Box 942874, Sacramento, CA 94274- 0001, or 1120 "N" Street (5th floor), Sacramento, California 98514. Its just a fact that affordable housing projects dont come our way, you know, falling from the blue sky in our laps.. Infrastructure: East Palo Alto Sanitary District is massively overcharging all development projects, and I agree with the LAFCO report: The city of East Palo Alto should absorb the Sanitary District and provide competent and fair service to the city. A great accomplishment has been to assemble all the finances to now begin construction of a second pedestrian/bicycle bridge on University Avenue in late fall. Council members Tom DuBois and Eric Filseth are both terming out after two four-year terms.Register for our next candidate forum featuring the four candidates for the Palo Alto Board of Education on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. Yes, but also a good public swimming pool. All candidates for state and local office and any committee formed to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure are required to file campaign disclosure statements. At their retreat, City Council added that this priority should cover crime, mental health, air quality, noise, and a sense of belonging. Parks: On Labor Day, MLK Park was locked off to the public and completely empty. She emphasized the need to create an infrastructure capable of supporting Palo Altos growing power grid. The seven candidates vying for three seats on the Palo Alto City Council all want to see the city build a gym, renovate Cubberley Community Center, adopt a business tax and build housing at a higher density. "There's historic state and federal dollars available if we do it quickly," she said. Sue Dremann is a veteran journalist who joined the Palo Alto Weekly in 2001. Signed and completed forms must be returned in person or by mail, they cannot be faxed or e-mailed. "It's a place where we can come together and enjoy each other," Veenker said. Affordable apartments debut at Wilton Court, Stanford board committee hires former federal judge to lead review into president's research. 250 Hamilton Ave. Mitchell Park Community Center - Adobe Room, Ventura Community Center - Activity Center. Comsa said he wants to use the funds to fill more police department positions. He serves on the East Palo Alto Sanitary District Rate Advisory Committee and contributes to and supports local nonprofit organizations. "When asked about ways to balance preservation of neighborhood character with the imperative to build housing, candidates generally agreed that it would be important to include gathering spaces and community amenities for new residential developments. He met his Peruvian wife, Fabiola Puerta, in Brazil. I think the previous two posts have nailed it. Time to read: about 10 minutes. WILKERSON: It was time. Lythcott-Haims represented the 18th congressional district at 2008 Democratic National Convention, co-led the peninsulas Democratic Volunteer Center in Menlo Park, worked in various nonprofit groups like the Young Womens Christian Association of the Mid-Peninsula and is a bestselling author of three nonfiction books. As a proponent for revitalizing Palo Altos libraries, Veenker said she hopes increased library hours and funding would help reunite residents after isolation during the pandemic. He graduated from Marquette University in 1995 with a degree in history. I believe I have a good set of skills to apply to the problems that the city faces today.. Measure K, a business tax to be voted on by residents, is projected to raise $9.6 million for affordable housing, rail improvements and public safety. SAPs take a long time to do when done right like SOFA (not like Ventura, so far a failure). She was born in Fresno and briefly lived in San Jose and Redwood City before her family settled in East Palo Alto. I know that Menlo Park has had a lot of success with street closures, and by making it a more inviting place, its going to bring more business, more people are going to come out just to be there., To learn more about Hamachek, visit his website here. Lythcott-Haims noted that many offices have become "ghost businesses" during the pandemic, with many employees shifting to remote work, and suggested creating a "mixed-use overlay" to add residential uses to existing commercial district in areas like El Camino Real.Summa went even further and said the city, which has a higher jobs-housing imbalance than Manhattan, doesn't need any new offices. Jeffrey Austin, 61, has lived in East Palo Alto since 1960, the year he was born. So as we densify and grow, I think we have to keep in mind how we can do that best and still provide the things that make Palo Alto seem like Palo Alto: education, parks, open space.. Council member Alison Cormack is completing her first term and has opted not to run for a second. Comsa said allowing higher density for residential developments would spur smaller and more environmentally friendly units and suggested that the city identify large sites that can accommodate these projects and take initiative in building housing. Like Lauing, Summa supports the prioritization of affordable housing and was in favor of the Wilton Court development in January 2019. View Map. Comsa said allowing higher density for residential developments would spur smaller and more environmentally friendly units and suggested that the city identify large sites that can accommodate these projects and take initiative in building housing. Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic. Wielding a treasure trove of business intel and charm, Alex Comsa is a breath of fresh air in the Palo Alto locale. The annual priorities adopted by City Council have been recorded since 2016. Before placing any signs or sign structures within view of a county or state highway, a statement by a responsible party with a notarized signature must be filed with the Chief of the Highway Outdoor Advertising Program, State Department of Transportation, P.O. A gym can wait. Palo Alto is a small city which takes a long time to get things done. EPA has not seen a new market-rate apartment building open in over 20 years. There appears to be huge amounts of empty office space with for lease signs and empty parking lots all over town. East Palo Alto City Council candidates talk about the issues facing their city on Oct. 11, 2022. Comsa also supports to incentivizing residents to switch to electric water heaters. "Since we can't cap on independent expenditures and in-kind contributions, it's sort of meaningless. Campaign finance was asked about, with candidates Forssell, Lythcott-Haims and Veenker all supporting campaign finance caps including Independent Expenditure Committees (IEs), yet none mentioned they had just benefited from ads run the week before in a local paper paid by for an IE. Comsa said he wants to increase the diversity of small businesses and give them increased opportunities to settle in Palo Alto. Promotions Palo Alto has such an opportunity to be a leader, Forsell said. Alternate Phone (650) 329-2384. And, [we need] to be brave enough to say, You know what, were going to make some brave and bold decisions, so that [youth] life is one of greater ease and greater joy, because thats what childhood is supposed to be.. Lauing called the approach "a disaster" and said it further skews the imbalance between jobs and housing and leads to more traffic and congestion. Where we meet to do business together is where we come together a lot as public, Summa said. BARRAGAN: I believe that our community is going in the right direction. . Veenker also launched Sibling Cities U.S.A. and helped facilitate Palo Altos sibling city project with Bloomington, Indiana. I appreciate the COVID-19 and mental health services. What has been done well? Veenker also stressed the importance of both financial and engineering feasibility, noting that it's hard to place trains underground in some areas. He works as a technical recruiter and has his own business, Dinan & Associates. Hamachek was born and raised in Palo Alto and currently works as a software engineer at HP. What it has done right: Our city has respected our traditions, diversity and community values. The council decided to discontinue Palo Altos Crosstown Shuttle in May 2020, a service that provided free transportation for residents along designated routes. Don't miss out on the discussion! Only two candidates didn't do what I think of as cheating - giving a false impression of more knowledge than candidates have. I think the citizens will benefit from the way I approach problems with people [and how I can] leverage my experience to work through these [problems], Lauing said. Home No sign shall be placed on any public property, including but not limited to any city building, sidewalk, crosswalk, curb, street lamp post, hydrant, tree, shrub, tree stake or guard, railroad trestle, wire pole, street sign, or traffic sign. Comsa said he believes the key to electrifying the city is upgrading its power grid. Veenker said the existing office restrictions appear to be working and responded with the aphorism, "If it ain't broke don't fix it." We don't need statement ideas. He works as a technical recruiter and has his own business, Dinan & Associates. I am tired of attending council meetings and being dismissed by the council, then having them, three or four months down the road, use my ideas/thoughts as their own, never coming up with bringing our city into a better direction? Wall signs in residential districts shall not exceed an area of one square foot of sign for each forty square feet of wall area. Im running for city council because as a Palo Alto resident for over 20 years, I have come to appreciate that while I am a homeowner, many cannot afford to live in our city, Lythcott-Haims said. Find election results from the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, Office of the City Clerk: City Hall 7th Floor, Report an Americans Disabilities Act (ADA) Grievance, Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC), Stormwater Management Oversight Committee, Charleston / Arastradero Corridor Project, Fiscal Sustainability: A Community Conversation, Council Agendas and Minutes (2021 - 2022), Sustainability and Climate Action Plan Ad Hoc Committee, Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP), Sustainability Data and Educational Resources, City Attorney's Office Frequently Asked Questions, Support Palo Alto Parks, Recreation, and Open Space, Palo Alto Office of Emergency Services: Executive Summary, Flood Information and Winter Storm Preparedness, Neighborhood Petition Request for Traffic Calming, Planning and Development Services Staff Directory, Planning Development & Administration Feedback, Doing Business with the City (Bid Opportunities), Learn About the