In 2022, when I ran for Mayor, the Black Political Caucus paid some of its members, "Meko Chosen" and Rodney McGill, to orchestrate a smear campaign spreading lies, including but not limited to: "I had no experience in 'budgeting' like Vi Lyles." The lie was so especially strange in that I'm a doctoral level Economist. ​If you know me, then you know I reject haughtiness, but I think we can all agree that budgeting is birthed from the novice fundamentals of Economics. Maybe somebody told them I made a "C" once in ECON 711 during my PhD program; Dr. Luba is nothing to play with lol. As if anyone could judge lol considering I've undertaken advanced academia in 3 typically considerably unrelated fields for which a minimum 3.0 GPA is required to matriculate and graduate. Soooo ... I think "grace" or rather DUE RESPECT is merited, because this is how much I love ETHICAL SCIENCE.

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Charlotte, I sincerely hope that you aren't easily dissuaded by the sensational defamatory hype, and focus, instead, on facts.

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Factually, the very operation of government entails Economics, Applied Science & Technology, and Law. Who, then, is a better fit for most any public seat in our local government than one who is both, a doctoral level Scientist and Economist, and a Lawyer?! Yes, this is a rhetorical question. 

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Some may ask why I studied Economics. Returning to my sharing as to the inescapable interdisciplinary nature of Applied Science & Technology in that environmental policy is a function of Economics and Law, the short answer, again, is: BECAUSE I LOVE ETHICAL SCIENCE.

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Keep reading for the long answer.

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When I graduated from undegrad and began my professional career, my "first stop" was Savannah River Site Nuclear Power Plant in Aiken, SC ("SRS"). I was a recruit, along with my peer top-performing Scientist from several universities to help them address a major problem (Photograph to the left; if you can find me, then I owe you a coffee/tea date lol just email or text me and I'll make good on it). Yes, I'm a proud super nerd. Decades ago, standard practice for managing nuclear waste was to effectually bury it in clay-lined refuse cells. I must inform you that this antiquated and unsustainable practice is still being used throughout our nation. SRS sought our intellect and "fresh eyes" to strategize sustainable solutions for managing nuclear waste. And we did. Wetlands are arguably the most powerful ecosystem on Earth. Naturally occurring wetlands (NOWs) stabilize even the most volatile chemical compounds. However, the amount of pollutant load is at issue in that human industry and consumption put too much upon NOWs. There's a saying in the field of Agriculture ... that there is no culture without Agriculture. Well, may I add, that without reform toward sustainability in Agriculture, we'll have no viable culture, and sustainability can't be achieved without changing the "culture" of how we value nature and ecological systems and manage industry, our consumption and waste management. We must be proactive in our strategizing, as opposed to reactive after the damage is done and more often only minimally remediable, and even too often irreparable. This can be a challenge because American industry likes to make money, and lots of it. This is where my uniquely interdisciplinary skillset serves us all exceptionally well. You see, I speak fluent Science, Economics and Law. While at SRS, I sat in so many conference meetings, and I mean just sat mainly. We, Scientists, would speak, but it didn't seem that anyone was really listening, or were listening until it was the Economists time to state facts as to whether our "ideal" ponderings were feasible financially. Oh, I remember vividly just how annoyed I was, because the Economists would often "bursts our bubbles." So, I decided if I were to be impactful in Science as I'd held out, then I had to learn the language of Economics. And I did. To boot, Math has always been my strong suit; in fact, my academic transcript backs me up in that I mostly made A's in all of my Math and Physics courses. (and yes I know it's not common to capitalize subjects, but I'm not common lol).

 

Ultimately, THIS IS WHY I studied Economics ... IT'S IMPORTANT TO STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. More specifically, my expertise in Economics is correcting negative externalities. This just means fixing or limiting the bad effects of production and consumption on humans and the Earth.

 

Respectfully Charlotte, I think it might serve us all much better to set our skillset standards for electing governmental officials A BIT higher than just "budgeting," because those who tout it as superior skill don't seem to be doing a very good job at it for our city. Maybe ... just maybe ... my interdisciplinary approach is not so nerdily idealistic, after all. I mean, I thought we all appreciated a good 2-for. Well, with me Charlotte, you get a 3-for. And I can "walk and chew gum at the same time" and "stretch a dime."  

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It's giving ... FACTS.

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On a side note, would you believe I got a "B" in Speech andddd even once a "C" in WETLAND MANAGEMENT, of all things lol. "All my life I had to fight" lmao ... in my Sofia from Color Purple voice. College courses are not always a test of academic proficiency and often times entail syllabus requirements that challenge students in many other ways that have little to do with aptitude. Nonetheless, it was not ever in vain, and all the cognitive rigor and character building is now to your benefit.