Platform

By Jean S. Sweeney

Open space, Traffic Calming, Measure A, Retail

2.My overall position as a city council member I stand for the neighborhoods:. Preserving and enhancing our quality of life. We must have a well thought out transportation plan, a vibrant economic base, safe neighborhoods and enhanced existing shopping areas.

3.The four top priorities of this office are :

a.Transportation. Rush hour at Bay Farm Island may be helped with the Cross Airport Highway, but the people on Fernside are held hostage in their homes for most of the day. We were told by developers that the development at Harbor Bay would not impact the main island. We are being told the same thing by developers on the west end of the island. Are we too going to be hostage in our homes. We will not get another bridge or tube and BART is not coming to town. Is there a solution for these problems? We need to explore the possibilities.

b.Shopping. Oakland and Alameda are woefully under retailed. It has become increasingly that way. In my view, that situation would not be bettered by a new retail district that features big box stores. The issue is how to revitalize our existing shopping areas.

c.Density. Measure A which was enacted 30 years ago to preserve our historic homes, prevents density any greater than a duplex. It is important to preserve that law. Measure A has prevented over densification. Overturning Measure to get more density will only bring more cars. Alameda is close to the densest city in the east bay and still we are underserved by AC Transit.

d.Transparency in Government. We must have an open government with a minimum of closed sessions. We must have better notice and more public participation. We may need to reevaluate the number of boards and commissions. Commonly there are few citizens who attend these sessions and the board's recommendations are often ignored or shelved. Every time there is a controversial subject, the mayor creates another board or commission.

4.My goals as a city council person:

a.To return the policy decision making role to the council rather than having the city staff make the important decisions for our citizens. As an example, the City Manager was recently given the power to lease public property and one of the decisions has resulted in a plan to put a cell phone tower in our public park. That matter was then put on the consent calendar. Had it not been caught by Barbara Kerr and put on the agenda, it would have been a fait accompli.

b.Alameda has only 2.1 acres of city parks per 1000 people which is one of the lowest ratios in the East Bay. I have a measure on the ballot to save the Alameda Beltline Rail yard for a park and open space. It will be one of my goals to make sure that happens.

c.To follow through on our plan for a cross-alameda transit/bike lane from Alameda Point to the Fruitvale Bart Station.

5.I would like to see that the Catellus plan for the former Fleet Industrial site be followed so that there are office and R & D opportunities. Catellus wants to change that plan and have big box stores and we think that is too out of place for Alameda and that it much better to stick with the original plan. There will be 13000 jobs at Alameda Point when and if their plan is completed. It will only be completed if there is an adequate traffic plan so we must work very hard to make that happen.

6.I am active in the Democratic Party in Alameda and am interested in the welfare and livability of our neighborhoods. I would carry the banner for equal rights, election day registration, reproductive rights, strong labor unions, election of Grey Davis, Elaine Shaw and getting the Democrats back in the White House.