Candidate for
Council Member; City of Cupertino

My key priorities for Cupertino are:

1. Maintain the quality of our schools.
2. Address safety issues and protect residents from air and ground water contamination.
3. Manage City finances conservatively.
4. Increase the priority of street and sidewalk repair.

Maintain the quality of our schools

The high quality of Cupertino schools is what brought many of us to Cupertino. Sacramento's recent education funding cuts are especially challenging for our schools. The High School District alone is projecting a budget short fall this year in excess of $7 million. The City Council and the School Districts must work closely together on issues of mutual concern. There are several ways in which I can help as a City Council member. They include:

a. Balancing growth to address school and classroom overcrowding.

b. Addressing traffic congestion and safety issues around school sites.

c. Finding permanent funding for extended library hours.

Address health and safety issues

The Lehigh Cement plant is a health concern. In the past, the City has not acted because the cement plant operation is located outside the City's jurisdiction. However, my position is that if the operation is affecting the health of Cupertino residents, the City has a responsibility to get involved and fix the problem.

Our Country's Constitution actually addresses this circumstance. Property rights allow an owner to develop and use his or her property provided that the development and use do not adversely impact neighboring properties. Air and water contamination is an undeniable adverse impact. However, to address it, there must be clear evidence of its occurrence.

The City must first conduct its own independent and thorough testing of both air and ground water. Thorough testing implies that the tests are conducted at multiple sites and for multiple pollutants. If these tests reveal air or ground water contamination, then the City can do something to stop it. The City can also do a comprehensive noise study that includes the noise resulting from trucks traveling to and from the cement plant all night long.

The coke that Lehigh burns is a source of many contaminants. I want to understand why Lehigh hasn't considered switching to a cleaner fuel. In a time when Sacramento is asking all California jurisdictions to reduce their "carbon footprint" this plant stands out like a sore thumb.

A second issue that many residents are concerned about is speeding on neighborhood streets, particularly on school routes. I will raise the priority of safety issues and work with the City staff and the sheriff's department to make our neighborhoods safer for our children and ourselves.

Manage City finances conservatively

The City currently has sufficient income and reserves to pay its bills. However, there is considerable risk to the City's current financial position. While Cupertino has reserves, these reserves were effectively created with borrowed money. It costs the City $3.5 million per year to service a $47 million debt.

City income is declining. State deficit problems have resulted in a cut to the funding Cupertino receives from Sacramento. Declining property values are yielding less property tax income. Sales tax revenue is declining as local businesses like Mervyns close their doors. Even sales tax revenue from Apple, the highest sales tax generator in the City, declined by about 25% this year.

Sales tax revenue is also too concentrated. Three companies, Apple, HP and Insight currently account for about 60% of all sales tax revenue. Sacramento is attempting to change the way internet sales are reported. This change, if implemented, would significantly reduce the sales tax revenue from our largest source.

On the spending side of the ledger, the current fiscal year will be the fourth in which General Fund expenditures have exceeded income, due in part to heavy capital expenditures. In the difficult times we are facing, the City must manage its expenditures very carefully.

As a Council Member, cutting unnecessary expenditures and increasing revenues will be one of my highest priorities. The key to revenue growth is to revitalize our retail districts. Cupertino Square is woefully underperforming. Our Mall generates about $1.1 million is sales tax revenues each year. By comparison, Oakridge Mall generates $5.4 million. Cupertino Square represents a golden opportunity for the City. Our residents prefer to shop locally if the stores were here to shop at. The theatre is already attracting large crowds. Cupertino Square is the "low hanging fruit" for our City.

My approach is to collaborate with the new Cupertino Square owners and actively help them bring desirable retail businesses to Cupertino. One strategy is to offer financial incentives to attract retail businesses. Financial incentives could include a discount off the amount of sales tax they pay to the City. Offering financial incentives is not a new idea. Apple is already receiving a discount to the sales tax that Apple pays the City. Cupertino can also make it easier for desirable retail businesses to obtain the necessary use permits to begin business. Finally, the City can participate with property owners in joint presentations to potential Mall tenants to demonstrate that Cupertino is a "business friendly" town.

Increase the priority of street and sidewalk repair

At the same time that the City was spending money on capital projects, funding for basic maintenance was cut to an all time low. I believe that a reordering of priorities is long overdue. Deteriorating streets and sidewalks must be addressed. I will increase both the funding and the priority for neighborhood maintenance.