Position Statements

By Sue Severson

My husband I are 28-year Orinda residents raising our five children in this uniquely wonderful community. I have enjoyed working with parents and community members in various civic and educational endeavors, including nine years school board service, parents' clubs leadership positions, and the disaster preparedness committee. I know first-hand of the progress achievable through collaboration, open communication and consensus building and believe I can offer experience, fiscal responsibility and cooperative decision making to the Orinda City Council.

Road and drain repairs must receive the highest priority from city government. Every day we experience unsafe pavement conditions that endanger pedestrians, bikers and drivers. Closely related is the need to improve the home building and remodeling approval process to make it less stressful and more efficient for homeowners and to provide consistent guidelines and greater clarity of construction regulations.

I support Measure Q and will work to ensure that funds raised for road and drain repair are used efficiently and effectively. Similarly, we cannot become complacent to the threat of fires, earthquakes, and other potential disasters, so I endorse the goals and work of our new Public Safety Committee and the Moraga Orinda Fire District. We also need to cooperate in building strong neighborhood organizations which will, in partnership with the city, ensure the safety of our citizens.

We have all seen the constant turnover of small businesses in Orinda. City government needs to enable and facilitate entrepreneurs who are willing to invest their resources in establishing local businesses. We can and should examine ways to reduce restrictive regulations on downtown businesses, which would both improve our quality of life and augment the city's tax revenues.

Because the education of our children is probably the most significant shared value of Orindans, our schools are both our greatest community asset and our highest community priority. It is imperative that the city work closely and cooperatively with the school district to advance the educational goals of the School District for our children. In the matter of the disposition of Pine Grove, the City Council should reduce roadblocks, not create them, so a project that all can be proud of moves forward in a timely way.

Alcohol and drug use among teenagers is a national crisis, and Orinda is not immune. A recent Healthy Kids Survey showed that Miramonte High School 11th and 12th graders are above state average in alcohol and marijuana usage. Parents, schools and city government must work together to address this issue. Miramonte Parents' Club, of which I am currently president, organized a forum this Spring involving students, parents, city and school leadership, to find solutions to teen drinking and drug use. Several positive steps are underway: (1) the Community Center is providing more teen-specific offerings; (2) Orinda law enforcement is actively investigating and pursuing the perpetrators of illegal teen drinking parties; and (3) Miramonte and the city are discussing the possibility of providing safe youth gathering spots and recreational opportunities. The joint school-city actions to address under-aged substance abuse are moving forward and I am proud to be actively involved.