8/8/2019 Beverly Johnson

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/beverly-johnson 1/3

The Island’s CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE 

Name: Beverly J. Johnson 

Age 

Occupation: Mayor/Attorney 

Relevant experience: The experience I have gained during my tenure on

the council will be essential to help guide our city through the challenges

that we will face during the next four year. We need to move forward

with the redevelopment of Alameda Point in a way that the city maintains

control of the development to ensure that the development meets the

needs of the community and not the profit requirements of the

developer. We need to keep our city fiscally strong, as it is currently. I

have the knowledge and experience that will be required to lead our citysuccessfully through these challenging times.

Why are you running for this office?: During my tenure as mayor, I have

successfully worked to transform and improve our community. Under my

leadership, we have completed our new main library, restored the

Alameda Theatre, completed streetscaping improvements to the Webster 

Street and Park Street business districts. I lead efforts to renovate Towne

Centre and Bridgeside center and successfully worked with the developer 

provide land and funding for Ruby Bridges School. My efforts have

bought many new businesses and jobs to Alameda including Pete’s

Coffee. I am running because I want to continue this positive change for Alameda.

Why should we vote for you?: I have the proven ability to work with the

community to set goal and accomplish those goals. 

What do you feel are the roles and responsibilities of the office you’re

seeking?: Ensure that the city government is fiscally sound and

sustainable. 

Work with the council to set policy for the city. 

Guide the redevelopment of Alameda Point in a way that will benefit the

community. 

I have built a very strong working relationship between the city and the

school district. We do many joint projects together. We need to continue

and expand those efforts, especially in these tough economic times.

8/8/2019 Beverly Johnson

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/beverly-johnson 2/3

 

I will continue to improve access to government by our residents,

including improvements to the city website. I will bring back initiatives for 

campaign finance reform, a sunshine ordinance, and lobbyist registration

which I supported and were unnecessarily delayed by others. 

What do you think is the most pressing issue you would face if elected and

what would you do to address it?: Solving the problems facing our schools

is an urgent issue for our community. Although, we have an elected

school board and independent school district, it is imperative that city

leaders work with the school district to develop solutions that work for our 

community. We will need to work together to develop a parcel tax to

support our schools. I will continue my efforts to maintain the quality of our 

schools and ensure top quality education for our students. 

What do you think needs to be done with Alameda Point – and what stepswould you take to make that happen?: We need to keep Suncal out. The

city must maintain control of the development. We must work with

development partners to ensure that the ultimate development enhances

existing Alameda and is not simply a development that meets the profit

goals of a developer. Our emphasis needs to be job creation first. We

need to work with the community to establish limits on the number of

housing units to a sustainable level. 

What steps would you take to bolster Alameda’s economic base?: I would

continue the measures and efforts that I have lead for the last eight

years. Redevelopment of blighted areas of Alameda, continueimprovements to our retail districts, continue support for our facade grant

program. In general, we must continue to bring business and jobs to

Alameda and provide business with support to ensure that they stay. 

Questions have been raised about whether the city is transparent enough

in conducting its business. Do you think this is an issue and if so, what do

you see as being specific problems and how would you seek to resolve

them?: There have been many improvements made over the past several

years to ensure transparency. I am fully committed to continuing efforts to

improve transparency even more. That is why I fully supported theestablishment of the Sunshine Task Force. I also supported putting in

place campaign finance reform and lobbyist registration prior to the

current elections, which efforts were thwarted and unnecessarily delayed

by others. I believe that we need to continue and even increase access

to information and documentation through the city website. We need to

implement prior direction to improve the city website.

8/8/2019 Beverly Johnson

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/beverly-johnson 3/3

Pensions and retiree health benefits will be a huge financial issue for the

city. How would you address it?: The city and the public safety bargaining

groups have committed to a process to address the issue of retiree health

and pension benefits. We need to continue those efforts through the

established process to ensure that the benefit package is sustainable. 

Would you seek to preserve Measure A or amend it and if you’d amend it,

under what circumstances would you do so?: Measure A is part of our 

charter and can only be changed by a vote of the people. If the

community supported efforts to modify Measure A for a particular project,

then I would be willing to consider such an effort.

How are you financing your campaign and to whom are you reaching out

for money?: I am reaching out to members of our community to support

my campaign.