Candidate for
Council Member; City of Eureka; Ward 1

LARRY GLASS for EUREKA CITY COUNCIL in the First Ward

"Business as it ought to be- NOT Business as Usual"

I am Larry Glass, and I am announcing my candidacy for the Eureka City Council in the First Ward. I am running because Eureka needs resourceful, independent leadership to meet the challenges faced by our community as we change and grow in the new century. I bring more than thirty years experience as a local business owner and as an active citizen participant in the workings of government.

My campaign is based on my belief in the fundamental values of American democracy--

FAIR & OPEN GOVERNMENT.

If elected, I will ensure that every member of the community faces a level playing field when it comes to participation in city decision making processes. No backroom deals, no special status for a small, self-interested economic elite. I will work for broad public participation at every opportunity. Minimum compliance with the law is not enough, it is the Councils job to reach out and engage the public, actively seek their input, and act on the message we receive. To start with, I say no more day time hearings that exclude working people.

PUBLIC SAFETY & COMMUNITY BASED POLICING

Citizens have the right to feel safe in their homes and on the streets and public places of Eureka. To accomplish this, we need a comprehensive new approach to law enforcement and management that fosters better relationships between police and the public. We need equal protection for people, both rich and poor; and for business both big and small. An active and regular public review of police priorities, activities and effectiveness will be a priority in my role as Council member.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT--Diversification & Localization

Our best hope for a stable economy lies with a wide diversity of locally-owned industries, capitalizing on the creativity and ingenuity of our people. Let's stop recruiting out of the area retail giants and start working to develop and grow light manufacturing and high tech based jobs that are environmentally friendly and pay a real living wage. Let's retain local dollars by supporting local businesses.

The City of Eureka has great untapped potential as a destination for visitors. The attractions we can offer are unique, from the redwoods to the rivers to the wildlife to the Victorian architecture to the Bay. Making the city more visitor-friendly is a requirement for us to take full advantage of our natural assets.

We need improved public facilities including public restrooms that are open and safe, more parks and other public spaces and additional parking- particularly along the waterfront. City sponsored kiosks at the north and south ends of town are another possible improvement to keep visitors and their dollars in the area that extra day or two. Improving the appearance of the 101 corridor could be accomplished with some simple, strategic landscaping featuring native flowering plants. We need to look into improving or replacing the municipal auditorium so that Eureka can attract the type of entertainment that other areas of this size get. We need to maximize city support of our festivals and events including the Jazz Festival and Blues by the Bay.

INVESTING IN YOUTH / BUILDING FAMILIES

Keeping our kids in the area, starts when they are young. We need to make the City of Eureka more youth friendly. We need to embrace our differences and provide the positive atmosphere young people need to fulfill their potential. I will work for city programs and policies that are family friendly by supporting the public and private projects that work to support families, from tutoring and youth recreation & sports, to social service delivery for families in crisis.

SMART PLANNING

Our greatest asset is our quality of life. We need to be sure that the choices we make today leave all our options open for tomorrow. We need comprehensive ongoing public review of the city's redevelopment department. Are we getting any bang for our bucks?

I will also see to it that there is full public scoping for issues of traffic and transportation. Our planning should be avoiding problems, not postponing the consequences for our children to deal with.