I would like to address some inaccurate allegations being brought against me, concerning my former position on the Board of Trustees for People’s Church of Dover, which requested funding from the city Feb. 26 (“Some got it right on Dover church funding”). Considering that I acknowledged my former role before the church’s presentation, the complaint is inaccurate. I didn’t even get to my statement because William Faust asked about it from the audience, and since I was soon to address it, I allowed it. I have never received any benefits nor has my family, let alone the $5,000 trigger in the code. So, no conflict of interest ever existed. I no longer had any role in the organization. Further, even though I had a right to vote, I abstained. Lastly, there’s something else that was missed by the person; I recognized the city manager, who had changed his recommendation.
The council president and the sponsor both requested that it not be withdrawn, according to the city manager’s premeeting request, so each side could go on the record. After both sides were to be put on the record, the recommendation was to withdraw the request because the staff recommendation had changed.
I joined the board in July 2025 and left in February. Its members are doing some invaluable work, but the model of service needed to change to have more accountability and cooperation with the neighborhood. That’s why I joined. I wanted to help the People’s Community Center achieve its goals, while ensuring that it’s making a positive impact. Statistics show that the center was changing its clientele to people looking for assistance to change their lives. They started keeping track of people, so they could document if clients were residents of the neighborhood. Clients now develop action plans. The center added cameras. Its staffers check people in on iPads, with pictures and case files, and they track the success. They also remodeled, to present a more appealing presence. They were considering offering space for a community police office, for free. The workforce development program is exactly what’s needed. It gets people paid for work. Working people aren’t the issue. If you want success downtown or anywhere, replace dependency with self-sufficiency. That’s the solution, not the problem. I hope people will let this change take root. Putting people back on the streets does no good for anyone.
Dover City Councilman David L. Anderson
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