Issues

 

Real Solutions for Homelessness

Our city council approved a $40 million conversion of 88 rooms at a Costa Mesa Motel 6 to homeless and senior housing, with NO residency preference for Costa Mesa homeless or seniors, and no requirements for mental health or addiction treatment.  At $454,545 per occupant this approach will not solve our homeless problem, and similar efforts in San Francisco and Los Angeles have been disasters, as more housing just attracted more homeless, without addressing why our most vulnerable became homeless in the first place. Costa Mesa resources should be focused on Costa Mesa seniors and residents experiencing homelessness - not creating a regional center for homelessness.

 

We must address the root cause of why so many people are on the street, as well as the families that just need that one opportunity to get off the streets. Strategic partnerships with non-profits to not just provide shelter, but also treat mental health and addiction issues, and coordination with our Police Department to address quality of life crimes and impacts are just two things I would do to start tackling the issue.  

 

Crime is Growing

We need “proactive” programs to ensure our community is safe.  Sacramento has implemented laws that encourage criminals.  With “no cash” bail and making it only a misdemeanor to steal $950 of goods from CVS or VONS or bikes from our yards, crime is increasing. Our city council has been silent on the issue for years.  We must address the epidemic of property crime and ensure that our families and business community are safe and secure.

 

Installing city wide cameras and increasing police patrols are just two ideas.  I will work with CMPD to listen and implement what they (the experts) are saying we need and get them the tools and resources to do the job.

 

Your Right to YOUR Neighborhood

Sacramento has passed laws which allow up to 14 housing units on ANY parcel in "transit rich" areas within 1/2 mile of a busy 4-way bus intersection or rail or rapid transit station (SB 10) and single-family (R-1) lots to be split in two and have FOUR homes.  We must actively fight these efforts to remove any local control over our neighborhoods.

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Our city council, with no real opportunity for public review or input, recently voted to try and remove your right to vote on large high-density projects (ballot measure K) and rezone the city for 11,760 new apartments and other high density housing, that’s 31,000 new residents in city of 110,000!!  See article.  

 

Instead of removing your rights, we need a resident-driven plan for new homes and communities.  There are thoughtful and well-planned projects that will come to Costa Mesa, and others that are not. The process must be carried out in a transparent and collaborative manner.

 

I will ensure that we join forces with other cities to push back on Sacramento's attempt to eradicate local control.

 

Fiscal Responsibility

Costa Mesa’s financial position among Orange County cities has fallen from 20th place to 34th place in just 11 years under the current regime.  This year, Costa Mesa required $26 million in Federal funds to balance its budget. We have over double the revenue of Mission Viejo with about the same population and they have a surplus.  The backlog of capital improvement projects is over $200 million.  We need better management and oversight.

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The City has discussed an economic development plan for years, and still has that as a goal - I will work to make that goal a reality.