Candidate for
Council Member; City of San Mateo

SAFETY & SUSTAINABILITY

PUBLIC SAFETY FOR OUR FAMILIES

Public safety is my primary concern. As a middle school teacher, I helped created safe learning environments for public school students. As a Deputy District Attorney for the past ten years I have fought to keep Bay Area neighborhoods safe from serious, violent criminals, as well as criminals who prey on the elderly and unsuspecting through elder abuse and real estate fraud.

Safety for Seniors: "Aging Well San Mateo" lays out recommendations for protecting our senior population now and into the future. Programs for seniors through our parks and recreation department must be maintained. Quality, reliable transportation for seniors is a right. Finally, protecting our safety net for seniors through hot lunch programs and home repair projects are programs I've fought to maintain during my six years on the Community Relations Commission.

Streets: Our streets should be safe for all citizens. This means supporting our police and fire departments, and tackling serious issues like gangs and violent crimes. Not just in the important tasks of detecting and preventing crime, but also in supporting initiatives backed by community organizations and the police department to prevent crimes before they happen. Safe streets also means tackling "quality of life" issues like code enforcement and graffiti abatement. A comprehensive long-term plan to support our police and fire departments will be my top priority.

Traffic Safety: Addressing issues of speeding in our neighborhoods starts with enforcement of our speed laws in order to ensure the safety of all our family members, especially our children and the elderly. I support law enforcement and city government efforts to educate people to the importance of traffic safety, and not just handing out tickets.

Safe Neighborhoods: Our city should help provide safe homes for all families by public work projects that keep our streets and sidewalks in good order, our parks clean and well-lit, and maintain proper support for our fire and police departments to ensure quick response times in the case of emergencies. I support San Mateo's current efforts to create a more environmentally safe community through the SMART campaign, to help reduce San Mateo's carbon footprint.

SUSTAINABLE, SMART GROWTH FOR OUR COMMUNITIES

Measured Growth in Our Neighborhoods: I believe in responsible growth for our neighborhoods that allows them to improve their character without losing their charm. I support open, vigorous debate on issues related to density and traffic patterns in our neighborhoods.

Dynamic, Responsible Growth for Our Businesses: Cities that do not grow stagnate. I support the long-range plans adopted by our City to manage growth in our Downtown area in a way that encourages long-term thinking with an ability to adapt to changing needs. I would like to see the creation of small business areas along 25th Avenue, 37th Avenue, and 41st / 42nd Avenue, as well as along the entire stretch of El Camino that reflect the character and quality of the neighborhoods they serve. As a son of small business owners, I believe that good business enhances the quality of life for all San Mateo families.

I would love to talk to you about these issues in more detail. Please contact me by phone or email at the numbers listed below so we can chat!