City Council Candidate for District 6
Estelle Clemons
A. Experience and History
1. How long have you lived in San Leandro?
I have lived in San Leandro for 11 years.
2. What is your current job and place of work, if any?
I currently work for the City of Oakland as the Manager of the Community Action Agency whose charge is to eradicate poverty within the City of Oakland.
3. What community, professional, and advocacy groups are you a member of?
I’m a member of Municipal Management Association of Northern California (MMANC), National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA), EMERGE California “Women Leaders for a Democratic Future”, Girls Inc., and an active parent of San Leandro High.
4. With what political party, if any, are you registered?
I am a member of the Democratic Party.
5. In a one sentence answer, why are you running for office?
I am running for San Leandro City Council based on my experience and because I want to serve the San Leandro Community in ensuring that our City remains and continues to be “a great place to live, work and play!
6. What are the relevant skills, experience, or education that qualify you?
I am an experienced business professional with over 16 years of practical work experience in both the public and private sector. I hold a B.S in Business Administration and a Master Degree in Behavioral Science. I have had the distinct pleasure to work for companies such as Nissan U.S.A and Sony Corp which proved to be an added asset in my transition into the public sector as a Public Administrator/Manager. I’ve worked to bring million of dollars in additional funding from local, state and federal resources to help local government meet the needs of the community by securing funding for infrastructure, parks and recreation, public safety, transit oriented development, waterfront dredging, and services for seniors and working families. I feel my extensive background uniquely equips me with the skills and leadership required to ensure that the City of San Leandro continues to thrive.
7. What are your top five accomplishments of the past 2 years?
My tope five accomplishments are over the last 2 years have been receiving the City of Oakland’s Department of Human Services 2007 Employee of the Year Award; Managing the City of Oakland’s Earned Income Tax Credit Campaign; Securing federal funding to implement a match savings account program for low-wage workers; Volunteering with Girls Inc to host the Women of Taste Event, and most importantly, working with the staff at San Leandro High to ensure the success of my gifted fifteen year old son’s educational goals
B. Goals
8. What are your top 3 priorities, and what resources or programs would you advance to support them?
Serving as a San Leandro City councilmember takes leadership, vision and experience. I am that leader that will help move the City of San Leandro forward. With the support of the community, I am committed to 1) increasing public safety; 2) advocating for and ensuring quality education for all children; and 3) supporting smart growth in the area of community and economic development.
9. Do you have any big ideas or visions for the future of the city?
San Leandro is a beautiful and diverse city with a landscape that spans from our golden waterfront to our rolling hills. In moving the City of San Leandro forward, I envision a community where every member has the opportunity to live, work, play, and thrive - In the Heart of the Bay.
C. Opportunities for Public Participation
10. How will you improve communications between residents and city government, and improve public participation in city government?
I would work to improve communications by working to bring programs like San Leandro Citizens Academy and San Leandro Police Academy to the community to demystify the intricacy of local government.
11. What will you do to get City Council meetings—and city boards and commissions—televised and online, including transcripts, for public access?
I would work with our local partners such as Peralta community college/Chabot community college to get the City of San Leandro City Council meetings televised through Comcast or available on-line.
12. What steps will you undertake to improve the transparency and quality of decision-making by the City of San Leandro?
I would create a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) sheet about the Brown Act and the public’s right to know.
D. Campaigning
13. List your top five endorsements.
Carmen Fewless, San Leandro Health and Human Services Commissioner
Bo Johansen, Mulford Garden’s Improvement Association
Cheryl Perry-League, Port of Oakland
14. List your top five (in dollar amount) campaign contributors to-date.
Family $4,000
Gilda Gonzales, $250
Jessica Bartholow $500
15. What is your position regarding changing City Council elections from city-wide elections to district-wide elections?
My current position on city-wide verses district-wide elections is based on my working knowledge that the current composition allows for district officials to have a vetted interest in not only the concerns of their district but the community at large. This accountability works to ensure that general planning and the impact there of is reflective of the entire city. However, the down side to a city-wide election is its increase in cost verses the cost associated with district wide election.
16. What is your position regarding changing representation to be by race rather than by geographic location?
I believe and support our current democratic process which is inclusive and open to all races and ethnicities.
E. Schools
17. How will you promote joint collaboration projects between the city and public schools?
To promote joint collaboration projects between the City of San Leandro and the public schools, I would recommend that the City continues its joint education partnership committee and expand the City’s planning document to include strategic planning to encompass education.
