Political Philosophy for Ben Ventresco

Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Huntington Beach

One of the most important problems facing our city is how to increase sales tax revenues to the city general fund. Currently only about 12% of our general fund comes from sales tax revenue compared to our neighboring cities which all average around plus or minus 50%. By increasing revenue to the general fund the city will be able solve many other problems it has without increasing the tax burden on the residents.

Some of the ways I plan to improve the business climate in our city is by lobbying and working with the uncooperative landlords to become more pro-active and receptive in filling the great number of retail vacancies we have in the city.I will promote a plan of incentives to help attract new higher end retail business to the city not the usual martial arts studios and nail salons that we have now that do not contribute to the sales tax base. I will promote a "Shop In Huntington Beach Cmpaign" We must encourage our residents and residents of surrounding cities to shop in Huntington Beach.

"Infastructure" the bad word around city hall. After years of neglect and public works money spent elsewhere, the city infrastructure is at the breaking point. Current estimates to repair the infrastructure are $16,000 per houshold and rising quickly.The longer we wait the more it will cost. I will work on a sensible viable long term plan to repair the city infrastructure at a cost we all can live with. Lets act now and remove this burden from our childrens future

I will spearhead a ballot proposition to change the city in to 7 council districts for equal representation of all residents and neighborhoods. Currently we have no coucil members who live east of Beach Blvd or north of Slater. Council districts will really put the hurt on the special agenda people.

Public safety is always a big issue.Currently we have one of the lowest ratios of police officers to population in the state. The morale of our public safety employees is the lowest in city history.I will work hard to change this problem. I believe in fair and adequate compensation for all our city employees.By increasing our sales tax revenue we will be able to pay our city employees competitive compensation and turn our city back in to the California leader it once was.