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Alameda County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
Smart Voter Political Philosophy for John M. Zukoski

Candidate for
Councilmember; City of Dublin

[photo]
This information is provided by the candidate

BALANCED GROWTH

For the past decade, Dublin has experienced a tremendous surge in new home development. Our robust residential growth has been driven by Dublin's conviction that hard-working people from all walks of life deserve a chance at home ownership, prosperity, and a higher quality of life. Dublin is at a crossroad where we can continue to concentrate on residential growth, or we can reposition our resources for balanced growth. Once elected, I will strive for sustainable growth that balances the pace of commercial development with residential development.

Dublin has the opportunity to build on the success from our wide array of residential projects by focusing on infrastructure development, job growth, and expansion of services to support long-time residents and new arrivals. As a City Council member, I will ensure that we as a city:

  • Work with Dublin developers, so they may deliver on their promises to balance out residential projects with commercial and retail projects.

  • Build infrastructure before + or at a minimum during + the construction of new homes, so residents may receive the full benefit of the impact fees included in the home purchase price.

  • Reduce the density of new home development to preserve Dublin's skyline, hometown feel, and property values.

  • Reinvigorate the historic Dublin Boulevard and Village Parkway.

SCHOOLS & LOCAL BUSINESSES

For Dublin to become the preferred city for Bay Area residents to call home, the City Council, the School District, and the Chamber of Commerce must work together to fortify two of Dublin's most valuable assets + our schools and local businesses.

Through partnership with the Dublin Unified School District (DUSD), we can:

  • Develop programs that will help raise academic standards and test scores.

  • Vote to provide developer impact fees for building and modernizing Dublin's schools.

  • Provide the DUSD with select city services at a discount or for free until the current school budget crisis is resolved.

Through partnership with the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, we can:

  • Create a low-interest loan program for local entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses in Dublin.

  • Team up with Dublin's Economic Development Department to provide city resources and eliminate barriers for our growing base of entrepreneurs and new business ventures.

  • Organize joint events and marketing campaigns to promote Dublin's local businesses.

PARKS & SENIOR CENTER

Dublin's residents deserve to have the finest parks in the Bay Area + the most engaging play equipment, the lushest fields of green, the most functional picnic areas, and the most inspiring works of art. West Dublin's parks serve as focal points for each West Dublin neighborhood. By balancing the pace of commercial development with the pace of residential development, Dublin will have additional funds available to allocate towards our parks. Dublin currently boasts nearly one acre of available park space for every 100 residents. Some of our parks and park fixtures are newer than others. Our goal should not only be to provide ample park space for residents, but also to optimize the aesthetics and usefulness of our park space. Once on the City Council, I will work closely with other City Council members, our Parks division and Public Works department, and Dublin's proud residents to continue the beautification of West Dublin's signature parks with additional foliage, updated play equipment, walking paths, and public art.

Dublin's Senior Center is a fabulous meeting space and resource for Dublin's communities. Residents and local non-profit organizations rely on the Dublin Senior Center as a premier facility to host community gatherings and local fundraising events. As City Council member, I will vote to sustain or increase funding for the Dublin Senior Center and seek to link private sector sponsorships for the various events at the Center. For the City of Dublin to prosper, we must have a vibrant Senior Center that can meet the needs of its residents and local organizations.

DUBLIN DOWNTOWN DISTRICT

Dublin is poised to have a true downtown district that celebrates our 25 years of economic and community achievements. A well-planned downtown in the heart of Dublin featuring architecturally integrated buildings, tree-lined sidewalks that are broad, long, and minimally interrupted by driveway crossings, beautifully landscaped traffic medians, and wide-open public green spaces is a dream we all share. Once elected, I will work tirelessly with fellow Council members, City staff, residents, and local businesses to turn that dream into reality. By adhering to the high standards set forth by the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (known previously as Dublin Downtown Specific Plan), we will have a visually alluring and centrally located gathering place that embraces the principles and vision of sustainable and transit-oriented development.

A downtown district that brings work, shopping, dining, entertainment, and recreation to the heart of Dublin is the key to our economic vitality. As we recruit small businesses and large corporations from both neighboring cities and abroad to grow with Dublin, we will increase the number of well-paying jobs, create business opportunities, and boost our tax revenue base. With a robust local economy, we can afford to provide more of the services and capital improvements that make Dublin a great place to live and work in. Dublin's residents and businesses deserve nothing less.

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 28, 2008 20:15
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