|
Home
Campaign Journal
Issues, Challenges, & Opportunities
Ask Lee a Question
How to Help
About Lee
About District Four
|
Community Service and Campaigning
I started the day as a
guest at the Murphys Library's annual meeting. As an educator,
I know the value of libraries to our quality of life and learning.
I always support our local libraries.
In the evening, the
Deputy Sheriffs Association hosted a candidate forum for all 9
supervisor hopefuls. The event was videotaped for both
ThePineTree.net and Calaveras TV channel 7.
Here are my notes
taken during the questions and answers:
- Funding the
infrastructure -- our infrastructure affects the quality
of life; the City has a balanced budget for all infrastructures:
police, fire protection, parks, museum... we have set
aside a $ reserve for downturns; we insist on a "pay as you go"
approach to development; in the County, we must stop digging the
hole deeper -- it's at some $300 million now! I support
applying for grants; increasing the TOT tax on tourism, and
promote leveraging our renewal energy sources; I support public
transit as a response to unmet transit needs (these $ will be
lost if we fail to act).
- Ideas to
attract new business -- I do not support tax incentives as they
end up as short-term subsidies; I chaired the Amy Wetzel seminar
where new approaches to retailing were proposed. I am a
team leader in the County/City/Chamber Economic Development
Summit. I believe we should lead with our strengths:
renewable energy (UPA, CPPA), Recreational activities (rafting,
ziplines, etc.) and engage Columbia College as a green technology
center to create green collar jobs.
- Stopping Sales
Tax Flight -- Thank you Tom for your endorsement of Angels Camp
as the place for natural development. We must work in a
public/private partnership to address attracting shoppers in
Calaveras. The Economic Development Summit is helping set
an action plan. I believe the County and City must enter
into a revenue sharing plan to avoid internal competition; I
have proposed a 10-step plan which includes helping our existing
businesses to compete more effectively by adding value for their
customers.
- Setting
Priorities for County Government -- How to: listen to and
represent all the people; our priorities: #1 is open government
so that citizens are treated with respect and without
favoritism; #2 is establish sound fiscal management (too many $
surprises like the Williamson Act errors); #3 is Public safety
and health because changing times require vigilance and
preparedness; #4 is Public works focused on mobility options for
everyone (not just cars); #5 Regional and intergovernmental
cooperation because we are not alone and share many of the same
challenges as our neighbors.
- How to deal
with the costs of operating the new jail -- First, build a smart
jail with every energy and maintenance efficiency possible;
re-use the old jail; ask the people to increase the TOT tourism
tax to fund a fair share of the jail costs; I support the new
jail because the Sheriff has said that we have no credible
threat of incarnation without it. I do not support the
idea of renting jail beds to imported criminals.
- If you were King
for a day -- I would abolish the monarchy! Democracy is
our way of life -- the people rule.
Write
Lee. |
