Prioritize these issues and restore the heart of campbell

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If elected, I would use my City Council seat to push for a ballot measure that would change the current business tax and fee structure into something that is far less of a burden on small businesses.  This ballot measure would reduce taxes and fees for existing small businesses while also offering tax credit incentives to attract new small businesses to Campbell.  The ballot measure would also call for a slight increase in taxes and fees for multi-billion dollar corporations as a means to remain revenue neutral and not add to the costs of the existing city budget.  Ultimately, it would not be up to City Council, but to the people of Campbell when they cast their votes.  I hope that I can count on you on Election Day, to bring this idea into reality, and make small businesses in our community multiply and thrive again!

Child care costs are out of control.  Many families are unable to afford it and often end up being forced to leave the workforce to take care of their children at home.  If elected to City Council, I would push for increased funding of our after school programs.  This will allow for a wider variety of programs as well as the ability to serve a larger segment of the community - more kids in more classes!  These classes would focus on sports, science, technology, arts, reading, math, and other skills that promote learning and team building.  I would also work with the City to ensure that lower income families receive a reduced or possibly free rate for these after school programs.    

We cannot wait any longer to address the need for more affordable housing.  I have a vision where the city of Campbell makes sure that any new housing developments adhere as closely as possible to the wishes of those already living here.  We can preserve our small town look and  feel while also creating new housing that accounts for the population increase over the last decade.  I will fight for policies that increase our housing stock by sensible means such as allowing home owners to convert their single family residences  into a multi-family units, and by lifting restrictions on the building of ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units).   This allows much more freedom and extra income for home owners, as well as more affordable options for renters due to the greater availability of housing stock within our community.  That's a WIN-WIN for Campbell residents!

I believe that a community can only thrive when everyone's basic needs are met.  Currently, Campbell residents who are in need of food, have to rely on the generosity of a handful of churches who have limited  supplies to distribute.  I will work to establish an official food pantry here in Campbell, that will be kept well-stocked and focus on good nutrition.  I'll also propose a door-to-door survey be conducted and/or a mailer be sent to every home as a means to help determine how many residents within our city are in need of healthy food.  After this information has been collected, we 'll have a good idea regarding what our food pantry will require, and then work with local organizations and businesses to fulfill that need.

In an effort to stimulate local business growth and sustainability, while also assisting those most in need within the community, I'd advocate for the creation of a pilot program which I would call, the Campbell Cares Card.  This would be a card issued to lower income Campbell residents, which would allow for the purchase of not only food, but other necessary goods from small businesses within our city.   The first step would be to use the surveys which I have proposed to determine how many people living in Campbell are in need of additional assistance, at which point a random small group of them will be selected and issued their card.  They would receive a small amount of money on a monthly basis for a limited time.  Studies will be conducted to see how helpful the program is for not only them, but also the small businesses they choose to spend their money at.  If the studies show it to be successful, we would expand the program to include more people. I believe that this would become a mutually beneficial system in which struggling families will be able to have their needs met, small businesses will gain more customers, and our city will prosper.

After finding out that crossing guards had been cut from the city budget while  the purchase of an armored police vehicle (estimated to cost over half a million dollars) was being considered, I reached out to  council members with my concerns.  I urged them to prioritize spending public safety funds on what I would consider much more important things, such as ensuring that our children are able to walk to school unharmed.   I'm happy to say that soon afterwards, they approved the funds needed to allow for the return of crossing guards.  If elected, I would continue to advocate for public safety funds to be spent on the things that matter the most to our community.