Candidate for
Council member; City of Santa Clara; Seat 6

Traffic

Traffic congestion is the most important single issue facing the City of Santa Clara. Although locally we find very well engineered city streets that efficiently move the traffic, County Expressways and State Highways are not able to accommodate their volume of traffic quite as well. We need to look to regional transportation systems for a solution to our traffic congestion. The BART extension to San Jose, improving the CAL Train, the ACE Train, the Light Rail and all of the proposed VTA highway improvements are essential to solving our traffic problems. I support all of these solutions and Measure A to help fund them.

Housing

In the last five years, for every one new dwelling unit built in Santa Clara we've created 25 new jobs. This has worsened an already poor balance of jobs to housing. It is essential that we create more affordable housing. As proposals for new development and redevelopment are submitted for consideration, I will support projects that offer the maximum number of units per development in an attempt to improve our housing stock and relieve the housing imbalance.

Traffic and Housing are the two most important challenges facing us. When it takes too long to get here and costs too much to live here, employers will look for someplace accessible and affordable to locate. When they do, the boom economy we're enjoying in this valley will disappear.

Environmental Issues

We must provide an adequate supply of water and sustainable energy for our residents and businesses. I support the long-range plan of Silicon Valley Power, our Municipal Electric Utility. This plan, to both generate and otherwise acquire sufficient electrical energy to meet our future energy needs, will insure that the economy in Santa Clara remains robust and that local residents are provided for. Our water supply must continue uninterrupted to both residential and industrial applications. Maintaining our system of City wells while working with Hetch Hetchy is critical to maintaining an adequate supply of water.

Education

In the past the City of Santa Clara has participated in joint venture projects with the Santa Clara Unified School District. This has included the development of the City Youth Activities Center at a middle school; and locations of city parks adjacent to school sites to maximize open space. I support these mutually beneficial solutions. We must continue our partnerships with the School District to improve opportunities for students and educators.

Public Safety

Santa Clara has one of the best Police and Fire Departments in the country. We must maintain and support our essential emergency services.