City of PetalumaCandidate for City Council

Given what is happening with the Supreme Court appointment battle currently going on, and in light of a question posed to me during an appearance about #MeToo, I have some things to say about the role of men in this moment; they apply whether you are an aspiring City Council Member or a private citizen.  The treatment of Kavanaugh’s accuser has been reprehensible. She was victimized once as a teenager and a second victimization is taking place, right now, in front of us all, on the news. We must encourage women to tell their stories, and we must “hear” them, with respect, fairness, and humility. We must also stop to consider whether there are currently more punishments for reporting a rape than for being a rapist.

As a physician, I have worked with many more women than men, and I am better for it.  On a local level, one of my biggest concerns with respect to choosing a new manager of our hospital is that the new administration may make decisions that are not best for women, but fall in line with their own religious beliefs.   We absolutely cannot allow anything to stand in the way of a woman’s right to choose. In addition, we should support the groundswell of women running for offices and leading the Resistance. We need to nurture all our future leaders, not exclude half of them.  I respectfully tip my hat to D’Lynda Fischer and Teresa Barrett for everything they are putting into their own runs for office.

Women live and breathe the smaller day to day indignities that most males rarely think about.  I’ve never dealt with the humiliation of someone telling me I would look prettier if I smiled (at least until I ran for office).  Most of us know that women in conversation are interrupted more often than men. And though I have been physically assaulted once, no one asked what I was wearing.  I don’t think I have ever seriously said “boys will be boys”, because it means over half of the population has to put up with being treated poorly, and it gives men a pass to act inappropriately.  And what are the effects, on our high school aged daughters, of seeing adults let men off the hook, while shaming our women’s dress and behavior. These experiences mold and shape women in a way that, as a man, I can never fully understand.  What I can do is be more aware of how women are treated, call out boorish behavior, offer a “wait, let her finish” when needed and not let other men think my silence is approval. In fact, because I know I have failed on this in the past, let me pledge to call out boorish behavior in the future, even when no woman is present to experience it.

No matter how the campaign ends, it’s clear that there is no going back to ignorance and acceptance of the status quo.  Women are saying “Enough!” and we men should respect and applaud the moment. Women should be confident in the knowledge that they have allies; this is the minimum they should expect from us.  And given the esteem I have for the women in my life...my wife, my daughter, all the women who helped me to care for people and all the other women who taught and re-taught me how they wished to be treated, I promise to deliver nothing less.  

When I first got into this race, it was disappointing to hear the advice that I shouldn’t highlight issues and try to propose solutions.  By doing that, I might offend someone and lose their vote. This led me to ask myself, then what’s the point? And what voter wants to vote for someone without knowing a candidate’s guiding principles?  That’s like waiting until after you’ve given someone a job to conduct an interview. Well, that just doesn’t sit well with me.
 

I am proud of what I stand for and am not afraid to say what that means.  We’ve encouraged you to speak to your friends and neighbors about my campaign.  Today, I’d like to encourage you to discuss the issues that would drive my voting on the CIty Council.

Affordable Housing:  Housing that is affordable for those with incomes below the area median.

• 15% of units in market rate developments should be affordable

• Extend the emergency 10% cap on rents beyond 12/4/18

• I pledge to pass a Just Cause Eviction ordinance

• Prepare for a growing population with smart development, centered around transit hubs

• Fund more affordable housing by raising the TOT to 14%

• Pass an affordable housing bond measure, $250 per year for 10 years, for a home assessed at 1 million dollars

Transparency & Government Efficiency:  Petalumans demand that information important to city government not be withheld from them, except when absolutely necessary.  

• Not every issue that MAY be discussed in closed session, MUST be discussed in closed session

• The Council should not repeatedly “kick the can” down the road 6 months, simply to avoid embarrassment, or in the hope that a decision will become easier over time

• Residents need to know where the council is headed with respect to the fairgrounds

Traffic Stress:  Long commutes and time spent in traffic can lead to impatience, resentment, and anger, as well as stress, decreased exercise, obesity, and hypertension.

• Do not repeal SB 1 (gas tax)

• Increased use of traffic engineering principles, including timing of stoplights

• Improve public transit

• Revisit ride-sharing, for around-town errands as well as commuting

• Improve bike paths and safety

These are just a small number of the issues that continue to come up in conversations with neighbors and fellow citizens.  In future emails I’ll expand my thoughts on more of the issues that face us here in Petaluma.