Ian's Vision for Seaside
My vision for our city is to protect Seaside’s quality of life, ensure that Community Safety is our job number one, and provide a place that every resident of Seaside is proud to call home. I plan to use my experience and leadership skills to continue to move Seaside forward by increasing: housing affordability choices, local jobs with career pathways, support of our small business, repair of streets and sidewalks. Creating that shining city standing tall among its peers and a place of destination for all.
The Covid-19 pandemic has interrupted our lives in unparalleled ways. In one way or another most of us have been impacted. Our small businesses were hit the hardness leaving most in a vulnerable position. Seaside’s small businesses are a vital link for economic mobility; they allow enterprising individuals to become economically independent and our residents to shop locally. Small businesses recovering from this pandemic will help to determine the pace of Seaside’s full recovery. As such, we need to fully support our locally owned small businesses by shopping locally as much as we can for items and services sold here.
We have put many things in place that enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Seaside. Our Farmers Market will again return in the fall of 2022. A place where families and friends can meet, and purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. By investing in Mobile Food Markets we can improve the lives of residents. We have repaired/remodel Highland/Otis Park, Laguna Grande Park with new sensory “slides and merry-go-around”; currently updating Ellis Park; a new basketball court at Lincoln Cunningham Park; and Pacchetti Dog Park, to name a few.
We “grinded down” more raised sidewalks and improved bicycle lanes throughout the city for our pedestrians and cyclists. These improvement help to increase property values for all and will continue. With the addition to lights on Broadway Ave, new restaurants, and the soon to be “Stars Walk of Fame” we have created a great town for residents and guests to shop, eat, and enjoy. I continue my listening campaign; I will be listening more than talking. I intend to run a campaign of keenly listening to the citizens. I am available to meet in person or by phone. I want every resident to have access to me and I want to move our vision of Seaside forward. The City of Seaside is at a crossroads and I will use my experience and love for our city to help fulfill our shared vision for the future Seaside.
ISSUES:
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The keys to sustainable prosperity of any community is the ability to: attract a well-educated workforce, maintain a small business friendly environment; create policies that incentivize economic growth while keeping taxes low; protect our natural environmental resources; and smart-infill development proposals. This includes, moving our Hotel & Golf Course Resort, Campus Town, Ascent, and a new County Court House projects forward. These and other devolvement projects will cement Seaside’s status as a true destination location, and a self controlled economic engine on the Central Coast.
The diversity of our residents in their thoughts, beliefs, and values is our greatest strength. We are at our strongest when all residents can maximize their abilities. This starts with an excellent public pre-K through the college system (cradle to career system), skilled union labor and professional career pathways with livable wages, local jobs, and equitable opportunities for all residents.
When giving a fair chance within an equitable environment, our residents can thrive like others. It is not enough just to grow the economic pie; more workers need to be at the table when the pie is sliced up!
If re-elected, I will fight for policies that:
- Encourage economic development ensuring they succeed
- Develop relations to ensure that we can attract new business
- Incentivize locations of local jobs that pay livable wages, with career pathways
- Develop an incubation program to help small businesses grow and succeed
- Invest in our Downtown, ensuring that our pre-existing businesses are given the tools and support they need from City Hall.
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
Stagnant wages, rapid increase of inflation, and a shortage of affordable housing choices are forcing many residents to spend more than the recommended 30% (some spending > 50%) of monthly income on housing. The in-accessibility of affordable housing has forced residents to: relocate; forgo basic needs; earned comforts; and in some cases forcing some into homelessness. This must stop! Access to affordable housing remains a challenge I intend to face head-on.
By adopting housing affordability policies for all income levels, we can ensure more residents stay in Seaside. Creating a healthy, diverse community, with upward mobility, while creating generational wealth.
Ian is moving Seaside towards that goal with his advocacy for the incorporation of Seaside’s own Affordable Housing Non-Profit which will focus on increasing the supply of all housing types for all income levels, reducing the cost of all housing.
