Here is platform information for Candidate Miguel Araujo from his first Q+A with the San Mateo County Times:
Why I’m Running:
I am wholly concerned for the city of San Bruno and the people
of San Bruno. Current city policies benefit out-of-area developers
and corporations more than they benefit our own residents and small
businesses. We are heading the direction of Vallejo, a city
gonebankrupt through short-sighted planning that did not benefit the
locals.
What are the three biggest issues facing San Bruno this election year?
1. First, the economy. I want to see lower city rates and fees, and
lower taxes, to help people get through this recession. Second,
public safety. Currently the fire department has been cut about 30%,
all while upper management has been getting raises. Administrators
are not out in the field responding to fires or criminal matters.
Administrators are making too much and rank-and-file city employees
are getting paid too little while they carry the burden of the
furloughs and pay cuts. Third, integrity in city government. We’ve
reached a point where common citizens feel attacked by the city, not
supported and protected by it. This must change.
San Bruno is going through hard economic times—cuts in services, furloughs.
What will you do as mayor to help San Bruno improve its financial situation?
2. As mayor, I would cut administrative salaries even further to
guarantee that our rank-and-file workers who respond to heart attacks
and burning houses are there when we need them. Response times are
longer with furloughed workers. Cuts should start from the top and
not be across the board—I’d rather see an administrator lose 30% than
see a rank-and-file worker get a 5% cut that he can’t afford.
Do you support the Centrum Properties project? Why or why not?
3. Because the Centrum Properties project is in South San
Francisco, this is really the problem of their voters, not San Bruno
voters. The project has the unintended consequence of creating
traffic in San
Bruno, but we don’t have the resources to get into a battle with
another city over a legally-approved project. The traffic may stop
here to shop at our businesses.
What do you think about the discussions happening between several
peninsula cities about consolidating police forces? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
4. I’m concerned that combining public safety departments
lengthens response times and undermines community policing. Our
neighborhoods
need to have local police who understand our distinct communities and
cultures and who know our local people. The merging of departments
seems like an internal contracting-out for service, not truly serving
the local community.
What are you going to do to make sure that the Caltrain station and
grade separation project will not be a watered down version of what
the city, Caltrain and the citizen’s committee agreed upon?
5. The Caltrain plan needs to be reconsidered in light of the
firm opposition of other Peninsula cities to the San Jose to San
Francisco high-speed rail line. San Bruno should not stand alone in
supporting
a plan that is being revised through the work of the California
High-Speed Rail Authority. All options including below-grade,
at-grade and above-grade need to be considered. We need to revisit
the big picture, not accept uncritically what was decided in the past.
Jim Ruane is running on a platform of experience, what do you have to
say about his record as a council member?
6. Councilmember Ruane voted for increased water and garbage
rates and higher fees that our citizens cannot afford in this time of
economic crisis. The top-heavy administrative staff at City Hall has
had
Ruane’s support as well. I think I can do a better job keeping the
city within a budget, saving more money for the common citizens of San
Bruno and keeping our basic city services safe.
