TOPEKA, Kan. – Gregory Bland Jr. is running for Topeka City Council to bridge the gap between local government and the constituents it represents. He also gives good haircuts.
“I wear many hats in the community,” Bland said. “Some would call me a community activist. Some would call me a pastor. Some would call me a preacher, a friend. My kids call me a father.”
Bland, a former pastor and elder at Temple of Deliverance, grew up in Topeka where he and his wife have three children, Kaidynne, Jordynne and Gregory Bland III, also known as Trey.
Bland is running against council member Mike Lesser in Topeka’s 9th District.
What life experiences have prepared Bland for Topeka City Council?
Bland said his connection to the community is a valuable trait council members should have. Bland has organized prayer marches and runs two youth development homes called Youngblood Youth Development Homes.
Bland is also attending Midwest Barber College, where he is the student body president and learned that barbers are pillars of the community. He said he has given out free haircuts and run coat drives while attending the college.
“We are able to touch the community in many ways,” Bland said. “It really helped me understand there is more to barbering than just cutting hair.”
Bland said he isn’t a politician, and he wants to know as many of his constituents as possible. He hopes his interactions with people make government more accessible.
Bland recalled an April 20 city council discussion about cancelling its July 20 meeting to attend the Greater Topeka Partnership’s annual meeting. The conversation lasted 10 minutes, which Bland said could be a barrier to those wanting to attend the meetings.
“There are more important things that are going on in the communities,” he said.
Bland said he wants to bring a fire station to District 9, which could happen if recommendations by Topeka’s Fire Commission are approved in their current form.
The commission met for months before sending a list of recommendations to Topeka City Council in March. Bland said the proposal is fair but added a lot of things are proposed but never approved.
Bland also said investing in affordable housing and bringing jobs to the city are crucial. He wants to use some of the city’s reserve funds to rehabilitate vacant properties to provide homes for the homeless. He said housing coupled with well-paying jobs can help people get back on their feet.
Bland said he hopes new affordable housing units can also be developed on the western part of town. He said most affordable housing is only developed on the eastern side of Topeka, which “in a way is segregating those individuals to a certain side of town.”
Affordable housing on the west side allows people to enjoy “the finer things in life,” Bland said. He pointed to the proposed $30 million Family Park design. He said the park wasn’t built near bus stops and can be inaccessible to Topekans.
Bland want to bring fresh eyes to the council. How?
No members of city council are Black. The nine person council has six white members and three Latino representatives. Bland said representation for all communities is important especially with all the “social injustices” happening currently.
Bland said policy decisions are different when it directly affects those on the council, and added that communities are overlooked when there isn’t adequate representation.
Bland, 30, also said his age will provide fresh insight into issues impacting the city.
“I am just a young man trying to make a difference,” he said. “I am trying to be the change and not just talk about the change.”
