Lolita Harper
Round two of the city's political version of the tough man/woman
competition went down Thursday night in front of a crowd of hundreds
at the Neighborhood Community Center, as City Council contenders were
thrown pointed questions designed to topple weak competitors.
Mayor Linda Dixon, Councilman Gary Monahan, Planning Commission
Chairwoman Katrina Foley, Planning Commissioner Bill Perkins and
Human Relations Committee member Alan Mansoor, each did their share
of bobbing, weaving, attacking and defending during the forum hosted
by Mesa Verde Community Inc. homeowner's assn. And each returned to
their respective corners to receive pats on the back from their
supporters.
Former Mayor Peter Buffa -- who is a Daily Pilot columnist --
moderated the forum, posing one question to each candidate for them
to answer in full and then giving the others a chance to add their
two cents if they chose to. About 10 issues were massaged into
question form, giving each contender roughly two chances to shine.
Popular issues such as the need for a skate park and
revitalization of the Westside were slam dunks for the candidates,
who all said they would work diligently for both. The contentious
19th Street and Gisler bridges, which are currently outlined on
regional maps to create major thoroughfares out of two city roads,
were equally abhorred by all five.
Because the forum was hosted by Mesa Verde homeowners, many of
whom largely opposed the Home Ranch development, many questions
touched on lingering topics from the development's approval process,
such as affordable housing and the candidate's resolve to stick to
the city's general plan.
Those who tackled the affordable housing topic agreed it was a
difficult issue that required cooperation between the city, the
federal government and private developers to bring more reasonably
priced homes to the city -- if that's what residents wanted.
Sitting council members were quick to point out that in numerous
occasions, including the Home Ranch development, the public was
largely opposed to any type of multi-family housing that is generally
more economically feasible than single family homes.
"The community asked for lower densities and the affordable factor
went right out the window," said Monahan, while outlining the classic
relationship between higher densities and lower prices and lower
densities and higher prices.
Mansoor said the city was doing its part to provide affordable
housing and was setting "a good example" for the rest of the county.
