June 2006 SLCAN Candidate Questionaire

Responses from Julian P. Polvorosa,
candidate for San Leandro CIty Council District 3

SLCAN asked each of the candidates to complete a questionnaire and were informed that their responses would be posted on our web site. Candidates responded to the questionnaire by electronic mail. Except for formatting, SLCAN has not modified the candidate's responses.

A. Experience and History

1. How long have you lived in San Leandro?

All my life 9/26/34, (71+ years). Born and raised in San Leandro.

2. What is your current job and place of work, if any?

Barber.  Owner of Julian Polvorosa's Barber Shop.

3. What community, professional and/or advocacy groups are you a member of?

Charter member and past president, San Leandro Boys & Girls Club, member and past president Rotary Club of San Leandro, member of San Leandro Chamber of Commerce, Iberico Club, San Leandro Historical Society, and North Area Business Assoc.

4. Are you a member of a political party and, if so, which one?

Democrat.

5. In a one sentence answer, why are you running for office?

Many members of the community encouraged me to run because of my past record on the city council.

6. What are your relevant skills, experience, or education that qualifies you?

Former member of the City Council, served 2 terms as Vice Mayor and active in community, know the history of San Leandro.

B. Goals

8. What are your top 3 priorities and what resources/programs would you advance to support them?

  • Development of the Marina (restaurant & condos)
  • Safe neighborhoods. (more neighborhood watch programs)
  • Continue attractive development of the Ease 14th corridor      

9. Do you have any big ideas/visions for the future of the city?

Attractive facility to replace the old Albertsons store

C. Opportunities for Public Participation

10. How will you improve communications between residents and city government and improve public participation in city government?

Encourage people to get more involved by attending city council meetings to voice their concerns.

11. What would you do to improve the prompt availability of more information (meeting minutes, etc.) on the city web site and other places?

Current policy, we have now, is working but as technology advances we have to update our system.  

12. What steps will you undertake to improve the transparency and quality of decision making by the City of San Leandro?

All council meeting and work session are open to the public. I would encourage people to attend them to keep informed.

D. Campaigning

13. List your top five endorsements.

Alameda County Fire Fighters Assoc.
Sentinels
Isobel & Dr. Harry Dvorsky
Robert Maginnis  
Barbara Tierney

14. List your top five (in dollar amount) sources of campaign contributions.

Robert Lee
Dan Gray
Young Kil Kim
Richard Duey
Sandra Aragon

15. How would you reform the way that campaigns are currently financed, if at all?

Not at all

16. What is your position regarding changing City Council member elections from city-wide elections to district-wide elections?

To achieve equal representation council members should live within the district they are running for, but since they represent the whole city the election should be city wide.

E. Schools

17. How will you promote collaboration between the city and public schools?

Continue the School Districts and City Council Liaison meetings.

18. What opportunities do you see for joint use projects between the city and schools?

There are many joint use projects being done now.  Considering the financial restraints of the city and school districts at this time I don't know what else can be done.

19. What do you see as the city's responsibility for impact of new housing development on schools?

The city, school districts and developers should work together to resolve any impacts, if any, on the schools.

20. What was your position on Measure A, the parcel tax for the San Leandro Unified School District? How did you contribute towards the campaign?

Since I live in the San Lorenzo School District I could not vote on the measure A but I was in favor of it.

F. Positions

21. Briefly state your ideas on how to encourage and protect local businesses development. What is your position on enacting limits on chain businesses? What actions would you propose to accomplish your vision?

I believe in free enterprise and also support small businesses, as I am on of them.

22. What is your position on the establishment of a living wage ordinance?

I believe that everyone should be able to earn a living wage.

23. How would you ensure that community benefits are negotiated into city contracts, development assisted by the city, or franchise monopolies such as Comcast?

Do not issue long term contracts to franchise monopolies.

24. Briefly state your position on the use of eminent domain.

We need to educate the public on how eminent domain works and how the use of eminent domain benefits the community.

25. What would you do in office to address poverty and homelessness in San Leandro?

I need to know what other programs are available other then April Showers at the Boys & Girls Club and Davis Street Community Center.

26. What would you do to improve public transportation and make San Leandro a more walkable city?

The improvements that are being done from BART to the downtown plaza are wonderful.  I would like to see pedestrian over crossings over San Leandro Blvd. from the BART station to eliminate jay walking.

27. How would you promote opportunities within San Leandro for historically-disadvantaged populations/minorities?

I don't know, but am willing to look into what possibilities there are.

28. What is your position on the EBMUD Heron Bay groundwater project?

At this time I do not have any position.