June 2006 SLCAN Candidate Questionaire

Responses from Diana Souza, 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?

I have lived in San Leandro for 23 years.

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

My current job is VP of Operations for Converters West (distributor of Catalytic Converters)

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

• San Leandro Historic Society
• Friends of San Leandro Creek
• League of Women Voters
• Emily's List
• Democratic Party
• Arroyo PTA
• Arroyo Booster Club
• CSUH Alumni

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

Yes, I am a member of the Democratic party.

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

I am running for office because of my passion to be involved and my belief that we can make a difference when we stand up and fight for what we believe.

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

My relevant experience includes: Past Chair, San Leandro Recreation and Parks Commission; Past VP of Community Relations, San Leandro Chamber of Commerce; Chair, Community Education Foundation; President Washington Manor Swim Team; Meet Director and Past President East Bay Swim League; Past President PTA Washington Manor School; Past Board member for Washington Manor Junior League Baseball; Member (when in existence) Blue Ribbon Committee, Aquatic Task Force, Cherry Festival Committee and Sausage & Suds Festival Committee.

My relevant education includes a B.S. degree in Business Administration with an option in Human Resource. I am currently enrolled in the Masters program at CSUEB with an option in Small Business/Entrepreneurship.

B. Goals

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

• Keep our seniors engaged in the community--make senior transportation a priority in the budget and work to find necessary funding to get senior center built in the downtown area as proposed.
• Increase recreation options for the community--make the competitive pool a priority in the list of options for projects should income come in over budget; find the funds to bring back the proud tradition of the Cherry Festival.
• Build positive relationships with business and both school district--as Kaiser begins to build a future here in San Leandro, it is important to foster a positive relationship with them. Maintain and improve all communication channels with both school districts to find and utilize available opportunities for joint use.

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

Improved communications. Striving to create and maintain vibrant neighborhoods, working with both school districts to build a desirable quality of life environment. With San Leandro over 51% industrial, it is important to maintain a balanced mix of businesses, local and not.

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 get out and knock on doors, get the residents involved during the planning stages, allow for all ideas and individual to express thoughts. Anytime a project or change is going to happen in a neighborhood, there needs to be active involvement with resident/business from the beginning.

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

I would have to fully asses what areas on the web site are meeting the needs of the community. Then work with staff and residents to find ways to get the information that they feel is important online as timely as possible.

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

I do not like to make decision without understanding a situation. I will not hesitate to question things I do not understand. We need to increase communication and community outreach to be sure we are listening and making decision that represent our residents.

D. Campaigning

13. List your top five endorsements.

Bay East Association of Realtors
National Women's Political Caucus

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

Family $2500
Converters West $600
Bay East Association of Realtors $300
National Women's Political Caucus $250

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

I have no particular ideas in regards to reforming the way that campaigns are currently financed, though I would be open to listening to ideas that might be presented for or against.

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

I currently work with the way the system is, though I am open to listening to arguments for change. My initial thoughts are that with city-wide elections, council members are more likely to be concerned with projects/concerns/issues that affect the entire city rather than strictly focus on their area.

E. Schools

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

I will work to maintain all communication channels between the city and both school districts. I recently was the driving force behind maintaining representation on the Recreation and Parks Commission for both school districts. We need to challenge ourselves to remove all perceptual blocks that might prevent us from hearing what others are saying and be open to all options.

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

Bancroft Middle School field
Washington Manor Middle School gym
Competitive pool at Washington Manor Aquatics Center
School libraries
Burrell field

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

I feel that it is vital for the city to understand the impact of new housing development on schools before granting permits. This is a great opportunity for the city and school districts to possibly collaborate more on, if it is not already being done.

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?

I supported Measure A. Living in the San Lorenzo School district, I was not able to vote, though I did advocate support for Measure A at every opportunity.

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 feel that it is important to find a balance of development on local and chain businesses. I would support efforts that legally limit the development of chain businesses. I currently do not have a specific action to propose, though if on council, I would have staff look into the options, as well as encourage options from the community. Then asses the impact of all involved.

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

I support the establishment of a living wage ordinance in theory. I would have to review the final document and assess the impact before making a final decision.

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

Community benefits are vital to the quality of life in San Leandro. Once again, this is a situation that I would have to educate myself on what is already being done and then search for what more could be done. I do believe that some type of community benefits should be negotiated into all city contracts.

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

I believe that the use of eminent domain is something that must be evaluated on a case by case basis. I believe that there are situations that it should be use and cases that it should not be used. I do not believe that eminent domain should be used when there is a vibrant existence at a location already.

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

I would have to understand what the city is already doing to address poverty and homelessness. I know that the Human Services Commission allocates funds to address these issues. There is always more we can do, than we have funds or resources for, so it is vital to understand the impact of every option.

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

Public transportation is vital for many residents in San Leandro. I would support efforts to improve it, should they be justified. I would be interested to understand more about various options groups/individuals believe would make San Leandro a more walkable city. The impact of how making it a more walkable city versus more/less traffic congestion must be addressed in the process also.

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

In order to promote opportunities within San Leandro for historically-disadvantaged populations/minorities, I would want to meet with them and understand what opportunities they would like to receive. It does us little good to provide opportunities that do not fit the needs of those we are offering them to.

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

I have a very limited knowledge of the EBMUD Heron Bay groundwater project. I do understand that EBMUD is considering storage of water underground. The impact of this is unclear. I have talked with one person that I know, who works for EBMUD, and believes that it would be one of the best places to store water. I have spoken with one person who lives in Heron Bay, and is unsure of the effects. Before taking a position, I would have to learn more about the project.