09/14/2020
I am running for city council to serve and volunteer in our community to help make the best decisions for our town. I have no interest in being a politician and will not seek a higher elected office position.
𝗠𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺:
𝙎𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙇𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙂𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 - 𝘼𝙨𝙠 𝙀𝙡 𝘾𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙤 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙑𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙧:
El Cerrito has a population of under 26,000 people and a limited ability to collect revenue. Small Population + Low Revenue = Small Town. We need a smaller city government that asks the community to pitch in as volunteers to fill in the gaps from the city layoffs and job cuts to help balance the city budget.
Volunteers can offer time at the senior center, community center, community pool, recycle center, library, city hall, police department, fire department, and with basic services such as cleaning parks and streets. This will help to balance the city budget and change the culture. Local government shouldn't be run like a business-- it is a community serving the community.
𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝘼 𝙎𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙏𝙤𝙬𝙣:
We can't spend money like Berkeley, Richmond, Oakland and San Francisco. We need to spend within our means without borrowing to provide basic city services. The world's economy is in a deep recession. Everyone is making budget cuts at home. Households don't typically borrow to pay the rent/mortgage or to put food on the table. The city should spend what we can afford, and not continue to borrow money.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙣:
My family (wife Kimmie and son Myles) lives in the El Cerrito Plaza area. We have too many vacant lots and too many abandoned businesses. This hasn't changed in the 6 years since we moved to El Cerrito. (Lost opportunities to collect revenue). "El Cerrito is too difficult to build and isn't business friendly". We need to change that! I suggest we expand our City's Planning and Building Department. We should reduce permit fees to open new businesses and make it easier to build homes for everyone. Reduce the bureaucracy on home improvements such as solar or energy efficiency upgrades and home additions. This will result in new local jobs and new sources of revenue without asking the community for any additional taxes.
𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙀𝙡 𝘾𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨:
Did you know the majority of businesses on the west side of San Pablo Ave are Richmond based businesses (including the El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company)? It's okay to shop at those establishments, but when you shop at Richmond based businesses such as the El Cerrito Natural Grocery, those tax dollars go to the City of Richmond. Please support our El Cerrito based businesses. Those tax dollars come back to our community and are used to support basic city services. Every penny helps with our budget crisis.
𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙣𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙗𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨:
Lastly, we need to partner with our neighboring cities. The community has spoken out that we need to change how we police. We need to partner with our neighboring cities to have unarmed forces for mental illness and traffic stop violations. We need change! The police force should not operate like a business and it should be a community serving the community. We need to have more neighborhood watch and restorative justice programs.
Please reach out if you have any questions on my candidacy. I am self financing this campaign and I am not seeking any donations. I think local government elections should not cost big bucks. I am old fashioned and like to keep a tight budget.
If you would like a campaign sign for your yard please send me an email to [email protected] and I will be glad to drop one off at your door. Please don't be afraid to approach me in public as well. I look forward to your vote.
𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗿 𝗬𝗲𝗲
𝗘𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲
