Candidate for
Council Member; City of Pacifica

I'm running for one of three seats on Pacifica City Council in November.

I've made opposition to the widening of Highway 1 the centerpiece of my campaign. The 1.3 mile Caltrans project from Rockaway to just north of Vallemar will add an additional lane in each direction to the existing four-lane highway. In doing so, Highway 1 will become wider than an 8-lane freeway, like I-280 through Millbrae. Funded mostly by San Mateo County Measure A funds derived from a 1/2 cent surcharge on sales tax within the county, the current price tag is estimated to be $55 million.

I am opposed because the widening project won't work to reduce traffic congestion during peak commute hours, and it'll make commuting a nightmare during construction. At either end of the project, three lanes will merge down to the original two lanes in each direction, causing bottlenecks and mini-traffic jams. Other Caltrans widening projects have resulted in similar problems, notably in Santa Cruz and Sonoma Counties.

To me, the Caltrans widening plan is a waste of taxpayer money. Once it is defeated, we can then ask for funds for projects we really need, like alternatives to the widening of Highway 1, and repairing our poorly maintained city streets.

During my precinct walking and knocking on doors, I've heard from many folks that they distrust city government. Some don't seem surprised that $4 million in city money is unaccounted for. Others wonder what I intend to do about it. In addition to the audit that the city manager is initiating, I will hold budget forums in plain English, so that we all know where the city's money is coming from, and where it is going.

The city will probably be about $2.5 to $3.5 million short of balancing next year's budget. This is a problem distinct from the $4 million that is missing. How can we make up this shortfall?

New or expanded businesses are often touted as the way to save Pacifica's city finances. However, sales taxes are only about 3% of our total tax revenue. So, while I welcome new or increased business, especially ones which save our residents trips "over the hill", the sales taxes they collect are not a large part of the budget.

I don't expect any new tax measures to pass, based on the fact that the last 3 have been defeated handily by the voters. So the city is most likely going to have to reduce spending in order to balance the budget next year.

The public must be involved in decisions about how to get city finances under control, hence the budget forums. Whatever the final result, it is important that the process be an open one, with citizen participation.