| LEAGUE
OF WOMEN VOTERS CANDIDATES FORUM OPENING STATEMENT
September 9, 2006
Berkeley Community Media
Prepared for delivery
I’m honored that a diverse coalition of senior citizens,
environmentalists, neighborhood leaders, students, tenants
and homeowners asked me to give our community a viable alternative
to the incumbent, who is out of step with our community’s
values and priorities.
I’m running to make our community a better, stronger,
and safer place for our families to live.
I’m troubled that the incumbent’s idea of improving
town-gown relations is his unapologetic support of the secret,
backroom settlement deal with UC administrators. This deal
was marked by secrecy that I would make illegal—because
we need more public input on development issues, not less.
Next month, the tax burden on our families will increase
by over $1 million citywide as a direct result of this settlement.
This, combined with the incumbent’s 7 proposals to
raise rents, have made it much harder for our families to
afford living in our community.
We ought to work at doing the opposite—and my record
as your elected official is clear: I support affordable
housing without allowing inappropriate development.
At the same time as he’s raised our tax burden, he’s
closed down our fire stations for 286 days out of the year,
according to the Firefighters Association. Our police and
fire services are non-negotiable, and my first act in office
would push to restore funding that my opponent took away.
The secret deal also dumped tons of traffic right into
our neighborhoods, and the incumbent hasn’t taken
basic steps to ease congestion—simple steps that I’ll
take as soon as I’m elected.
Last year, the incumbent was the only councilmember who
voted against a resolution that expressed opposition to
Schwarzenegger’s wasteful anti-union special election.
And I’m honored to have the support of the AFL-CIO
Central Labor Council.
The incumbent is out of step with our values, and I’ll
bring stronger leadership that will work for you—because
we deserve better.
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