Campaign Statement

By Linda Maio

When I raised my children here as a single parent, Berkeley was a quieter place. Artists, writers, musicians, bookstore and grocery clerks, teachers and bus drivers could find affordable places to live. Traffic seemed manageable. Lives were slower and people seemed less pressured.

It's not merely nostalgic to remind ourselves of such values, of those qualities of life that we once took for granted. I have learned in my work on the Council that most of my neighbors long to strengthen those values of neighborhood and community life.

I encounter this desire at every community meeting I hold in my district. I believe we are moving in that direction, and I intend to continue doing all I can to accelerate that movement, working with other City officials and staff, residents, community leaders, and businesses to achieve the highest possible quality of life for everyone who lives in our city.

Berkeley now has fewer residents than it had 20 or 30 years ago, but we have more and faster cars. How can we reduce our overwhelming traffic volumes? In problem-solving with residents, I approach traffic impacts with four strategies. One offers immediate improvement while the others are longer-term: 1.traffic calming, 2. securing affordable housing for our workforce so people don't have to commute into Berkeley, 3. encouraging people to use alternatives to cars, and 4. lobbying at regional and state levels for better public transit.

We discuss all four strategies at our neighborhood meetings, but mostly we focus on traffic calming through street design and installations that slow traffic. We've had some solid successes throughout the district. Working together, I'm confident there are many more to come.

Berkeley is lucky to have savvy residents who are committed to careful planning and who follow through with action. My work with residents and City staff has been among my most gratifying efforts because we see significant improvements relatively quickly.

Because Berkeley has many more jobs than housing units, a longer-term traffic-reduction strategy requires that we secure permanently affordable housing for our workforce, helping address our jobs/housing imbalance. Infill housing in a built-out city like Berkeley must be very carefully planned and sited, to ensure that it respects adjoining neighborhoods. On the major transit corridor a half block from my home, several relatively dense housing structures have been constructed in recent years. Some are assets to their neighborhoods. Some, like the bulky and uninspired building at Acton and University (which I opposed, and which was approved by former Mayor Dean and not by Mayor Bates), looms over adjacent homes, reminding us how important it is to insist on architectural quality and respect for neighbors.

Because District One includes an industrial sector, we have air quality issues. Residents have frequently been subjected to unpleasant industrial odors. This past year, responding to community complaints, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District identified one of three plants operated here by Pacific Steel Casting as the major odor source. Relatively idle for many years, this plant recently increased production. But, amazingly, until this month it had no pollution controls. Finally responding to pressure from myself, the Mayor, and the community, the company is currently testing a four-million-dollar carbon adsorption system, which should measurably reduce odors and other emissions. At my urging, the City has contracted with an independent consultant to provide expert scientific advice, and the Air District will conduct ambient air monitoring and analysis. Mayor Bates' appointment to the Air District board will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts to press for additional improvements. We must insist that Berkeley industry meet the strictest air quality standards.

I treasure Berkeley's historical heritage and will fight to preserve it. Because our landmarks process is flawed and exposes Berkeley to litigation, a cross-section of strong landmark advocates has carefully crafted the needed changes, with the Mayor, to ensure that our landmarking process meets state requirements while fully protecting our historic resources. Measure J on the ballot won't provide the needed legal safeguards and undercuts those needed changes. That's why I oppose it.

It has been a privilege to serve on the Council. If re-elected, I will continue to work diligently and actively on my City's behalf. I will continue to advocate for securing affordable housing, particularly for our workforce, for improving our neighborhoods, balancing the budget, strengthening our economy, and focusing the City's efforts on our youth. As a strong environmentalist, I will do all I can to advance Berkeley's pioneering role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting environmental education, and developing renewable energy sources. I am endorsed by:

• Congresswoman Barbara Lee
• Assemblywoman Loni Hancock
• Alameda County Central Labor Council
• Alameda County Democratic Party
• John George Democratic Club
• National Woman's Political Caucus
• The Sierra Club (partial list)