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About this blog: I grew up in Los Angeles and moved to the area in 1963 when I started graduate school at Stanford. Nancy and I were married in 1977 and we lived for nearly 30 years in the Duveneck school area. Our children went to Paly. We moved ...  (More)

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I Have Endorsed Six Candidates for City Council

Uploaded: Oct 8, 2014
I have endorsed six candidates for the Palo Alto city council. Some of them have divergent views about future growth in the city. Three are incumbents and three would be new to the council. I do not like that the council race is often portrayed as some kind of war between opposing slates. That is not my experience and I think not good for the future of the city. I wonder if anyone else has endorsed across "growth issue" lines and feels similarly.

The requirements for responding are simple. You have publicly endorsed or will do so today candidates that include one or more from Johnston, Scharff, Shepherd, and Wolbach and one or more candidates from DuBois, Holman, Filseth or Kou. You post with your real name so readers can go to candidate websites and check. You may if you wish choose to explain your endorsements and comment on the slate issue. No comments about other candidates are appropriate for this blog.

The issues that are important for me are housing options, innovative solutions to parking and traffic issues and investment in infrastructure. These issues plus experience and my sense that they can work collaboratively drove my endorsements.

All of the candidates have expressed support for housing options and all have endorsed Measure B to help fund our infrastructure.

I endorsed Johnston and Wolbach after long face to face meetings at my office and follow up conversations. In general I like their policies, their very different and useful experiences and their willingness to tone down the rhetoric and work hard for the city. I like Cory's youth, long residency in Palo Alto and his legislative experience as many issues facing our city will require regional collaboration. I like AC's lifetime of experience in settling disputes amicably and his perspective as an older resident living in downtown, which will be an important area in our Comp Plan update.

I endorsed Scharff and Shepherd right after the last candidates meeting. They clarified their support for housing options. I value their experience and the continuity it brings to the next council. I was impressed by the vigor with which they expressed themselves. The continuity and experience are critical as we bring programs about parking and traffic as well as implementation of the city's infrastructure plans to implementation.

DuBois and Holman are my crossover endorsements at least if one adheres to the slate concept. We are not completely in sync about the future growth of the city. But, important in my endorsement, I have spent the most time in meetings with them about housing and as I said above both have endorsed the infrastructure Measure B on the ballot. Tom was one of the first to advance the idea of looking at more housing sites next to shopping and services in the downtown and Cal Ave area in exchange for eliminating some sites in south Palo Alto. Karen has shown concern for and an open attitude about exploring housing options downtown and suitable ways to expand our supply of low-income housing.

I do not expect complete agreement with my policy positions as a condition for believing someone will make a valuable council member. I have long supported Greg Schmid and enjoy working with him though we often have different perspectives.

So if anyone else has endorsed candidates with very different growth perspectives, please weigh in.
Community.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Jerry Underdal, a resident of Barron Park,
on Oct 8, 2014 at 11:57 pm

Jerry Underdal is a registered user.

Steve,

I have endorsed Cory Wolbach from Column A and Karen Holman from Column B.

They have differences in growth policy leanings but I believe they would communicate well with each other and other members of the council to move policies forward. Both have supported affordable housing and are likely to actively work to seek palatable ways to make it happen even in the current political environment.

(portion deleted)

My predilection is to vote for Scharff, Shepherd and Johnston (also) since I'm more drawn to liberal than libertarian positions. I'm anxious to see what election results show about the city as a whole. I'm not optimistic.




Posted by Sea REDDY, a resident of College Terrace,
on Oct 9, 2014 at 4:03 am

Ok.

It is a democratic process.

Steve, you have not contacted me. How can I be the 7th candidate.

My 10 point plan includes Integrity + Innovation. C

Do you still have time?

Respectfully


Posted by Jerry Underdal, a resident of Barron Park,
on Oct 9, 2014 at 10:15 pm

Jerry Underdal is a registered user.

"You may if you wish choose to explain your endorsements and comment on the slate issue."

Strange editing of my post, given this invitation. What you have left in sounds pretty shallow to me, and I wrote it. Just as you addressed all eight of the major contenders, so did I.


Posted by stephen levy, a resident of University South,
on Oct 10, 2014 at 11:10 am

stephen levy is a registered user.

Hi Jerry,

Sorry if I was confusing in what I wrote. My intention was to have posters not comment on why they did not endorse candidates.

The good news is that the Weekly has endorsed "across party lines" so to speak and you can move the portion I deleted to their blog post where many readers will see it.

Steve


Posted by Why here?, a resident of Menlo Park: South of Seminary/Vintage Oaks,
on Oct 10, 2014 at 2:25 pm

Why is this column in the Almanac. It belongs in the Palo Alto Weekly. Menlo Park needs bloggers who cover Menlo Park politics, issues, schools. We have a council with only 5 members. Everything turns on 1 and 2 council members. How each thinks and speaks about the issues is what interests me.

