"Let's set the standard
for all the cities
in San Diego County!"

Starting at the grassroots of our neighborhoods and working together, we can build a community that sets the standard for all cities in San Diego County. The key issues I want to address include:

• Jobs, jobs, jobs — Attracting new businesses is key to creating jobs. Escondido must establish policies that make our business parks competitive with those in other communities. City Council members should be active ambassadors by marketing our community's merits at trade shows and other events held throughout San Diego County and elsewhere.
• City budget — Balance it! Use taxpayer dollars only to support taxpayer needs. Stop pouring our money into the pockets of developers.
• Ballpark — Think seriously about cost versus benefits! I have two concerns regarding a ballpark in Escondido:
  • Location — It must not displace the Boys and Girls Club, which is an incredible asset for Escondido's families. Plenty of parking must be available, and it must not disrupt traffic flow through downtown.
  • Financing — The entire cost must be covered by the developer. As an article in the NY Times soberingly states, too many ballparks cost taxpayers much more than they deliver. If we're going to build a ballpark at taxpayer expense, it must benefit all the taxpayers, and not just downtown businesses.

• Libraries — Increase hours, and expand or rebuild our main public library.
• Quality of life — Improve our parks, roads, lighting, and other infrastructure to enhance "liveability." The long-term benefit will be a stronger sense of community and reduced crime.
• Crime — Shift police focus from checkpoints and immigrant issues to seriously addressing our increase in real crime. Work with neighborhoods to find grass-roots solutions to gang activity and other crime.
• Family health — Coordinate with nonprofit organizations and volunteers in reaching out to our neighborhoods to encourage greater awareness of healthy choices.
• Sustainable energy programs — Actively seek grants for sustainability programs such as covering roofs with heat-reflecting material.
• Assistance programs — Support programs and activities for seniors and children.

Please VOTE — for honesty, for integrity, and for
the future of our families in Escondido.

Our city's wonderful potential is reflected in a proposal to vitalize Escondido Creek — now better known as the drainage canal.

Recently a team of graduate students from Cal Poly Pomona's landscape architecture program presented a plan that would quickly improve existing creekside trails. Over the longer term, the plan, called Revealing Escondido Creek, would create destination areas along the route. These would include an interpretive nature center and a mixed-use neighborhood with a small lake.

Such urban improvements are an important key to drawing bright, skilled workers to Escondido. Such improvements, when done hand-in-hand with enhanced security, also would build a stronger sense of community for residents, by providing pleasant, close-by recreation opportunities.

Enhancing a strong sense of community among all our residents is crucial to improving public safety. We cannot simply depend on the police to keep the lid on crime.

Wonderful projects like the Escondido Creek proposal take time. Meanwhile, I will be working with neighborhoods to develop grass-root solutions for reducing crime and improving community well-being. And, all of us should be demanding that the city be more prompt about basic tasks such as fixing potholes and synchronizing traffic lights.