BUILDING A BETTER JACKSON
Thank you!
Meet The Mahoneys
Meet The Mahoney Family
Meet Daniel and his wife Semaj, both born and raised Jackson natives, graduates of Jackson High School class of 2000 and 2002. Both attendees of Eastern Michigan University, Daniel for Business - majoring in Entrepreneurship and Communications and Semaj for Education - Early Childhood Development. Returning home after college in 2009. The family are members of United People Community Church under the leadership of Pastor Billy Pierce and first lady Monica Pierce.
Daniel and Semaj Mahoney first met at a recording studio, where she was singing and he was rapping some 20 years ago. The couple was married 11 years ago in Jackson at Lilly Baptist Missionary Church. They now have 5 beautiful girls, Calvena (14), Sophia (11), Olivia (10), Cecilia (8), and Ila (5) who are the owners of their own business, Sister Smoothies and attend Paragon Charter School.
Semaj Mahoney is the owner of Ever After Events, a certified wedding planner, event coordinator and decorator in business for over 10 years. She is a subscribing life member of the NAACP, currently serving as Secretary of the Jackson County Branch NAACP, a NAACP NextGen participant, and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Formerly a member of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Legislative committee and founder and president of The Black Enterprise (Jackson's Black Chamber of Commerce). Current City of Jackson 4H Club Leader and 2021 recipient of the Emerging Leaders Award from Jackson Woman's History Council.
Daniel worked in wireless technology for 20 years in several capacities, Sprint for nearly half of those years and after a merger his last years were as a Business Account Executive for the largest and fastest growing 5G network in the country, T-Mobile For Business. Daniel now works part time at Jackson College as the African American Affinity Liaison in the Diversity, Equity and Belonging department. Responsible for relationship development in the community and working with the college bridge program Ready, Set, Jet. Daniel also works full time as a Case Manager for Access for All a pre-apprenticeship readiness program
Daniel Mahoney has been a community leader in Jackson for over a decade making his initial mark on Jackson's south side 12 years ago founding the city's largest back pack give away "The Jackson Back 2 School Bash," serving over 500 kids yearly with backpacks, school supplies, lunch and more. That event led to the Mahoneys running a non-profit organization established in 2019 called Many Hands Community Services. Where the Back 2 School Bash, an upcoming African-American Family Summit, and a new Business Incubator program named The Launchpad are all facilitated.
Mahoney proudly serves as a Jackson County Commissioner, representing the 7th District (City of Jackson's south side and east side), currently in his 4th term. He has served on several boards and commissions in his official capacity locally, state wide and nation wide - Lifeways Board of Directors, Community Action Agency Board of Directors, Jackson County Landbank Authority, former Jackson County Fair Board Vice Chair, former Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, former member of the Michigan Association of Counties Health and Human Services Committee and Judicial Committee, The National Association of Counties Michigan Regional Coordinator and Telecommunications Committee Vice Chair, Current Vice Chair of MichiganWorks Consortium Board, member of the FEMA Board and most recently appointed to the City of Jackson's Equity Commission and MLK Corridor Authority to name a few.
Mahoney is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. a subscribing lifetime member of the NAACP, current president of the Jackson County Branch NAACP, chair of the Economic Development Committee, former membership chair, chair of the Street Renaming Committee, graduate of the NAACP NextGen Program, and 2020 graduate of the Professional Development Academy's High Performance Leadership program and co-founder/co-chair of the Racing 4 Equity group to name a some of his organizational engagements.
All in all the Mahoney family has a deep love and full commitment to Jackson and seeing all citizens of Jackson prosper and succeed in all ways!
Involvement
Mahoneys involvement in Jackson and abroad
Daniel Mahoney has been a community leader in Jackson for over a decade making his initial mark on Jackson's south side 12 years ago founding the city's largest back pack give away "The Jackson Back 2 School Bash," serving over 500 kids yearly with backpacks, school supplies, lunch and more. That event led to the Mahoneys running a non-profit organization established in 2019 called Many Hands Community Services. Where the Back 2 School Bash, an upcoming African-American Family Summit, and a new Business Incubator program named The Launchpad are all facilitated.
