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Mountain View City Council Candidate Forum October 2024 — Transcript

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0:14okay think we'll
0:17go okay good evening everyone if
0:21everyone could please take their seats
0:22we'll get
0:25started we're here for the Mountain View
0:27city council candidate for um and um
0:31I'll first take a few minutes to review
0:33the rules and procedures um in the
0:35meantime does anyone have any
0:38questions
0:41okay I'm Jan pepper and I will be the
0:44moderator for this evening's Forum all
0:47of you candidates reviewed and signed
0:49the League of Women Voters ground rules
0:51and most importantly everyone will treat
0:54each other with respect and candidates
0:56will not interrupt each other our timer
1:01right over here we'll use a phone to set
1:04each segment of time and then hold up a
1:07yellow paddle when 15 seconds are left
1:10and a red stop sign when time has
1:13expired at that time I will say thank
1:16you you may finish your sentence and
1:19then we will move on to the next
1:20candidate or next
1:22question are there any questions about
1:24the format or
1:27procedures okay and I um have verified
1:32the pronunciation of your names but um I
1:36will I will go over that in a moment
1:41um so I'd like to welcome the candidates
1:43and the audience members to the Mountain
1:45View city council candidate Forum um I
1:49am with the League of Women Voters Los
1:50Altos Mountain View and am today's
1:53moderator first a few housekeeping items
1:56our Forum will last 90 minutes and is be
1:59being record recorded by
2:02kmvt all League forums will be recorded
2:05and available on our elections page at
2:09lwv
2:11lamv League of Women Voters Los Altos
2:14Mountain view.org about two days after
2:17each event as well as on our YouTube
2:20channel through a link on our
2:22website we would like to thank the
2:24Mountain View voice for co-sponsoring
2:26today's forum and there are some members
2:28of The Voice staff in the audience
2:30tonight including voice editor Karen
2:33Kevin
2:35forestieri can you raise your hand there
2:37he is okay and Clay
2:39Lambert okay the peninsula uh Clay is
2:44the peninsula editorial director for the
2:46nonprofit parent company of the voice
2:48and its siblings so other voice staff if
2:51you're here could you please raise your
2:54hands great thank you for being here
2:57they have helped to spread the word
2:59about tonight's forum and suggested
3:01questions to ask kmvt is also a
3:05co-sponsor tonight thank you Josh Jim
3:08and Jacob for recording it so that
3:10voters can watch it
3:12later questions for candidates were
3:14submitted in advance by community
3:16members League members and Mountain View
3:18voice staff similar questions were
3:21combined to maximize the topics covered
3:24the League of Women Voters is a
3:26nonprofit organization of all genders
3:29that promotes informed active
3:31participation in government we do not
3:33support oppose or evaluate political
3:37political candidates or parties but
3:40after careful study we do take positions
3:43on some political issues the league
3:46invites anyone who is interested in
3:47supporting democracy and local
3:49government to join us you will find easy
3:52voter guides lists of our forums voter
3:55registration forms and other helpful
3:58information at the league table in the
4:01back of the room back there now a little
4:04bit about Mountain View and this office
4:07that these candidates are vying for
4:10Mountain View's population has grown to
4:12about 81,000 economically and ethnically
4:15diverse residents the city council has
4:18seven members you may vote for four of
4:21these nine candidates in this year's
4:24election ballots were mailed October 7th
4:26so you may already have yours here is
4:29the format for today's Forum each
4:32candidate will make a two-minute opening
4:34statement we've asked them to include
4:36the qualifications experience and
4:38strengths that make them well suited to
4:41this office questions were selected to
4:43be relevant to all candidates and to
4:45provide useful information to the
4:47audience about issues in this race
4:50candidates will have one minute to
4:52answer each question finally the
4:55candidates will each have one minute to
4:56make a closing statement our timer will
4:59signal to each candidate when 15 seconds
5:02remains and when time has expired we ask
5:05our candidates to abide by the following
5:08first speaking order this will be
5:10rotated so each candidate will have at
5:12least one chance to speak first and last
5:15I will read the order before each
5:17question time limits when the stop sign
5:20is held up I will say thank you and
5:22candidates May complete their current
5:24sentence respect candidates will not
5:27interrupt each other and fairness
5:30campaign marketing materials will not be
5:32worn or visitable in the room now I
5:35would like to introduce an alphabetical
5:37order the nine candidates who are
5:39running for Mountain View city
5:41council Chris
5:43Clark Devin
5:46Conley Jose
5:48Gutierrez Nicholas
5:51haras John
5:54McAllister Eric
5:58pone Emily Le
6:00Ramos Pat
6:03Showalter Ida Rose
6:05Sylvester thank you all for
6:07participating in today's Forum we are
6:10now ready to
6:11begin so we will first start with
6:13opening statements you each have two
6:15minutes and we will go in the following
6:17order Emily Chris Nicholas Devon Jose
6:24John Ida Rose Eric Pat
6:29Emily go ahead Oh yay it's on um hi my
6:34name is Emily Anne Ramos and I have the
6:36privilege of being your city council
6:38member for the past two years um and now
6:41I'm running for a full term I was
6:43honored to be appointed uh when a
6:45vacancy appeared um in that time uh we
6:49passed a strong housing element uh which
6:53also made Mountain the city of Mountain
6:55View uh the only city in Santa Clara
6:57County to receive the pro housing
6:58designation from the state um we pass a
7:02a very strong economic Vitality strategy
7:05and a wildlife strategic plan so that we
7:07can uh help protect our environment
7:09especially in the areas of such as North
7:11Bayshore uh where uh precious uh
7:15precious creatures like our burrowing
7:16owls are are staying um I'm focused on
7:22uh housing affordability climate
7:24resilience and Civic engagement in my
7:26day job uh I worked at a housing
7:29advocacy organization uh focus on
7:31policies to address displacement which
7:34are tenant protections and preservation
7:36of affordable housing uh through that
7:38job I'm able to see what other cities
7:40are doing to address the displacement
7:42issue that is facing us on a regional
7:44level um I hope to earn your vote uh on
7:49or by November 5th um I uh am excited to
7:54hear the great ideas of my colleagues
7:57and my fellow candidates um and we are
8:00EXC I'm excited to do that with the
8:02League of Women Voters which I am
8:04honored to be a member of League of
8:05Women Voters and an active member in the
8:07affordable housing committee for the
8:09League of Women Voters so thank you uh
8:12so much for this opportunity to uh share
8:15our hopes and dreams of what we have for
8:18our city and I once again I hope to uh
8:22earn your support indorsement and
8:24passion for our race thank you thank you
8:27Emily Chris
8:30well good evening everyone I'm Chris
8:31Clark uh and I've served Mountain View
8:33for 15 of the 17 years that I've lived
8:35here including eight years on our city
8:37council and seven years on our
8:38commissions I also had the honor of
8:40serving as Mountain views mayor and vice
8:42mayor during my time on the council I
8:44earned a reputation as a pragmatic
8:46consensus Builder who worked closely
8:48with my colleagues to get things done we
8:50balanced our budgets even during the
8:52toughest of times and permitted
8:54thousands of new housing units including
8:56subsidized uh units for our teachers and
8:58First Responders we also raised our
9:00minimum wage supported our renters and
9:02working families during covid prepared
9:05for climate change added nearly a dozen
9:07new parks and renovated the beautiful
9:09facility that we're stated in this
9:10evening I'm proud of our accomplishments
9:13but there's still much work left to do
9:15we have two longtime Mountain View
9:17council members Ching out of office this
9:18year and three more in
9:202026 so we need to elect experienced
9:23candidates who will provide a healthy
9:24level of continuity while we also
9:26welcome new
9:27leadership I have the experience
9:29necessary to hit the ground running and
9:31maintain our reputation as a well-run
9:33city that values its residents
9:34neighborhoods small businesses and most
9:36importantly fact-based
9:38decision-making in addition to
9:40experience what sets me apart is my
9:42breath of support I'm endorsed by our
9:44congresswoman Anna ESU both of our state
9:46lawmakers our County Supervisor Joe
9:48sidian and many former mayors and
9:50residents who span the political
9:51spectrum they support me because they
9:54know I work hard listen to all
9:55perspectives and value sound
9:57policymaking over politics with nine
10:00candidates I know you face a tough
10:01decision about who to elect as you
10:03evaluate us tonight please keep in mind
10:05that you can vote for up to four of us
10:07to best represent you in uncertain times
10:10I look forward to our conversation and
10:11hope to earn your support this
10:13evening thank you Chris
10:16Nicholas good evening everyone my name
10:19is Nicholas haras and I'm proud to be
10:21your candidate for Mountain View city
10:23council thank you to the League of Women
10:25Voters and the Mountain View voice as
10:28well as kmv for hosting us these three
10:31organizations are at the heart of
10:34mountain views
10:35democracy so what does the Mountain View
10:38of tomorrow look like to me it's a place
10:41to call home with safe neighborhoods
10:44built around beautiful Parks Economic
10:47Opportunity and lifelong
10:49friendship I grew up locally graduating
10:52from St Francis High School today I'm
10:56proud to be a senior field
10:57representative for Congress woman Anna
10:59ESU cutting through bureaucracy for
11:02Mountain View
11:04residents my guiding principles are
11:06Equitable growth Public Safety
11:09sustainability and Community well-being
11:13we must take on the High Cost of Living
11:16by making it less costly for homeowners
11:18to renovate and strengthening renter
11:21protections we can tackle inequality by
11:25building affordable housing for our
11:27vulnerable populations including cling
11:29seniors large families and people with
11:33disabilities Public Safety is the most
11:36important service a government provides
11:38we need to continue supporting our
11:40police and fire
11:42departments tackling climate change
11:45requires bold
11:47leadership transportation makes up 60%
11:51of our carbon emissions let's build a
11:54city-wide EV charging Network and make
11:57our public transit more efficient
12:00and our roads sidewalks and bike Lanes
12:03need to be better maintained the Common
12:06Thread that unites my policy is
12:08community well-being that's why I'm
12:10focused on expanding Child Care
12:13developing a lowincome laundry
12:15assistance program and banning the sale
12:17of ecigarettes thank you Nicholas Devon
12:22thank you good evening my name is Devon
12:24connley and I'm the current president of
12:26the Mountain View wisman School Board
12:28I'd like to thank the league of voters