Citys Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response, City Council Meetings and Events Calendar, City/School Liaison Committee Past Agendas and Minutes, Council Appointed Officers Committee Past Agendas and Minutes, Finance Committee Past Agendas and Minutes, Policy and Services Committee Past Agendas and Minutes, California Online Voter Registration System, Form 700 (Statement of Economic Interests, The Campaign Disclosure Manual 2 for Local Candidates, Form 700 - Statements of Economic Interests, Three City Council seats are up for election (Council Members Alison Cormack, Tom DuBois, and Eric Filseth), Two Ballot Measures: Measure K (Business Tax) and Measure L (Natural Gas Utility Transfer), A United States citizen and resident of California, Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony, and, Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court, Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony, Your voter registration will become active when you turn 18. Dinan has lived in Brazil, Mexico and England and speaks Spanish and Portuguese. Embarcadero Media For me, this is home.. A high-achieving real estate professional, a small business owner, and a resident of Palo Alto since 2010, he has a wealth of local knowledge to benefit our community. TheSixFifty.com By Caroline Chen. All rights reserved. I believe the city council will benefit from my land use expertise, from my balanced approach to housing and common sense, Comsa said. He studied business administration and social justice. TownSquare Summa suggested that "neighborhood character" has less to do with whether a residence is a single-family home or a multifamily complex and more to do with places where residents can meet. Stay informed on important city government news. She has also served on a wide variety of local committees, boards and associations in the past, including the College Terraces Traffic Calming committee, Residential Parking Permit committee and Palo Altos North Ventura Area planning committee. Lythcott-Haims suggested opening a gym at Cubberley, an idea that others also embraced. Work plan adaptation to these priorities will be considered in the coming months. The headline of your Nov. 30 article, "Three big downtown San Jose projects advance, adding hundreds of homes," was badly misleading (" Downtown . Summa said she wants the council to plan developments thoroughly so that the new units are fully integrated into Palo Alto. A San Jose State University graduate, he studied psychology, chemistry and biological science in graduate school and also took advanced coursework at Harvard Medical School. Can we please get a council that stops thinking we need statement appeal or need to be leaders on an issue and instead get a council that will approve things in a timely manner. My heart is to serve the people.BARRAGAN: After leaving the Ravenswood City School District I had the desire to continue serving my community. To register for the forum, go to PaloAltoOnline.com/epacc. Stay informed on important city government news. Wilkerson, then Gail Dixon, was convicted in 1995 of 14 counts of felony aiding and abetting preparation of false tax returns for overstated itemized deductions for four taxpayers through her tax preparation business. That is enough statement for any of us. The city has invested funds and built strong collaborations with the county and health providers to provide accessible and free COVID-19 testing and vaccinations throughout different neighborhoods.Personnel, financial and outreach resources have been provided to assist renters, homeowners, and small businesses during these hard economic times.We have managed police services and public safety in a responsible and community-oriented way rather than a confrontational conflictive approach. Not everyone, however, was thrilled about the measure. In their own words, the seven candidates seeking three open seats on the Palo Alto City Council share their qualifications and priorities. I truly believe that these [small businesses] need a lot of help, Comsa said. He is originally from Wisconsin and moved to the Bay Area in 1997. Housing: East Palo Alto has not built nearly enough housing in the last decade and displacement is happening at a rapid pace. A partial underpass option at Churchill Avenue in Palo Alto would allow cars to make limited turns onto Alma Street. Lets have the courage to ask our youth, What does it feel like to be a kid here? Lythcott-Haims said. Obituaries We have suffered long enough with bad service and it is time that should change. If we were looking at a future that included revenue from a relevant-to-impact business tax, we would not have to prioritize as much or make as many hard choices, but we aren't, so let's move forward in a practical, realistic manner. Lythcott-Haims said she would have liked to see large companies pay more, while Hamachek said he was initially leaning against it because of its potential impact on small businesses. I am tired of attending council meetings and being dismissed by the council, then having them, three or four months down the road, use my ideas/thoughts as their own, never coming up with bringing our city into a better direction? I know firsthand that there are a lot of really great people in our city, and they show their greatness when the times get tough.BARRAGAN: I believe that our community is going in the right direction. This housing development at 2755 El Camino Real in Palo Alto is designated as workforce housing. She was appointed to the East Palo Alto Rent Stabilization Board and is currently on the Senior Advisory Board. What does get a lot of attention is climate change and the City's SCAP goals. 