Political Philosophy for Richard W. Lowenthal

Candidate for
Council Member; City of Cupertino

Fellow Cupertino citizens and neighbors,

Cupertino is my home. My wife Ellen and I have raised our kids here from birth. Cupertino is known for it's good schools, high tech, and great community spirit. I would like a chance to work with the businesses and citizens of the city to add to the city's strengths a Strong Cupertino Community.

Through drive and determination I have helped start several successful high tech companies. More recently I have applied that same drive and determination to community service. My involvement in our schools has enabled me to bring my computer and networking skills to our community. While serving on the Cupertino Bike and Pedestrian Committee we completed the first bicycle transportation plan in the county and we are now fully engaged in developing a pedestrian plan for the city. As your Parks and Recreation Commissioner, I'm especially proud of the excellent progress made on the senior center, and what will be Cupertino's first recreational trail, the Stevens Creek Trail.

Now I'd like an opportunity to use that drive to create a sense of Strong Cupertino Community. We can build on the strengths we have in the city and with energy and creativity add a sense of "Place" to the city. A community has a place to stroll, buy an ice cream for your grandchildren, have a cup of coffee and interact with your neighbors. A community has places to walk your dog, and places where you might just run into friends. A community has interesting things for the whole family to do together. A community has an identity and is a destination. A community is a place that feels inviting and safe to walk around in. In a community, the people that work here, live here too, and you see them around town. I'd like the chance to work with local businesses and you to create such a community.

There are many people who like to say we will never have a "downtown" in Cupertino. We can have a sense of community and the benefits of a great downtown and more. How? Just as we needed a bike plan and a pedestrian plan, we also need to develop a Retail Plan for the city. We can then use the plan as our blueprint to make Pedestrian Retail as the core of our "downtown".

I have spent a day exploring Cupertino with a national expert on walkable communities; I have met with Compaq on their plans in Cupertino; I have met with owners of local businesses. I've been involved in discussions on the future on Vallco. It is clear from these discussions that these businesses including the owners of Vallco and the leaders at Compaq are excited to help make this happen.

We can work with local businesses to bring the necessary attractors like first-run theatres, new bookstores, and better retail at Vallco. We can solve our traffic problems and make a city that encourages people to walk, and we can make Pedestrian Retail work. We can create beautiful recreational trails of our own. We need to develop a plan for a Strong Community and use the plan to make Cupertino a place to go to.

There is no doubt that we can have a Strong Community and as your City Council Member I will use my energy, my experience, and my passion for working with the people of the community to make it happen.

Please vote for me in November.

Thanks, Richard Lowenthal