Tarrick Pittman is running For Ward 1 council seat. Andre Knight must not be elected in October. Tarrick makes his case with the following information that demonstrates the need for change.
This is a three man race, which could split the votes needed to beat Mr. Knight. A poll must be taken in September to determine the odds on favorite to beat Knight. Either Troy Davis or Tarrick Pittman will make dramatic changes in the lives of Ward 1 residents. The goal is to beat Mr. Knight. In the end, both challengers, in order ensure a win, must band together and one drop out of the race. Harsh but necessary.
Mr. Pittman says, “Here is some food for thought! For the past 16 yrs Andre and his partners, silent and otherwise have used their position(s) to enrich themselves through back door deals, the manipulation of people’s emotions, lies, threats, fear, and intimidation. Meanwhile, he has ignored the wants, needs, and desires of Ward 1. Leaving it to slowly erode away. He talks about gentrification but at the same time is moving people out of their houses for the sake of his development. He hides these dealings through, silent partners, a ”friendly” attorney, shell companies, and worst of all his mother.
In the past six years, Andre Demetrius Knight and his partners have amassed 15 buildings downtown in the proximity of the Rocky Mount Event Center. Some of the more well-known buildings you will recognize below. Most of all 202 Ivy Street, the little white church that he plans to flip with the proposed hotel development.
Now don’t get me wrong I’m all about a brother getting his paper. However, what stands out to me most, apart from the questionable means he’s used to acquiring these buildings, is how many, 15? AIl the while Andre Demetrius Knight has yet to invest one penny in Ward 1. Why? It’s not like we don’t have plenty of available buildings to choose from in the Ward. Profiting off of the building of the Event Center seems to be his main goal.
Lastly, Andre Knight and his colleagues shout “gentrification” and we all freeze and do nothing or jump on the bandwagon. At the same time, he and his partners are buying up the property where the proposed retail and apartments, and the 2nd deck are supposed to go. We need a councilman sitting at the table who has the needs of the community first and not the lining of his pockets. Let’s vote for change tomorrow!!!!!!!! Polls open at 6:30am and close at 7:30pm”
Sherry Little
- This isn’t a true representation of WARD 1.
- What’s wrong with Andre Knight the businessman owning property in the city? Did anyone complain about former Mayor David Combs owning valuable property throughout the city? Our current Mayor owns property downtown. Many of our Council members and city leaders own property in the city.
- People of RMT our council members are paid under $20,000. How can anyone live and support their family off that amount?
- I live in the Edgemont neighborhood that consists of a portion of Wards 1, 2, and 3. I am please with what Councilman Knight is doing to help the Edgemont Neighborhood Association. He’s present at the majority of our meetings. Thanks to Councilman Knight, Sycamore Street Park and Eastern Ave Park received funding for a makeover.
Thanks to Councilman Knight being active in our community we are an informed community which is why someone like Crystal Anderson who lives in the Southeast Rocky Mount Neighborhood chose to be a member of Edgemont instead of her assigned neighborhood association. - Mr. Pittman leased a few properties downtown, but I do not know if he owns any properties. Please list them.
- I am waiting to see if Pittman will step aside to not split the votes.
- I would like to hear testimony from people in WARD 1 who are satisfied or dissatisfied with Knight. I have not heard ANY of the neighborhood PRESIDENTS in WARD 1 publicly complain about their elected representative.
- Please do not use your platform to deceive and confuse people just to remove Councilman Knight from Office.
- I hope you do a piece on the Mayoral Candidates.
