10/21/2019
I know understand what lol means! I literally did recently. I can't respond to all comments regarding our city council election this year, but I try...
A discussion had started about growth in our city and a user started to state that I was being funded by developers, I was in their pocket, I would increase density in our city, etc... This was when I, for perhaps the first time, lol ed...
I was incredibly surprised, first that somehow my message of holding developers responsible had not come across as well as I would have like and second how my finances, that I haven't filed yet, have some how come to light...erroneously as it may be. I will be just as furious if a penny of developer money is used in my campaign! Somehow, somewhere, someone picked up something incredibly backwards about what I will bring to our city council. I hope no one sacrificed their personal integrity to make this up and I sincerely hope this was a colossal misunderstanding. Have a minute? Keep reading....
When I watch interactions in our city council meetings (go back to our most recent meeting if you want an check it out) with developers specifically, I feel like I'm watching a discussion between someone who speaks French and someone who speaks Portuguese. They are not too far apart, they get the drift of what the other is saying, but they really don't see the other persons point of view...
Of course our city council members stress the importance of protecting our residents' thoughts regarding growth and the developers, jaded though it may be sometimes, also have a vision for a community that involves profit for them. There is more middle ground than we are allotting either side. There is no need to have a city vs. developer attitude.
We are in luck, I speak French AND Portuguese. Bother literally and figuratively. I work in a related industry and know how developers can try to pull a fast one, but I know how they can improve our communities too. I am also an long time resident of our community who wants our city to grow responsibly, as the residents of our city have stated strongly. I'm receiving no benefit or favor from any developer. Your average developer is certain I'm not to be lied to. They already know me.
Although members of our city council petitioned the local HBA board for funding and support, I am the only candidate to receive their support. Prop 6 supporter? That's what they want to protect! Why don't they support our council members now? They'll gladly share why I was chosen over our incumbents from our local building associations, ask them. I have served on the HBA government affairs committee for years. I understand our city from multiple perspectives and am beholden to our residents, no one else.
Why not have someone who understands both sides and wants what is best for our city in this discussion. When you get a second opinion, do you go to a plumber because another doctor would be too close to the original doctor because they both practice medicine? I wouldn't think any of us would not trust another doctor because he was in the same field as a doctor that had lost their trust.
I submit that I am the most qualified to protect our city's growth! If the same old homes by the same 5 builders works for you, I might not be fighting for your cause. I'm ready to bring in custom and semi-custom home builders and create transparency in our building department to improve growth in our city like never before! Not necessarily in quantity, but in quality. No one loses if we improve our building standards.
Thanks for reading...you are a real trooper!
AR