Thanks Mr. Levy but your column has no bearing on Menlo Park.


Posted by mark weiss, a resident of Greendell/Walnut Grove,
on Oct 10, 2014 at 2:27 pm

I did say that Steve Levy is probably a mensch and a tzadik despite his politics and beliefs, not just because we had the same Rabbi.

When the will of the people is known there will be a lot of experts with egg on their faces. kosher egg even.

Palo Alto is the place where The Establishment are pushing for rapid continued change and people like me for argue for continuity are considered "agitators" which is coded language.

And yes I said privately that if my some miracle or act of God Steve had endorsed me I would donate $5,000 to Abilities United. I will probably send them a small gift just for the mention.

The candidates you endorse have spent about $200,000 combined to get your attention -- isn't there a better cause?


Posted by stephen levy, a resident of University South,
on Oct 10, 2014 at 2:41 pm

stephen levy is a registered user.

@ why here

I have nothing to do with where the blog is listed. It is listed in the Mt. View blog site also and I get comments from both sites. That is the editors' choice.

I agree that the column is about Palo Alto.


Posted by Jerry Underdal, a resident of Barron Park,
on Oct 10, 2014 at 2:46 pm

Jerry Underdal is a registered user.

Thanks, Steve,

I've posted on the editorial thread.


Posted by stephen levy, a resident of University South,
on Oct 10, 2014 at 2:47 pm

stephen levy is a registered user.

Mark's offer of $5,000 for an endorsement is intriguing and since it would not go to me should be taken as an honest offer.

I am done endorsing but do like that Mark is getting involved and is advocating for things he believes in such as more parks.

I have never called Mark an agitator but in this case, his "agitation" for parks, minimum wages and rent control bring important issues to the community. Agitation is not a bad word in some circumstances.

Having just come back from Europe and experienced street music everywhere, I hope Mark is successful in bringing more live music to PA however the council race turns out.


Posted by Sea REDDY, a resident of College Terrace,
on Oct 13, 2014 at 12:30 pm

Hello Steve

It is good that you took a vacation to Europe and enjoyed.

Two months back, for the first time I went to London and India. Thoroughly enjoyed. I am exploring to spend more time in Northwest Kensington, Maide Ville area where the Beatles recorded some of their famous songs on ABBEY Road. Also, I went to see prime minister Modi inauguration which will hopefully transform India.

Let us get to the specifics; you know where and what I stand for. Can I have 20 minutes of your time before you endorse more candidates?

You know where to reach me; Bill Johnson knows.

If you read the wall street journal Oct 13 - today's article; there is an article that says people that have done more things than Columbus that benefited this/our country.

I have planned to come to live in Palo Alto next to Stanford since December 1973, when I visited first with my brother & sister-in-law. I had to work next 38 years; to earn a decent pension and retirement. I have prepared myself with the experience of living in some of the best cities in the US; such as Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Irvine and Newport Beach/Newport coast.

I bring a wealth of experience having lived there; my children getting through elementary-middle-high schools; colleges and all. I would like voters to consider my training having worked for high technology companies that managed projects that are multi-year and complex.

I have the track record; had a security clearance in 1977; worked on 3 $3billion dollar projects; recognized that I get things done my first CEO/President when I was 24 in Texas; with repeat performances at Northrop, Hughes (DIRECTV - Startup)and Boeing.

I would like to utilize my 'kick-butt' style of asking right questions when things are getting behind on projects so we would not suffer project delays.

I am very effective negotiator with training from KARASS.

I work as a consultant on M&As. I am trust worthy. I am a family man.

Why would you not interview me?

Am I an underdog?

Am I not your kind?

You know where to reach me: 747 Stanford Avenue, Palo Alto, California.
my numbers are
465-3535 cell phone
857-0240 land line
384-0060 VoIP
949-857-2000 backup cell

I am available 5am to 11pm 7 days a week. My email addresses are
[email protected]
[email protected]

Respectfully


Posted by stephen levy, a resident of University South,
on Oct 13, 2014 at 3:21 pm

stephen levy is a registered user.

Sea Reddy

I have tried to give candidates some leeway in posting here.

But the post is for people who have endorsed candidates with different perspectives on growth.

I think your questions to me can be answered by reading my post again where I state that support for Measure B and support for more housing options was true for all my endorsements. Your positions are in conflict with my priority areas. It is not personal.

But please stop posting your campaign statements on this blog.


Posted by Sea REDDY, a resident of College Terrace,
on Oct 13, 2014 at 4:06 pm

Steve

No problem.

It is your blog. I will not post.

Respectfully


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