League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	George J Beier, Jr Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Berkeley; Council District 8

The questions were prepared by the LWV Berkeley/Albany/Emeryville and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What do you see as your District's biggest problem and how would you address it?

We need slower neighborhood streets, safer crosswalks and more high visibilitypedestrian- and cyclist-activated crossing signals. We also need better incentives to get people out of their cars and on to public transit, their bikes, and their feet.

2. What would be your highest priority for the good of the City as a whole?

Reviving Telegraph Avenue and Downtown Telegraph has languished for 30 years. Let's scrap the outdated quota system (gun stores are legal, electric scooter stores aren't) and start a blight tax to encourage development. Downtown, let's build the proposed hotel, add parking, and create residential projects to foster vibrancy, create affordable housing, provide jobs, and earn revenue for the General Fund.

3. The Downtown Initiative, Measure R [Initiative Ordinance Amending Downtown Zoning Provisions and Creating Civic Center Historic District Overlay Zone] proposes detailed changes to the current zoning rules. Do you support or oppose it and why?

This measure mandates that tall buildings take the "Green Pathway" that was optional in original Measure R (2010). There are many good things in this measure, including an expanded pool of workers earning a prevailing wage, more local hires in construction jobs and, my favorite, public bathrooms in the tallest buildings. The problem with the measure is that it is long (28 pages), complicated, and can only be changed by going back to the voter. Even the smallest items (operating hours for bars, rules for bike parking, etc.) must be changed by going to the ballot. This is too restrictive. Downtown is finally moving forward, and we need new development to fund City services.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. References to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 8, 2014 18:46
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