Quality of Life

By Tom Dubois

"Quality of Life" is a general term that is often used in discussing our city. When you hear it and use it, what does it mean to you?

Space between homes.

Space between cars on the road.

Beautiful protected open space and parks.

Great Schools.

Community services for all - youth, parents, and seniors.

It's the reason we live here. I love Palo Alto. My family chose to live here because of the parks, the diversity, the small town feel, Stanford, and the great schools.

I'll focus on three areas related to quality of life + land use, the environment, and our schools.

1. In terms of land use, in the last couple of years, we've all been seeing and feeling impacts + traffic, parking, ugly buildings built to the edge of the road. I decided I wanted to get involved and stand up for kind of place I want to live. That is why my number one focus is on land use (see question #1). Palo Alto must support a variety of lifestyles where people don't have to be in an urbanized environment. Urban concepts that may make sense downtown should NOT be applied throughout the city.

2. Our environmental policy contributes greatly to our quality of life. We are rightly proud that Palo Alto is an environmentally focused and green city.

I want to do more to protect our parks and open spaces. We need to formally dedicate city property as parkland, including places like Gamble Gardens and the Winter Lodge. I will be vigilant about open Space preservation and protection including wildlife corridors. We need to city create larger parks and get away from micro-parks.

We need to continue to build out our "safe routes to school" and bicycle boulevards.

I am extremely interested in exploring better uses for our waste water. We currently dump 20 Million gallons a day into the bay. There are concerns about the salinity, particularly with redwoods but with newer technology that can be addressed. Palo Alto's waste water should be used more broadly for irrigation, including for residences. Instead of dumping in the bay, it could be pumped underground to refill the water table and eventually into wells, providing drinkable water that could help make Palo Alto more water independent. I am excited about this possibility.

3. Focus on the "Whole City". We need the two halves of our civic organizations, our city and our school district, working together. Many people here for our schools. I want to make sure that change occurs at a pace that schools can absorb and that city helps protect our excellent schools. We have a big opportunity and big risk with Cubberley, a key resource not just for south Palo Alto where I live, but for the whole city. I will dedicate significant effort to resolving planning for Cubberley. The Cubberley Community Action Committee did great work. They suggested things like underground parking and two story buildings for both a high school AND a community center. I am hopeful with changes on council, school board, and a new superintendent, we can move forward.

All the candidates are sounding similar on the campaign trail Make sure you look below the surface at the motivations for running, look at the donor lists, and their supporters. And most importantly look at their record. How they've voted in the past is the best indication of what you can expect in the future.

I will listen to YOU + and will be an advocate for resident concerns.