1993_02 Insight February 1993

              Page 4
Insight
February 24,1993
Political Report
Local elections: city council race, frontpage i
Fresno around $365,000. This
consultant suggested ways to redevelop downtown with improvements such as a baseball stadium,
fanner's market, and two-way
streets.
They scrutinize the findings of
ihc Little HooverCommission.The
commission recommended ways to
improve the city's public administration including redevelopment
methods, combining sheriff and po-
I ice services and the repeal of Charter Section 809.
The only issue that unifies the
candidates is the repeal of Charter
Section 809, which is the formula
used to determine the pay rate of
Fresno's public safety forces based
on the average of those salaries in
eight cities.
Most of all, candidates are very
concerned about City Hall's efficiency in spending the taxpayers'
money.
Beyond the agreement on relevant
issues facing Fresno, the suggested
resolutions vary as much as the part
of to wn within each district and the
candidates themselves.
District Two
Thirteen mayoral candidates and 20 city council candidates vie for seats in the new multi-million dollar Fresno City Hall
District Four
District Six
The Bullard High School area in
north west Fresno is effected by continued growth. Seven candidates
seek election. Crime is the primary
concern of constituents.
"My main agenda involves fiscal
responsibility, crime and graffiti,
said John E. Brooks, 40. property
dcvclopmentbusinessman and District 2 candidate.
"Graffiti will reduce your
property's value, he said. "We're
losing jobs to graffiti and crime
because businesses are moving.
"I want to contain costs and avoid
exclusive developer arrangements," Brooks added. "One example wo6ld be to avoid the
Ralkovich proposal.
"Also, I want a joint agreement
between city and county to pay
juvenile-detention costs depending
on where an offender comes from."
A fine assessed by civil judgment
to parents for their kids' graffiti
offenses would be another way to
maintain neighborhood integrity,
according to Brooks.
Another District 2 candliiaie.
Steven Douglas Smith," 31 rattor-
ney-at-law, rccommendV the immediate hiring of 200 mow police
officers.
This will cost around $16 million
but may be done by following the
Little HooverCommission suggestions of staff cuts, salary freezes
and rehiring freezes rather than another assessment district, according to Smith.
"But the first thing we have to do
is make the city safe against Charter Section 809," Smith said.
If a local index with binding arbitration is used rather than collective bargaining to replace the charter, proper public safety salaries
would be set. Smith concludes.
By reducing crime and improving the condition of the community, the interest of investors will
rise and so will the tax base without
having to raise taxes, he added.
In support of the Ratkovich proposal Smith said "it is excellent,
requiring the city to provide a qual -
ity infrastructure and perhaps a
small donation of land."
"Ultimately, I envision consolidation of paramedic and dispatch
resources by generating more revenues through me beautification of
Fresno and without increasing
taxes." Smith said.
Candidate Karen Blum, 41, volunteer, encourages private investment She would work to make
Fresno attractive to business developers and safer for citizens if
elected
"We have not been able to attract
large corporations, Blum said.
"Our crime rate and lack of amenities found in big cities mean there arc
not enough enticements, so I'd like
to change the attitude of City Hall to
make it more business friendly."
Blum supports a city-wide assessment district to pay for more police
and firefighters after the repeal of
809.
This approach would address the
crime problem while allowing the
city to negotiate with its safety employees, according to Blum.
Blum also supports the Ratkovich
proposal to redevelop the downtown
area, and unlike other city council
candidates "lnherdistrict sheconsid-
ers downtown housing an important
aspect of redevelopment.
Candidate Linda Calandra, 41.
views crime as the largest issue facing District 2.
"Northwest Fresno has one of the
highest burglary and auto-theft rates,
said Calandra, a Downtown Fresno
Association executive director.
-**We have to pick up what is slack-:
ing from ihc state," she said to indicate that an assessment district wiQ
be necessary to obtain a larger police
force.
Calandra, who is supported by District 4 incumbent Tom Bohigian, is
also concerned about appropriate development. "I'd like to see some infill
development, she said.
"We have a large shortage of parks
and a great deal of growth that is
leaving a lot of vacant space neglected for an area further out toward
Ihe bluffs."
"If we concentrate on the infrastructure, then allow the private sector to come in and develop business.
Ralkovich will work," Calandra said.
In considering a way to assure adequate public safety services while
having to trim from the cily budget,
Calandra looks to City Hall members
working together to accomplish the
common good.
"The high-level performance of our
public safety personnel is worth paying well but the idea of a formula is
unacceptable and wc will have to
make it a priority to hold them harmless when dealing with ihe budget,"
Calandra said in support of repealing
809.
