The Livable
Streets Coalition* hosted a Mayoral Candidate Speaker Series in October to
speak with them on important issues related to livable streets and to get
specific answers on 5 questions. Three events were held, one each with
candidates David Alvarez, Nathan Fletcher, and Kevin Faulconer. Results from
the Q&A are below.
1. How would
you implement the goals of smart growth and provide a mix of transportation
options amidst fears of parking loss and traffic congestion that arise from
infill development, bike lanes, and pedestrian improvement projects?
D.A. – We must build up
and not out. We can accomplish this through
Specific Plans and through Community Plan Updates. We need to move forward with
the remaining Community Plan Updates to ensure there is no impediment to
development.
K.F. – We need new political will to move this forward and flexibility to
know that one size does not fit all. We need to let communities know how this
will benefit them. We have 30,000 residents in downtown currently, but the
Downtown Community Plan calls for 90,000 residents. We cannot build enough
parking spaces (to accommodate new growth). Downtown is one of the few areas
where people don’t oppose growth, they embrace it. I want to encourage
walkability and smart growth in our downtown, make the right decisions to make
transit convenient so people will adapt. Another example is the Bayshore
Bikeway. I worked on this and prioritized balancing business needs with bikeway
vision.
N.F.— Smart growth is
right on. It requires us to do things differently. We need to invest in our
neighborhoods. I can talk about what other cities are doing, but no one is
talking about San Diego. How do we get other cities to want to be like San
Diego? Everything should align with these goals whether it be infrastructure,
public safety, density. Land use policy is important in moving these things.
2. As mayor,
what goals would you set and what steps would you take to make San Diego’s
streets safe for everyone and reduce the City’s higher than average pedestrian
fatality rate?
D.A.— We
need to focus on implementing the Pedestrian Master Plan. The City needs to invest
in small inexpensive projects with big impacts. I will adopt a Vision Zero
platform with the goal of zero bike and pedestrian fatalities. We currently
don't have the culture of a walkable and bikeable city but this is changing
with the bike share program and sharrrows being added throughout the City.
Walkability and bikeability go together, and together they tell drivers that
they have to watch out for people not in cars.
K.F. – We need human scale
(design) to interact with each other and our environment. I championed the
North Embarcadero Plan, a portion of which is now under construction. This will
make the waterfront more pedestrian friendly and help activate the public space
we have there. I have also championed the new world class public park at Horton
Plaza. This will be a major gathering space for our downtown. As much as we
need the big projects, we also need smaller projects. I helped to install a new
traffic light at Mission Bay to make it safer. It was not expensive, but it
made a lot of sense to do it to promote greater safety.
N.F. – Without a goal
there is nothing to measure success with. New York City said we are going to
cut deaths in half. Others have said zero deaths. I’ll assemble a Mayoral
dashboard to gather ideas. I’m willing to work with you. There will be a series
of steps.
3. How would
Neighborhoods First fit into your administration?
D.A.— I was the one who originally proposed neighborhoods
first. The City must respect Community Planning Groups, make transit first, and
build Safe Routes to School projects. I have supported the funding of these
kinds of projects as a Councilmember and will continue to do so as mayor. The
State of the City’s infrastructure, such as roads and public buildings, has
been allowed to deteriorate. We have the opportunity, through smart planning,
careful prioritization of resources, and a better long term vision, to rebuild
San Diego into the world-class city we know it can be.
K.F. – The pension
debacle was bad for our city and we are still paying it off. We need smart
governing decisions to get our city back on track and I am doing this on the
Council. We repaved 500 miles of street last year. We will continue to prioritize
this work. We need simple economic choices. We have ignored critical issues
like infrastructure, sidewalks for too long. I will prioritize bringing back
funding back for these.
N.F. – Our city has
neglected its neighborhoods. In the past several years, our roads have gone
from the eighth worst in the nation to the fourth worst, responses to 911 calls
were late more than 37,000 in the past 2 years alone, and sidewalk and
pipelines are years behind on their repair and maintenance schedules. As
Mayor, I will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the backlog of neighborhood
needs, develop a way to consistently receive public input on needs, and
implement the plan with city leadership in partnership with communities. It’s
important that each neighborhood develop their own culture and identity yet that we find
solutions for them together.
4. What steps
would you take as Mayor to ensure that a variety of projects in the Bike Master
Plan are completed, in a timely fashion, and that bike ridership increases in
the City?
D.A.— Steps include increasing expenditures on
bike projects from $500,000 to $1 million and leveraging more grant funding for
bike projects. I will lead an effort at the City to get people passionate about
walking and biking.
K.F. – I’m a cyclist myself. Having a mayor who is also a cyclist will
help. I understand the issues. We need new dedicated bike lanes and plans that
are actionable. We have the Bike Share program coming to San Diego which is
going to take off and promote more cycling. I will lead political will to make
sure the Bike Plan is implemented.
N.F. – I will set clear goals such like doubling the miles of bike
lanes in San Diego by 2020, and increasing the number of San Diegans choosing
to commute by bicycle to 65,000. The failure to move common sense solutions for
bike commuters forward is not from lack of funds, but from failure of
leadership. I’m committed to bringing together the people and the organizations
that are dedicated to improving safety for bicyclists and pedestrians to get
things done.
5. Describe
your vision for San Diego’s public realm and how you plan to catch up to other
cities that have embraced Livable Streets as a way to improve the urban
environment. Will you appoint a full time manager to oversee the transformation
of San Diego’s public realm?
D.A.— San Diego's leadership has been lazy and
relied on tools that made their jobs easy, for example redevelopment. We need
to challenge ourselves to find other financial tools, especially in our
neighborhoods and not only through major projects downtown. Every part of the City
wants to see reinvestment in their neighborhoods. For example, we have wide
streets that can be redesigned as public spaces. We can look at our trolley
line and focus on Transit Oriented Development. I want to include neighborhood
residents in the decision making process to make these things happen.
K.F. – I believe in world class public spaces. Yes,
I will bring on great staff to create public spaces. I gave the North
Embarcadero project example earlier – this is now funded and under
construction. It will be a transformative project. We need to match this with
more trees, innovative ideas like parks on rooftops. May be more expensive but
it is worth the investment. Bottom line, let’s try something. Let’s see some
action.
N.F. – I would consider appointing a manager to
oversee the public realm. The City is more than its structures. It’s about the
people. We want to create an environment where people feel connected. We are
always going to have cars but we need to provide options. Our question is how
do we support these options? Who are we as a city? We don’t want to build
structures for the sake of building. We need a vision and the public realm is a
big part of that.
To read more about the
candidates’ platforms and visions for San Diego, click on the plans below.
