General Approach:
Work as a member of the Green Corridor to bring "Green jobs" to Alameda, targeting Alameda Point. Promote regional job creation at Alameda Point with the balance of housing across the City as a whole.

Regional Development:
The expiration of the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with SunCal provides a great opportunity to sensibly re-use the former NAS Alameda with sound development at Alameda Point.

I propose that job creation and commercial/light industrial development at Alameda Point should be the primary re-use goals. They are in the best interest of Alameda as they answer concerns of our neighbors and build a sustainable future for our City’s economy.

To meet this goal, the implementation of the new leasing policies which I requested in the last few months should be finalized in order to attract new businesses, increase investment in historic buildings by current/new tenants and further the success of our business community currently located at Alameda Point.

I propose that we review the current Housing Element including Alameda’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment so that a common sense target for the number of new residential units in Alameda is set based on the housing/jobs balance and meets City housing policy requirements.

I will work directly with the Navy, the VA, the State Tidelands Trust and the Bay Area Congressional delegation regarding next steps while placing regional job creation as a top priority.

There are a number of ways to meet these goals. As an alternative to having a Master Developer, I am requesting the Council/ARRA to evaluate an approach that has a newly formed non-profit local agency, chartered and mandated by the City of Alameda, to facilitate implementing the plan for Alameda Point.

Wildlife Refuge:
I support a National Wildlife Refuge for the former runway area. I also support returning some acreage of the former base back to wetlands to provide a buffer for tidal action between the Bay and landside. I would prefer the US Fish and Wildlife Service accepts this responsibility; however, if the Veteran’s Administration is the ultimate recipient of the land, I will work with the VA to protect the habitat and garner Administration support for maintaining a refuge, and to create new wetlands.

Alameda Point Environmental Restoration:
Approximately 40% of the base is ready for transfer. Approximately 35% is under active clean up and about 25% is still under investigation for clean up. According to the EPA, residential clean up is described as unrestricted use.

In most of the clean up instances, it seems that the standards being applied are appropriate in protecting humans and other living things. There are some glaring shortfalls that I have seen. The most prominent is the decision by the Navy and regulators to cap Site 1 (the unlined waste pit at the western edge of the Base. Because of the poor characterization, the nature of the contamination and proximity to the Bay, I believe it should be scooped and removed and have asked the ARRA to support this position. There are other instances of lack of characterization of land under structures or pavement that increases risk to future occupants and must be dealt with. I further believe that all radioactive materials must be removed.

Alameda energy policy:
Alameda needs to band together with other Bay-side communities and get regional, state and federal attention as there will be huge challenges to addressing sea level rise ourselves.
... [W]e have the advantage of controlling the leases at the Base, which are ripe for green job development.

What characteristics must a business development project have for you to consider it sustainable economic development that would benefit the local community?
A business development must have enough business sector diversity to withstand market changes. Harbor Bay Business Park has become a model of this characteristic having pharmaceutical/medical device firms, communications, technical R&D, specialty foods, and service sectors all represented, with none dominating. There must be a sufficient number of jobs that pay enough to support living in the community, such as there are in Harbor Bay. I will promote this model at Alameda Point, along with working with the Green Corridor to attract investment in “green industry” and research for clean up as a niche market for Alameda.

Pro-environmental actions candidate has taken regarding Alameda Point:
I am the City’s representative to the Restoration Advisory Board.