Candidate for
Council Member; City of Gilroy

It's a critical time for Gilroy. We need to revamp our local economy, protect our safety nets, and eliminate wasteful spending. Here's my three-point plan:

Putting Money Back Into Gilroy

It is important in difficult economic times to spend money efficiently and responsibly. As a Councilmember, I would work to change the City's arrangement with San Jose-based law firm, Berliner-Cohen. The firm acts as legal representation for Gilroy, and charges the high legal fees associated with a large law firm. Gilroy would be better served hiring a local attorney or firm, and keeping Berliner-Cohen on retainer. This would allow the City to have legal representation familiar with Gilroy, it would keep our money within the community, and it would result in significant savings.

I also believe fiscal responsibility begins with the City's leadership. If elected, I will decline any salary or benefits for my work as a Councilmember.

Downtown Revitalization

A city's downtown provides a historical and cultural identity, as well as economic activity. Currently, Gilroy's downtown is suffering. Here is part of my plan to help our downtown become more vibrant and prosperous. The City should work with owners to ensure un-reinforced buildings are made safe and capable of ready use as locations for business. We need to explore whether buildings must comply with the strict standards of the California Code for Building Conservation, or if there are less restrictive standards that meet our safety needs.

We should also explore innovative practices like a loan guarantee program, which would encourage compliance with un-reinforced masonry retrofitting. We should also continue to fight to maintain our VTA and CalTrain service, both of which bring residents and visitors to our downtown.

Additionally, the City should help establish a weekly farmers market in the downtown center. This will highlight the quality of our region's finest produce, and will allow local growers to sell their goods within their own community. It will also give food enthusiasts a reason to visit and shop in our downtown.

Gang Prevention & Public Safety

This comes naturally, because as a criminal prosecutor, I work on issues of law and order every day. Gang activity is a threat to the safety of our children and our community, and Gilroy needs to address its causes and minimize its impact. As a Councilmember, I will work to create a Police Activities League, where children and teens are given academic, athletic, and leadership opportunities to interact with law enforcement and community volunteers.

I will establish a collaboration with the County prosecutor's office to explore the option of placing prosecutors in our high schools to assist campus law enforcement with legal issues as they arise. I will also encourage law enforcement to identify known gang members and seek injunctions for any interactions amongst themselves.

I am committed to bringing a fresh perspective to the City Council with dedication, integrity and commonsense.