Public safety

Ensuring safety and security for all residents and businesses is the primary function of city government. I propose creating public-private partnerships with business and commercial property owners in order to increase security in and around commercial corridors. The Sacramento PD has done a fantastic job, but they need our continued and additional support. They have done more with less for years, and we need to increase general fund dollars in order to better fund our police department and public safety programs. These concerns are at the root of my focus on economic development and fiscal responsibility.

Economic Development

The current lack of leadership in City Council has cost our city jobs and valuable general fund dollars, which should have been providing the valuable quality-of-life services we as tax-paying residents deserve. Once elected, I will bring a sense of urgency to create substantial economic growth in the city of Sacramento.

Companies bring great value to our city, and I will fight to create a pro-business environment where we respond in kind to that value. When we look at potential regulation or proposed projects we should truly understand the economic benefits or costs incurred by our decisions (or our indecision).  The term “Economic Impact Report” needs to become a common term among our community, political and business leaders.

It doesn’t take a lot of money to make immediate improvements: Sacramento can go a long way just by cultivating a sense of self-respect as a city. Simple things, like street-level retail guidelines, benefit not only visitors to our city (who come here only to see shabby store fronts on J Street with homeless sleeping at their doorsteps) but local shoppers as well. Empty storefronts can be kept clean and covered up. Entrepreneurs and “flash retailers” can be enabled to exercise their talents in vacant retail spaces.

I believe that in every situation there is an opportunity and now is a great time to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit of our great city. Sacramento has some of the most creative and exciting people in the nation, and they are poised to take this city to the next level. 

Schools

I had the positive experience of raising my daughter in the local public school system. The schools my daughter attended demanded participation from parents, and that’s where responsibility should ultimately come from. But as business and community leaders, we must create a safe schooling environment and build partnerships to provide after-school programs and activities. Our children are our future. If we, as responsible adults, do anything it should be to invest in their education and their mental and physical well-being. We need to leave this city better than we found it and nothing is more important for achieving that goal than getting the best education system we can for our tax dollars.

Trust & Fiscal accountability

After listening to my fellow business owners and neighbors, there is no question that the lack of trust is the most polarizing issue concerning our local government. If we, as citizens, trusted our leaders to handle our tax dollars fairly and efficiently, we might be open to increased taxes or additional fees.  Yet it seems that many elected officials and department heads treat our tax dollars with less regard than they treat their own—when in fact, it should be the opposite.

The power plays being acted out on Tuesday evenings in City Hall have to stop. Politicians acting in their own self interest at the expense of the city need to be reminded what’s really in their job description: public servant.

Every week on the City Council agenda, “consent items” allow millions of dollars to be spent without public discussion. This must stop.

Inner-department audits need to become a part of everyday life in the city, just as regular inventories are a part of business. If there are wasteful policies or behaviors, they should be exposed and addressed.

I believe that citizens should be more directly involved in the decision-making process. During my tenure in office, I will work to increase transparency—because this is your city, and you deserve to be treated with honesty and understanding. 

Street lights

Installing street lights is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to improve public safety, as criminals are less likely to operate in well lit places.  This will be one of my highest priorities on the City Council. I will seek out state, federal and block grant funding whenever possible and will promote a partnership with SMUD to bring lighting to neighborhoods that need it most.

Historic building preservation

I believe it is important and healthy that we take pride in the buildings that make Sacramento unique.  We have an obligation to protect and promote them. But I also believe there is a balance: the Citizen Hotel is a perfect example of redevelopment, as is the Sheraton Hotel on J St.  Both make use of existing historic architecture to create new public spaces.  With so many architectural gems in our city, I will encourage builders to revitalize existing buildings that breathe new life into the surrounding neighborhoods and commercial district. 

However, there will be times when a building as a whole cannot be saved; but perhaps some of the architecture can be salvaged, or maybe the style can be preserved. We need to look at this on a case-by-case basis. It has already been proven that Sacramento has a great number of engaged citizen groups committed to preservation who are more than willing to participate in mitigation efforts. We should work to continue and strengthen those efforts.

Homeless

As much as we don’t want to deal with this issue in our city, we need to create a solution for this percentage of our population. I look forward to bringing city officials, residents and advocates for the homeless together to mediate a fair resolution to the issue of homeless housing in our city. However, as we move towards a solution that works for everyone, we need to enforce the current laws. I am a strong advocate of privately-funded programs and locations as stepping stones toward self-sufficiency for homeless individuals. This is an opportunity to change lives.

New arena

We can build things that work! We have great creative minds in this city and I believe that whether the new arena is in the Rail Yards or on K Street, it can work! That being said, I do believe the new arena should be close to downtown and integrated with the current landscape and the inner city. The Rail Yards and the K Street mall arena proposals are a good start. As to funding, there have been many creative plans to finance new arenas throughout the country: everything from corporate sponsorships to ticket price fees to lotteries. The list of non-tax-payer options is long and open for exploration. An arena in the downtown area can benefit both the city and community by promoting a stay and play environment, healthier living through public transportation and keeping entertainment dollars in our great city.

Strong mayor initiative

I am in favor of a charter review and change in city hall’s environment; however, I am not in favor of this particular initiative. Veto power and the large number of possible appointed positions especially concern me—the ability to hire and fire as needed is important. I also believe strongly that you do not need to change the city charter to be a strong leader, whether you are mayor or councilperson. As a self-employed business person, accountability is a way of life, not a legislative initiative. I am disappointed how this initiative came to be and was truly hoping for a modified version of the initiative that is currently on the ballot.