Accomplishments
List of Accomplishments 2022-2025
On December 15, 2022, I took the oath to become a City Council member in beautiful Seaside, CA. Before I took the oath, I held five community meetings across the city. The residents’ input was distilled into my vision for Seaside. During the last three years, I have worked to implement this vision. At the same time, I took principled stands on items where I disagreed with the majority. My accomplishments are listed below.
Working to Keep the Community Safe
- Public safety is a priority, and in addition to voting for budget increases, I supported our police and fire departments through various activities, such as the Lights On Program, where we gave people vouchers to fix burned-out lights on their vehicles, the Seaside Police Athletic League’s Basketball Banquet, attending the Fire Department mural unveiling, and the Police Department’s swearing-in of new employees. I voted for license plate readers and supported the initiatives started by our Police Chief.
- Fireworks have been a point of contention for the city. I lobbied and succeeded in getting Measure CC on the ballot to ask the voters about the future of firework sales in our city.
- Growing cat and dog populations strain our animal control department, so I worked with stakeholders to adopt a city-wide ordinance to require spay and neutering.
- In addition, I secured City Council funding for a monthly low-cost SNIP spay-and-neuter clinic.
- The San Pablo Bridge has been closed, and I have advocated for funding to repair it.
Working to Complete the Vision for a Better Seaside
- I advocated for an economic development director. The position was created and filled within six months.
- Economic growth is vital for Seaside, and I have supported the development of Seagrove, Campus Town, and the Grand Hyatt.
- Sports are essential to our community, and I helped to create a strong bond between the City of Seaside and the Monterey Bay Union Football Club. At my urging, the city agreed to raise the Union flag outside city hall and switch to blue lighting when the team wins. I donated tickets to the police and fire departments during first responders’ night. Seaside was featured on the USL league’s homepage.
- Soccer is important to many youth, and I lobbied Seaside PAL to bring a soccer program to the city. I coached all of the teams.
- Keeping our city attractive is important. I worked with the Neighborhood Improvement Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission to paint utility boxes throughout the city.
- In addition to advocating funding for parks, I participated in several park clean-ups with the Friends of Seaside Park Association (FOSPA). I successfully advocated for funding for the following parks: Cutino (phase 2), Highland Otis, Sabado, Fernando, Wheeler St tennis courts, Havanna Soliz, and Lincoln-Cunningham Park walkways. Also, I was able to help aquire funding for the tenth anniversay party for our dog park.
- It’s important for Seaside to become a destination for tourists and peninsula residents. I have advocated for cultural projects such as a Fort Ord Museum, art galleries, and the Seaside Amphitheater and Cultural Center.
- My additional duties on the City Council included representing the city by serving on the Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations Cal Cities Committee, and on the board of the Community Health Services organization..
Working to Make City Agencies More Responsive
- Keeping people informed is extremely important, and I publish a monthly newsletter to enhance communication and engagement among residents. In my newsletters, I highlight outstanding city departments, commissions, and individuals who make significant contributions to the city. From 2022 to 2025, I identified eleven city departments and commissions, eighteen individuals, and six external groups.
- I co-hosted a town hall with Dave Pacheco to gather community input.
- Timely responses to public requests are essential, so I established the “Respond within 48 hours” policy so no messages get ignored. I have encouraged other council members to do the same.