Mahoney proudly serves as a Jackson County Commissioner, representing the 7th District (City of Jackson's south side and east side), currently in his 4th term. He has served on several boards and commissions in his official capacity locally, state wide and nation wide - former Lifeways Board of Directors, former Community Action Agency Board of Directors, Jackson County Landbank Authority, former member of Cradle to Career Committee, former Jackson County Fair Board Vice Chair, former Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, member of the Jackson County General Government committee, former member of the Michigan Association of Counties Health and Human Services Committee and Judicial Committee, The National Association of Counties Michigan Regional Coordinator and Telecommunications Committee Vice Chair, Current Vice Chair of MichiganWorks Consortium Board, committee member of the MichiganWorks SummerWorks Youth Employment Program, member of the Hospital Finance Committee, member of the FEMA Board and most recently appointed to the City of Jackson's Equity Commission and MLK Corridor Authority to name a few.
Mahoney is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. a subscribing lifetime member of the NAACP, current president of the Jackson County Branch NAACP, chair of the Economic Development Committee, former membership chair, chair of the Street Renaming Committee, graduate of the NAACP NextGen Program, and 2020 graduate of the Professional Development Academy's High Performance Leadership program and co-founder/co-chair of the Racing 4 Equity group to name a some of his organizational engagements.
Some of Mahoneys proudest accomplishments are renaming a street in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr after 49 years of fighting to make it happen, authoring a resolution to declare Racism a Public Health Crisis and while failed at the county this lead to the county passing a County Equity Policy, establishing a County Anti-Discrimination Committee who is charged with creating a county anti-discrimination policy and possibly creating a new position that will give oversight to this new policy. A like resolution was also soon after passed by city council which led to the creation of a DEI Officer and creation of a Equity Commission. New Keely Park (Fair Grounds) Master plan and building of the New American 1 Event Center. Creation of County/MichiganWorks Summer Youth Employment program providing the youth of Jackson County the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and more.
PRIORITIES AND DELIVERABLES
Public Safety
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Addressing the systemic issues that cause gun violence. Supporting proactive measures and trusting those closest to the problem to help provide resolutions.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Diversity is a fact. The numbers are what they are. Equity is proportional representation and treatment and inclusion is a choice to create welcoming environments where we work, live and play.
Neighborhood Revitalization
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Transparency & Accountability
Jackson's neighborhoods need help and revitalization just as much as the downtown. I will work with our community partners to bring Jackson's neighborhoods back to life.
Transparency & Accountability
Transparency & Accountability
Transparency & Accountability
Transparency is the first step in accountability. Local government should be accountable to the community it is in place to serve.
Fixing The Roads
Transparency & Accountability
Economic Development
The roads in Jackson have come a long way. We need to create a model to not only fund fixing the roads but a plan to build them to last longer.
Economic Development
Transparency & Accountability
Economic Development
Small business is the heart and soul of any thriving community. Jackson is no different. Continuing to attract support new businesses and encouraging the birth of more entrepreneurs.
Public Safety
Deliverables:
Last year we made a commitment to work on reducing violence and increasing public safety, beginning with implementing the Group Violence Intervention as part of the strategy and cohosting the first Summit to Reduce Violence.
The Jackson Police Department hired the GVI Coordinator Cheryl Ragland, we hired 6 new officers as well as other investigative and community efforts.
The impact of these efforts has led to a reduction in gun homicides from 7 in 2021 to 4 in 2022 a 57% reduction
Total gunshot victims are down from 31 in to 2021 to 14 in 2022 a 45% reduction and we are committed to reducing those numbers even further in the coming years.
We are continuing to work the GVI strategy, the 2nd Summit to Reduce Violence is scheduled for April 21st, and we have several citizens working to organize neighborhood watch groups.
The Issue:
Addressing the systemic issues that cause gun violence. Supporting proactive measures and trusting those closest to the problem to help provide resolutions.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Additional Information
As a City who has made a commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion we look forward to continuing to live that commitment.