Calandra considers government-
employee morale io be a pressing
issue at City Hall and would address
the performance of public employees if elected.
"We must improve city cmploycc-
performancc evaluations." she said.
"An employee who exceeds more
than minimum standards should be
rewarded.
"We have to maximize the resources
that we have and people are a.re-
source."
The McLane High School area in the
central city is deteriorating as
homeowners move to other areas.
Seven candidates seek election. Constituents are concerned about crime
and thecity'scontinuing development
to the north.
A District 4 candidate, Rose Marie
Caglia, 38, advocates stronger regulation against graffiti and crime along
with the repeal of 809.
"We need more preventive and rehabilitative strategies for our people
such as SOSAD, which stands for
Save Our Sons and Daughters, said
Caglia, director at Wamors Theater.
"Let's increase neighborhood watch
and citizens patrol," Caglia added.
"Wc could put police precincts near
parks and schools by paying a different rate of pay for those working inside precinct offices."
Caglia docs not support Freeway
168 development but prefers planning for a light-rail system.
"I want funding and legislation for
light rail to eventually be placed in
sections of key crossings from Clovis
and the foothills to downtown, as I
don't think it's too late for Caltrans to.
sell property back, Caglia said. <
"Wc should stop this leap-frog development and build out from downtown in concentric circles.      -
"If we build and invest within the
city limits and incrementally move
out, ihe infill development would do
us good."
Caglia does not support downtown
redevelopment, and said she is against
recommendations of the Ratkovich
proposal.
"These taxes arc confiscated to pay
for development in certain areas but
youcan'tcreatc an artificial economy;
it's what I call corporate socialism,
Caglia said.
"We can't pay for municipal services now and they want to rework
everything. Let downtown developers buy their own property and take
their own risks just like everybody
else."
Kenneth Carrasco, 25, has business
experience and offers his divine inspirations to support programs thai would
help youth and increase our public
safety forces.
On his sample-ballot statement, he
lists his gift from God as determination and his desire to use that gift to
help others.
"Crime is the number-one issue and
we need to provide recreation programs for kids by encouraging others
to volunteer," Carrasco said, addressing the city's budget problems.
"Cutting back servicesdocsn' t make
sense because we already are cut short
so I warn privatization wherever possible such as parks and maintenance
services," he said.
"I support the repeal of Charter Section 809 and I want collective bargaining," he added.
Another candidate, Robert Lung,
39. supports the Ralkovich proposal
and advocates building die farmer's
market first
Lung, a businessman with a background in education, supports the repeal of Charter Section 809 and promotes a five-part priority campaign.
"I support the installation of a light-
rail beliway around the city of Fresno,
Lung said.
"I want the successful redevelopment of downtown, specifically
single-family housing in the Lowell-
Jefferson area.
"I want the creation of a river-bottom parkway and I want to eliminate
80 percent of auto theft, he said.
"I want to eliminate 80 percent of
graffiti by holding parents responsible for the actions of minors."
Lung promotes enforcing the curfew for minors by booking violators.
"When Ihe parents come in to pick
them up, they shouldbc signed up for
an eight-hour, coouauBity-service
program.'*.
Janet Bailey. '3?' who is supported
by incumbent Tom Bohigian, con-
sicfcrsFTCsno's umsiu\xi from a small
town*)* major metropolitan area as
the cause of current issues facing City
Hall.
"We're subject to societal problems
and District 4 is being overlooked for
northern development," said Bailey,
Fresno County senior personnel analyst, advocating re-evaluation of local policies.
"Wc arc being plagued by citizen
fear, concerns with police, crime and
graffiti.
"Constituents show a real loss of
confidence in government and wc
need to take steps to improve trust.
"Our system was set up for a much
simpler social structure, so wc need
to do things diffcrendy now such as
repeal Charter Section 809," Bailey
continued.
In support of the Ratkovich proposal, Bailey said "One of the things
I find attractive is that it is very much
Fresno."
"Ii could raise property values to
enable an increase in lax revenue."
Regarding the Little Hoover Commission findings. Bailey said, "I support the consolidation of county and
cily services where they overlap and
the space for parks that il recommends."
If elected, Bailey's priorities would
be to establish serious dialogue ihat
increases the confidence of citizens,
to address the mistrust of city management by city employees and lo
promote infill development.
The Hoover High School and California State University, Fresno, area
of the northeast is characterized by
substantial growth and crime as the
two primary concerns of constituents.
Six candidates seek election.
Candidate Garry Brcdefeld, 33, suggests a university program that would
enable college students to provide
role modeling for at-risk children who
may currcnUy turn to gangs.
