A Shared Vision for a Revitalized Hayward

By Joseph Hilson

After many years of hard work and planning as your Council Member, Hayward is on the move! A new City Hall, 3 new Fire Stations, a new Parking Garage with retail space, Dozens of new businesses, Thousands of new jobs, Hundreds of new homes in the downtown, 500+ new homes in the South of 92 project, a new 9 hole Golf Course, a new 25 acre Sports Park, the new Albertson's Center, and a new 12 screen Movie Theater, a new Cost Plus and new parking structure coming to the downtown.

My Vision for the Future of Hayward

Hayward will not continue to move forward without a vision. I have a vision for Hayward that provides an array of housing, businesses, jobs, recreational activities and neighborhood improvements that will provide an opportunity for everyone to share in the prosperity happening in Hayward. The image of Hayward is improving and has become a very desirable place for people to locate. We need to build on that opportunity by adding a variety of infill housing and places of business. Established cities like Hayward must continually reinvent and rejuvenate themselves if they are to adequately serve their residents and workers. That is our challenge. To regenerate our city so everyone has an opportunity to a good job, decent and affordable housing and an enjoyable quality of life. We can provide for the future by rebuilding older areas that no longer serve their neighborhoods with new or refurbished housing, appropriate businesses to serve resident needs and provide jobs, quality schools and adequate recreational services for a changing population. We can do this and still preserve our heritage and traditional values

Many older or historic structures can be refurbished and put to new uses preserving and extending their life and service to the community using the concepts of "Smart Growth Sustainable Planning" I have been a leader in smart growth planning for more than 15 years. Before many people had heard the term. I initiated and led the effort to rewrite all of Hayward's Design Guidelines to address those issues and ensure quality development in Hayward. It has been a successful effort. The quality of development has improved significantly since implementing the new guidelines. I am proud to have been the catalyst and leader for that effort. I am very grateful to everyone who supported and assisted in the project. We are all beneficiaries and it has been good for Hayward. It was a team effort, working together, we did it! Those guidelines and quality development standards are under attack by some who want to return to the "old days" of anything goes in Hayward. Don't let this happen. Let's continue quality, well-planned development in Hayward. We need Experienced Leaders on city council. Help me keep Hayward moving forward with quality development, sustainable planning and sound fiscal policies that provide city services, jobs and residential opportunities for all by re-electing Joe Hilson to the Hayward City Council on March 2, 2004.

My Vision Priorities are:

Increase Public Safety and Community Policing in all neighborhoods and encourage additional Neighborhood Watch areas

Maintain a strong economic policy and protect the city's revenue sources

Redevelop additional Downtown areas and bring new businesses to Hayward

Revitalize the "West of Grand" area with new businesses and residential projects

Build the Cannery Area project with 600 homes and neighborhood serving businesses

Partner with Hayward Schools to enhance school safety and the quality of education with a goal to raise test scores and educational excellence for all of our children

Develop our Business Parks bring in high paying jobs to Hayward

Protect and improve Hayward's neighborhoods by expanding Neighborhood Preservation efforts citywide

Expand citizen input at the planning phase, before the project is designed, giving citizens a meaningful input

Maintain Library services at existing Libraries and explore adding "storefront" neighborhood branches

Ensure senior citizens have adequate services to meet their needs

Support the Local Taxpayers and Public Safety Protection Act Ballot Initiative in November 2004

Protect transportation funding for current projects and loc