12:29as well as kmvt and the Mountain View
12:32voice for putting on this forum tonight
12:33and giving us the opportunity to talk
12:35about the future of our city I am
12:37running for city council because I
12:39believe that familyfriendly City
12:41Planning benefits not just Children and
12:43Families but all of Mountain View I
12:46moved to Mountain View about 18 years
12:48ago and since then I have taught and
12:50volunteered in our Public Schools served
12:52on our Parks and Recreation Commission
12:55and I was elected to the school board in
12:562018
12:59I have a master's in City Planning from
13:01UC Berkeley a degree in architecture
13:03from Yale and a master's in education
13:05from Stanford and over the last 22 years
13:08I've spent my career working directly
13:09with Children and Families at the
13:11intersection of education and City
13:15policy I love serving on our public
13:17school board but every day I see where
13:20the needs of our students extend beyond
13:21the classroom and are tied to our larger
13:24communities well-being from housing to
13:26Transportation parks to sustainability
13:29my priorities for a familyfriendly
13:32Mountain View include creating thriving
13:35neighborhoods prioritizing Public safy
13:38Safety and ensuring a healthy
13:41Community with my unique perspective as
13:44a former teacher and a parent now in our
13:46Public School District my expertise in
13:49City Planning and architecture and my
13:52experiments my experience passing and
13:54getting policies implemented as a
13:56Schoolboard member I know I could serve
13:58our community well I'm honored to be
14:01endorsed by congresswoman Anna ASU and
14:03our County Supervisor Joe sidian as well
14:05as the Mountain View police officers and
14:07firefighters the dean Democratic Club of
14:10Silicon Valley and Mountain View
14:13yimi I would be honored to earn your
14:15vote this evening and you can learn more
14:18about my campaign at Devon conley. comom
14:21thank you thank you Devon
14:25Jose good evening everyone I'm Jose Gus
14:27Jr and many of you know me as a former
14:30soccer coach I've been involved in as an
14:32IO soccer coach for I don't know about
14:3410 years I coached my daughters I want
14:36to thank my daughter Grace Gutierrez
14:38who's my campaign manager you're doing a
14:39great job and Alena Gutierrez director
14:41of media and social relations perfect I
14:44I I thank you for everything this has
14:46been a journey for us and a family
14:48adventure but more importantly we want
14:50to make a difference in the community in
14:522015 I was appointed to a school board
14:54that was chaotic 2016 I was reelected to
14:56that position from 2016 2020 I Serv with
14:59the honorable Bill Lambert and Ellen
15:00Wheeler at the end of that we were
15:02effective organized and together we were
15:05able to get things done we brought
15:07districtwide solutions to districtwide
15:09problems at the time we had a vision for
15:10what a portrait of a graduate would look
15:12like and we made it happen we had
15:14successful results for reclassifications
15:15of our English language learning
15:16students we realized that that standard
15:19of the test was too hard and Beyond the
15:21expectations of what any child should be
15:23able to pass because it was unfair so we
15:25rooted that systemic bias out and
15:27replaced it with something that was
15:28moreal Arian so that everyone could
15:29succeed and have a fair shot at success
15:31and academics that's what it's all about
15:34with me problem solving responsibility
15:36accountability I'm high energy I don't
15:39settle for the status quo I'm your
15:41outside
15:42candidate with me I like to push a
15:44little bit because I want to give back
15:46what I can together by creating a moment
15:49where we have a difference of opinion to
15:51be a moment where we can build something
15:53better together that's how we were able
15:55to negotiate with the city to create
15:57teacher housing our board was functional
15:59and organized enough to get that done we
16:01had balanced budgets we worked with city
16:03council we were effective and in 2020 we
16:05passed the bond to finally pay off
16:06school the school teacher housing
16:08project now we have teachers moving in
16:10in 20 I think in early next year in
16:12January that's what I'm about effective
16:14change as your Vice chair for the
16:16environmental Planning Commission I hope
16:18to serve at the next level at city
16:19council and I can't wait to hear the
16:20ideas of my fellow candidates here thank
16:22you very much thank you Jose John thank
16:26thank you good evening every everyone
16:29I'm John mallister I'm running for city
16:31council because I believe in continuing
16:33improve the lives of mountain residents
16:35through pratic thoughtful leadership
16:38I've had the privilege of calling Mount
16:39View home for many years my journey
16:42started when my dad moved up here to
16:43work for locked I've been deeply
16:45invested not just as a resident but as a
16:47business owner for over 22 years in fact
16:50I am the Mount View chamber business
16:52person of the year I'm proud to say I'm
16:54the only candidate running who has owned
16:56a business in this community as a of
16:59premium ice
17:03cream pause I've learned firsthand what
17:06it takes to build something successfully
17:08from the ground up by business degree
17:10from UC Berkeley H School of Business
17:13and having a certified public accountant
17:16uh certificate have sharp shaped my
17:18approach to solving problems I've always
17:21sted to be pragmatic fair and committed
17:23to finding the best solutions for
17:25Mountain View over the past 20 years
17:27I've had the honor of serving you as
17:28your mayor vice mayor city council
17:31member chair of the Performing Arts
17:33environmental Planning Commission PTA
17:35treasure and schoolside Council in that
17:38time I've proven my ability to lead
17:41always focusing on what's best for our
17:43community whether it's ensuring the city
17:46was fiscally responsible during
17:48challenging times or advocating for key
17:50issues like affordable housing Public
17:53Safety and Open Spaces I'm here today
17:56because Mountain View needs experience
17:58level-headed leadership especially with
18:00two senior council members triming out I
18:02bring that leadership and a deep
18:04understanding of how to think how to get
18:05things done for our city thank you thank
18:08you John Ida Rose good evening I'm Ida
18:12Rose Sylvester and I'm very excited to
18:14be here tonight it's an honor to talk to
18:16you about my experience and my
18:18qualifications that will help me be an
18:20excellent city council member in the
18:21city I love and have called home for 25
18:24years I have served on two advisory
18:26bodies for several years including the
18:29human relations commission and the
18:30environmental sustainability task force
18:33in both of these roles I got big things
18:35done including a multi-year study on the
18:37history of housing discrimination in our
18:39city and policy recommendations that are
18:41now enacted for our climate future I'm
18:44also a city of uh Mountain viw mediator
18:47and I created an Innovative nonprofit in
18:49the midst of the pandemic called
18:50appetite for good we simultaneously
18:52saved businesses while alleviating food
18:55insecurity in our
18:56city I also lead on the board of
18:59multiple nonprofits which give me a
19:01unique lens through various aspects of
19:03our city including CSA chck the
19:07historical Association the Coalition for
19:10sustainable planning and carbon-free
19:12Mountain
19:13View from this experience I gained
19:16several qualifications including
19:17in-depth knowledge about our community
19:19from a policy perspective on housing
19:22climate our social needs our
19:24neighborhood needs zoning history and
19:27Design I also have a depth of knowledge
19:30about the people in our community its
19:32cultures organizations our business
19:35leaders and even our city staff which
19:37I've had the honor to work very closely
19:39with and I had proof that I can solve
19:42big problems like I did with my
19:44nonprofit I have a Relentless purs
19:47passion for the pursuit of justice and
19:49for solutions that serve all of our
19:51residents now and for those who come in
19:53the future and I have a depth of
19:55relationships that will make me
19:56successful I'm well known well regarded
19:59and trusted endorsements that back me up
20:01include the Democratic party Sierra Club
20:04and the Los Altos town crier thank you
20:08thank you ader Rose
20:10Eric good evening everyone uh thank you
20:12all so much for coming here uh tonight
20:15uh whoops can y'all hear me okay okay
20:18perfect uh my name is Eric Bon and the
20:21reason why I'm running for Mountain View
20:23city council it's because I believe that
20:25no single mother no working family or
20:27child should ever feel the fear of being
20:30displaced in a city they've grown to
20:31love I was raised by a single mother of
20:33four and know the atrocities or what
20:36it's like to struggle just to keep a
20:38roof over your head and it's what
20:40compelled me to dedicate my life to
20:41serving families just like mine some of
20:44the work I've done here locally in malie
20:46has been being your uh covid-19 positive
20:49relief team lead U at the height of the
20:52pandemic making sure not only that
20:54families were fed but ensuring they were
20:56housed providing a rental assistance
20:58programs wherever they were needed um I
21:01also during the 2020 census fought
21:03misinformation against Trump making sure
21:06that not only our community members were
21:08counted but our most vulnerable
21:10community members our undocumented
21:11members were counted because they were
21:13fearful of being that signing a sentus
21:17was a death sentence for them um now I
21:20have the privilege of serving as your
21:22human relations commissioner where I'll
21:23be leading projects with uh in
21:26partnership with the county making our
21:28community much more aware about uh
21:30deepening our relationships with our
21:32queer community members and also raising
21:34awareness of how we can um be more
21:37readily prepared especially our most
21:38vulnerable community members when
21:40natural disasters happen what I bring to
21:43the table is really compassionate
21:44leadership I'm not one who just likes
21:47sitting behind a board seat I'm someone
21:49that likes to be active and be present
21:50in front of community members being
21:52willing to listen and hear and uh and
21:56mobilize them in whatever shape or form
21:58I may be uh able to I'm proud to be
22:00endorsed I'm one of four endorses for
22:03the planed Parenthood of aronte I'm
22:05proud to be endorsed also by uh
22:07supervisor Joseph Midian the Democratic
22:10party as well as our local union seu 521
22:13thank you Eric
22:16Pat well hi everybody it's great to be
22:19here first I want to thank the um League
22:21of Women Voters and the voice and kmvt
22:25for um helping with this forum I really
22:28thought that candidate forums are just a
22:30fabulous way to learn about the
22:32candidates because you get to see us all
22:34at the same time and um not only do they
22:37put on forums related to council C races
22:41but pretty much every race up and down
22:43the ticket you could think of um up to
22:46the state level I'm the current mayor U
22:48of Mountain View it's a great honor and
22:51privilege uh I've been on Council for
