Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill derives most of its income from sales tax. In order to maintain and improve our income, shopping centers have to be appealing and meet our residents' needs. The Cross Roads project is the second phase of the downtown developement.

I would like to see the Cross Roads project completed. I think we need to assess the types of stores that we want to bring into our community. I think the stores need to have more of a regional appeal. I would also like to review our current sign ordinance and consider signage adjacent to 680 that draws travelers to our City.

A completion of the center dividers on Contra Costa Boulevard will enhance the appearance of our City. We really have a jewel of a City, it just needs some polishing. There is a stretch of Contra Costa Boulevard from Doray to Taylor Boulevard on the west side that is in great need of repair. There is a bus stop about mid-block but no safe access by sidewalk or crosswalk.The area is inaccessible because of overgrown trees and brush. I would like to see a sidewalk, a concrete block wall to replace the decaying wooden fences to provide safe passage on that side of Contra Costa Boulevard.

The flooding in the south end of town is certainly an issue that needs to be resolved. There is an ongoing investigation by retired City engineering staff and the Army Corps of Engineers to find solutions. I do not believe that there is an inexpensive solution for this problem. I fear this is going to take some time and probably a lot of money to resolve. I hope I am wrong.

I would like to find an identity for Pleasant Hill. Who are we, what do we stand for? I would propose a contest to create an expression of our identity. The winner would receive a financial reward. Banners would display our new-found identity throughout the entire City.

I would like to address the traffic congestion on Boyd Road. Sequoia Elementery and Middle school are a combination of our kids and kids from other communities. If these schools are so great, then why aren't other schools just like these? This is a dangerous situation and needs to be resolved. I would work with the Mt. Diablo School District to find a solution. Perhaps, a school bus could be used to transport out-of-area kids to and from the schools, thus reducing the number of vehicles on our City streets.

I have a passion for teaching and for kids. So many of the kids I have met in the Alcohol/Drug Abuse Program are kids who have been struggling in high school. The same kids are for the most part headed for the trades to make their living. This is not a bad thing. Not every kid is college material and not going to college is not failure. I would like to see a collaborative effort by MDUSD and adjacent school districts to look into the possibilty of building a trade school so that all kids are given a chance to be successful.