Encouraging Meaningful Economic Development:
We need to take a fresh approach and encourage economic growth by supporting new and existing businesses. As your council member, I will refocus efforts to simplify the process to start and operate a business here in town and encourage new investment in our local economy to help create jobs. Our City must take steps to ensure that valuable research that takes place here remains here and helps support the creation of new business ventures and employment opportunities. A sustainable fiscal model for our city requires prioritizing opportunities to increase revenue, making fiscally sound decisions and supporting projects and programs which generate valuable employment opportunities for residents.
Fostering Safe & Vibrant Neighborhoods:
For more than twenty years my wife and I have made Santa Cruz our home and are raising our young family here. I’ve worked hard to make our community a thriving, family-friendly place with safe neighborhoods, economic vitality, creativity, and community involvement. As an advocate for strong, healthy neighborhoods, I organized a public art project that reclaimed a blighted area and later developed a public safety outreach campaign, which is being used throughout the city to encourage safe, livable neighborhoods. As a City Transportation Commissioner I have successfully advocated the funding of pedestrian and bikeway improvements for city residents.
Public Safety:
I am running for City Council because recent crime and gang activity in our community are unacceptable. I’ll work proactively with law enforcement, neighborhood leaders and other stakeholders to ensure Santa Cruz is safe for residents and welcoming to visitors. I believe public safety requires programs that increase neighborhood participation in civic activities and encourage residents to frequent public spaces. Also, increased opportunities for educational and employment related training instill in young people knowledge and opportunities for employment – positive steps towards a more sustainable community. Other such steps include after-school art and recreational programs, such as the Teen Center, Spectra and Mariposa Arts, as well as family building through renewed support for the Beach Flats Community Center/Familia Center and other community-based groups. Neighborhood watch programs and community-based policing programs help residents get involved in their neighborhood and foster localized solutions to address criminal activity.
Protecting & Preserving the Environment:
As a board member for Save Our Shores, I’ve helped protect our beaches and ocean. As a member of the City’s green Energy Committee and former Chair of the City Public Works and City Transportation Commission I’ve supported environmentally sustainable decisions to safeguard our priceless natural environment for this and future generations.
I am proud of the work of past generations to secure our parks and open spaces and believe that we need to protect our environment and support activities to engage residents in all of the natural wonders our community has to offer. I believe we need to invest in alternative transportation programs to provide new options for people to get where they need to go and to better utilize natural resources. Our City also needs to prioritize new infrastructure that is both environmentally and economically sustainable.
Making City Government More Responsive to Community Needs:
As a City Transportation & Public Works commissioner I’ve advocated for new methods to serve our community and to communicate City information. As your Santa Cruz City councilmember I will work hard to listen to the needs of residents, businesses owners and community groups to develop sensible programs and policies to improve our city.