22:53eight years and I've been a champion
22:55during that time for housing
22:57sustainability and equity
22:59I've earned a reputation of treating
23:01people with respect and building
23:03collaboration keeping our community safe
23:05and providing excellent city services
23:08are crucial I'm running because Mountain
23:11View is my home I raised my children
23:13here and I've been involved with
23:14numerous neighborhood school and
23:16Community groups over the last 40 years
23:19for instance I served on the League of
23:20Women Voters board for about a decade
23:23and have remained a member um of the
23:25housing committee ever since my kids
23:28went to public schools and so did I I
23:30know this community and I know the job I
23:33want to use this experience that I've
23:36gained as your mayor and council member
23:38for another four years on city council
23:40the existential crisis of climate change
23:43and housing are far from solved I want
23:46to keep seeing that we move in the right
23:49direction to build a Mountain View that
23:51continues to be a great place to live
23:54work and play for Generations I'm the
23:56only civil engineer running or on
23:59Council I'm also the only environmental
24:03professional this technical expertise
24:05gives me a unique ability to analyze
24:08infrastructure indust issues and
24:10understand climate change I look forward
24:13to the rest of the Forum and answering
24:17what I'm sure are very probing questions
24:19thank you thank you
24:22Pat okay we'll go to our first question
24:25and each of you will have 60 seconds to
24:27respond
24:29the question is pick a topic that
24:31residents tell you the city is doing
24:33well but could be doing even better many
24:36changes take years to achieve name one
24:39Improvement that can be introduced and
24:42realized within a single year and the
24:44order we will go in is Jose John Ida
24:48Rose Eric Pat Emily Chris Nicholas Devon
24:54Jose thank you that's a great question
24:56to start with so to make it within onee
24:59time I I think one of the goals I had
25:01which I was going to speak to later in
25:03my in my conclusion um I think what we
25:07need is better oversight when it comes
25:08down to negotiations with outside
25:10entities like Google one of the big
25:12criticisms I've had to uh speak to and
25:15defend has been our inability to
25:18negotiate with Google on equal footing
25:20I'm a proponent because I work in the
25:22legal field is a pargal and I'm involved
25:23with litigations with Hightech companies
25:25that we needed to have outside council
25:27help our staff negotiate with outside
25:29legal councel that's in a top 10 in the
25:31legal profession we were outmaneuvered
25:33and outgunned at the end and that led to
25:35the loss of over 340 inclusion are
25:37affordable housing units under my watch
25:39that's not going to happen because we
25:40need to do better and we can't and we
25:42can do this quickly thank
25:44you John so if I restate the question
25:48it's what residents like about we've
25:51been doing for Mountain View what is the
25:54city doing well but could be doing even
25:56better and what Improvement can be done
25:59within a single
26:01year I hear a lot of compliments about
26:03our parks that we've maintained them
26:05well we try to uh we utilize them for
26:08all the local sports we use them for the
26:10dog walkers after the uh night and the
26:13morning um people just enjoy sitting
26:16through the shade and so forth and what
26:18we need to do need better is to one
26:20increase the amount of parks that we
26:22have and how can we do that well we
26:24could possibly work better with the
26:25school district to make sure we assure
26:27ourselves of parks and so that's one
26:29thing that could be done recently uh
26:30fairly quickly the other is possibly uh
26:33we need to buy we need to prioritize
26:35buying more open space so as the city
26:38continues to grow we have that open
26:40space so people can release energy and
26:42get out and and relax and that's part of
26:44being a quality of life is just being
26:46able to relax and look around and have
26:48some trees uh oh that's another thing is
26:50we could start putting more trees out
26:52that's one thing I forgot yeah parks and
26:54trees something that we they like
26:57something that they give us free trees I
26:59have a free Tree in my front yard so
27:01that's something that we could do across
27:02the
27:05board thank you John Ida
27:09Rose um one topic people talk to me all
27:12about is public transportation and safe
27:15active transportation in the city people
27:17love our climate here they love to be
27:19able to bike and walk um and they also
27:22love our Mountain View shuttle however
27:25we're getting some uh funding cuts for
27:27the shuttle where losing our funding
27:28from Google people don't want to see the
27:30shuttle cut they want to see it expanded
27:33the hours where it goes how it syncs up
27:36with Cal train and VTA and with bus
27:40lines they just want it to be more
27:42accessible to them at all different
27:44times they want to be able to use it to
27:45go out um to dinner on the weekends
27:47downtown and it's something we could
27:49very simply do we know how to do it um
27:52we know how to run the bus service we
27:54just need to find some money and we
27:55could instantly get up and start running
27:57again with more uh more buses within a
27:59year well within a year thank you a rose
28:04Eric thank you for the question um so
28:07yeah one of the many things I hear uh
28:10that mountain V does well has been how
28:12we've been doing regarding
28:14sustainability and how we're trying to
28:16meet our carbon neutral goals by 2035
28:20though ambitious I think that's
28:21something that all of us are pretty much
28:24uh have at the Forefront uh of a
28:27priority concern but the most pervasive
28:29one has been of course affordable
28:30housing and
28:31hopelessness um how the costs continue
28:34to remain high and it's being is
28:36essentially being making it more
28:38difficult to be able to afford a a home
28:41here especially those with fixed in
28:42income with our elderly communities I
28:44think one of the programs I would like
28:46to see implemented within the year and
28:48that we've seen great success with is
28:50our general basic income program seeing
28:52how people within uh the most improper
28:55situations being emboldened and being
28:57empowered to pay off some of their debts
28:59and still remain housed and being uh
29:02creating wraparound services around that
29:04too I think because we' have the
29:06statistics about it we can be successful
29:09about
29:12Pat um that's a really interesting
29:15question and I am I'm surprised that
29:18nobody answered the one I came up with
29:20in my head the first time people do say
29:23that we're doing a lot of good things I
29:25hear a lot about safety you know people
29:28really appreciate our um police and our
29:30fire but I'm not going to talk about
29:31that I'm going to talk about the
29:32downtown um people love our downtown and
29:36they particularly Love The Pedestrian
29:38Mall that we've put in place um during
29:41covid and since then and um we are you
29:45know it's a phase project we're in phase
29:47two where um we have kind of a
29:50semi-permanent um situation but phase
29:53three will be a permanent situation
29:55where um there will be a flush
29:58uh layer all the way across but one
30:02thing that we can do I think in the next
30:04year to make it better is just improve
30:06the programming we have great
30:08programming we have music every
30:10Wednesday night but those things um
30:13bring so much joy to our community thank
30:16you Pat that's
30:18Emily um one of the things that I I
30:21think that I've been hearing we've been
30:23doing very well and is is Outreach on a
30:26broad level so we programs like the
30:28language leadership acmy so uh we
30:31started off with the Spanish Leadership
30:33Academy and we have a cohort of of
30:35Spanish speaking residents that can
30:37Outreach to their communities and was
30:39super helpful during the pandemic and
30:41then we continued that program with the
30:43Chinese Leadership Academy um as we look
30:46at Outreach there's other things like
30:47our coun uh like our neighborhood
30:49associations I serve along with the
30:51mayor on our Council neighborhoods
30:53committee and we have a great grant
30:55program to help Community build what we
30:58can do to improve that is uh start
31:01helping them work together on making
31:03that money more efficient because the
31:05amazing thing is everyone really loves
31:07that grant program it's not enough money
31:10for everyone for everything that they
31:11want so we have to learn how to be more
31:13efficient with it and see how we can
31:15help each other make it work because
31:17people are just living their lives
31:18they're not going to go to every single
31:19council meeting like I am because I'm I
31:22love those kinds of things thank you so
31:23much Chris so I was going to talk about
31:27downtown but uh since that's already
31:28been mentioned the other thing that I'm
31:30hearing just walking around is people go
31:32back to what's been happening most
31:34recently in touches their daily lives
31:36and folks are really happy about um some
31:38of the infrastructure projects that are
31:40finally moving postco uh so whether it's
31:43um the addition of safe routes to
31:45schools or just repaving El Camino which
31:47granted isn't the city it's calr but we
31:49worked with um them closely on that um
31:52so people bring up infrastructure a lot
31:53but they're also frustrated that it's
31:55taken so long to bring a lot of those
31:58projects to fruition for example the uh
32:00the road diet and creating a safer
32:02Corridor along California Street um and
32:04granted you some of those got backed up
32:06due to covid but there should be things
32:08that we can do within a year like you
32:10know conceptualize a trial for certain
32:13things to make our streets and corridors
32:15safer and then Implement that trial on a
32:18segment of that um it shouldn't take
32:20years to to bring a trial like that to
32:22fruition um and so I think if we can um
32:25if we can move forward with doing that
32:26in a more efficient effective way that
32:28would make a big difference for folks
32:30here in Mountain View thank you Chris
32:33Nicholas people love the new Pedestrian
32:36Mall but they're very concerned about
32:38the downtown vacancy rate the downtown
32:40vacancy rate is twice as high as
32:43anywhere else in the city and I don't
32:45think that we should let those vacancies
32:47go to waste our windows need to give
32:51advertising to the other businesses in
32:53downtown that could use the support the
32:56city is currently working on a facade
32:59program and a window program to allow
33:02for popups in those vacant spaces we
33:05need to get that implemented as soon as
33:08possible so that we support our small
33:10businesses who have been downtown for
33:12years and show potential business owners
33:15the potential of those spaces I also
33:17believe that we need to make sure that
33:19our first floor retail isn't a Lobby for
33:23offices upstairs I'm very proud that
33:26last night the city council made sure
33:28that that wasn't the case uh on 198
33:31Castro the Agave
33:34site thank you Nicholas Devon thank you
33:37there are so many great ideas from my
33:39colleagues up here tonight it's actually
