Candidate for
For Member of City Council; City of Berkeley; District 3

My candidacy is about Consensus Politics. I have chosen to seek the office of Councilmember of the Berkeley City Council in District 3, in response to the need to advance an agenda for economic development and mixed-use affordable housing for the citizenry of South Berkeley. I pledge to work tirelessly for (1) capital infrastructure and street improvement, (2) to create meaningful jobs, (3) reduce and report crime through volunteer information technology dissemination monitors, (4) build confidence in our children to obtain a basic and higher education and technology career skills training, (5) to provide for expanded working capital and entrepreneur equity investment for the traditionally undeserved businesses. One finds that District 3 is a uniquely diverse community with varying degrees of interest and unmet economic and social needs. I propose to work for and support the following critical issues:

I will work through collaborative consensus politics to break the gridlock that paralyzes the City Council's ability to function as good government.

I will work for a greater share of economic development funding for South Berkeley including accelerating the $30 million Ed Roberts Campus project at the south east section of Ashby BART parking lot.

I will work for a Silicon Valley Solution to the Digital Divide that gives low-income persons greater access to computer training.

I will devote efforts to proposals designed to enhance the Black Repertory Theatre as a viable, vibrant and economically self-sufficient studio for the South Berkeley arts community.

I will continue to advance the concept I have termed "Voluntary Mitigation" that encourages commercial and housing developers to contribute to local community nonprofit organizations to lessening the impact of new and expanded developments.

I will work to change the City of Berkeley's small business loan criteria to make it more accessible and amenable to small businesses immediate needs without concern for years in business.

I will work for an early detection, prevention and intervention program to thwart the infant mortality rate and death of African American women and their children in the City of Berkeley in particular and Alameda County in general.

I will work to continue the Downtown Plan with reasonable and contained growth that provides adequate parking and other sources of shuttle services.

I will work in support of the Neighborhood Service Initiatives to de-mystify the relationship between the community and the Berkeley Police Department.

I will work to revitalize Lorin Avenue with retail/commercial and residential housing development in conformance with the South Berkeley Plan.

I will urge broader participatory negotiations with University officials as they expand building projects to meet their Long Range Development Plans (LRDP) objectives.