We received 1 completed questionnaire, from Max Anderson. He is running unopposed.
Click on "Read More" for the questionnaire.
Your Name: Max Anderson Address: Alcatraz Ave. Email:
Website: www.re-electmaxanderson.org
1. Motivation -- Why did you choose to run for this office?
I am running for re-election in order to continue my efforts to materially improve the lives and the life chances of families and neighborhoods in my district and the city at large.
2. Priorities -- What do you believe are the main priorities for your office? What are some specific tasks (e.g. specific legislation, policies, et.) you intend to accomplish while in office?
The main priorities for during my tenure are: making improvements in the areas of crime reduction and safety, improving health outcomes of vulnerable populations, improving disaster-preparedness, the protection of the environment, the creation of employment opportunities and services, especially for youth, as well as traffic calming measures; and, not least defending the Constitution and the Bill of Rights from erosion and assault . Specific tasks associated with these goals are: pressing for more bicycle and foot patrol officers on our beats; aggressively pursuing anti-smoking strategies and expanding the hypertension prevention and treatment programs; supporting green affordable housing and economic development projects, especially along transportation corridors and hubs reducing the dependency on automobiles, while opposing encroachment of our individual liberties..
3. Qualifications -- Please give a brief summary of your background and qualifications for being a City Councilmember. I was elected in 2004 to the Berkeley City Council representing District 3 in South Berkeley. Prior to that I was member of the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board from 1996 to 2004, serving as Chair for four of those years. I also served on the planning commission for eight years, having been appointed by former City Council member and social justice icon Maudelle Shirek. I have been a long-time community activist; active around affordable housing advocacy, anti-war activity, neighborhood development and healthcare reform. I serve on the boards of local nonprofits and am an active member of the Berkeley Branch of the NAACP and am also a member of the Sierra Club. I am a founding and current Board Member of the former Berkeley Biotechnology Education, Inc., now known as Biotech Partners. Biotech Partners provides educational opportunities and training for at- risk youth in preparation for employment in the Bioscience fields. By profession, I am a Registered Nurse working in the ICU of a local Hospital and an active member of my union the California Nurses Association and my wife and I are 23-year residents of Berkeley.
4. Instant Runoff Voting -- The voters of Berkeley overwhelmingly passed instant runoff voting in 2004, but it has not yet been implemented in Berkeley by the County Registrar of Voters. What will you do to insure that there will be instant runoff voting for the 2010 City Council and Mayoral elections? I am a strong advocate for IRV and have endorsed its creation and adoption and will continue to urge its implementation at the earliest possible time.
5. Public Campaign Financing -- Would you support a pilot program for financing mayoral campaigns in 2012? Would you support a measure on the Berkeley 2010 ballot in favor of full or partial public financing? Please elaborate. I am in favor of the public financing of elections and will work to find funds to implement it a pilot program for financing the mayoral election of 2010. However, public financing is big-ticket budget item and will have to be considered with other pressing budget needs. I’d have to know more about the particulars of any ballot measure before deciding whether or not to support it.
6. U.C. Berkeley-- Are there any conflicts between U.C.’s long range development plan and the City of Berkeley’s area and general plans? What remedies would you support? What ideas do you have for trying to get more accountability from U.C. in its proposed long range plan for both the U.C. and the LBNL campus? Would you support taking legal action if necessary? What is your position on the current campus Oak Grove and athletic facility controversy?
Given that the University and the City have different missions and responsibilities there are certainly areas of conflict as well as points of convergence. That is precisely why there needs to be ongoing efforts to resolve conflicts over land use, public safety, housing priorities, traffic congestion, as well as the direction and scope of economic development approaches. The City should continue to work with the university where possible, and strongly appose the University’s policies when necessary. It is clear that the State Constitution accords the University broad exemption from the City’s land use regulations, as is the case in every university host city. I have long advocated a political solution that starts with organizing the host cities to support a state-wide initiative to amend the Constitution to force compliance with local land use regulations. I have been a strong supporter of saving the Oak Grove from destruction, and more importantly preventing a catastrophe of huge dimensions resulting from a seismic event on the Hayward fault, which is certainly coming.