33:40very exciting to think about a year
33:42ahead of us to work on these things um
33:44Mountain View is one of the few places
33:46as a city that has said it wants to
33:48increase access to child care I've heard
33:50a lot of people who were very excited
33:52when um Mountain View first opened a
33:53preschool program but it's too small and
33:57um we know know that there's an
33:58incredible need for highquality child
34:01care and preschool experiences for
34:02children in our community the Mountain
34:05View wisman school district has a
34:06preschool program currently and part of
34:08it is state funded but we know that
34:12there's still more need within our
34:13community even amongst our staff and so
34:16recently Google canceled their leases on
34:18two preschool sites that they were
34:20leasing from the school district this is
34:22an incredible opportunity we can't fund
34:25it alone as a school district but in
34:27partnership with the City we could get
34:29many more preschool slots within our
34:31community that are affordable to a wide
34:33range of incomes thank you
34:36Deon next question is the city likely to
34:40meet the housing elements commitments on
34:42time has anything changed since the
34:45element was approved that can affect
34:48success how can the council help to hit
34:51the target and the order we will go in
34:54will be Pat Eric Ida Rose John
34:58Jose Devin Nicholas Chris and
35:03Emily go ahead
35:07Pat well it's like looking at a crystal
35:11ball to really say will we be able to
35:14meet this or not because um we have
35:17zoned for it we have a very robust
35:20housing element and um we put in a a
35:23hefty percentage over um of areas that
35:27are zoned so that it doesn't all have to
35:30be developed by any stretch of the
35:32imagination that said a city doesn't do
35:35the development um developers do and the
35:38economic forces are um are really an
35:41issue so the fact that the um interest
35:44rates went up to 7% has has has really
35:48slowed down uh Housing Development and
35:52um the uh they just went down recently
35:56so that's a good thing
35:58the things that the city can do is we
36:00have a great housing um Department that
36:03has a lot of knowhow for how to get
36:05money that people need to do affordable
36:08housing that's something that's thank
36:10you Pat that's a great
36:13Eric uh thank you for the question I
36:16think uh pertaining on whether or not we
36:19are GNA keep up with our C IM I think
36:22it's more important that we do so
36:24because if y'all remembered when we were
36:27working on the housing element it was
36:28turned in at a later period than what it
36:31was intended for and because of that now
36:33we're facing five building remedies as a
36:36result and if we don't continue uh uh
36:39committing to those obligations we're
36:41going to face more building remedies in
36:43the near future and that's I'm sure not
36:45even the council nor our residents want
36:47to face that and I think the council
36:49should be acting in good faith not only
36:51based off the work that the Planning
36:53Commission has done but also many of our
36:55coalitions that put in time and effort
36:57in order to see this housing element
36:59pass I mean we have to uh this includes
37:03developing a strategy to prevent
37:04displacement those are things that we
37:05need to ensure as we're seeing the cost
37:08of housing Rising even with measure V
37:10implemented the cost people aren't able
37:13to afford a $78 a month increase uh for
37:17years to come so um I think the more
37:19important thing is for us to set up a
37:21timeline thank you
37:23Eric Ida
37:25Rose I think we are at risk RK for
37:27meeting our um housing element numbers
37:30to be quite honest uh but anything can
37:32change we have seven-year Cycles in
37:34Silicon Valley typically with our
37:36economy um so we might hit a boom
37:39somewhere that will help us but right
37:41now uh we've seen uh some concern that
37:45North Bayshore development won't happen
37:46because Google has been pulling out of
37:48some of the work that they're doing
37:49there and as noted money cost a lot more
37:52money now and inflation makes everything
37:54expensive to do uh so I think we are at
37:58risk especially at North Bayshore um
38:00unless we have an economic turnaround
38:02which we can't control but one thing we
38:04can control is improving some of our
38:06zoning like our R3 zoning which will
38:08allow us to um zone for denser housing
38:12that would help the middle class
38:13especially in parts of our city and that
38:15we have some control over thank you
38:19John uh I don't think we're going to
38:21make it the housing element started out
38:23mid you know towards the end of covid
38:26and people were basing it on assumptions
38:28that we're going to continue to grow or
38:30it's going to recover pretty quick but
38:33it's not happening and recently there
38:34was an article in the paper about
38:36vacancy rate for Office Buildings at 22%
38:38the highest level ever so that sort of
38:40indicates that businesses are tightening
38:43up businesses are closing up businesses
38:45are laying people off so if there's no
38:48demand for housing developers aren't
38:49going to be coming knocking at our door
38:51to say well we're going to build here
38:52we're going to build there and it's
38:54going to be a time that we might have to
38:56Recon consider that if somebody wants
38:59some maybe we have to give some
39:01concessions maybe we have to you know
39:03bankroll some of this ourselves but as
39:06long as the economy is Contracting right
39:08now and the costs even though they're
39:09coming down it's still going to be if
39:12there's a demand and that's what we have
39:14to wait for and see what happens we
39:16maybe have
39:17to thank
39:19you Jose
39:34okay great um just checking look I'm the
39:37vice chair for the EPC the environmental
39:38Planning Commission Chris and I worked
39:40hard to be able to do the hard lift of
39:42being able to get community input into
39:43the haian element plan we spoke to every
39:46day folks from nonprofit organizations
39:48developers and members of the community
39:49as a whole and we try to do best we can
39:51to get letters of support so that we can
39:53have this be approved the fact of the
39:54matter is that when Google pulled out
39:56and they said no to those 300 50
39:58affordable housing units that set us
40:00back we immediately took action and we
40:02spoke to our uh City staff and we said
40:04Hey by when do we need to tell the state
40:06that we may not meet certain deadlines
40:08because we do have a timeline there is a
40:11schedule these things are reality and we
40:14have to give those updates to the state
40:16periodically so depending what comes our
40:18way for review and approval for said
40:20developments because we are at the
40:21ministry of developers let's not kill
40:23ourselves we do the best we can to
40:24inform the state where we're at and
40:26that's what we need to do continuously
40:27because we have no other choice but be
40:29responsible for
40:30that thank you
40:33Devin so 33% of the students in the
40:36Mountain View issman School District
40:37qualify for free and reduced price lunch
40:40this means for a family of four that
40:41they earn $55,500 or less these families
40:46qualify for very lowincome affordable
40:48housing and our housing element calls
40:50for over
40:522,700 units of very lowincome affordable
40:55housing it is incredibly hard to get
40:58built it takes significant subsidies
41:01it's very expensive and I think this is
41:03one area of the housing element that's
41:05really at risk of not being realized
41:07unless we focus on it I know that
41:10creative Partnerships pulling down
41:13federal and state funds as well as
41:15working with our regional um government
41:18and other supporters can help us find
41:21funding to do this but it's going to
41:24take work the housing bond that had been
41:26planned for 20 billion for the Bay Area
41:29did not get put on the ballot this year
41:31so we're going to need to keep
41:32advocating at these other levels to be
41:34able to build very low income housing
41:37thank you
41:39Nicholas in 2023 we did not keep Pace in
41:43order to meet our housing element goals
41:46so right now the answer is no and
41:50unfortunately the slow growth in the nor
41:52Bay North Bay Shore neighborhood is also
41:55not a good sign the good news is though
41:59that we have more than a thousand units
42:01in the pipeline we need to make the
42:04permitting process more efficient we
42:06have a a new staff a new community
42:09development director Christian Murdoch
42:12and we need to work with him very
42:13closely to understand exactly what we
42:16need in order to pass these permits I'm
42:20happy that the city council yesterday
42:22approved an application for a pro
42:25housing Grant and that we're seeking
42:27money from the federal government in
42:29this case $4 million for preservation
42:32and acquisition we need to continue
42:35doing that to leverage funds and put our
42:38money towards affordable housing
42:40projects thank you Chris so while we
42:44aren't on track right now the good news
42:46is that we do have a really solid
42:47housing element in place and so what we
42:50need to do is continue to do our best to
42:52implement that and as the mayor
42:53mentioned earlier by and large the city
42:55doesn't build housing we put put the
42:57policy Frameworks in place to hopefully
43:00incentivize it so what we can't force
43:02developers to build housing um so what
43:05can we do in the interim I've been on
43:07Council through multiple economic Cycles
43:08two recessions and a really significant
43:10boom period so hope isn't lost but we
43:13can't um we we don't want to lose the
43:15time that we have so what we can do now
43:18is continue implementing our housing
43:19element um we can pass prop five which
43:22will allow us to bring the regional
43:24measor back um and better fund
43:27affordable housing in the future um and
43:30so we're that way we kind of set the
43:32stage for when interest rates do come
43:34down and we have a better boom cycle and
43:35folks are building again we aren't
43:37behind the eightball and trying to play
43:38catchup like we were last time so really
43:41what we need to do is is put all the
43:43plans and Frameworks in place now so we
43:45aren't behind the aall later thank you
43:46Chris Emily so um what people generally
43:51don't notice is that our housing element
43:52is more than just our Arena goals and
43:54the buffer and the zoning uh the housing
43:57element also includes a lot of programs
43:59that remove the barriers to housing and
44:01something very uh important
44:02affirmatively furthering fair housing
44:04and that that includes uh programs
44:07against displacement um overall most
44:09cities are generally good about meeting
44:11their market rate housing goals it's
44:14when we start looking at the affordable
44:15housing goals and so we want to take a
44:18look at things like our community
44:19ownership action plan um and makeing
44:22sure that we have funding for that
44:24affordable housing so it's important
44:25that people here vote for measure G um
44:28as we also go forward I think we need to
44:31keep to the spirit of the commitments
44:33that we have made to these housing
44:34elements and we have a a we have a
44:36community that holds us accountable and
44:38we work closely with hcd or our
44:40community also works closely with hcd to
