 
Solutions
I believe I have the ability and experience to help meet these
challenges, and make things happen now, not four years from now.
I propose that we begin working on these specific solutions now:
• Budget: I support the sales tax increase. We have
cut essential services, such as the downtown police patrol, school
resource officers, and heritage city programs, too far. We can all
afford a quarter per $100.00 to maintain the services which are
so important to our residents.
• Heritage Endowment: We should protect our Heritage
programs such as the 4th of July parade, party and fireworks, La
Posada, and the Easter Egg Hunt, from the vagaries of the general
fund budget process. The City should sponsor (and staff) an Endowment
Fund to solicit grants and charitable contributions, with the end
that these and other core programs are never threatened again. Read
More...
• Work Force Housing: It is past time to get serious
about creating more affordable housing. As long as our teachers,
police and our adult children cannot afford to live within our city
limits, our quality of life deteriorates. Density bonuses in areas
already zoned commercial, and without view impacts, are low-cost
initiative and should be enacted by the Council. Read
More...
 •
Traffic: Traffic improvements to finish the Window on the
Bay (near the tunnel) are at a standstill while traffic worsens.
Completion of planned Cannery Row developments are vital to the
City's economic health. We must finalize plans for Waterfront traffic,
and find a way to finance them. Read More...
• Schools: The City should organize recreational programming
to provide for after school enrichment (e.g. Spanish, Arts and intramurals)
at our neighborhood schools. Read More...
• Base Realignment (Updated September 3, 2004): We
must maintain the highest priority to retain our military installations,
while working with the Presidio to obtain joint reuse of our recreation
fields and to provide another exit from New Monterey through the
Presidio. Read More...
• Downtown (Updated September 3, 2004): The City's
Safeway lease is up for renewal, and we must take advantage of this
one-time opportunity to enhance downtown parking, appearance and
continuity. Current negotiations must not renew a lease that is
not in the best interest of Monterey. Read
More... |
