What’s the most important issue facing the...

What’s the most important issue facing the city?

The need to elect three council members, devoid of

special-interest obligations, who have conviction, courage, hindsight

and vision to address, abate and remove, if necessary, the sources or

magnet attractions of our growing conditions that are clearly

affecting our public schools, our crime rate, our budget,

environment, etc.

What do you think of the city’s joint-use agreement with the

schools for use of the playing fields?

The agreement is necessary, is good and will soon get better. The

district and the city’s staffs are making progress in developing

standards for maintaining the turf and accessing the use and quality

of all fields.

What would be the most effective way to improve the Westside?

Start with the removal of the magnet attractions that have given

the Westside an unfair negative image. By continuing the status-quo,

there has not been and there will not be any real improvement, in

spite of any individuals or committee’s good intentions and worthy

visions.

Are city leaders doing a good job handling the budget and the

pressures on it from the state?

The city staff, starting with City Manager Allan Roeder and

director of finance Marc Puckett, are doing an excellent job in

handling the budget and Sacramento’s pressure on it. The council can

always do a better job.