Author
Main Street Rocky Mount
Sherry Little, I appreciate your loyalty to Mr.Knight and being an important member of your neighborhood association, leader/contributor. If you are satisfied with the results of Mr. Knight’s 20 years of leadership, then you have no reason to vote differently. I don’t believe the salary of a Rocky Mount Councilman has ever been intended to raise a family etc. Part of the criticism of Mr. Knight is he has financially profited from his position through conflict of interest, rigging the system with a personal agenda that outweighs his responsibility to his constituents. Your young voice is significant to the revitalization of Rocky Mount and the hope of the future. Be it Tarrick Pittman or Troy Davis, you and I will agree to disagree about Mr. Knight’s expiration date. Nevertheless, I cheer all of you on because the future of Rocky Mount is in your hands based on decisions made today. I thank you for your well expressed point of view (POV) I remain unconvinced, however, believing that CHANGE in this Ward 1 seat offers the possibilities the ward deserves.
Another Great Comment: Thank you for joining this conversation with your clear questions and concerns. I will use this platform between now and the election to encourage Mr. Troy Davis and Mr. Tarrick Pittman to address your concerns. You are my hero for speaking up and caring about ward 1, your neighbors, and Rocky Mount.
Main Street Rocky Mount 
Hi Ms. Little,
I am a Ward 1 resident and I have blogged a comment about my feelings before. My section of Ward 1 does not have a representative. If we do, then I have not been made aware of once since pre-Covid. I have attended 2 meetings and then no more. I had just moved here and so I cannot speak on the history of this here place.
What I find interesting is that in speaking with a gentleman who no longer lives in the area, he said he and his family grew up in South RM. The time frame for this was in the 70s and he said it was rough then, just as it is now. That made me understand that there’s a spirit of the place that continues to oppress, distress and lose out on all costs. I don’t know what ward S. RM represents but I used that as an example for time and a need for change, unless, what’s the need for voting? A problem cannot be solved on the same level it’s created.
Lately, I’ve been hearing that Ward 1 is a slum. That, for a newcomer, is surely not a true representation! I can vouch only for that. There are though, many a street that needs some TLC but if it’s true they’ve been that way for years, then why?
As for Mr. Knight, who is he? What has he done and what does he propose? I have heard him speak once at our pre-Covid meeting and all I can recall was that he said (in paraphrase) was that some things are coming (to Ward 1). I had then and still have no idea what that meant but we did get a couple of new eateries but lost one. We also lost a drug store, and I hear, will be losing a bank. I really don’t know the ins and outs but I guess it all boils down to money. People invest where they feel the best. It wasn’t until this election that I understood that we can go out of our community assoc to others to be informed. That’s fine but if I were not online, I would have never known.
As a newcomer and maybe with others to this area, we can’t possibly understand the past histories that have occurred between Mr. Knight and Ward 1 in a few weeks. We can only vote (if we chose) based off of what we see now and as for me, he’s unseen and unheard. Maybe it’s my fault, not looking hard enough but as I see it, neighbors should have been talking and encouraging a newbie but they haven’t. No one talks politics around me. I feel maybe they have given up silently and I surely can understand that.
Lastly, what are any of the potential runners going to do for the youth (they ARE the tech age) and where are their voices? What are they proposing for the middle-aged earners who may be teetering on making RM their permanent home (on the Edgecombe side) or moving off to elsewhere more progressive? I live in the tech age and so much of what I do is online. I work and so when I come home, I can catch up with the meeting virtually and email/text when necessary. This is the attitude of these people, these voices. RM is poised for greatness because the potential is here but too much of this negative back and forth will have the ppl running and taking their money with them!
Mr. Knight may have the history but maybe his opponents have the flair that’s needed today especially in speaking in the voice of the young people. In closing, I am not deceived or confused, just not informed, and honestly, not impressed. I have only made up my mind not to vote for him but need to hear more of the “hows” from the opponents. I may not vote for anyone, really.
I need to be sold. Warning: All contenders need to advertise on all platforms (audio, video, social media, snail mail) with not just an ad to win but a rolling history of what you’ve done. Be consistent. You’ll also need to reach out to convince the youth, middle agers and elders of what you propose and speak to them on the levels they can hear. Thank you. –Ward 1 resident.
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