Friends, 

In the past few months, we have heard some alarming, heartbreaking stories from friends and neighbors about living conditions within some multifamily rental properties located in Little Rock. These frustrating problems include pest infestations and a lack of electricity or running water.

Make no mistake, our team takes these issues seriously, and we do everything we can both to mitigate immediate life safety concerns and to connect residents with resources to help them out of these types of situations. Still, when there is opportunity to strengthen our laws to provide additional protections for tenants, it is our obligation to do so.

I appreciate At-Large City Director Antwan Phillips for taking the lead to champion a new Tenants Rights Ordinance approved by the Board of Directors last week. This ordinance makes our city code crystal clear on renters' rights and landlord obligations in privately owned, multi-unit apartment complexes. Director Phillips' ordinance was the result of several Board policy discussions on tenant rights, and it is a strong response to concerns we have heard from residents of certain local apartment complexes owned by out-of-state interests.

One key feature of the Tenants Rights Ordinance is that landlords who live outside of Little Rock must have a designated representative located in Little Rock. This representative would be the local point of contact for residents and for City officials should issues arise. 

The ordinance requires all privately-owned or operated rented or leased housing units in Little Rock with two or more dwellings to have:

• Functioning hot and cold water in the kitchen and bathroom;
• An available source of electricity with all fixtures and receptacles in good repair;
• A properly installed and maintained kitchen sink, toilet, tub or shower, and bathroom sink;
• A safe, structurally sound roof that does not leak;
• Pest extermination; 
• Safe and sanitary conditions; and
• Functioning heating and air conditioning, if HVAC system is present at the time of lease or rental agreement.

This past week, about 700 Little Rock youth ages 16 to 21 went through orientation as part of our Summer Youth Employment program. The Summer Youth Employment opportunity connects workers with jobs at business partners throughout Little Rock, with worker salaries funded by the City of Little Rock. We are in the process of expanding the program to create Little Rock Career Climb, an initiative that focuses on year-round training and apprenticeship opportunities as we develop our city's next workforce.

As part of the new Career Climb initiative, our Department of Community Programs will host our first Little Rock Career Climb Job Fair this week. 

The Career Climb Job Fair is Thursday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hall of Industry at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds, 2600 Howard St. 

Little Rock teenagers and young adults ages 15 to 25 are encouraged to attend to learn how to be connected with job opportunities, specifically those immediately available for the summer. 

To register to attend the job fair, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/G223GJY. Employers who want to sign up to showcase available employment opportunities can sign up at at www.surveymonkey.com/r/GC8NNY3. 

We thank our partners for the event, The Watershed and Junior Achievement of Arkansas.

Through Career Climb and this week's job fair, we are working together to build a stronger and better workforce right here in Little Rock.

We are humbled and grateful by the outpouring of support shown by community leaders, City team members, and family and friends of the late Bruce T. Moore who came out last week for our ceremony to unveil the street signs for Bruce T. Moore Way.

Bruce was Little Rock's longest-serving city manager, a mentor and a dear friend. We continue to mourn, but we celebrate his memory and the positive impact he made on this city and its residents. Following his passing last October, the Little Rock Board of Directors unanimously voted to rename Arch Street from Fourth Street south past City Hall as Bruce T. Moore Way.

Bruce's friends Darrin Williams and City Clerk Susan Langley, as well as his fiancee, Siobhan Osborne, joined me to share remarks and memories of Bruce at the renaming ceremony. We agreed that naming the street near City Hall as Bruce T. Moore Way would serve as a permanent reminder to our team members about Bruce's work ethic and commitment to excellence.

Please join me in continuing to keep Siobhan, Bruce's son, Luke, and Bruce's friends and family in our prayers.
 

• The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, June 11, at 4 p.m. at The Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St. At that time, the Board will set the agenda for its next regular meeting. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock's Facebook and YouTube pages.
• The City's Public Works Department will host a public hearing today (Monday, June 10) at 5:30 p.m. at West Central Community Center, 8616 Colonel Glenn Road, to discuss infrastructure improvement projects in Ward 7. The improvements to be discussed include signalization at the intersection of Shackleford Road and Colonel Glenn and drainage in the area of West Windsor and Brookview drives.
• The Little Rock Parks and Recreation Commission has its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 12, at noon. The commission meets at the Centre at University Park.
• The Little Rock Planning Commission will meet Thursday, June 13, at 4 p.m. at the Centre at University Park. The Planning Commission considers requests for rezonings and makes recommendations related to other planning and zoning issues.