ON THE ISSUES

Brian’s Priorities

+ Affordable Housing & Good Jobs

For years, Petaluma has been underbuilding affordable and working-class housing. We have prioritized attracting chain retail instead of building a base of thriving local businesses. As a result of this jobs-housing imbalance, many people who work in Petaluma cannot afford to live here. The ability to grow up, raise a family, and grow old in our city is less feasible than ever. This affects young and old people, singles, couples and families, and everyone in between. As the Mayor said so well, “Petaluma desperately needs the type of housing that developers do not want to build.”

Brian knows we must be better and he has a vision to house all people and promote local businesses. Other cities have made the shift; now is the time for Petaluma to do so, too.

Here are three things Brian will advocate for:

  1. Revise our impact fee formula to change developer profit models and encourage affordable housing near transit.

  2. Utilize the State’s $3.5 billion housing programs to build transit-accessible, affordable housing (instead of sprawling developments that pave open spaces, increase average home costs, and worsen traffic).

  3. Re-focus our economic development strategy toward supporting local businesses (especially as we recover from COVID-19).

Whether you are from Petaluma or you moved here, our town’s friendly blue-collar, get-stuff-done values are something you probably love. Brian believes our people and our history are special, and will work hard to ensure the people of Petaluma and our beloved local businesses come first.

Corona Station Housing Project FAQ

+ Traffic Management & Street Safety

Many of our residents live in shared housing or commute in and out of town for work. This taxes our roads, increases our cost of living, and is a major contributor to the traffic and potholes we complain about. In June of 2020, the Argus reported that our streets have become the worst in the Bay Area. But although people used to complain about potholes and traffic, many are increasingly concerned because our streets have become unsafe. Brian wants to fix this.

It’s time for Petaluma to get serious about making our streets safer and implementing traffic reduction strategies that can work. The money is there — we just need to have the right priorities.

Here are three things Brian will advocate for:

  1. Launch a “safe routes to school” program to reduce traffic and make children safer and healthier.

  2. Start a transportation reform initiative to upgrade infrastructure and build the Caulfield connector alleviate crosstown traffic.

  3. Renovate the Corona Road overcrossing and McDowell intersection so that our second train station is safe and traffic flows smoothly.

Other cities have improved their streets and reduced traffic. With the right priorities, Petaluma can let go of failed ideas and implement street safety and traffic-management solutions that actually work.

Corona Station Project FAQ

+ Climate Leadership

In May of 2019, the City adopted a Climate Emergency Resolution committing the City to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 or sooner. The Resolution was the easy part. The challenging part lies ahead and requires every decision to be considered through the lens of climate action, carbon neutrality, and social justice.

When it comes to making climate progress, Brian sees opportunity and our future where others see false choices or barriers. Brian will use his years of professional experience, resourcefulness, and creativity to help the City find viable solutions that reduce our emissions and traffic, conserve the green fields and farms that define our town, and improve safety and community resilience in the face of disasters. It will not cost us more — in fact, it will save taxpayers money!

Here are three things Brian will advocate for:

  1. Adopt a fossil fuel purchasing moratorium so we stop polluting and supporting the fossil fuel industry.

  2. Create opportunities for our youth to become climate leaders.

  3. Ensure that our development projects reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) — the primary contributor to our greenhouse gas emissions, traffic congestion, and poor quality roads.

By a green mile, Brian has more experience in this field than any other candidate. His professional experience in this space will ensure we do not overspend, approve misguided projects, or adopt short-sighted policies. With Brian’s vision and climate leadership, we will create thousands of new living-wage jobs that bring greater prosperity and a greener future for all Petalumans.

+ Community Recovery from COVID-19

Although no person or business has been unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic, some have certainly been impacted more than others. For example, our Latinx community has been impacted at a rate 4.5 times that of white people. Our failure to build adequate affordable housing has forced families into overcrowded conditions, increasing their risk of contracting the virus. In addition, parents have been moonlighting as teachers, trying to ensure their children are not left behind. And the more than 50% of our population who were already living paycheck-to-paycheck now find themselves jobless, worried if they should eat or pay rent.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how fragile our communities can be and who hurts most when crisis strikes. As we reopen our economy, we need to help those hit hardest, prioritize health and safety, and reimagine a more resilient future.

Given what we know, here are three things Brian would push for:

  1. Create a special COVID-19 recovery fund using funds and staff currently allocated to nonessential projects.

  2. Work with schools and community groups to ensure children, families, and teachers have basic needs met.

  3. Ensure that all communications are translated and reach the frontline communities who have been hit hardest.

Looking forward, Brian wants to lead a local effort that reimagines everything from street design and city communications to schooling, housing, and economic development. Brian hopes that someday we all look back and see a bright silver lining in this time of sacrifice and hardship.

+ Government Trust & Accountability

We have watched the Council choose high-priced homes over affordable housing, undermine progress on clean energy, vote to pave over wetlands, and spend money on assault rifles as we head into recession. We deserve better. Some feel as though developers have too much influence over our Council. Others lack confidence that our police have adequate training for the wide array of social services they provide. Brian has talked to youth who feel left out altogether. Many residents and local business owners feel dismissed, when in fact we are what make Petaluma so special.

Brian is running for City Council to increase community involvement in our local government and restore the public’s trust that our government is listening and working for them.

Here are three things Brian will advocate for:

  1. Increase transparency and realign staffing, training and funding according to the types of calls police receive.

  2. Use the City’s social media and weekly newsletter to improve transparency and accountability.

  3. Recuse himself from voting if he has ever received a campaign donation from a project applicant.

Brian’s leadership combines character, integrity, courage, and hard work. He listens, is honest to the core, and will tell it to you straight.