOW.
BACK IN THE DAY YOU USED TO HAVE
ORGANIZATIONS OR ENTITIES THAT
WERE OWNED PRIVATELY BY FAMILIES
AND WOULD BE AROUND FOR HUNDREDS
OF YEARS.
IT TOOK THAT LONG TO GET THERE.
TODAY WITH THE RAPID PACE OF
INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY, YOU
CAN HAVE A FACEBOOK IN FIVE TO
10 YEARS.
ROB: YOU MENTIONED FACEBOOK.
THAT WAS FOUNDED BY YOUNG
TALENT.
YOU ARE 30 YEARS OLD.
WAS YOUR PLAN TO KEEP YOUNG
PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT OMAHA?
EAN: YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS BIG
AND YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH.
AS LONG AS YOU INTEGRATE YOUNG
PEOPLE AND TALENT INTO THE
PROCESS, THEY CAN BUY INTO IT,
BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT SELLING THEM
A FALSE DREAM.
BEING THE SPOKESPERSON OF THE
NATIONAL MENTORING PARTNERSHIP
AT THE AGE OF 15, I EXPERIENCED
BEING YOUNG AND BEING AROUND A
LOT OF POWERFUL PEOPLE AND
INFLUENCERS.
I WAS ABLE TO LEARN FROM THEM,
TAKE A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION
BACK AND TO REALLY UTILIZE IT.
WE WILL FOCUS ON MAKING SURE WE
HAD YOUNG PEOPLE WITH REALLY AND
IDEAS THAT WOULD BE A PART OF
OUR ADMINISTRATION.
ROB: A PERENNIAL ISSUE FOR
MAYORS -- WHAT WOULD YOU DO
ABOUT POTHOLES AND SNOWPLOWING?
EAN: AS PART OF OUR GREEN PLAN
AND ALL OF THE COST SAVINGS WE
WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCRUE, WE
COULD PUT A LOT OF THAT MONEY
ASIDE TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON
REPAIRING THE STREETS.
ROB: YOU MENTIONED A CITIZEN
INVESTMENT FUND.
WHAT IS THAT AND HOW VITAL IS
IT?
EAN: I CAME UP WITH THE IDEA
WHILE I WAS CONDUCTING A
COMMERCIAL DRONE SEMINAR.
WE ASKED PEOPLE AT THE END OF
THE CLASS WHAT THEIR IDEAS WERE
AS FAR AS HOW COMMERCIAL DRONES
COULD BE UTILIZED IN A
WORKPLACE, IN THE COMMUNITIES.
THEY CAME UP WITH BRILLIANT
IDEAS.
I REALIZE A LOT OF THESE IDEAS
DO NOT FILTER UP.
WE HAVE ALL OF THIS TALENT AND
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
THESE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES THAT
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO MAKE THE CITY
BETTER.
A CITIZENS INVESTMENT FUND IS A
FUND WHERE WE WILL IN BEST MONEY
INTO IDEAS THAT COME FROM THE
COMMUNITY THAT EITHER SAVE US
MONEY AS A MUNICIPALITY OR
PROVIDE DIFFERENT STRAINS OF
REVENUE.
ROB: DO YOU LIKE IN YOURSELF TO
ANY PUBLIC FIGURE OR CLINICAL
FIGURE?
-- OR TICKLE FIGURE -- OR
POLITICAL FIGURE?
EAN: I WOULDN'T LIKE IN MYSELF
TO ANY OTHER FIGURE.
I THINK AS FAR AS COMPARISONS,
BARACK OBAMA.
OUR FIRST MEETING, THERE WERE
THREE MEMBERS, A LOT OF PEOPLE
DID NOT THINK OBAMA HAD A
CHANCE.
AS SOON AS HE WON IOWA,
EVERYTHING CHANGED.
SIMILARLY, AS SOON AS WE WERE
ABLE TO GET ON THE BALLOT AND
BECOME A VIABLE CANDIDATE, I
THINK OUR SITUATION HERE WILL
CHANGE.
I THINK THE VOTERS WILL REALIZE
THAT AS WELL.
