Issues
Marginalized residents: There are many critical issues addressed on this page. However, the most sensitive issue facing us today is that of marginalized, alienated, disenfranchised, and those who are shunned when seeking employment or even social acceptance beyond a limited circle. These people include, but are not limited to, people recently released from police custody or prison, undocumented residents, non-English speakers, recent immigrants, unpopular ethnic groups, or just about anyone who feels excluded from the current atmosphere of political division. We are One Anaheim. We need to confront this and put an end to it.
Homelessness: This is a national epidemic. Southern California has one of the highest concentrations of homeless in the United States. Los Angeles has over 100,000 homeless and Orange County has a similar crisis. We must mitigate the problem to prevent our streets and parks from becoming camp grounds rampant with drugs and other illicit activity. Although some steps have been taken, we need a plan developed in cooperation with public and non-public agencies to ensure Anaheim does not become a slum for America's homeless. We need a homeless processing center open 24 hours a day to support and cope with this crisis.
Police conduct toward residents: Certainly we all respect our hard working law enforcement. However, our department is not consistent. There are far too many instances of "presumption of guilt" being made by officers. How officers interact with community members matters. Everyone deserves and has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. We are confronting a national crisis often referred to as the "Pathway to Prison". Click on this phrase to view a recent documentary on the subject.
Divisiveness created by city leaders: Sadly some of those presently serving in our city government use insulting language to incite division. At times it is pitting the fortunate against the less fortunate, the entrepreneur against an employee, large corporations against working people, or the undocumented resident against citizens. This is destructive and unacceptable.
Security and Safety: This requires going beyond gang prevention. It goes to the core values of Anaheim. We need to create genuine economic opportunity for all residents through corporate investment in Anaheim and community job training programs to ensure equity of opportunity.
Local Entrepreneurship: In addition to outside investment, we must make Anaheim an entrepreneur friendly city. We need to charge a low flat fee for home-based business and eliminate profit based fees. Further, the entire small business setup needs to be completely online. Short Term Rentals (STR) need to be brought back for primary homeowners renting a room or full house for a maximum of three months a year. This does not compete with hotels and it does not allow corporations to turn neighborhoods into hotel zones.
Affordable housing: Affordable high density infrastructure is lacking in Anaheim. We need to provide incentives for apartment owners to renovate and/or reconstruct aging units, while getting developers to commit to incorporating and supporting the construction of affordable housing.
Parking Shortages and Green Zones: The Anaheim resort area/Platinum Triangle cannot develop further without addressing the massive shortage of available consumer parking. We can work with our business partners to develop infrastructure for increased business, while removing inefficient parking areas and adding green strips for walking and biking in the center. Allowing tourists, conventions attendees, and residents a place to escape the noise of our commercial district will make Anaheim a unique and diverse destination.
Homelessness: This is a national epidemic. Southern California has one of the highest concentrations of homeless in the United States. Los Angeles has over 100,000 homeless and Orange County has a similar crisis. We must mitigate the problem to prevent our streets and parks from becoming camp grounds rampant with drugs and other illicit activity. Although some steps have been taken, we need a plan developed in cooperation with public and non-public agencies to ensure Anaheim does not become a slum for America's homeless. We need a homeless processing center open 24 hours a day to support and cope with this crisis.
Police conduct toward residents: Certainly we all respect our hard working law enforcement. However, our department is not consistent. There are far too many instances of "presumption of guilt" being made by officers. How officers interact with community members matters. Everyone deserves and has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. We are confronting a national crisis often referred to as the "Pathway to Prison". Click on this phrase to view a recent documentary on the subject.
Divisiveness created by city leaders: Sadly some of those presently serving in our city government use insulting language to incite division. At times it is pitting the fortunate against the less fortunate, the entrepreneur against an employee, large corporations against working people, or the undocumented resident against citizens. This is destructive and unacceptable.
Security and Safety: This requires going beyond gang prevention. It goes to the core values of Anaheim. We need to create genuine economic opportunity for all residents through corporate investment in Anaheim and community job training programs to ensure equity of opportunity.
Local Entrepreneurship: In addition to outside investment, we must make Anaheim an entrepreneur friendly city. We need to charge a low flat fee for home-based business and eliminate profit based fees. Further, the entire small business setup needs to be completely online. Short Term Rentals (STR) need to be brought back for primary homeowners renting a room or full house for a maximum of three months a year. This does not compete with hotels and it does not allow corporations to turn neighborhoods into hotel zones.
Affordable housing: Affordable high density infrastructure is lacking in Anaheim. We need to provide incentives for apartment owners to renovate and/or reconstruct aging units, while getting developers to commit to incorporating and supporting the construction of affordable housing.
Parking Shortages and Green Zones: The Anaheim resort area/Platinum Triangle cannot develop further without addressing the massive shortage of available consumer parking. We can work with our business partners to develop infrastructure for increased business, while removing inefficient parking areas and adding green strips for walking and biking in the center. Allowing tourists, conventions attendees, and residents a place to escape the noise of our commercial district will make Anaheim a unique and diverse destination.