Issues
Moving Seaside Forward: The Vision for Change
Welcome to a conversation about the future of Seaside. It’s clear to me that if we want our city to thrive, we need to take bold, meaningful steps now. Here’s the vision and plan to make that happen:
1. Building a Diverse, Local Economy
I believe a strong city is built on locally owned businesses and co-ops that reflect the heart of our community. These businesses aren’t just storefronts—they’re the backbone of a thriving local economy. We need to ensure that their prices are affordable for everyone and that they offer something unique.
Why does this matter? When our businesses thrive, we all thrive. By supporting local entrepreneurs and keeping money within the community, we can build a resilient economy that benefits all of Seaside’s residents, not just the privileged few.
2. Smart Organization for City Success
It’s not just about creating jobs—it’s about how we organize our city. Cities that succeed have a well-structured plan that allows them to grow and evolve. Seaside, however, has been held back by fragmentation and disorganization. We need to change that.
What’s holding us back? Outdated systems and politics. Successful cities are adaptable, and Seaside needs to follow suit by investing in smarter city planning and organization. We must prioritize thoughtful growth, rather than staying stuck in outdated patterns.
3. Breaking Political Stagnation
Let’s face it: Seaside’s political machine is broken. For too long, the same people have held power, and they’ve failed to deliver the real change our city desperately needs. This stagnation has driven away countless young people who see no future here.
It’s time for a new generation to lead. We need fresh faces, fresh ideas, and new leadership that’s willing to break away from the old guard. By doing so, we can create a vibrant city where everyone has a voice, and everyone can thrive.
4. Empowering Urban Planners and Decision Makers
Urban planners have incredible ideas for improving our city, but they don’t have the final say. Too often, their recommendations are ignored by elected officials who are out of touch with what’s best for the community.
We need to change this dynamic. Our planners should be empowered to implement the forward-thinking ideas that will benefit all of Seaside. If our elected leaders aren’t willing to listen, it’s time to hold them accountable.
5. Taking Action—One Step at a Time
I believe in practical, immediate action. Inspired by Chuck Marohn’s approach, I know the best way forward is to observe where people in our community are struggling and take small, effective steps to help them. We don’t need grand, unattainable plans—we need consistent, meaningful progress.
What can we do right now? Start small, act fast, and keep going. The problems we face won’t be solved overnight, but we can address them one step at a time and build lasting momentum for change.
6. Systemic Reform for a Brighter Future
Seaside needs more than just quick fixes—we need deep, systemic reform. We must prioritize long-term solutions, even when they’re difficult. The state must push cities like ours to adopt policies that serve the community, not just the political establishment.
We’ve spent too long doing the bare minimum because it’s easier. It’s time for bold, decisive action that sets Seaside on a path to real, sustainable growth.
7. A Commitment to Social Justice
As a community leader, I am deeply committed to social justice. Planners are ethically bound to promote racial and economic integration, but too often, the political environment prevents us from doing so. This isn’t just a failure of policy it’s a failure to uphold our basic moral duty.
We must create a city where everyone has equal opportunity, where disadvantaged communities are lifted up, not left behind. It’s time for Seaside to live up to that promise.
8. The Vision for Seaside’s Future
I believe in Seaside’s potential to be a city where everyone can succeed. To make that happen, we need to reduce staff turnover by implementing succession planning and strategic outsourcing, while also partnering with neighboring cities to create lasting, beneficial relationships.
Seaside has incredible strengths; we just need to unlock them. With strong leadership, smart planning, and a commitment to action, we can create a Seaside that works for everyone.
Let’s move Seaside forward together.
A Vision for Seaside: Becoming a Pro-Housing Community
Across California, we are facing a housing crisis decades in the making. Here in Seaside, this crisis has hit hard, forcing many of our most vulnerable residents to leave the community they call home. While some cities have struggled to meet state housing goals, others have earned the Pro-Housing designation, a status that brings priority access to the resources needed to build homes and address the statewide goal of 2.5 million new homes by 2030.
Our Path to Becoming a Pro-Housing City
Seaside should aspire to join the ranks of Pro-Housing communities. Achieving this designation means committing to policies that accelerate housing production while keeping our community’s well-being at the forefront. Right now, we’re falling short of that goal, held back by outdated housing production policies that don’t align with the real needs of our residents.
We must innovate and create new local policies that foster growth and affordability at every income level. Our city should be a place where everyone has access to affordable, quality housing—not just the few.
Why the Pro-Housing Designation Matters
Earning the Pro-Housing designation isn’t just about recognition. It brings real, tangible benefits to our community:
Priority access to state resources to build more housing and combat homelessness.
The ability to lower construction costs and reduce barriers that currently prevent housing development.
Additional points in competitive funding opportunities from the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for housing, infrastructure, and community development projects.
With these advantages, we can create housing policies that put Seaside residents first while meeting state goals.
My Commitment to Making Affordable Housing a Reality
As your leader, I will work tirelessly to ensure Seaside becomes a Pro-Housing community. This will require a commitment to policies that accelerate housing production, minimize obstacles, and bring real affordable housing to our city. Together, we can:
Aggressively tackle our housing challenges with resilience, determination, and accountability.
Actively collaborate with state partners to combat homelessness and expand the availability of affordable housing.
Focus on policies that serve all income levels, making Seaside a place where every resident can thrive.
Seaside deserves to be on the Pro-Housing map, and I’m ready to take the steps necessary to get us there. Let’s commit to real progress, real affordability, and a better quality of life for everyone in our community.
