League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 8, 2005 Election
	John Barton Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Palo Alto

Questions & Answers

1. What specific steps would you support to balance the financial needs of the city with a changing regional business climate and potential effects on the quality of life in the area?

Palo Alto is rightly proud of its broad range of services. If we wish to continue these services we must be more protective of our tax base and more proactive in growing that base. In the current market where housing values are, for the first time ever, trumping commercial values we must protect existing and potential retail areas from converting to just housing. Further we must become much more nimble in attracting business and keeping business in Palo Alto. As Chamber of Commerce Chair I worked with the City to create a nascent "Red Team" which will do just this. However it will take much more work and vision to achieve its potential for the community.

2. What are your priorities with regard to the balance of neighborhood issues and the broader needs of all Palo Alto?

Palo Alto's strength comes from its neighborhoods, its businesses and business districts, its realtionship with Stanford and its commitment to education, and public education in particular. We lose something in our community when we assume that any of these areas is more or less important than the others. It is the unique mix of all that creates the special character in Palo Alto. Thus my decision making will be based on what is best for the community as a whole. In the course of making a decision the value of the arguments, rather than the source of the arguments, will be the defining factor.

3. Where do you stand on the goal of retaining socio-economic diversity in Palo Alto, and if you support that goal, what steps would you take to achieve it?

This goal is very important to me. As a result I am an advocate for affordable housing. I am a founding member of the Community Working Group which is buidling the Opportunity Center on Encina Street. This facility will include services for the homeless in our community as well as 89 units of affordable housing. As a council member I will work hard to create additonal affordable housing. Specifically I would make the city a real leader in this area by helping to assemble parcels, work for transfers of development rights, and participate actively in state and federal funding applications.