8/8/2019 Jean Sweeney

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/jean-sweeney 1/2

The Island’s CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

Name/Occupation: My name is Jean Sweeney; I am a retired public and

Montessori schoolteacher with time to devote to being a city council

member.

•  I have been an advocate for the city of Alameda for over 20 years.

I discovered the 1924 contract that forced the Alameda Belt Line

railroad to sell back to the city 30 acres of land at 1924 prices.

•  I wrote the application that put the Veteran’s building on the

National Register.

•  Because of my efforts, you and your family can ride your bikes

along the Bay Trail from Cardinal Point to Grand Street.

•  I helped write the development guidelines for the Northern

Waterfront

which has been amended to the General Pan.•  For 10 years, I have been actively involved with the toxic clean-up

of Alameda Point. I understand the complexities of the process.

Age:

Why are you running for this office?: Alameda needs a person who has

proven that she has the courage, intelligence and perseverance to see

her positions realized.

Why should we vote for you?: I was given a good citizen award for my

work to make the 30 acre Belt Line Railroad purchase possible. I havebeen endorced by the Alameda County Green Party. The Alameda Belt

Line v City of Alameda case made the 2nd most notable cases in

Alameda County in January 2004 by the California Bar Associations Real

Property Journal.

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

seeking?: Set policy and maintain competent staff to implement those

policies.

What do you think is the most pressing issue you would face if elected andwhat would you do to address it?: The most pressing issue is to keep the

city solvent, while developing the Point in a manner that adds to our 

financial base.

What do you think needs to be done with Alameda Point – and what steps

would you take to make that happen?: Alameda Point needs to be

developed in a manner that recognizes the City’s traffic limitations and

8/8/2019 Jean Sweeney

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/jean-sweeney 2/2

works within those limits. We are on the right path at present focusing on

a non-profit to oversee development. If the City is the master developer,

then the city can keep the profits and put them to work for the citizens of

Alameda.

What steps would you take to bolster Alameda’s economic base?: Toattract business, keep the city solvent. Business will come to a city that has

its financial house in order.

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?: I support transparency but I don’t support another layer of

government. Get the ordinance enacted and disband. Have an

enforcement arm that responds to breaches of the ordinance but is

otherwise inactive.

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

city. How would you address it?: Everyone will have to work together on

the pension issues. We can’t go bankrupt and yet we need our firemen.

Overtime is also an issue.

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 does not need

any changing. We now have a density bonus that can easily make

Alameda Point look like downtown San Francisco. I am that a voice of

reason to prevent being overrun with cars and traffic.

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

for money?: Individual donations from Alameda citizens.