League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Jacquelyn McCormick Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Berkeley; Council District 8

The questions were prepared by the LWV Berkeley/Albany/Emeryville and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What do you see as your District's biggest problem and how would you address it?

Public Safety Our police and fire departments are challenged with providing great service while facing significant budget constraints. Every day they work hard to do more with less while maintaining standards that reflect Berkeley values. We honor their contribution and are willing to do our part in remaining vigilant. The community could use better tools to enhance public safety. I believe we could do easy things to help bolster communication.

Connect neighborhoods through internet groups such as NextDoor, Yahoo Groups, Twitter and Nixel. Provide "real time" information about crimes in progress or just occurred through social media and email alerts. Encourage neighborhood watch programs and provide information to enhance effectiveness (Where do you buy surveillance equipment, who provides the best alarm services?) Assist with pro-active outreach at the start of the University school year to our student population in order to decrease the demand on police and emergency services.

2. What would be your highest priority for the good of the City as a whole?

Fiscal Responsibility Berkeley's leadership must begin setting policy and planning to ensure a sustainable financial future for Berkeley. We can no longer afford to postpone addressing our infrastructure needs and kick obligations down the road for future generations. There will be no windfall that will get us out from under the billion dollars of infrastructure and community service needs and unfunded liabilities.

I believe that when you work hard for a lifetime, it is important to have a retirement nest egg. But our mounting obligations are not just threatening taxpayers + they threaten to steal retirement security from the pockets of the newly hired employee or public safety officer. Action must be taken NOW to ensure we can meet existing demands and ensure that we can attract capable and dedicated employees in the future.

Some of the actions I will initiate:

Reinstating the Budget Commission Bringing the entire community together to establish priorities and create a short and long term Fiscal Action Plan Honor the promises we have made while providing for a sustainable future

3. The Downtown Initiative, Measure R [Initiative Ordinance Amending Downtown Zoning Provisions and Creating Civic Center Historic District Overlay Zone] proposes detailed changes to the current zoning rules. Do you support or oppose it and why?

See Political Philosophy/ Articles

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. References to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 8, 2014 13:49
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