Quality Communities Come from Proper Planning

By Craig J. De Luz, Sr.

For our families to flourish we must provide a proper mix of jobs and business opportunities, schools and parks, as well as quality housing for renters and homebuyers.

1. SUBSTANTIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT- Making North Sacramento a magnet for development and employment opportunities- Never before has North Sacramento been in a better position to attract these type of opportunities. With the Sacramento Urban League, a group specializing in job training and job placement, coming to Del Paso Heights, the building of a new facility for the Mutual Assistance Network of Del Paso Heights and the redevelopment taking place at McClellan Air force Base; we are primed for positive growth. The Urban League and the Mutual Assistance Network will both go a long way in preparing our residents to compete in the ever-changing work force. The redevelopment of McClellan Air Force Base will provide unprecedented opportunities for employers to prosper in North Sacramento.

AS YOUR CITY COUNCILMAN, I will fight to make Del Paso Heights the new gateway to McClellan and work with Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment to promote and plan investment that really works in that community. I will also foster partnerships with the Sacramento Urban League, Mutual Assistance Network, schools, churches and the business community to provide all of the links necessary in the chain which will allow for residents to go from financial dependence to independence.

2. PROPER COMMUNITY PLANNING- Planning for an economically diverse community- Breaking the cycle of poverty is a difficult tasks at best. It is further complicated when those who do succeed in this venture pack up and leave the community. Why do they do so? They are moving to communities where they can find move up housing, good schools and are closer to their places of employment. Therefore, it is urgent that our future planning provide for these variables, not just to keep our success stories at home, but to attract other such families to North Sacramento in order to make this their home.

AS YOUR CITY COUNCILMAN, I will seek out opportunities to develop move-up housing in North Sacramento. In addition, I will work to bring new employers into our community who will provide livable wage jobs for our residents. I will bring together coalitions of builders, developers and community leaders to foster such projects. Furthermore, I will use my position on the council as a 'bully pulpit' to address the educational concerns of our district.

3. MEETING BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS- Making basic infrastructure a priority- are street lights and sidewalks luxury items in Sacramento? Judging from where we live, it sure doesn't appear to be part of the basics, and that is a shame. It comes down to two basic issues. The first is an issue of safety. Clearly, if we are to feel safe walking our streets at night it would be nice not to be in the middle of the street -- not to mention being able to see where we're walking. The second is an issue of fairness. We pay taxes to the city, state and federal governments in order for them to provide basic services -- police and fire protection, schools and roads just to name a few. I believe that these basics should be a priority ahead of any other political agendas.

AS YOUR CITY COUNCILMAN, I will see that basic community infrastructure is a priority when it comes to allocating city resources. I will promote budget proposals that focus on providing adequate police and fire protection, as well as increases in street lights and sidewalks for a greater portion of North Sacramento.