If re-elected, I will fight for:
- A Package of Housing Affordability Stabilization Policies that:
- Create more Housing Affordability choices for individuals and families
- Work with our Housing Non-Profit with a specific mandate to research, analyze, and recommend data driving housing policies addressing our housing affordability crisis
- Housing partnerships with other organization(s), institution(s), and builders to construct low-income, moderate, and workforce housing for individuals making less than $125K
- Increase the city’s inclusionary housing percentage for new development
- Increase access to homeownership through targeted workshops and pre-existing community organizations
HOMELESSNESS
- I will continue the city’s work to:
- Increase access to state and county resources for those without proper shelter
- Work with Homeless Service Providers to move more individuals and families to transitional housing, then permanent supportive-housing
- Place a particular emphasis on reducing: children experiencing homelessness; and its direct impact on learning
EDUCATION & YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
Ian believes that education is important because it gives us knowledge of a world much larger than ourselves; while simultaneously providing perspective for our own lives. Access to a good education has the power to provide sustainable career paths, upward mobility, and self-confidence. Ian believes that we should invest in our youth by providing more access to quality Early Childhood educational programs, youth and teen-centered activities, educational, and enrichment programs.
Equity within our education system is only the start of strengthening the minds of our youth. Implementing programs that empower educators and propel students to achieve higher education standards regardless of zip code is one of my key initiatives. A great city needs an even greater school system, and a great school system needs the support of its community and that includes the mayor’s office.
The two go hand-in-hand, Ian understands that strengthening and improving our local economy begins with ensuring that our children have access to the highest quality of education. Ian has always been an avid supporter of our schools and could be often found attending school or community programs, award ceremonies, and sporting events in support of students. He genuinely believes our children are the future leaders of Seaside.
Under his leadership the first ever Seaside STEAM Program and STEAM Camp has completed its first year. As “globalization” increases, I will work even harder to engage with the MPUSD leadership,parents and students, to improve learning outcomes.
Early Childhood, Youth, and Young Adults Investments
If re-elected, I will continue to advocate for:
- Investing in our future, our Youth
- Early Childhood, starting with increased access and opportunities to early childhood enrichment programs like our Tiny Tot University. It’s in the city’s best interest to ensure our youth have a strong foundation built on the best research for early childhood development programs
- Partner with Pre-K services providers to increase the number of safe and affordable preschool slots
- Expansion of our newly created STEAM Program and summer STEAM Camp also increasing the city’s support of Seaside High School’s First Robotic Team(s)
- Increase Teen-Center and the Seaside Youth Resource Center (SYRC) opportunities and programs with “coding” and college prep classes. Creating a holistic development program that encourages a lifelong passion for learning and positive behavior.
- Continue to strengthen ties between Seaside, MPC & CSUMB – ensuring our children can leverage the resources of local community colleges and universities
- Expand workforce development and Pre-Apprenticeship opportunities so students are well equipped to compete in a ever-changing global economy
- Continue the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) & City of Seaside Trustees and City Council Collaboration. Collaboration will be essential to achieving our shared vision
Community Safety and Violence Prevention
I will continue to focus on my Community Equity Initiative(s)—using a public health approach with evidence-based violence prevention strategies to address the root causes of violent crime; in response to concerns over the level of violence in our community. During the past year the city has created a Community Safety Advisory Commission to act as a liaison between: the public; Seaside Police Department (SPD); and the city council. I believe we should change from a Community Policing model to a Community Safety approach with a violence prevention methodology.
For the past two years the city council has budgeted over a million dollars: to pair mental and behavioral health professionals with the SPD officers (with a mandate to respond to calls when and where their expertise is required or requested).
- Making a safer community for all, one where law enforcement officers are not required to take the lead in non-violent calls—allowing them to focus and respond quicker to violent crimes requiring their specialized skill set and legal powers to use force.
- Increased the number of “grassroots community-based” violence prevention programs and social services. As a community, we must be committed to meeting residents where they are, not where we think they should be.
Our community and those who have sworn to protect them must once again build a trusting relationship, built on constant mutual respect and transparency. Community members are more likely to then report crimes and come forward as witnesses; when they know trust, and view law enforcement officers as legitimate and protective entities in their community.
As Loa-Tzu said, “Every journey begins with the first step,” let's continue to walk forward together.
If re-elected, I will continue to:
- Build a healthier community, using equity as a guide
- Expand our Family & Community Support Team’s abilities so our mental health and crisis specialists can better serve as co-first responders
- Ensure our pay for first-responders remain competitive with adjacent localities
- Ensure our Fire Station #2 moves forward without delays
- Support violence interrupter programming to halt the cycle of violence before it starts
- I intend to implement programs and reallocate funds to support community safety
Residents should live with the assurance that their health, safety, and welfare are as much a priority to me as it is to them.
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