44:42tell us if we're not meeting that Spirit
44:44of commitment so I feel very optimistic
44:46about meeting our goals in the housing
44:48element um thank you thank
44:51you okay our next question empty
44:54storefronts on Castro at downtown office
44:58vacancy rate of about 25% and long
45:01vacant and blighted properties in
45:03commercial areas are issues what ideas
45:06do you have in one of these areas that
45:09you believe would be supported by a
45:11majority of the council the order we
45:13will go in is Ida Rose Eric Pat Emily
45:18Chris Nicholas Devon Jose
45:23John Ida Rose um focus ing in on empty
45:28storefronts I am really really excited
45:30for the potential of our downtown um if
45:33we reimagine what downtown could be and
45:35it not just be uh a few retail shops and
45:38a whole lot of restaurants if we can
45:40imagine uses that bring back daytime
45:43population um as well as stretch out uh
45:46different kinds of uses that bring more
45:48families in on different times and
45:49different days of the week I think will
45:52be golden now some of this is going to
45:53require how we Market our downtown but
45:56some of it is how we will allow
45:57permitting for different uses downtown
46:00um people have talked about recreation
46:02centers both um like an escape room like
46:05a commercial one but also a city-owned
46:06recreation center where families can
46:09meet and gather that could use up some
46:10of the large retail spaces that are
46:12currently there um we could bring in
46:14some Daytime uses like a co-working
46:16space or a business incubator so we can
46:18bring back some of that the missing
46:20population that is no longer there
46:22having lunch and shopping in the middle
46:23of the day thank you thank you Eric
46:27yeah thank you for the question so we do
46:29have an economic Vitality strategy which
46:32offers a comprehensive evaluation of
46:35approaches that we can take in order to
46:36best uh support our storefronts I think
46:39one of the ones especially with the
46:40empty ones is in one that I think that
46:43Council would be in favor of
46:45implementing is uh supporting a
46:47commercial vacancy tax and the reason
46:49why I say this is because especially for
46:51those air uh those places that are
46:53chronically uh vacant I would hate to
46:56believe that property owners are holding
46:57off on uh renting it out so much so that
47:00they can sell it at a higher price and I
47:02think this would be an essential push to
47:05those Property Owners to lease it out to
47:07someone at a market rate value instead
47:09of an expensive one as we see p uh as
47:12we're seeing right now and I think as
47:14we're transitioning from retail to much
47:16more entertainment as um our colleague
47:19has said I think it is trying to
47:22reimagine how our downtown streets look
47:24like not only for the familiar as aspect
47:27of it but also trying to bring youth
47:28entertainment into it as well thank you
47:32Pat well I'm glad Eric mentioned the
47:35economic Vitality plan I really think
47:37that is um what's key to getting um a
47:41lot of the vacancies down town fied it
47:44is 164 action plan when it came to
47:48council the first time it was very very
47:51theoretical and we sent it back and said
47:54no we need things on the ground that
47:56will make a difference um I Heard a talk
47:59today through the um Chamber of Commerce
48:02uh about how they're um working on that
48:06and they've basically analyzed the
48:08vacancies in all of the storefronts and
48:10talk and figured out what is the issue
48:13for each vacancy and some of those
48:16issues are things that we can handle
48:18pretty straightforwardly and easily
48:20others or more difficult I think that
48:22kind of triage is helpful and I think
48:25that one of the things that we could all
48:27agree on is upping their Grant
48:29renovation project I mean program we
48:32have a certain amount of money in it now
48:34and I think we could put a little more
48:35money in it and that would help get some
48:37morees Emily so um this actually led me
48:41to remember the most common question I
48:43was been I have been asked on Reddit um
48:47and that was a lot of people were asking
48:48like what's going on with El Camino as
48:51you go up and down elino you see a lot
48:53of uh vacant Parcels that are closed
48:55down and um I think one of the things
48:58that we were looking at we actually
48:59looked at that when we did a walking
49:02tour uh as part of our work for our
49:04housing element some of these sites
49:06they're weirdly shaped the permitting
49:08process is just so overwhelming for them
49:10to build something completely new to
49:12design standards um are are difficult
49:14for such a small plot of land I think
49:17one of the things we need to work on is
49:19the permitting and making it more
49:21flexible so that we could actually have
49:23an overall vision of it and if you are
49:25flexible and exactly how you want each
49:28tiny plot of land to do it's too
49:29prescriptive so as we look at more
49:32General um goals of that area as we have
49:35a precise plan on it that probably
49:36should be a little bit updated um but
49:40yeah we can work on those design
49:41standards thank you Emily Chris I think
49:45there are three things we could do
49:46pretty uh downtown that most folks would
49:48agree with one is something we've
49:50already started to do which is
49:51liberalize some of the uses on the
49:52ground floor to allow things like
49:54fitness centers um and other you know
49:56daytime uses that bring folks down um
49:59and activate things throughout the day
50:01the second is recognizing there are
50:03industries that are growing that aren't
50:04looking for Google size spaces but
50:06smaller you know expansion facilities so
50:08maybe they're based in San Francisco but
50:10the gross receipts tax is really hitting
50:12them hard up there and they're looking
50:13for peninsula South Bay locations and
50:16San Jose is taking advantage of this um
50:18and we should too because we now that
50:20Cal trains electrified we are the
50:21intersection of not just the freeways
50:24but um Express train stops and we can be
50:27that Hub uh on the South Bay of the
50:28peninsula for some of those companies
50:30and the third is the the mfet precise
50:33plan and the downtown precise plan
50:35expanding um the footprint of downtown
50:37and activation Beyond just the core but
50:39closer to El Camino and then down Moffet
50:41which is a longer term thing but I think
50:43that's really important to do thank you
50:47Nicholas as I touched on earlier I think
50:50that we need to take advantage of the
50:52windows in vacant spaces when there's a
50:55new store that is coming the new owner
50:58will put up a advertisement saying
51:01December 2025 this is what you can
51:04expect we should be taking advantage of
51:06all of those empty window spaces either
51:10promoting the space and what it could
51:11look like or advertising for other
51:14businesses that gets rid of the blight
51:17problem right there I think we also need
51:19to liberalize the use of the Street area
51:24in front of non-restaurant spaces
51:27outdoor dining is a fantastic setup for
51:30restaurants but retail hasn't been able
51:33to use that space the same way and so we
51:36need to look at how we can work with
51:38retailers to activate the space in The
51:41Pedestrian Mall which everyone loves so
51:44much thank you Devin thank you for the
51:48question um so where we work where we
51:50eat where we play where we shop it has
51:52all changed significant significantly
51:55since the pandemic and we need to really
51:58modernize our business infrastructure to
52:00be able to address that change um when
52:03we look at downtown The in the economic
52:06Vitality strategy is an excellent plan
52:09but it's huge and there's only a few
52:12staff people who are dedicated to
52:13working on it but one of the things
52:15that's positive about it is it includes
52:17metrics and goals that are hard numbers
52:19for Council to try and work towards and
52:22for example there's a goal of a 2 to 4%
52:24growth in the year-over year sales tax
52:27receipts for downtown right now that
52:30rate is negative
52:318.5% that's why you see those empty
52:34storefronts the economic Vitality
52:36strategy however the council had first
52:38asked that it just come back once a year
52:40as a written report I believe Council
52:43would agree hopefully to bringing it
52:45back at least every six months as an
52:47actual presentation to the public so we
52:49can stay focused on those metrics thank
52:51you
52:53Jose thank you so look there's no easy
52:55answer right I wish I could tell you
52:56great news and positivity all the time
52:58but sometimes you just deal with the
53:00reality that you have you've got a bunch
53:01of layoffs that have happened in the
53:02tech sector and because of that that
53:05affects the way we look at downtown and
53:06our businesses overall within the life
53:07of the city it's as simple as that but
53:10there's opportunity here and so I agree
53:12with honorable mayor Pat shalter and my
53:16fellow um commissioner Chris Clark you
53:17bundle those two sets of ideas that they
53:19presented plus the one that was
53:21presented to us as a whole in the report
53:22that said we need more small minority
53:24business-based loans and coupled with
53:26what we've been doing on the commission
53:28which is to change the zoning of certain
53:30sites so that we can have certain types
53:32of other businesses be available to um
53:35have as an opportunity for them to come
53:36in and participate in downtown when you
53:38look at land ordinance issues like that
53:40in zoning that gets a ball moving in the
53:42right direction and finally you use what
53:44Devon suggested every six months it
53:45comes back for us to review so that we
53:47can follow through be accountable and
53:49get things done thank you
53:52John 444 Castro Street
53:57top floor
53:58restaurant something bold something
54:01exciting you don't know what it is it's
54:04the tallest building on Castro Street
54:06got to start thinking out of the box
54:08sometimes think what get the answers how
54:10about a cooking school I got all these
54:12restaurants but something down there
54:14I've been fortunate to be able to travel
54:16around the United States and Europe and
54:18there's a place in Colorado Boulder
54:20Pearl Street if anybody's ever seen it
54:22go online and look at Pearl Street I
54:25think we're concentrating too much on
54:26restaurants and what we could do for
54:28them we needed to back off on
54:30restaurants CU if you look at the
54:31streets they're pretty crammed and you
54:33walk down I was there last night and you
54:35walk down the street and you see tables
54:37going this way chairs going this way and
54:38it just doesn't doesn't make you feel
54:40comfortable so I think we need to start
54:42looking at other deals off outside the
54:45box parking garage pickle ball courts
54:48aren't everybody looking for pickle ball
54:49courts you go hey that's sort of crazy
54:51how about a restroom we don't even have
54:53a public restroom downtown so we need to
54:55make it invite
54:58thank
54:59you okay the next question Mountain View
55:03has significant infrastructure projects
55:05planned but funding them is challenging
55:08if measor G fails what plan B funding
55:12ideas do you have and what would be your
55:15top priority
55:17projects we will go in this order Eric
