Issues

Housing

Many of our residents got involved at the tail end of the Housing Element process, where the City was figuring out where to put the 1700 homes that the State mandates be built in the next 8 years.  The City has already submitted the plan to the state.  I will work harder to make sure that more residents are involved earlier in the process. Yes, the City did make some announcements, but they did not garner the attention needed for this very important topic.  I look forward to discussing my plans and learning more about the failings of the process from YOUR perspective, so that I can ensure that it does not happen again.

Traffic

Saratoga Avenue is already one of the most highly used arterials in our city.  The new developments at El Paseo and El Quito, combined with the new Costco going in where the Orchard Supply used to be will cause a dramatic increase in traffic to not only the arterials, but also to neighborhood streets as people try to avoid the traffic jams on Saratoga Ave, Prospect Rd and Lawrence Expy.  I previously served on the VTA board and know that we must work with them and other transit agencies (Caltrans, etc) to ensure that appropriate transit opportunities are provided to these future residents.  We won't eliminate all of the traffic, but we will be able to manage it.  That will take a long-view perspective and planning.

Get Back To Work

Over the past 8 years we've witnessed a change in both the demeanor and the accountability of our City Council.  When did it become appropriate to ABSTAIN on important votes?  It didn't.  Council Members must have the Courage to make a decision on any issue before them, state why they are making that decision and Vote.  And, if they have alternatives - SAY THEM.  I've served on the Council and been Mayor. I've proven my commitment to Saratoga and that is why I'm running again. Our City Council needs to be respected again.  I will work, as I did in the past, to bring people together to resolve problems using common sense and logic.  And we'll do it together.

No on Measure C
Term limits make sense when elected officials aren't accountable to their constituents - like at the state or federal level.  I know firsthand that when I made a decision at a council meeting, I'd get questions the next day in the supermarket, the dry cleaners, the coffee shop, etc.  Local officials are accountable - and many of us are present in the community.  And now that my office is on Big Basin Way, plenty of people stop in to ask questions.  I'm thankful for that. 

If you're remodeling your house, you interview contractors.  Do you choose the least experienced? NO.  If you were going to have your knee replaced, would you choose the doctor who had NEVER done that surgery?  Of course not.  Local Government is certainly not as complex as surgery, but there is a lot to it and a steep learning curve.  Sometimes, it makes sense to vote for a council member who knows how the City is run and won't have a steep learning curve. 

​Our city council never should have been surprised when it was announced that Costco was looking to go in at the former Orchard Supply site.  When I was on the council, I knew every San Jose councilmember, interacted with them frequently and if something like that was made aware to one of them, I would have received one or more head's-up calls.  That's what experience brings - knowing that a term on the City Council is more than attending meetings via zoom.  That's what I hope to bring back to our council and help prepare tomorrow's leaders to do it better.  The draconian term limits that Measure C states -any council member who get elected in 2022 or beyond will NEVER be able to serve if they get elected twice.  I think that the voters in Saratoga are smart, and do not think that this council has the experience to judge future voters and prevent them from having the opportunity to vote for a candidate who can help our city.