7. What is your 10 year plan for downtown Berkeley and our other commercial districts?
If Berkeley is to recapture a portion of the tax base and economic vitality we have lost to Emmeryville and El Cerrito Plaza, it is my belief that we will have to attract businesses, residents and shoppers to the downtown. In order to accomplish that we will need a destination store to attract shoppers to it and surrounding businesses. We need a store to attract shoppers seeking big-ticket items like appliances and furniture. Currently we are losing these potential purchasers to surrounding communities, which is why our tax base remains flat. This effort, of course, needs to be pursued with strict attention to the highest environmental standards. I also believe in multi-nodal economic development that creates opportunities in historical shopping districts like Telegraph Ave., The Adeline corridor and areas in West Berkeley. These goals represent the core of a 10-year plan to improve economic vitality in our city.
8. Automobiles -- What policies should the city take to reduce automobile use and make the city friendlier to pedestrians and other non-automobile transportation? Should the city do anything about parking in the downtown area and, if so, what?
Automobile usage and the pollution it creates continue to be a vexing problem in urban environments and the reduction of their use has to be our goal. Development near transportation nodes, usage of low-emission vehicles, enhanced public transportation, including a free shuttle for the downtown and University Avenue, ride-sharing programs, more bike racks and a bike lending program can all contribute to reducing our dependency on automobiles and promoting a safer and cleaner environment. We should replace any parking we lose downtown with new construction and ensure better signage.
9. Safety --What are the most important issues of public safety facing the residents of Berkeley? What kinds of programs are useful for creating a safe environment for all people?
Public safety encompasses Police, Fire, Disaster-preparedness and prevention strategies. Public awareness and close cooperation with our agencies occupies and important place in successful public safety programs. South Berkeley has many neighborhood associations that provide regular contact between police and residents in our neighborhoods. Promotion of better communications, sharing of information and heightened cooperation all contribute to better outcomes. Better cooperation and communication between and among police agencies and jurisdictions i.e. Bart Police, Oakland PD and our Berkeley PD is also helpful, and is something I’ve been working on, along with more foot and bicycle patrols. At the heart of successful prevention lie strategies and programs that reduce unemployment, creation of educational and employment opportunities for ex-offenders to reduce recidivism. These approaches, I believe will reduce crime and its impact on our community over time.
10. How will you work to make Berkeley sustainable for the long term, both economically and environmentally? I think the Mayor’s promotion of a Green Corridor, encouraging green development, promoting training for employment in environmental industries, adhering to high environmental standards in building construction, investing in incubators for green industries, all guide us along the path to long-term economic and environmental sustainability.
11. Please explain the conflict around Bus Rapid Transit in Berkeley. Are you in favor of BRT as currently proposed by ACTransit? Are you in favor of the BRT ballot measure? I look forward to a spirited debate based on facts and examination of the track record Bus Rapid Transit systems. I support placing the measure on the ballot, but I do not support the measure itself, because it goes far beyond the Telegraph Ave. proposal.
12. The city and the school board have proposed a ballot measure for the June 2010 to fund a warm water pool. Would you support that measure. Please explain. I do support the measure to replace the warm-water pool and will work with my colleagues and others to insure the new pool is built, preferable before the old one is demolished.
13. What is your opinion of the current sunshine ordinance proposal and what changes would you make? Please explain.
I continue to support transparency in government and support the right of all who come before the Council to be heard. To the extent the current proposal achieves that I am in support.
14. Endorsements -- Who has endorsed you so far? Who do you expect to endorse you?
I am pleased to have been endorsed by: Dion Aroner, Former Assemblywoman 14th District Michael Barglow, Teacher Tom Bates, Mayor Laurie Baumgarten, Retired Berkeley School Teacher Elsie W. Bell, Retired Frank O. Brown Louise W. Brown, Retired Teacher BUSD Hali Hammer Loni Hancock, Assemblywoman 14th District Sally Hindman, Executive Director, Youth Spirit Artworks Kristi Holmes, Health Care Worker Carole Kennerly (Davis), Former Berkeley City Councilmember Susi Marzuola, Architect Johnnie Porter, V.A. Rep Counselor John T. Selawsky, President, Berkeley School Board Richie Smith, Commission on Aging Nancy I. Threatt Peter Waller Pamela Webster, Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Commissioner
15. Anything Else? -- Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?
I would consider it an honor to receive the endorsement of the Green Party of Alameda County. And will continue to work hard to represent the highest ideals of environmentalism and social justice.