55:20Pat Emily Chris Devin Jose John Ida Rose
55:25Nicholas
55:27Eric yeah um so I'm not even thinking
55:31about measure G failing because I think
55:33we definitely do need it to pass and if
55:35anything you come out out of this today
55:38on top of uh meeting every great
55:40candidate here it's that measure G needs
55:42to pass so that we can use those funds
55:43that could be allotted to our green
55:45spaces our infrastructure affordable
55:47housing whatever we may need that to be
55:49in addition to that something that's
55:50been referenced in this conversation is
55:53passing prop five as well this will be a
55:55great way for us to start funding and
55:58stop being dependent on taxing y'all and
56:01making our B corporations or whomever uh
56:05uh accountable to paying paying their
56:07fair share in order to be able to self
56:09fund many of these projects as soon as
56:11interest goes low uh goes down and I
56:13mean I think like a lot of the uh
56:15projects I would like to see uh build is
56:18with regards to the R3 zoning oh and I
56:22think sorry my time oh I okay
56:27okay oh
56:30no thank you Pat okay uh Mountain View
56:35has significant infrastructure plans if
56:37measure G fails what will we do well
56:40we'll basically be where we are now and
56:43um that we're trying to plan for the
56:46mountain view of tomorrow and um if
56:49measure G fails then we'll have
56:51approximately $10 million less in the
56:54general plan than we had hoped for and
56:56that will mean we will do things more
56:58slowly but I don't think we should get
57:01too um really upset about that I mean it
57:06would be bad it would be much better if
57:08we have that money but we have a staff
57:11that's very very good at uh going after
57:13grants the um the IRA um and the B
57:18bipartisan infrastructure bill um they
57:21are huge sources of funding so I think
57:25that whether G passes or not we need to
57:28make sure that we go after all of those
57:31funding um opportunities that are
57:33available I just got a letter from Anna
57:36ISU that said she had written a um she'd
57:39written a letter to Pete Budaj asking us
57:41for money for more money for the
57:43railroad undercrossing so thank you Pat
57:46Emily so I agree with uh the past two uh
57:49C uh commenters um but the good news is
57:52is that overall measure G is not our
57:54only funding source we actually have a
57:56very strong budget with diverse Revenue
57:59sources um and we have been fiscally
58:01responsible up to this point and we will
58:03probably continue to be fiscally
58:05responsible so um and we like I was
58:09mentioned before we will leverage our
58:10state and federal funding we have
58:12actually started uh working a lot uh
58:15more uh harder and more smarter about
58:18getting some of that state and federal
58:19funding and accessing that funding uh
58:23some projects will probably be delayed
58:25until we get that funding funding but it
58:28if we plan for it we can get the funding
58:30eventually because there are a lot of
58:31cities that out there that we are doing
58:33so much better than and we we uh managed
58:37to get our projects done we have a good
58:39history of getting our projects done and
58:41so the state and the the federal
58:43government they like funding us because
58:45it'll look great on them it looks great
58:47on us and we get the stuff that we want
58:48done thank you
58:51Chris so uh if Major G fails I think
58:54three things will happen one is has been
58:55alluded to earlier we'll have to delay
58:57some projects uh and rep prioritize
58:59things which is really unfortunate but
59:01um because we can only come back to you
59:03every couple of years uh for funding we
59:06can't do it in an off cycle year um
59:08we'll just have to delay things the
59:10second is we will come back to you uh
59:12maybe with a transient occupancy tax
59:14increase or something different but we
59:16will have to come back to you because we
59:18cannot have a structurally imbalanced
59:19budget we need to maintain our choyee
59:21credit rating that is um that is a that
59:24is a one of the sacred cows Mountain
59:27View and then um the the third is we'll
59:30leverage our state and federal uh
59:32legislative relationships to try and get
59:33whatever grant money we can but I will
59:36say um there is risk there because as we
59:38saw with Cal Train electrification when
59:40we had a certain Administration come to
59:41power they tried to block the funding
59:43for that and it almost completely
59:45unraveled and we had to travel to DC to
59:46beg for that funding with Feinstein and
59:49others um so um hopefully measure G
59:52passes thank you Devon well you know
59:55what the quest and neighborhood uh
59:57Association candidate Forum asked this
1:00:00question of a team of us and we had to
1:00:01work on it together and come up with a
1:00:03solution and that was a really helpful
1:00:05discussion so part of what came out of
1:00:07that was I mean first thing you do if it
1:00:09doesn't passes is an analysis of why is
1:00:12it something that we could tweak in the
1:00:14ballot language is it getting prop five
1:00:17passed to bring down the passage rate so
1:00:19that we could get it past that way and
1:00:20then bringing it back in the future or
1:00:23something like it or another type of tax
1:00:26so it's not going to be that there
1:00:27aren't other options down the road and I
1:00:30agree with my colleagues this is the
1:00:32danger of going La near the end on a
1:00:34question um we do have to Advocate and
1:00:37other sources to get funding pulled down
1:00:39from state and federal grants and we're
1:00:42going to also need to you know really
1:00:44prioritize what's the most urgent
1:00:47projects for us now I lean towards
1:00:49implementing the vision zero plan
1:00:51because we're losing people we lost a
1:00:53child a few years ago who was hit on
1:00:55their way to school and passed away so
1:00:58that's my priority thank you
1:01:01Jose I I think when you look at this
1:01:03issue it's pretty complex no matter how
1:01:05you look at it right you have several
1:01:06opportunities but you also have several
1:01:08challenges one of the things that I look
1:01:09at is uh that I'm proud of being able to
1:01:12have done in the past is just to be
1:01:13fiscally responsible right I was never
1:01:15part of a board that overspent we always
1:01:17managed our budget really well and we
1:01:19got banged for a buck for it uh and
1:01:21that's the mentality I think we need I
1:01:22think measure to rely on measure G to
1:01:25pass
1:01:26I I criticize that we should have never
1:01:28been there in the first place we could
1:01:29have avoided this two years ago or even
1:01:30last year and presented it sooner rather
1:01:32than later because now the onus is on
1:01:33you to vote for it if that doesn't
1:01:35happen then we're in a pickle so we have
1:01:36to have better governance and better
1:01:37oversight on that and work with the city
1:01:39staff so that we're all accountable to
1:01:41the point that we don't need these last
1:01:42minute resorts to try and get ourselves
1:01:44out of a
1:01:46pickle thank you John I hate to ask this
1:01:50but there been duded a little bit
1:01:51because what was the original
1:01:54question uh m of you has significant
1:01:56infrastructure projects planned but
1:01:58funding them is challenging if measure G
1:02:00fails what plan B funding ideas do you
1:02:02have and what would be your top priority
1:02:04projects
1:02:05[Music]
1:02:07okay as a businessman you know when
1:02:09money's come short you start cutting
1:02:11back you look at where you can get the
1:02:13biggest bank for your buck and you look
1:02:15at things that you can get accomplished
1:02:17one of my goals if I get on to the
1:02:19council is to say Hey you have too many
1:02:21things on your plate when people were
1:02:23talking about well measure G was going
1:02:24to fund so many different things we got
1:02:26to go it's not realistic we need to take
1:02:29a priority we should have started this
1:02:31priority years ago we had all this money
1:02:34with all the development money was
1:02:35coming in we were flushed we could boom
1:02:37boom boom qu Melby ballpark 2020 was put
1:02:42in do you know that you can't sit in the
1:02:44bleachers and see Home Plate because we
1:02:46still because it was designed wrong and
1:02:48we work with Partners we need to focus
1:02:51on what we can do with the money we have
1:02:54and get things done brought tighten it
1:02:56up and so that as we go forward things
1:02:58don't take five years I know there was a
1:03:00death on El M Elman it took like four
1:03:03years to get a light in that is not
1:03:06right thank you Ida
1:03:09Rose there are both near-term immediate
1:03:12term um and then twoyear and Beyond term
1:03:15ways to look at this uh but let's be
1:03:17honest if measure G passes we still
1:03:19don't have enough money to do the things
1:03:21we want to do and I think that's really
1:03:24important um in the near term if we can
1:03:27I agree completely with Pat there is a
1:03:29lot of money at the federal level with
1:03:31the IRA and other acts there are a lot
1:03:34of grant money state money feder other
1:03:36Federal monies there are Partnerships
1:03:37with corporations and nonprofits that we
1:03:39should exploit and it's something that
1:03:41council members are actually in a good
1:03:43position to help the city do to have
1:03:46these relationships and to build them
1:03:48and to go find that money and help the
1:03:49city get it with that said in the longer
1:03:52term when we can put up other measures
1:03:54occupancy tax ours is lowest in the
1:03:56region we could raise around $5 million
1:03:58a year for modernizing ours and of
1:04:00course if prop five passes I'd like to
1:04:02see some specific bonds around Parks
1:04:05safe complete streets and the
1:04:07potentially even the Crossing
1:04:09downtown thank you
1:04:11Nicholas believe it or not we have to
1:04:14act faster if prop G doesn't pass or
1:04:18measure G doesn't pass because like some
1:04:21of my can fellow candidates have said
1:04:23the money is out there at the federal
1:04:25and state level when it comes to the
1:04:28inflation reduction act there's a tool
1:04:31called direct pay which allows the city
1:04:34to be fully reimbursed for things like
1:04:37electrification Mountain View recently
1:04:39started a partnership with block power
1:04:42to Electrify our multifam apartment
1:04:45buildings if we invest now before 2032
1:04:49we can be reimbursed for significant
1:04:51investments from the inflation reduction
1:04:53act the other big source of fund is
1:04:56Proposition one which passed in
1:04:58California a couple of years ago that
1:05:00would house atrisk populations if we're
1:05:03serious about affordable housing for
1:05:05atrisk populations we should be applying
1:05:07for prop one funding right now not when
1:05:10measure G uh comes
1:05:13out thank
1:05:16you okay we're on to our final question
1:05:19and then we'll follow that up with your
1:05:21closing statements so for this last
1:05:23question ask and answer answer a
1:05:26question you wish we had
1:05:29asked so we'll go in the following order
1:05:31Chris Nicholas Devan Jose Emily Ida Rose
1:05:36Eric Pat and John go ahead Chris um so
1:05:42one thing that I'm surprised hasn't come
1:05:44up uh in in most of the forums or even
1:05:46in some of the discussions is that um in
1:05:48the I believe in the next four years or
1:05:50so um the the Live Nation lease for
