Consejo Municipal — Ciudad de National City

Yes, I support housing density. National City is a completely built out city and we have nowhere else to grow but up. That’s why this past year I supported the City’s Downtown Specific Plan update that plans for over 5,000 new housing units in our Downtown. The City should also look at providing more affordable housing for our residents, through policies like inclusionary zoning and developer incentives.

Yes, we as a City need to take another look at how effective our ban is on dispensaries has been. We’ve seen cities in the County and across the country adopt policies that allow recreational and medicinal cannabis but protect public safety and ensure law enforcement is not burdened. It’s also important we look at the economic benefits such as increases sales tax revenue from these businesses. That’s why I proposed reevaluating our cannabis policy this past year, but did not receive sufficient support.

Yes, I support Measure W. Our National City families are seeing skyrocketing rents and being forced to move out of National City to more affordable areas. The vast majority – nearly 70% of our residents are renters and we are seeing a majority of renter households (62% according to studies) are rent-burdened, paying more than 30% of their incomes on rent. 31% of National City renters are paying more than 50% of their income on gross rent. The current status quo is unacceptable and we need to take action to address unfair rent increases. Measure W helps renters by capping annual rent increases at 5%, and provides relocation assistance for tenants evicted through no fault of their own. 

The National City Bayfront redevelopment is one of the biggest and most important projects that I support. As a Councilmember I sat on the Port of San Diego Working Group that worked at forming the “Balanced Plan” a land use plan for the waterfront that will expand Pepper Park, allow for hotels and tourist development, and preserve our working waterfront that generates millions in economic benefit for the region while providing good-paying union jobs. I also hope to see projects that add housing to existing commercial centers such as the redevelopment of South Bay Plaza which is currently in concept form.

As a former member of the National City CPRC, I recognize the importance of accountability and making sure that our community and law enforcement have a trusting relationship. However, there are concerns that I hope new leadership will correct.  A Failure to fill multiple vacancies, resulting in meetings being cancelled due to lack of quorum and having a Council-wide approval of CPRC Board members would improve accountability and not hamper progress.

Yes. I want to build mixed use residential/commercial in the National City downtown neighborhood and through Highland ave. We need to streamline process to develop specially on mixed income and mixed use construction projects.

Yes. Proposition 64 passed resoundingly in our state in 2016 and is law in California. I believe we should host community forums and start a dialogue to decide on how the city will proceed with any potential labs or dispensaries in National City. 

Yes. Rent increases have been occurring to the amounts of $200-$600 per year for tenants. This practice by landlords is creating displacement and must be stopped. It is why I support the ordinance, it will limit rent increase to 5% per year and create displacement fees for seniors or families that are unjustly evicted.

Yes. We can grants to the National City Chamber of Commerce that can help put events together in our city and have local vendors. Additionally the staff at the chamber can walk residents through business filing paperwork and business growth courses. 

No. The Commission needs to be fully staffed, meet on a regular basis and have subpoena power to investigate complaints and cases.