Securing Seaside’s Water Future: The Plan for Resiliency and Innovation
California’s water systems, designed based on old precipitation patterns, are struggling due to climate change and outdated governance. Our laws and infrastructure, dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries, aren’t suited for today’s needs. However, Monterey County has tremendous potential to boost local water sources and resilience. Here’s how I plan to lead Seaside toward a sustainable water future:
1. Adopting the “One Water” Approach
Monterey County is already moving towards a “One Water” strategy that prioritizes investment in water management based on reliability, affordability, equity, public health, and environmental impact.
Why this matters: By embracing this approach, we can ensure a balanced and effective water strategy that serves all our needs and protects our environment.
Monterey County is already moving towards a “One Water” strategy that prioritizes investment in water management based on reliability, affordability, equity, public health, and environmental impact.
Why this matters: By embracing this approach, we can ensure a balanced and effective water strategy that serves all our needs and protects our environment.
2. Promoting Water Conservation and Efficiency
Conservation and efficiency are key tools in managing our water resources, especially during droughts. Conservation means changing habits, like watering lawns less frequently, while efficiency involves using technology, such as water-efficient showerheads, to reduce water usage.
Why this matters: Reducing water demand is often the quickest and most cost-effective way to address the gap between supply and demand. Plus, saving water helps save energy.
Conservation and efficiency are key tools in managing our water resources, especially during droughts. Conservation means changing habits, like watering lawns less frequently, while efficiency involves using technology, such as water-efficient showerheads, to reduce water usage.
Why this matters: Reducing water demand is often the quickest and most cost-effective way to address the gap between supply and demand. Plus, saving water helps save energy.
3. Exploring Innovative Water Solutions
We can enhance our water supply by expanding the Seaside Municipal Water System (SMWS) and exploring options like capturing rainwater to improve water quality in our rivers and oceans.
Why this matters: By investing in natural solutions for stormwater capture, we can gain additional benefits, including carbon sequestration, cooler temperatures, and recreational opportunities. It’s about using innovation to secure our water future.
We can enhance our water supply by expanding the Seaside Municipal Water System (SMWS) and exploring options like capturing rainwater to improve water quality in our rivers and oceans.
Why this matters: By investing in natural solutions for stormwater capture, we can gain additional benefits, including carbon sequestration, cooler temperatures, and recreational opportunities. It’s about using innovation to secure our water future.
4. Partnering for Progress
Community advocacy and partnerships are crucial. For example, our collaboration with Sustainable Seaside (SS) and Friends of Seaside Parks (FOSPA) focuses on parks in neighborhoods lacking green space. By prioritizing native plants, we reduce long-term potable water needs.
Why this matters: Leveraging native plants and innovative water management in our parks can serve as a model for broader water conservation efforts.
Community advocacy and partnerships are crucial. For example, our collaboration with Sustainable Seaside (SS) and Friends of Seaside Parks (FOSPA) focuses on parks in neighborhoods lacking green space. By prioritizing native plants, we reduce long-term potable water needs.
Why this matters: Leveraging native plants and innovative water management in our parks can serve as a model for broader water conservation efforts.
5. Expanding and Advancing Water Management
Expanding SMWS and working with county agencies and community groups will help us address current water challenges. This includes exploring water recycling methods and other advanced water management practices.
Why this matters: Effective expansion and collaboration can lead to practical solutions for our water barriers, ensuring a sustainable and resilient water supply for Seaside.
With these strategies, we can secure Seaside’s water future and ensure that every resident benefits from reliable, clean water. Let’s commit to innovative solutions and collaborative efforts to build a resilient water system for our community.
Expanding SMWS and working with county agencies and community groups will help us address current water challenges. This includes exploring water recycling methods and other advanced water management practices.
Why this matters: Effective expansion and collaboration can lead to practical solutions for our water barriers, ensuring a sustainable and resilient water supply for Seaside.
Building a Stronger Seaside: The Plan for Enhanced Civic Engagement
Civic engagement is crucial for improving our community. It means taking responsibility for making Seaside a better place, whether through conversations, voting, volunteering, or providing valuable input to our city leaders. Here’s our plan to enhance civic engagement in our city:
1. Expanding Civic Engagement Opportunities
Civic engagement can take many forms: from starting conversations about local issues to voting, volunteering, or advising city officials. Everyone has a role to play.
Why this matters: Engaged citizens help shape our community and ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.
2. Connecting and Collaborating
Start by connecting with like-minded individuals: Working together with those who share your mission can amplify your impact.
Stay informed: Use mobile news apps, local news sources, and podcasts to keep up with current events and stay engaged.
Why this matters: Staying informed and collaborating with others makes it easier to advocate for the causes you believe in and to make a difference.
3. Strengthening Advisory Groups
City advisory groups like boards, commissions, and committees: These groups act as a bridge between the community and our city government, focusing on specific issues and policies.
Why this matters: These groups provide essential input on city decisions, but they need better support and tools to be effective.
4. Establishing an Office of Civic Engagement (OCE)
Investing in an OCE: By creating an Office of Civic Engagement, we can better incorporate diverse community voices in decision-making processes.
Why this matters: An OCE will help ensure that traditionally marginalized communities—such as low-income residents and communities of color—have equitable opportunities to provide input and participate in city planning.
5. Addressing Barriers to Engagement
Recognize and address barriers: Issues like transportation difficulties, inadequate outreach, and lack of engagement with historically marginalized communities must be tackled.
Why this matters: Overcoming these barriers will lead to more inclusive and transparent public participation, improving our community for everyone.
By establishing an Office of Civic Engagement and addressing these barriers, we can create a more inclusive and effective civic process in Seaside. Together, let’s build a community where every voice is heard and valued.