1:05:53Shoreline is going to come up and I
1:05:55think I think um that presents a really
1:05:57interesting opportunity so I I don't
1:05:59know what the options will be you know
1:06:01maybe we just continue status quo but I
1:06:04think you know that lease has been those
1:06:06leases are so longterm and so much has
1:06:09changed since the last one that we
1:06:10signed that I think it presents a really
1:06:12interesting opportunity for us to think
1:06:14about the use of that not that there
1:06:16can't still be concerts and other things
1:06:18but maybe there are um even um better
1:06:22and revenue generating opportunities for
1:06:24us to better utilize um that that gem
1:06:27that we have so um I think um I think
1:06:29it'll be really interesting to see where
1:06:31the council comes down and and what our
1:06:33options are for that thank you
1:06:37Nicholas I'm surprised that we haven't
1:06:39talked about climate change more my
1:06:41heart goes out to the families and the
1:06:44people who are in the path of hurricane
1:06:46Milton
1:06:48tonight I think that the city needs to
1:06:51focus on climate resilience and climate
1:06:54mitigation we need to strengthen our
1:06:57fire department and our Police
1:06:59Department who our who are our First
1:07:02Responders when it comes to severe
1:07:04winter storms like we saw last year I'm
1:07:08a user of cooling centers during extreme
1:07:10heat waves because my apartment building
1:07:13doesn't have air conditioning we need to
1:07:15make sure that everyone knows where they
1:07:17can either find warmth or find air
1:07:21conditioning and when it comes to
1:07:22climate mitigation we need to look at
1:07:26serious electrification in every sector
1:07:28transportation makes up 60% of our
1:07:31carbon emissions I think that we need to
1:07:34build a Citywide EV charging Network
1:07:37especially downtown where people want to
1:07:39park their
1:07:41car thank you you C you can finish your
1:07:44last sentence when the stop goes up but
1:07:46no more sentences after that thank you
1:07:50Devon So 20% of the students at Castro
1:07:54Elementary School are homeless in our
1:07:57school district before the pandemic we
1:07:58had 175 homeless children and in the
1:08:012223 school year that number was at
1:08:04333 in the last school year we hit that
1:08:07number in January and we don't have our
1:08:09final data from the state yet so I wish
1:08:11we talked about homelessness tonight
1:08:13because having children and families
1:08:15lose their homes is a cost for our
1:08:18entire community and our future as a
1:08:21city we need to be looking at the case
1:08:24management that's going at at are going
1:08:26on at our RV parking sites as well as
1:08:28our transitional housing to make sure
1:08:30that we are moving families from those
1:08:33kind of stop Gap Solutions into
1:08:35permanent housing and we need to be
1:08:37looking at our overall homelessness
1:08:38response because when we invest in
1:08:41Children and Families we are investing
1:08:43as in our future as a community together
1:08:46thank you Jose why am I always after
1:08:49Devon it's like you know come on man I
1:08:52don't know but on a on a serious note
1:08:54though I
1:08:56I thought about this question and and
1:08:58and this is a hard one right look I I
1:08:59don't shy away from challenges I I
1:09:01relish them I'm FRG and everything
1:09:02the're first time I fin do everything
1:09:04graduate from high school go to Santa
1:09:05Clara be a board member be on the EPC be
1:09:08Vice chair and I fight the fight I push
1:09:10to rock up the hill because someone has
1:09:11to because that's what mountain is all
1:09:13about for me and when I looked at this
1:09:15question I thought about good governance
1:09:17for me is important it's not just a
1:09:18vision it's a reality so why can't our
1:09:21electeds work together to figure
1:09:23something out for funding for the school
1:09:24district why can't our electors be able
1:09:26to talk to one
1:09:28another one way or another forly
1:09:30informed to try and figure things out
1:09:32why is there an adversarial relationship
1:09:33between the staffs for me that's not
1:09:36good governance for me we deserve better
1:09:39we need to sit down the table make these
1:09:40decisions because it's the right thing
1:09:42to do though they're hard but it's for
1:09:44the best interest of the city that's
1:09:46what I've always been about whether at
1:09:47the school board or the EPC what's in
1:09:49the best interest for us all thank you
1:09:52thank you Emily uh one question that I
1:09:55would like to look at is campaign
1:09:57Finance reform uh one of the big things
1:10:00uh that we look at in politics in
1:10:02general is where is the money coming
1:10:04from um and we are I'm very proud in
1:10:07Mountain View we have a very robust uhi
1:10:10um voluntary expenditure limit that
1:10:13means that we are capped on and I
1:10:15believe everyone of us uh hold to that
1:10:18cap um that we're not going to spend
1:10:20more just next door in other cities
1:10:22they're spending twice three times what
1:10:24we're going going to be spending in this
1:10:26election cycle they're getting up to six
1:10:29figures in their elections and that is
1:10:31just ridiculous so I'm proud that Mount
1:10:34View has kept that uh voluntary
1:10:36expenditure limit and that we are all
1:10:37holding to it um it was put in place in
1:10:402000 capped at 15,000 and increase every
1:10:433% um I'm proud that I uh we also pushed
1:10:47for a disclosure act uh for the IES that
1:10:50could come in in our city so that we
1:10:53know where that funding is coming from
1:10:55I'm proud to have uh raised up to that
1:10:58limit um and don't need to raise any
1:11:00money anymore thank you IA
1:11:04Rose so something I think a lot about
1:11:07and wonder why we're not asked is why
1:11:09don't people ask about who we are beyond
1:11:12our qualification in our ideal ideas for
1:11:15example how do our values show up in our
1:11:17campaign so I'll answer that in my
1:11:20campaign collaboration is front and
1:11:22center I work with several candidates
1:11:24here on collaborative canvasing I also
1:11:27came up with an Innovative idea to uh
1:11:29work with some Mountain View wisman
1:11:31School District candidates and we are
1:11:33canvasing with each other extensively
1:11:35we're even hosting an event with a
1:11:37combined messaging if we can show how
1:11:38well we work together now imagine how
1:11:41well we can work together in the future
1:11:42to help restore the relationship and
1:11:44we're also very interested in making
1:11:46sure the Maga candidates stay out I
1:11:49focus also on inclusion thank you uh I
1:11:52have a diverse team and canvas and
1:11:54multip and multilingual and do
1:11:56multilingual Outreach I'm compassionate
1:11:59I will not speak ill of my fellow
1:12:00candidates or put them down in any way
1:12:02instead I reach out and see how they're
1:12:04doing and take care of them as much as I
1:12:06can thank you
1:12:10Eric I mean on top of just being asked
1:12:13how my day was I
1:12:15mean in all seriousness um gosh I I I
1:12:20think for me it does go back to the
1:12:23environment and reaching carbon
1:12:25neutrality goals by 2035 or being
1:12:28ambitious enough to reach them by 2035
1:12:30as some of you may know s
1:12:32sp38 is uh stuck in committee right now
1:12:36and should it pass this would be a great
1:12:39way for us to start not only having the
1:12:41discussion about carbon removal but also
1:12:44sequestration um especially when I'm
1:12:47thinking of like this isn't just a
1:12:48Mountain View issue issue this is a
1:12:50worldwide issue and that we need to
1:12:52start partnering up with our neighboring
1:12:54cities in order to share cost and also
1:12:57start start targeting um the global
1:12:59climate crisis because this also will
1:13:01have an impact in housing our local
1:13:03environment if we're worried about our
1:13:04green spaces consider those gone if we
1:13:06don't address this issue in a timely
1:13:09manner so um I hope that in the near
1:13:11future we are able to tackle this in a
1:13:14much more extensive manner
1:13:16Pat well I think the question you should
1:13:19ask is not just what we're going to do
1:13:20for the city but what we're going to do
1:13:21for the region because when you're um on
1:13:24City Council
1:13:25you also serve on all sorts of regional
1:13:28boards at the moment I serve on the San
1:13:31Francisco Bay conservation and
1:13:32development commission which is taking
1:13:35the lead on planning for sea level rise
1:13:38we're sort of analogous to the coastal
1:13:39commission but for San Francisco Bay so
1:13:43um my expertise as an engineer is is
1:13:47very important here as well as there um
1:13:50I also serve on the uh Silicon Valley
1:13:53clean energy board and again that's um
1:13:57an institution we we helped start um but
1:14:00it's uh it's very important for us
1:14:02collectively meeting our carbon
1:14:04neutrality goals I also am active in the
1:14:07National League of cities I serve on the
1:14:10energy environment and natural resources
1:14:13um policy committee and we put together
1:14:15the policies that that um that
1:14:17institution and all of the member cities
1:14:20um Advocate on thank
1:14:23you uh John
1:14:25I'm amazed no one asked me about my bold
1:14:28housing
1:14:29idea so I'll answer it my bold idea is
1:14:33that the city buys Apartments to take
1:14:35care of low-income housing subsidized
1:14:37housing rapid rehousing and how can we
1:14:40do it and save money there is an
1:14:43apartment there a website called loopnet
1:14:45there is an apartment complex in
1:14:47Mountain View 22 units at $8.4 million
1:14:51now when you do the math it's about
1:14:53$450,000 a door Mount and then we have
1:14:56complete control of who goes there how
1:14:58we can deal with it who's and we can we
1:15:00solve some problems Mountain View has
1:15:02spend in $800,000 or more for the
1:15:05Crestview hotel that is going to be
1:15:08shared with the county if we own the
1:15:11property we and we have the property we
1:15:14can make it denser we can uh build it
1:15:18you know rent it out there's many
1:15:20options to us and we have control and
1:15:22that's how it's one way to get done buy
1:15:24the property pay it with bonds rental
1:15:28money thank
1:15:31you okay now we are at the point for
1:15:35closing statements each um candidate has
1:15:37one minute and we will go in the
1:15:39following order Devin Nicholas Jose
1:15:45Emily Ida Rose Pat John Eric and Chris
1:15:51so Devon go ahead the first time I'm
1:15:53first is at the very end
1:15:55um so I'd like to you know be very clear
1:15:58that it has been an honor to serve on
1:16:00the school board and also to work with
1:16:03the city of Mountain View yes we have a
1:16:05challenging issue when it comes to the
1:16:07Shoreline funding because we're all
1:16:09facing economic uncertainty in the
1:16:11future and there's a lot of money there
1:16:13but there are so many ways in which we
1:16:15partner successfully all the time and I
1:16:17have a huge amount of respect for the
1:16:19council members here tonight for
1:16:21everyone on Council as well as for City
1:16:23staff when I was on the Parks and
1:16:25Recreation Commission I learned a lot
1:16:27about trees because it's also the urban
1:16:29forestry board and the canopy that grows
1:16:33from a sapling that's planted over time
1:16:37really benefits our entire community and