ROB: WOULD YOU AND EXPORT PARTS
OF THE CITY -- ANNEX PARTS OF
THE CITY?
EAN: THE LAST SUMMERS I SAW FROM
LAST YEAR'S ANNEXATION, THEY
PLANNED ON SAVING $70 MILLION
ANNUALLY, AND ACTUALLY ENDED UP
COSTING THE CITY $75 MILLION.
THAT PLAN DID NOT REALLY WORK
OUT.
LIKE YOU SAID, WE NEED TO FOCUS
ON MAKING SURE THAT WE BUILD UP
WHAT WE DO HAVE.
ALSO, INTERESTING A LOT OF
PEOPLE ARE SECTION A AND LOW
INCOME INDIVIDUALS ARE SENT TO
THESE SUBDIVISIONS NOT KNOWING
THEY WILL LOSE MOTOR RIGHTS AS
WELL.
-- VOTER RIGHTS AS WELL.
I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
CAN BE ADDRESSED INSTEAD OF
SENDING PEOPLE TO SUBDIVISIONS,
HOW DO WE FILL UP THE INNER CITY
THAT IS DECAYING AND DECREPIT IN
ORDER TO MAKE THIS PLACE
VIBRANT?
ROB: WE ARE GOING TO BE RIGHT
BACK WITH SOME FINAL THOUGHTS.
A REMINDER THAT YOUR COMMENTS
ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS
SHOW.
IF YOU WANT TO BE HEARD, E-MAIL
YOUR COMMENTS TO NEWS AT
KETV.COM.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT EAN
MIKALE.
REMEMBER, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM
YOU, WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
ROB: THIS IS KETV NEWSWATCH 7'S
ROB: THIS IS KETV NEWSWATCH 7'S
CHRONICLE.
FOR THE PAST 30 MINUTES WE'VE
BEEN TALKING WITH EAN MIKALE WHO
WANTS TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF
OMAHA.
WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT BUT
WE WANT TO GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO
MAKE A FINAL PITCH TO THE
VOTERS.
EAN: THE EAN MIKALE.
I'M AN IBM GLOBAL ENTREPRENEUR
AS WELL AS AN AUTHOR AND
ATTORNEY AND PROMOTIONAL DRONE
PILOT.
WE ARE FOCUSING ON EDUCATION,
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND EMERGING
TECHNOLOGIES, CREATING A NUMBER
OF HIGH PAYING JOBS SO
WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE
TO WORK TWO OR THREE JOBS TO
FEED THEIR FILE AND DOES TO FEED
THEIR FAMILIES.
ALSO SO WE DON'T HAVE
OVERCROWDING IN OUR PRISONS, AND
LOWERING PROPERTY TAXES TO MAKE
SURE OUR GOVERNMENT IS DOING A
BETTER JOB OF READING FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE.
ON TOP OF THAT, WE WANT TO DO
THREE OTHER THINGS.
WE ARE TO BRING THE CITY
TOGETHER.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO STOP MAKING
EXCUSES FOR THE INADEQUACIES OF
OUR GOVERNMENT, AND ALSO WE ARE
GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOCUS
ON THE PEOPLE AND IN ORDER FOR
OUR CITY TO BE AS GREAT AS IT
CAN BE, WE HALF TO BE SURE THAT
WE MAKE PROGRESS AND THAT WE CAN
CHANGE.
THE SLOGAN OF OUR CAMPAIGN IS
EITHER CHANGE.
-- BE THE CHANGE.
ROB: THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH
US.
IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS WE'LL BE
TALKING WITH THE FINAL TWO
CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR MAYOR.
WE'LL HAVE THOSE SHOWS
LOOK FOR THE CHRONICLE TAB ON
OUR HOME PAGE.
DON'T FORGET, THE PRIMARY IS
APRIL 4.
THE DEADLINE TO MAKE SURE YOU
ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE IS THIS
FRIDAY, MARCH 17.
AND THE FIRST DATE YOU CAN VOTE
EARLY IS MONDAY, MARCH 20.
I'M ROB MCCARTNEY.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT
SUNDAY MORNING FOR KETV
NEWSWATCH 7'S CHRONICLE.
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS
CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.
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