18. What do you see as the city's responsibility for the impact of new housing developments on schools?
The City is responsible for the governance of the entire city and should continue to work with developers to measure the true cost and impact on the existing education system.
19. What was your position on instituting a parcel tax to help pay for ongoing costs for the San Leandro Unified School District?
I am in support of increasing overall funding for our public schools. California is the eighth wealthiest state in our nation, and yet our ranks 46 among our fifty states in our spending per pupil. It is essential to the future of our community that we commit to ensuring an equitable investment in public education for the sake of all children.
F. Local Issues
20. Briefly state your ideas on how to encourage and protect local businesses development, including your position on enacting limits on chain businesses, and actions you would propose to accomplish your vision.
Elected official are called to represent the interest of the entire community not a fraction of the community. Therefore, it is essential in our effort to move San Leandro forward that we look at our role as policy makers as a holistic charge. Community is all about maintaining balance and as an elected official I would work, in conjunction with my colleagues, and with city staff to stay apprise on the best practices in local government planning efforts to ensure that the City of San Leandro continues to thrive.
21. How would proposed to implement the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) vision, given the insufficient resources and interest?
Given my vast experienced as a public manager and in the area of intergovernmental affairs, I would work to craft and prioritize an effective legislative agenda to secure funding for San Leandro’s Transit-Oriented Development project on a local, state and federal level.
22. What are your thoughts and plans about getting a quality business in the old Albertson’s site?
I view our downtown as a priority and reflective of our larger community. Therefore, I think it is imperative that the City work to secure a new tenant at the previously occupied Albertson site.
23. John Jermanis has intimated that he wants to retire. How would you go about appointing a new City Manager?
The City of San Leandro has been governed for nearly a century under the Mayor-Council-Manager form of government. In order to ensure that the City of San Leandro receives the best candidates for consideration, I strongly support the City of San Leandro conducting a nation search in order to secure the most qualified city manager candidate to help move the City of San Leandro forward and effectively and efficiently managed our City’s administration.
24. What would you do in office to address poverty and homelessness in San Leandro?
The 2000 U.S Census reported 5,037 (6.4%) of the San Leandro’s population as living in poverty. The 2006 American Community Survey reported a decreased in the number of San Leandrans living in poverty to 4,926 (5.5%). The mission of the City of San Leandro is to enhance the quality of life for every citizen. To that end, we as elected officials need to continue to work with our Health and Human Services Commission and our local community base organizations, such as Davis Street Family Resource Center, to ensure that services to San Leandro’s most vulnerable population are being provided.
25. What would you do to improve public transportation and make San Leandro more conducive to walking?
I would continue to work with staff to craft an agenda to advocate for regional support through organizations such as the Metropolitan Transportation Center (MTC), AC Transit and BART to improve and enhance our existing public transportation system, bike routes, and streetscape/walking infrastructure.
26. How would you promote opportunities within San Leandro for minorities and other historically-disadvantaged populations?
As an elected official, I would work to ensure that governance within the City of San Leandro is inclusive and allows the community at large to celebrate our rich and evolving diversity.
27. Do you think the City Council should ban the use of styrofoam containers and plastic shopping bags in San Leandro? Why or why not?
In theory, I am pro-environment however; the premise to setting any sound policy requires thorough investigation and research into the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT Analysis) of implementing any proposed legislation.
28. What would you do to decrease crime in San Leandro?
I am a strong believer in community-oriented policing and have witness its effectiveness in impacting public safety. Yes, I also support getting our police force up to full staff but I also know that true public safety lies within the thoroughfares of neighborhoods. Residents who are empowered directly impact the public safety of any community. Therefore, as I mentioned, I would work with our local police department to offer a Citizen Police Academy, revive our neighborhood watch program, and work with the Police Activity League to bring programs to our youth.
29. Briefly state your position on the use of eminent domain.
Eminent Domain was originally created to allow government to condemn private property and take title for public use, provided owners receive just compensation. However, the interpretation of public-use has expanded to allow governments to take property from one owner, and transfer it to another, all in the name of economic development, urban renewal, or job creation. It is my professional opinion that this interpretation of the law is in violation of the spirit of the law which was to safe guard the community and restrain government for misusing it public-use authority.
G. Summary
Please state why San Leandrans should vote for you.
In moving the City of San Leandro forward, we need effective leaders who can advance the priorities of the community and get the job done — I am that public servant. For leadership and experience that counts, on June 3, 2008 I encourage San Leandrans to cast your vote for Estelle E. Clemons for San Leandro City Council. www.electEstelleClemons.com
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