1:16:39you can see that in 10 2030 years the
1:16:42same perspective applies to our children
1:16:44and families when we are investing in
1:16:46our children and families it's going to
1:16:48pay off over the next 30 40 50 years and
1:16:51for our future Generations thank you
1:16:54thank you you
1:16:56Nicholas since this is my last
1:16:58opportunity to do so I would like to
1:17:00thank each of the candidates for running
1:17:03for public office thank you to Pat Chris
1:17:07Devin Ida Rose John Eric Emily and Jose
1:17:12for stepping up to the plate and running
1:17:16for city
1:17:17council I think that I have a unique
1:17:20background professional experience and
1:17:23policy platform to make an impact on
1:17:25city council for my first day on the job
1:17:28I hope that you get to check out my
1:17:30website nicholas4 mv.com and finally I
1:17:34would like to thank yall for being here
1:17:37this is what makes democracy work and I
1:17:40think to myself who did we not see here
1:17:42tonight how can we get them in the room
1:17:45because my motto is together we succeed
1:17:48I think that the best policy is made
1:17:50when everyone has a seat at the table I
1:17:52look forward to meeting each and every
1:17:54one of you
1:17:55thank you
1:17:56Jose speaking of everyone being a part
1:17:59of a table that's what my campaign's all
1:18:01about I believe that underrepresented
1:18:02neighborhoods where I live on leam
1:18:04street in California in apartments for
1:18:06over the last 20 years need
1:18:08representation we need new voices at
1:18:09City Hall we need New Perspectives I've
1:18:11been able to do that at the school board
1:18:13I'm doing that on the EPC I represent
1:18:15both renters and homeowners alike
1:18:17because I live in breathe the team
1:18:19mentality that's how I grew up that's
1:18:22how I was able to succeed and compete we
1:18:24have to relax one another to be able to
1:18:25get things done we need to believe in
1:18:27each other again but we need to be
1:18:28effective that's why my has has always
1:18:31been responsibility accountability and
1:18:33follow through because you have one shot
1:18:35to make a difference if you don't speak
1:18:36up at the day when the moment comes for
1:18:38you to speak up on behalf of someone or
1:18:40something or a cause you lose your
1:18:42moment and with that your Effectiveness
1:18:45we're leaders we have to be Fearless so
1:18:48I ask you to help me number three in the
1:18:49ballot thank you thank you Emily thank
1:18:53you to the League of Women voters for
1:18:55hosting this forum and and the mountain
1:18:57viiew voice I believe um I have been
1:19:00very fortunate to have been mentored by
1:19:03so many people with the League of Women
1:19:05Voters and outside of it I think about
1:19:08back in 2015 when I first started going
1:19:10to council meeting sitting in the back
1:19:11row with Julie lovens who was The
1:19:13Observer for the time I remember how in
1:19:172022 the last candidate forum for Mount
1:19:19city council was by uh moderated by
1:19:21Julie Kates who no who's no longer with
1:19:23us I I think think about how we are our
1:19:26ancestors greatest dreams and I feel
1:19:28like I am the the as we continue forward
1:19:32we continue to build and mentor and
1:19:34continue to grow uh I'm very fortunate
1:19:36to have the endorsement of the
1:19:38democratic party the Sierra Club Planned
1:19:40Parenthood League of conservation voters
1:19:42mie chamber I have a long list so I
1:19:45don't know if I'm get through to all of
1:19:46it South Bay labor Council Senator
1:19:48Becker Jose media and the entire Board
1:19:50of Supervisors uh in Santa Clara County
1:19:53and I hope to earn the rest of your
1:19:55support um by November 5th Ida Rose
1:20:00thank you to the League of Women Voters
1:20:02and baradero media media Mountain View
1:20:04voice for being here tonight and
1:20:06sponsoring this wonderful event and
1:20:08thank you to all of you the people of
1:20:10Mountain View is my why the reason I'm
1:20:12running to make a better world for all
1:20:14of
1:20:15us I have pragmatic experience grounded
1:20:18in years of doing the hard work I have a
1:20:20proven track record of thinking outside
1:20:22of the box to find solutions to our
1:20:24biggest problems and building
1:20:26relationships and uniting many players
1:20:28to make that happen I'm tenacious I
1:20:31listen well and I readily balance
1:20:33competing interests of people to find
1:20:35win-win Solutions in every case I'm
1:20:37involved in I am compassionate and
1:20:40passionate I love this city I love
1:20:43Mountain View I love its people I love
1:20:46our past our present and the future we
1:20:49will create working together thank you
1:20:52you can learn more about me at idos
1:20:53sylvester.com um thank you Pat well
1:20:58thank you um again to the uh League of
1:21:01Women Voters for sponsoring this I think
1:21:03it's been a great discussion and I also
1:21:05want to thank everybody who stepped up
1:21:08uh it's a lot of work to run for Council
1:21:11and you learn a lot on the trail and I
1:21:13really appreciate everyone for doing
1:21:15that it's great for our community I'm
1:21:18proud to be working to make Mountain
1:21:19View a community for all as a civil
1:21:21engineer I've collaborated across
1:21:23disciplines and agencies as your council
1:21:26member I apply those skills to Regional
1:21:28challenges such as protecting against
1:21:30climate change building new housing with
1:21:32minimal displacement enhancing Transit
1:21:34reducing and preventing homelessness and
1:21:36making our city more just I spent my
1:21:39career as a civil servant so I know how
1:21:42the patchwork quilt of government
1:21:44agencies in the Bay Area works the
1:21:46legislators legislators I worked with
1:21:48while on Council Anna isue Josh Becker
1:21:51Mark Burman and Joe sidian have all
1:21:53endorsed me as have um uh the League of
1:21:57Women voter no not the league sorry the
1:21:59league of conservation voters um the
1:22:02Sierra Club uh Planned Parenthood and
1:22:05the South Bay labor Council thank you
1:22:10John as we conclude tonight I want to
1:22:12leave you with this Mountain View as a
1:22:14city that I care deeply about from
1:22:17raising a family running a business to
1:22:19serving the city council every decision
1:22:21I've made has been driven by the desired
1:22:24improve the lives of our residents we
1:22:26Face challenges ahead slowing revenues
1:22:29the need for housing across all income
1:22:31levels and ensuring our Public Safety is
1:22:33well founded but with those challenges
1:22:35comes an opportunity to build a stronger
1:22:37more Vibrant
1:22:38Community I will continue to apply my
1:22:40experience as a successful business
1:22:42owner a problem solver and a
1:22:44collaborative leader to move Mountain
1:22:46View forward I'm proud to be endorsed by
1:22:49the voices like Joe sidian for my
1:22:51ability to collaborate with others the
1:22:52Sierra Club for my environment positions
1:22:55the firefighters for the support I give
1:22:58them at all times and the Los alos Town
1:23:00CER for my business background I ask for
1:23:03your vote so that together we can keep
1:23:04them mountain and view the best place it
1:23:07can be for all and I thank you thank you
1:23:10Eric thank you all so much for attending
1:23:13this evening I mean it's such a
1:23:14privilege to not only sit with y'all but
1:23:17alongside these leaders who have uh
1:23:19served the community T tremendously
1:23:21honestly I've seen them more than I've
1:23:23seen my own family by this
1:23:26point but honestly one of the things
1:23:29that's captured my eye about Mountain
1:23:31View has always been this idea that
1:23:33despite our different interest on what
1:23:35we want to tackle ultimately we all care
1:23:38about one another and want to see each
1:23:40one of us prosper in different ways but
1:23:42ultimately as a whole Community as well
1:23:45as you all listen I mean Mountain View
1:23:47is also at a critical juncture where
1:23:50decisions need to be made on housing
1:23:51Transportation sustainability Public
1:23:53Safety and these will not only have the
1:23:56impacts on our current lives but they
1:23:58impact they'll impact future generations
1:24:00to come so I hope to count on your
1:24:02support um I'm proud to be endorsed by
1:24:05just Midian uh plant Parenthood the
1:24:07labor Council our local workers here at
1:24:10SEIU 521 uh dayare workers as well so
1:24:14thank you Chris so as you've seen
1:24:18tonight we have a really great group of
1:24:20candidates this year democracy is very
1:24:22healthy in Mountain View thank goodness
1:24:23and the good news is that you can vote
1:24:25for almost half of us um I humbly
1:24:28request one of your four votes uh with
1:24:32your support we can maintain a healthy
1:24:33level of continuity over the next years
1:24:35while also welcoming new leaders we can
1:24:37have both I have a long impr proven
1:24:40track record of putting our city first I
1:24:42listen to all perspectives I analyze the
1:24:44facts options and paths forward and then
1:24:46I make a decision I feel is best for not
1:24:48just our current residents but future
1:24:50residents even when that means taking a
1:24:52political risk that approach along with
1:24:55my reputation for building consensus is
1:24:57why I'm supported by our local elected
1:24:59leaders at all levels of government as
1:25:01well as our neighborhood leaders our
1:25:03Public Safety employees the business
1:25:05Community Chamber of Commerce and many
1:25:06former mayors and advocacy groups who
1:25:08span the political Spectrum I hope I've
1:25:10earned your vote this evening and I look
1:25:12forward to continuing to serve you you
1:25:13can learn more at electris clark.com
1:25:15thank you thank you so this concludes
1:25:19our Forum I would like to thank the
1:25:21candidates for participating and running
1:25:24and all the volunteers who have made
1:25:26this forum possible the League of Women
1:25:28Voters believes that a democratic
1:25:30government depends upon the informed and
1:25:32active participation of its citizens and
1:25:35we hope that the insights you have
1:25:36gained from this forum will help in
1:25:37planning your vote thank you to all of
1:25:39you for attending this is great uh
1:25:41attendance tonight and we know that
1:25:43every vote counts and we don't know
1:25:46which race might be the race where that
1:25:48particular vote counts but please make
1:25:50sure to vote and every get everyone you
1:25:52know to vote to look at a personalized
1:25:55ballot with information about your
1:25:57candidates and ballot initiatives please
1:25:59visit
1:26:00vote411.org you will see profiles of the
1:26:03candidates and answers to questions
1:26:04posed by the league visit our web page
1:26:08lwv
1:26:10LV to see our election events including
1:26:14the pros and cons programs with balanced
1:26:16information about the local and state
1:26:18ballot measures and links to recordings
1:26:20of those that have already occurred for
1:26:23the no November 5th general election
1:26:26please vote early and deposit your
1:26:28signed ballot in a ballot Dropbox or
1:26:31mailbox as soon as possible and thank
1:26:34you all for helping make our democracy
1:26:38[Applause]
1:26:46work well dein did I do better this time
1:26:50you follow the rules I was so impressed
1:26:53I don't
1:26:55you did a great job

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