After listening to the online interview, I have a few questions, if you don't mind:
1. How important is it to you that Tacoma become a "model city" in the PNW of sustainable, eco-friendly living? And how would you, as mayor, work toward that goal?2. How can the mayor/city hall rejuvenate neighborhood councils? I personally have pounded pavement, worked with Safe Streets, and asked for help from our local leaders to get a neighborhood coalition going, to no avail. How specifically can you, as mayor, help?
3. How would you encourage use of public and/or no-emissions transit? Would you be open to radical ideas like allowing pets on the buses, or a community bike program? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_bicycle_program...
4. What is your view on using federal stimulus funds to convert foreclosed/abandoned housing into homeless shelters? And could the mayor/city hall feasibly put these shelters to good use in improving their surrounding communities?
What are your questions for Jim, after listening to his interview?
~~Cheryl
Updated questions, posed to a would-be councilmember:
ReplyDelete1. How important is it to you that Tacoma become a "model city" in the PNW of sustainable, eco-friendly living? And in what ways could you, as a councilmember, work toward that goal? Are there any steps you could take to help the food co-op get off the ground? What about supporting community gardens, or planting trees? Recycling "gray" water? Recycling in general? Do city offices have an aggressive reduce/recycle/reuse program? Improving efficiency so that residents don't have to drive downtown to pick up official forms and such, but put them online or at least allow communications by fax/email? Other ideas?
2. How can the mayor/city hall rejuvenate neighborhood councils? I personally have pounded pavement, worked with Safe Streets, and asked for help from our local leaders to get a neighborhood coalition going, to no avail. How specifically can you, as a councilmember, help?
3. How would you encourage use of public and/or no-emissions transit? Would you be open to radical ideas like allowing pets on the buses, or a community bike program? Here's an example of a successful program in Paris: http://www.velib.centraldoc.com/newsletter/23_velib_grandit_velib_fete_ses_deux_ans
Translation of first two paragraphs:
While Vélib blows out its second candle (it was instituted in July 2007) 30 communities adjacent to Paris are benefiting one by one from the arrival of the bikes beyond the periphery (of Paris). Vélib is celebrating its birthday, but also the opening of stations in bordering cities! This is a new phase for a service that meets its users' expectations and continues to spread. iVélib spells out for you the results of this second year of liberty.
Vélib thanks you
After two years of use, Vélib is maturing and remains a form of transportation synonymous with pleasure and freedom. You have confirmed this through the satisfaction survey ordered by the mayor of Paris last year. Vélib thanks all its users for their loyalty and enthusiasm. Since its launch July 15, 2007, the service has registered more than 53 million usages, of which more than 36,500,000 were long-term and more than 16,500,00 short-term. At the same time last year, Vélib counted 26 million rentals. In two years, the Vélib kiosks have sold almost 7 million tickets.
They have several plans: a yearly plan for 29 euros, and the first 30 minutes of any ride is free. Theoretically you could ride from point A to point B in 29 minutes, turn in your bike (vélo), do your shopping or whatever, and pick up another bike for the ride back and not pay a centime more. There is also a daily plan for 1 euro and a weekly plan for 5 euros. You get a rechargeable Vélib card from which nominal payments are deducted for time spent beyond the initial 30 minutes -- 1 euro for the first half-hour, 1 for the second, and 4 for every half hour after that (for the short-term plans, you must provide credit card info). The idea is for people not to hog the bikes and return them to the stations as quickly as possible. It seems to be working for them!
4. What is your view on using federal stimulus funds to convert foreclosed/abandoned housing into homeless shelters? And could the mayor/city hall feasibly put these shelters to good use in improving their surrounding communities?
5. What do you think about this type of health-care service, and how might we attract something like this to Tacoma?
http://www.qliance.com/
Take your time. I realize this is a lot of questions, and I look forward to your response!