Willow Glen Resident
News
District 10 city council candidates<
By Stephen Baxter
On June 3, San Jose voters will choose a District 10 city council member. The Almaden Resident asked candidates for their views on issues facing the Almaden Valley. Pyle, 70, is a former school teacher and the incumbent on the council. Madraswala, 50, is a developer and real estate agent who has lived in Almaden for 25 years.
Ashraf Madraswala
Nancy Pyle
How should the city deal with requests for more sports fields in the
Almaden Valley?
Voters should decide in a ballot measure whether to build fields. The quality of life of residents near neighborhood parks should be considered as well as the needs of youth sports leagues.
Pyle helped broker a deal between the city and San Jose Unified School District to rebuild Leland High School's fields, and more schools are in early stages of consideration for joint projects. Pyle also initiated a study on field inventory and permits due in June.
How much growth should there be in Almaden Valley, and what kind of housing should be built?
"Growth leads to prosperity," Madraswala said. He advocates building podium-style condominiums "that people can afford." He does not support new developments on hillsides.
Pyle supports "conformity" in neighborhoods so that single-family homes are not surrounded by apartments. When new developments have come to the city, such as one on Fleetwood Drive, she has met with neighbors to address their concerns.
What measures should be taken to cure the city's structural budget deficit?
The salaries of the city council and other city employees should be cut. More incentives should be given to small businesses in the city to grow revenue. Madraswala said Mayor Chuck Reed's suggestion to cut pay raises for city employees did not go far enough. Madraswala does not support cutting city services or adding taxes to businesses.
Pyle believes a large part of solving the deficit is to increase revenues that the city receives with the expansion of business. She is chairwoman of the Community and Economic Development Committee and helped conduct a survey of residents to rate the kind of new stores that residents want. She said the city's permitting process for businesses should be streamlined so the city is perceived as more business friendly.
What should be done to calm traffic and speeding
in District 10?
Congestion problems come from poor infrastructure and maintenance, so those issues should be addressed. Transportation issues should be considered in the city as a whole, not just in District 10.
Meetings have been held with neighbors near Graystone Lane after a crash there in 2007. Recent speeding around Mockingbird Lane has triggered meetings with residents, scheduled
for May.
What would be your top
priorities if you were elected?
Bring a 'commonsense' business approach to city government, encourage fiscal responsibility, find creative solutions to budget issues and try to stimulate San Jose's economy.
Strengthen neighborhood services, build and better maintain city parks, keep streets in good condition, add police patrols and keep revenue coming to the city to pay for improvements.
