League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Dianne Martinez Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Emeryville

The questions were prepared by the LWV Berkeley/Albany/Emeryville and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. Do you support the proposed Charter Measure and the Property Transfer Tax? Please explain the benefits or problems you see if the voters pass them.

I am in support of both of these ballot measures, and I know our city will benefit from local funding for our local needs, including our outstanding fire services and police forces.

Measure U will allow Emeryville to become a Charter City like our neighbors Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda, Albany and Piedmont. Charter Cities are able to organize and run themselves with greater autonomy than those constrained by General Law (dictated by the state), as we are now.

Becoming a Charter City can affect many facets of local governance. However, the charter to be put forward on the ballot is concise and clear: if enacted, Emeryville will continue under the same constraints as it does now, with the added ability to enact a Real Property Transfer Tax. This transfer tax, listed on your ballot as Measure V, is an important measure that voters will be considering this November. At a proposed rate of $12 per every $1,000 of a real estate sale, Emeryville's transfer tax will finally be close to neighboring cities, yet still competitive. Berkeley and Oakland are both at $15 per $1,000, and those rates could be going up in the near future.

2. What would be your highest priority for the good of the City as a whole?

My highest priority for Emeryville is to foster qualities that draw families to put down roots in this city. My own journey as a mother and a homeowner has shown me how raising a family in a given place can make citizens engaged and involved in a community. I also believe that what draws families to communities (great schools, top tier public safety services, walkability) also serves the public at large.

3. How would you evaluate the housing mix in Emeryville? Does the City provide adequate and appropriate housing for low and very low income residents, for people who work in Emeryville, for families, for the elderly, for the disabled?

There is a lack of affordable housing in Emeryville. With the loss of our re-development agency, the city needs to focus on incentivizing the inclusion of affordable housing in future developments. I will work to find creative solutions to addressing this serious issue.

I think this also ties into the issue of minimum wage. I support raising the minimum wage in line with what is being proposed on the regional level.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. References to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 22, 2014 09:19
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