Economic Development

Eighty percent of General Fund revenue in Richmond comes from local property and sales taxes and franchise and license fees that are tied to Richmond's economic health. The General Fund is what pays for basic services, such as police and fire protection, libraries, street sweeping, maintenance and operation of parks and community centers, recreation programs, community centers, street maintenance, neighborhood council support, the Planning Commission and the Design Review Board.

Local employment opportunities are also a function of Richmond's economic health. High employment translates into lower crime rates, better schools, less burden on City services, and higher property values. Richmond still lags behind most Bay Area cities in employment, property values and business activity.

As a City Council member, I will continue to provide leadership to implement a new economic development plan that will move Richmond rapidly toward its maximum economic potential. This will increase the tax base, create more revenue for basic municipal services, increase business and employment opportunities, increase property values, and improve the image of Richmond.

Environment

The environment is not just about nature; it's about our entire quality of life - the overall health of our city. Clean air and water, and a healthy natural environment are critical components of our quality of life. But there is more. The built environment includes buildings, streets and parking lots. Are they aesthetically pleasing or ugly? Are new developments compatible with existing neighborhoods? Are new streets and parking lots seas of asphalt, or are they landscaped with trees, flowers and shrubs? Are they maintained or left to deteriorate? Is art an integral part of our community? What about healthy neighborhoods? Do fear of crime, speeding traffic and unpleasant surroundings keep us and our families prisoners in our homes? Can we walk to neighborhood stores, services and parks, or does every necessity require an automobile trip?

As a City Council member, I will encourage Economic Development Commission, Planning Commission and Design Review Board members who are knowledgeable and committed to making Richmond a healthy city - a city where fear of crime recedes, where pedestrians are safe and welcome, where new developments are well-designed and compatible with what is already here. I will provide leadership to expand and improve parks, recreational opportunities, historic preservation, public art, trails, public transportation and the urban forest. These things will not only improve the quality of life for residents, they will attract new businesses and enhance expansion opportunities for existing businesses.

For information about Richmond's 32 miles of shoreline, see www.ci.richmond.ca.us/bythebay/welcome.html .

Equity

Equity means that no one who is willing to join in the effort is left out or left behind as Richmond moves forward.

It means that the flatlands get the same level of services as the hills and that all citizens have access to government, not just those with money and power.
It means that housing opportunities are available for every income level, that all residents can find decent jobs without spending significant portions of their lives commuting, and that, if they choose to commute, they have choices other than the automobile.

It means that industrial pollution is no more acceptable in poor neighborhoods than in wealthy ones, and that those neighborhoods where pollution has been concentrated deserve our help to continue making the air cleaner, prevent future industrial accidents, and assist those whose health and economic prospects have suffered by their previous exposure.

Finally, equity is also about responsibility and accountability; we all have an obligation to participate in public life in some way to ratify our citizenship, even if it only means getting out to vote once a year.

As a City Council member, I will measure every municipal service and initiative by its equity, and I will work to ensure that our city government hears and responds to the concerns and needs of all Richmond residents.

The Richmond City Council first passed a resolution authored by Tom Butt in 1996 to join with Contra Costa County to prepare an El Sobrante Valley Specific Plan. It wasn't until 1998 that the County agreed to join in. Now the plan is nearly complete with components including Parks and Open Space, Transportation and a Downtown Revitalization Plan

As a working architect, Tom Butt understands what it takes to design, finance and build new projects in Richmond.

Because it is in the City of Richmond rather than unincorporated Contra Costa county, the Chevron refinery is the only refinery in Contra Costa County not regulated by an Industrial Safety Ordinance. Tom Butt authored the resolution passed by the Richmond City Council directing the drafting of a Richmond Industrial Safety Ordinance. The Public Safety Committee of the Richmond City Council will hold hearings on the draft on September 13, 2001.

Older neighborhoods in Richmond typically suffer more than others from blight, such as this mound of trash in the back yard of an abandoned house in the Belding Woods area. Tom Butt continues as a vocal advocate to provide blight abatement services in all neighborhoods to encourage the investment of law-abiding property owners.