"Crime and graffiti and how wc deal
with it is ihc main issue," Brcdefeld
said, a self-employed psychologist.
"It is rampant and people arc talking
about leaving town.
"First, we need abigger police force.
Second, we need a deterrent program
for at-risk kids by setting up a volunteer program of CSUF students.
"I have proposed that businesses
form a support group wiihin each
community and donations be taken to
provide a sand blaster in each district
area
"A policeman trying to fight graffiti
won't work, but a neighborhood effort could work."
Brcdefeld, who is supported by incumbent Tom Bohigian, also promotes tax credits to attract business
devctorjiucntrather than raising taxes.
" *Thecii*ybaStonmmoreefficientiy
ofice we implement the recommendations by the Little Hoover Commission to get things in order," he said.
"In fact. I think that City Hall cannot ask for more taxes until ihc city is
run more efficiently." Brcdefeld
added.
Brcdefeld supports the repeal of
Charter Section 809 and considers
binding arbitration the appropriate
method to set public safety salaries.
"I think there has been a lot of
undue influence from developers and
my interest is to do what is right by
this community, not just special interest," Brcdefeld said in support of the
Ratkovich proposal.
Candidate Michael Erin Woody.26,
engineer, considers the substantial
growth in District 6 unprecedented
and in some respects to have outstripped the area's resources.
In an effort to rcfocus development.
Woody supports infill construction
and the Ralkovich proposal.
"It's a really good package that
doesn't require demolishing and it
promotes going to two-way streets."
Woody's priority is to address inc
city's problem with crime by advocating collective bargaining to replace
Charter Section 809. He believes the
change would improve the city "s services over a long period of lime.
Woody supports a reduction in government regulation regarding development and would work for* more
parks and recreation facilities if
elected.
Incumbents
won't vie for
re-election
By Katharine Barrans
Staff Writer
Fresno City Council members, Rod Anaforian, Tom
MacMichael' and Tom
Bohigian are throwing in the
towel.
The councilmen announced
late last year that they would
not seek re-election on March
2 for reasons ranging from personal to political.
MacMichael. District 2 representative, said that he felt
satisfied with his service of six
years on ihe city planning commission and eight years on city
council.
"I think that two terms is a
logical break, and it would be
hypocritical io sign up for three
when you support two,"
MacMichael said. "There is
also the danger of a politician
staying too long in one office."
Though he would not state
his views on the upcom ing election, he did say that the fiscal
situation willplayasignificani
role in Ihe decision-making
proccssesof the council in June.
"The council will have to either provide less services or
increase taxes," MacMichael
said. "Unfortunately these are
issues Ihat need to be addressed
during the election, but of
course no one wan ts to do that"
Bohigian, District 4 representative, said Ihat if Fresno is
going to do ihe things that need
to be done, politicians have to
be honest with the public and
tell them what it will cost
"The cily of Fresno can either pull inward or address its
problems," Bohigian said. "If
wc have the ability to improve
an area for a small amount of
money, we should do it Fresno
is a big city with a small farm-
town mentality."
Bohigian said that the prospect of another four years as a
council member wasn't seen
as the best use of his time.
"Going elsewhere will prevent burnout and cynicism,"
Bohigian said.
The cynicism of many politicians isaconcem of Bohigian's
because that particular attitude
promotes a type of self-fulfilling prophecy in terms of the
ineffectiveness of government,
he said.
"Brian Sctencich caters to the
cynics," Bohigian said. "He
just sits there and votes no on
everything without any input
or explanation, taking the easy
way out while others are trying
to take responsibility for improvement"
Bohigian said he would like
to sec Karen Humphrey reelected as mayor because he
sees her as the most honest and
credible candidate. He also believes that she is most qualified to fill the position.
Anaforian, District 6 representative, said he wants to see
the current mayor ousted, but
gave no specific reasons as to
why.
In an Oct. 7 article in the
Fresno Bee he is quoted as
saying: "I don't believe Karen
Humphrey should be reelected. I don't believe she's
distinguished herself as a capable leader or chairperson or
is capable of the kind of thinking necessary to help this community move forward."
Anaforian said mat he wants
to spend more time on areas in
his private life, but refused to
give any other specific information.
Anaforian's occupation outside of city council has been
dial of regional trainer for a
pharmaceutical company.
MacMachael is a certified
public accountant and has said
Ihat he looks forward to rejuvenating his accounting practice and spending more time
with his family.
Bohigian is also looking forward to spending time with his
family and he is in the process
of sending out resumes.