Last year we celebrated Asian American Heritage month by planting a Cherry Blossom tree in a city park, sponsored and supported the first ever Hispanic Heritage Festival in Downtown.
Sponsored and supported Juneteenth Family Festival and in honor of the now national holiday raised the Red, Black and Green flag during the month of June.
As well as continuing to celebrate and embrace our LGBTQ community with collaborations with the Jackson Pride Center.
We also honored Native American Heritage Month by delivering a proclamation to descendants of the Potawatomi Tribe who still live here in Jackson.
The Issue
Diversity is a fact. The numbers are what they are. Equity is proportional representation and treatment and inclusion is a choice to create welcoming environments where we work, live and play.
Neighborhood Revitalization
Additional Information
Last year we recognized the severity of the housing crisis in Jackson and we acknowledge the effects of some of the actions taken by previous administrations misjudgment in the demolition of several houses that contributed to this problem. We committed to working on this issues and announced several project that would be taking shape to assist in addressing this issue.
Over the last year the city has sold over 45 vacant city owned lots, created a buildable lot program to assist in creating interest in developing new single family homes. We also signed the necessary agreements to start the Greenwood Apartment project.
We signed an agreement with a developer to who is purchasing 137 vacant city owned lots to build new single family homes to rent with a target market of those who are 80% to 120% AMI
Approved the Affordable Housing Commissions plan to partner with another developer and some of the great organizations in our community to build 100 new owner occupied homes with a target market of those who are 60% to 80% AMI where we will provide down payment assistance.
That’s 237 new homes being built in the city of Jackson and will be the most new homes built in the city since World War II, and yes the $28 million redevelopment of The Hayes Hotel is still going to happen and we should see the start of project in November 2023.
The Issue
Jackson's neighborhoods need help and revitalization just as much as the downtown. I will work with our community partners to bring Jackson's neighborhoods back to life.
Transparency & Accountability
Additional Information
- Worked with City Manager and staff to update to Board Docs
- Met with Jackson College Board of Trustees for Ownership Linkage Committee conversation
- Created ad-hock committee to implement annual employee evaluation process for City Manager, Clerk, City Assessing Firm and City Attorney
- Amended Chapter 14 of the City Code of Ordinances to align with the International Property Maintenance Codes
- Balanced 2022 Fiscal Budget
The Issue
Transparency is the first step in accountability. Local government should be accountable to the community it is in place to serve.
Fixing The Roads
Additional Information
Working to create a long term plan to address the condition of our roads, while fixing the roads may sound like an easy and reasonable request the fact of the matter is its complex and layered.
Working to balance not overwhelming our citizens and businesses with assessments and creating a realistic plan to address the major roads as well as the streets that run through out our neighborhoods.
- Approved the Railroad Bridge replacement over Mechanic St and Jackson St
- Resurfaced Greenwood Ave
Learn More
The roads in Jackson have come a long way. We need to create a model to not only fund fixing the roads but a plan to build them to last longer.
Economic Development
Additional Information
Economic development and supporting the businesses in our community is what allows us to continue to grow as a city. We have shown our commitment to continuing the growth in several ways.
In the last year we’ve welcomed additional businesses in downtown like the Blue Julep, RJ’s Heavenly Delights, the recent ribbon cutting for the Commonwealth and more.
We officially opened the downtown social district. We also accepted a bid on the former Masonic Temple now The City Center to develop the commissary kitchen incubator that will allow food trucks, caterers and other food concept businesses a place to continue to thrive and grow.
- Downtown Social District is officially open
- Approved expansion to Ella Sharp Golf Course clubhouse
- Approved sale of Hayes Hotel for a $28 Million redevelopment
- Appropriated $2.5 Million in ARPA funds for renovations to The City Center formerly the Masonic Temple for a food incubator kitchen and job training center
- Approved Brownfield Plan for development of new Bigby Coffee on Cooper St and North St
The Issue
Small business is the heart and soul of any thriving community. Jackson is no different. Continuing to attract support new businesses and encouraging the birth of more entrepreneurs.