This is an archive of a past election. See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/cc/ for current information. |
Contra Costa County, CA | November 4, 2008 Election |
![]() |
A Cool Place to LiveBy Tom ButtCandidate for Council Member; City of Richmond |
![]() This information is provided by the candidate |
Making Richmond a "Cool Place to Live" will change the image of our city and attract economic development.You know that historic preservation and supporting Richmond's Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park are passions of mine. While my own enthusiasm may be fueled by a fascination with American history and an appreciation for traditional architecture, it is the economic development and quality of life aspects that probably impress most Richmond residents. I recall an article I once read by a highly successful real estate investor, Leland Speed, who described a philosophy that I have embraced for a long time (see http://www.tombutt.com/forum/2007/070605a.htm). If you want a city to be successful, you have to make it attractive and focus on quality of life, not just bringing in new business. Speed advised communities to deal with their "cruel realities," "quit worrying about what you don't have," and "focus on what you have." Speed concludes, "Cities aren't just competing for companies anymore; they're competing for workers. For inhabitants. For those people who make a house -- or a city -- a home." In fact, Speed thinks the defining factor is whether a city is cool or not. "We need to use our creativity and culture as an asset." In Richmond, the City government and the majority of the City Council obsesses over bringing "economic development" (jobs and taxes) to Richmond while too often taking for granted or ignoring what we do have, such as a national park (Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park), 32 miles of San Francisco Bay shoreline, the most Bay Trail completed of any city on the Bay, an extraordinary arts community, lots of historic resources, some unique and attractive neighborhoods and the Richmond Greenway + to name a few. At the end of the day, Richmond will make it if our city is a "cool place to live." WalMart and Target are not a critical part of that coolness. Nor is developing pristine shoreline open space, expanding the capacity of a refinery, diminishing citizen participation in the Design Review process, or increasing truck and train traffic to serve the Port of Richmond. Let's look at ways Richmond is using its rich historical assets to create jobs, increase the tax base and become a cool place to live:
|
Candidate Page
|| Feedback to Candidate
|| This Contest
November 2008 Home (Ballot Lookup)
|| About Smart Voter