This paper outlines what I wish to accomplish as a member of
the Santa Cruz City Counci
BRING MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE TO THE COUNCIL
- 28 years of IBM politics has prepared me well for
Santa Cruz politics
- Being in charge of million dollar projects has taught
me how to make efficient use of budgets, and where to find
inefficiencies in our City government.
- I have the people skills and management skills to get
complex issues through the City Council process.
- I will insist that the Council use well-known
professional practices respecting the public, staff, and
commissioners
CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
- I want to create a "Department of Housing"
- I support an amnesty program to legalize granny units
and existing Accessory Dewlling Units (ADUs)
- We need to decrease hook up charges for ADUs
- We need to streamline the permit process
- We should increase housing density in downtown and
urban corridors
- We can find private & public subsidies to produce
affordable housing
- The University's Role
1. Despite the rhetoric of some candidates, the City
has no jurisdiction over the University and its expansion
plans
2. I will work to foster a more cooperative climate
between the City and the University.
3. This is the only way we can have a voice about
the University's impact on our City's housing market.
LIVING WAGE - an important component of affortable housing
- Housing is a major expense for City workers
- There is no way that the City can, by itself, generate
enough moneys to provide City workers with a Living Wage
- This is why I propose the "Housing Department"
- This Department will reach out to State, Federal and
other agencies for funds to support the housing component of
the Living Wage
HOMELESS ISSUES
- I believe in the basic tenet of caring for the
homeless
- There are many categories of homeless people, and they
cannot be treated the same way
- I want to create a "Department of the Homeless
Services"
- We need to "Call the Department of Homeless Services"
when there is a problem, just like calling the Fire
Department:
1. Increase Family Shelter resources
2. On-demand alcohol and drug rehabilitation
3. Safe, Legal sleeping locations
- I support the 2% increase in the TOT taxes.
- This will be used to fund the homeless Family Shelter
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
- I am adamant about protecting the existing greenbelt,
wildlife habitat, and open space controlled by the City
- I would support a permanent logging moratorium on the
City's watershed lands in the San Lorenzo Valley
- I would increase the role of the newly established
position of City Resource Ecologist
- I support funding for the full complement of 7 City
Park rangers
THE ENVIRONMENT -- Traffic Congestion
- Funding right-of-way and infrastructure repair to
promote bicycle and pedestrian traffic
- Upgrade, increase, and improve bus services
- Implement recommendations of the Master Transportation
Study Steering Committee (due next year)
THE ENVRIRONMENT -- Water Supply
- Protecting water resources for future generations is a
sacred trust
- There are many complexities due to interactions of
cities, water districts and counties
- Therefore, the problem requires the creation of a
well-funded task force representing all stake-holders for
meaningful progress to occur
- Reduce Demand by:
1. Continuing education
2. Promote water saving devices and drought tolerant
landscaping
3. Use treated water on the golf courses. The two
courses are using potable equivalent to that of 1500 homes.
- Increase supply by:
1. Using city run-off to recharge aquifers
2. Developing an emergency supply, with capacity
limit
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