Issues Important to Glendale

By Steve Hedrick

On any given day, the most important issue in Glendale may change from traffic gridlock, to flooding and mudslides, to railroad crossing safety. Yet, these ever changing problems must be addressed. This is why we need leadership on our City Council. We need civic leaders who have the skills to manage complex issues, plus the foresight to prevent new problems that may come our way. The most important issue facing the city is the need for leadership.

Traffic and Parking - No one likes to be caught in traffic or drive around searching for a parking space. It is the most wasteful and unproductive endeavor imaginable. Stalled traffic pollutes our air and is an awful waste of gasoline. I will work with and support the city commissioners who are trying their best to minimize traffic and parking problems in our city. Too often their recommendations go unheeded or unfunded. Keeping roadways open and traffic flowing is essential to the success of Glendale. I will make sure we develop a Master Plan for Glendale's traffic grid. Without such a plan, we are making changes blindly. Another problem we face everyday is speeding. Perhaps your neighborhood is like mine where there are close calls and near death experiences constantly. I will do all I can to correct this citywide problem, including the use of cameras, radar and other traffic calming measure that may be unpopular with some people. But, in my opinion, the safety of our families far outweigh the inconvenience of those who speed through our neighborhoods.

Protecting the Hillsides - The 1993 Hillside Ordinance, enacted to protect our hillside from overdevelopment is not being enforced. Developers continue to build large homes on steep and narrow lots causing overcrowding and safety problems for existing residents (fires safety and mudslides). Following directives from the City Council, city departments responsible for issuing exceptions find every case acceptable. Exploiting loose language in the existing code, the ordinance can be widely interpreted. These loopholes needs to be closed. The citizens of Glendale have made it clear that this a huge problem for our safety and quality of life. But some on our City Council want to keep the wording vague and ignore these problems so that rich developers can continue to build and reap profits. History has shown us that the four council votes needed to change the zoing will never be cast with this City Council. This is why we need to change Councilmembers. If elected, I will lead the effort to fix this problem for the residents, once and for all.

Historic Preservation - I will work hard to preserve Glendale's rich history. We have many grand old buildings that can be adapted for reuse, bringing new life, pride and vitality to our community. Too often, these piece of our heritage are destroyed. They need protection. When it comes to our neighborhoods, I can sum up my position on Historical Districting very succinctly, "only where it make sense". We have magnificent neighborhoods in Glendale that warrant protection. They are truly beautiful and I will wholeheartedly support the creation of a Historic District. However, there is a line we must not cross. Just because houses are a few decades old does not make them historic. If the historical merits are negligible, neighborhood residents should not have to face new burdens or additional restrictions when it comes time to improve their homes. There is enough government in our lives without invading our last bastion of comfort and control, our homes.

Redevelopment - There is a tendency in city government to spend our property tax redevelopment money like drunken sailors. They act as if it's free money to be squandered liberally. The results in Glendale have always been questionable. Every redevelopment project to revitalize our downtown has been heralded as the cure-all that will heal all our downtown ills, but they rarely do, and often cause more blight than they eliminate. I will make sure that when we launch a redevelopment project that there is a real and quantifiable benefit to our citizens, not the developers.

Parks - There is a severe shortage of parks in Glendale. Although some city officials claim to be making progress in this area, I question their approach. While it is a worthwhile to purchase open wilderness and school playgrounds are being expanded to share with the public, theses additions do not qualify as useable public parks. Nor can we consider a downtown Chess Park, costing $530,000, a useable park. We want real parks where we can sit on the grass and relax, have a picnic with family and friends, or perhaps play Frisbee with the family dog. I will work hard to add these kinds of parks in Glendale.

Our Future - Looking ahead, we have to ask ourselves if we are going in the right direction. Do we see Glendale improving or declining? I believe that, through proper leadership, Glendale's potential for improvement is great. Our quality of life can be extraordinary. I offer you this kind of leadership. I ask that you give me the opportunity with your vote of confidence. I will not let you down. Thank you, Steve Hedrick