2022 Calamba City Council election Party Candidate Votes % Nacionalista: Joselito Catindig: 136,533 : 6.75 . Forssell supports the citys move to make the citys electric utilities carbon-neutral and said she will continue to push for environmental sustainability by electrifying buildings in Palo Alto. I was born and raised in Palo Alto, Ive lived here almost my entire life, and I think that that gives me a certain perspective that is pretty unique and valuable to the city council, Hamachek said. Skip to main content. Thank you Weekly for this debate that confirmed my votes for Julie Lythcott-Haims and Lisa Forssell! "I welcome that and I welcome the new community members that we'll all benefit from when they live here.". Summa went even further and said the city, which has a higher jobs-housing imbalance than Manhattan, doesn't need any new offices. Thanks Weekly and Candidates for this good Forum. Palo Alto, CA 94301. After high school, she received a bachelor's degree in liberal studies and Latin American studies and a teaching credential at the College of Notre Dame, now known as Notre Dame de Namur. I believe that even though it's a small city we deserve to have the same amenities as any other city.DINAN: Staffing: At one point this year we had many open positions at the leadership level on city staff: city manager, police chief, public works director, city clerk, city attorney and many other staff-level open positions. Special Pubs Everyone agreed that the city should move ahead with a registry program that would collect information about vacancy rates and rent increases, information that would be used to evaluate new policies. Local law enforcement owns millions of dollars in 'military equipment.' Lauing wants the city to require new buildings to be all-electric, expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure and make the electrification process easier for residents. We do need to get things done. While Comsa said he would support allowing more smaller offices, which can serve as incubators, the rest of the field indicated that they are happy with the status quo, which includes an annual 50,000-square-foot limit on new office development in downtown, California Avenue and El Camino Real. I gave it some thought and felt that maybe this was the right time. (JTA) - When Brother John Muhammad emerged this fall as the leading candidate for a vacant city council seat in St. Petersburg, . Q: What has prompted you to run for city council? Being a council member is the highest elected position a resident can hold in this city. Veenker has worked as a patent lawyer and is currently the head of her own law practice. Veenker also stressed the importance of both financial and engineering feasibility, noting that it's hard to place trains underground in some areas. We need to hire a parks and recreation director and competently manage our parks. All rights reserved. Mobile site. I love the power that local government has to affect change on issues that matter to me, Forssell said. Special Pubs The City Clerkis the Election Official for the City of Palo Alto and administers all municipal elections for the City. The amount of current employee turnover in East Palo Alto would be significantly detrimental to any governing body. All seven candidates agreed that when it comes to development, Palo Alto should retain strict limits on office development while allowing higher density for housing developments. Webster Lincoln, 35, is a third-generation East Palo Alto resident and homeowner and has lived in the community for nearly 30 years. I feel that this is a good moment for me to step up and contribute more to the community because I have the comfort of having more support.DINAN: East Palo Alto deserves so much better: safe streets, well run parks, competent and responsive city staff, police that enforce basic traffic laws, and a city that encourages the building of housing. The Almanac ABRICA: Currently and in the near future East Palo Alto is facing a second major wave of economic development. People need people. Typically, priorities have a three-year time limit, although some may continue beyond that time period. Lythcott-Haims is the only candidate who has youth mental health listed as one of her priorities. The tax is based on square footage and which exempts businesses with less than 10,000 square feet of space. Sign up for the Peninsula Foodist newsletter. It would also be nice if at least one candidate said their top priority is having the city work efficiently to provide timely service in a cost-effective manner. If you are already a registered user and the commenting form is not below, Barragan photo by Magali Gauthier. On Oct. 11, the Palo Alto Weekly will host a live public forum on Zoom with the seven candidates running for East Palo Alto City Council. He co-founded and is the former CEO of Nearby, a social networking platform that became popular in India. This specific priority includes looking at a cohesive vision for our commercial cores. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. 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