Positions

By Nick Pilch

Below are my positions on a number of issues facing Albany today.

In order to provide for open, fair debate to elicit the most important ideas, perspectives and facts about how to make Albany more sustainable, I will pursue frequent Town Hall meetings. I will host an email list and/or a blog. Citizens appreciate being informed. I will work to make this essential civic task easier.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

An environmentally sustainable Albany must improve the existing walking and cycling features to help us all, children and adults, confidently reduce our automobile reliance. This reliance is environmentally unsustainable, and also damages our community bonds. Automobile usage demonstrably reduces the number of community relationships we form. These are the essence of our social fabric and a key to maintaining the "small town" we love. To support this shift away from automobile usage, though, we need to redesign the remaining barriers to human-scale transit, such as the impediment Buchanan presents for safely traveling on foot or bike to our waterfront. I will lead full implementation of Albany's Bicycle Master Plan, and the completion and implementation of the City's Pedestrian Master Plan so those who desire can become as transportation sustainable as possible

I will also promote environmental sustainability, as well as beautification, by continuing the expansion of the street tree program, enhancement of our parks, and support for urban gardening.

ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY

Albany's budget is balanced, and we have a rainy day surplus. However, a deficit is projected for the 2009/2010 budget due to the economic downturn. This is troubling since our fantastic city staff is already stretched to the limits. Additional sources of revenue are needed. Albany needs improved economic sustainability as it does not have a large business tax base. The City has taken an important step in this direction by hiring an economic development firm, which will hopefully will result in concrete measures to address Albany's monetary supply.

SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

I am concerned with Albany's social sustainability. Albany's citizens have generously approved parcel tax and bond measures to allow for needed capital improvement projects. I myself have voted yes on almost every one. However, I am concerned with the economic justice of this. By state law, bond measures cannot include low income exemptions. Consequently, these tax increases are putting a greater burden on those of lesser means, increasing our economic divide. Albany's city property taxes have increased from $0.993 per $1000 of assessed value in 2002 to $1.668 per $1000 of assessed value in 2008. This is a near doubling. As indicated above, I will take action to make sure Albany's budget is rationally targeted on our highest priorities. Along with economic development, this will provide us the means to prevent further degradation in the financial livability of Albany. As another tool, I will diligently seek out external grant opportunities to fund city projects. These have provided significant funds to the city over the past several years for capital improvement projects for environmental sustainability without impacting Albany's economic sustainability.

THE WATERFRONT

I support the visioning process for the waterfront. If the process works well, it will take the needs of all Albany citizens into account and produce a vision that most of us will be able to buy into.

In planning for the day when the racetrack leaves, I support a minimal amount of development that would replace revenue lost by the racetrack's leaving. Our current visioning process + one that should be based on careful study of the environmental and fiscal impacts + will allow us to determine what that development should be and where it should go. Wherever it goes, the plan ought to include restoration of the Cordornices Creek wetlands/estuary.

Albany's Waterfront should not be used to polarize our community, but to bring us together. We won't be able to work through the decisions that need to be made about our future if the debate begins and ends on the basis that "our plan is the only plan for Albany". I attended one of the "coffees" to learn more about Caruso's mall plan, and by the time I left I was convinced that his was the wrong approach. Albany doesn't need sales tax income so much that it must give up its waterfront. As a longtime Sierra Club member and outings leader, I advocate an open approach that respects the ecology of the site while creating amenities that benefit both our local and the regional community.

I am committed to no significant new development at the waterfront while a racetrack operates. However, I do support amenities so that Albany residents may enjoy the waterfront right now - amenities such as restrooms, access for launching kayaks, and perhaps a place to gather and get something to eat. I would also support an interpretive center to teach visitors the importance of our unique waterfront ecosystems, if that emerges as a piece of the visioning process.

One of the roles of the City Council is to make sure that kids and adults walking or biking to the waterfront can do so safely; this is one of my top priorities. We can use the waterfront planning process to plan the future; and for now, your City Council can begin improving the portions of the Waterfront the City of Albany already controls.

UC VILLAGE AND THE GILL TRACT

I am closely studying and watching the proposals for the UC Village. Many options are on the table including, continued restoration of Cordornices Creek, the construction of a creek side path, the relocation of existing ball fields, retail and housing development along San Pablo Avenue, and converting much of the Gill Tract into an urban farm. I believe there is enough land there to accommodate a wide variety of uses and as a member of the City Council I would be committed to finding creative and effective ways to insure that the University hears and acts on Albany's priorities.

BALLFIELDS

I strongly support ballfields and youth sports. Our kids benefit from the opportunity to compete, from being a part of a team, learning about gracefully winning and losing, and mostly from being outdoors and getting exercise. I recently voted, as Parks and Recreation Commission chair, to spend grant money to upgrade the fields at Ocean View to bring them in par with the Memorial Park fields.

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT

Finally, There are many many things that Albany can be proud of. I will work to maintain the good things that we have and not allow them to disappear or fall into disrepair.