Key Issues

By Charlie "Charles Bronitsky" (Bronitsky) Bronitsky, Charles Bronitsky

I have summarized what I believe are the key issues in the race for City Council

First and foremost in my opinion is financial stability. Foster City is somewhat unique as a California city in the fact that it is not in immediate financial distress. That is very much due to wise financial management by City Council members of the past and present. However, the City does face two key financial issues: the potential diversion of funds by the State government in Sacramento and the use of reserves to fund shortfalls in revenue. I believe that along with general fiscal conservatism a good City Council candidate should have an understanding of these issues and what efforts can and should be made to deal with the potential that Sacramento will "borrow" funds from cities, including Foster City, to meet its budget deficit. In addition, due to the downturn in the economy Foster City has begun to spend its reserves. A candidate should therefore have a good knowledge of the programs that Foster City sponsors and be able to analyze the need for those programs versus the cost of those programs during a time of dwindling City revenues. A good candidate should also understand where alternative sources of revenue can be found and how to use those sources to their maximum potential.

Another important issue facing the City is the San Mateo - Foster City School District's need for additional classroom space for Foster City students. I have long been a strong supporter of education having grown up as the son of a lifelong public school teacher and having gone to public schools most of my life. A good education system is critically important not only to the children and their families but even for those citizens of Foster City who no longer have children in the school system because good school systems increase property values. The needs of the School District, however, like any other single group, must be balanced against the needs of all of the citizens of the City and the City's economic abilities and ongoing fiscal strength. For example, open spaces and public parks are a key element of life in Foster City. Many residents, including me, would loathe to lose a park even for the building of a school. Thus, a good candidate should therefore have not only an understanding of the individual problem but of the overall operational and economic needs of the City so that she or he can fully evaluate, consider and do what is in the best interest of Foster City as a whole and for the long term.

We are also facing an issue resulting from a section of the levee within the City of San Mateo causing Foster City to be placed in a Special Flood Hazard Zone which could, in turn, require that residents purchase Flood Insurance and could alter the requirements for construction projects, including remodel projects here in Foster City. The City Council has been working diligently on this project and should be commended for their efforts. However, the flood maps will become final in Spring 2010 and so a qualified candidate should understand the problem, the status of the ongoing solution and be prepared to hit the ground running. I have prior experience with flood insurance in my law practice and have kept up with the City's efforts to remedy this situation and I am prepared to help immediately if needed.

The last of what I see as the major issues facing Foster City is the development of the 15 acres of land adjacent to City Hall and the redevelopment of Chess/Hatch and Pilgrim/Triton. These projects stand to present major changes to Foster City in the types of housing and mixed use projects that the City has to offer. The projects will impact all of our lives in many ways such as overall population, schools, traffic and the like. A candidate should have a working knowledge of what is being proposed, how they will impact on the community and what the community's reaction to these project are. As a planning commissioner, and as chair of the Planning Commission this past year, I have been at the front line on these projects and understand them in a depth few can match.

I know that there are other issues facing Foster City and probably new ones will arise as the campaign proceeds. These four, however, are the issues that I see as the most significant right now and the ones that every candidate ought to be familiar with. I hope to address each of these in greater detail in future posts here on the site.

Thank you for your consideration,

Charlie Bronitsky