Issues

I believes that the strength of democracy depends on well-informed citizens who actively participate in government. My key priorities for Burlingame are:

• Create jobs and stimulate the economy. I am helping to carry out the vision for our city in its new Downtown Plan and will continue to make Burlingame a business friendly community.
• Cut costs and build reserves to fund future needs. Our City Council has dramatically reduced spending since 9/11 and has begun forecasting budgets over six years. We currently budget for only 2 percent growth in revenues each year and are banking excess funds for long-term needs.
• Provide better transportation. As a member of the county’s Transportation Authority, I am helping to shape transportation for the future. I believes we should create a transportation plan that serves our city’s needs – not those of high speed rail. I am strongly opposed to any proposal that would divide our community.
• Leverage resources with schools. I will continue to forge city-school partnerships to save money and maximize service to the public.
• Encourage clean green projects that pay for themselves in energy savings. Our city won a national environmental award in 2011 for our green initiatives, but there's much more we can do.

Financial Health and Economic Development

Our city's finances are in excellent shape. To bring in more revenues, we’ve been aggressively courting businesses and it's working. Between 2009-10 and 2010-11, our sales tax revenues have increased 28 percent and our income from our local hotel tax has risen 29 percent. A number of new businesses have opened in Burlingame, including Nissan.

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High Speed Rail & Transportation

The current plan for high speed rail on the Peninsula is badly flawed and does not take into consideration the needs of local cities and residents. As a member of the county’s Transportation Authority, I believe we must begin planning now for transportation improvements that we want in the future. Our current county transit system will continue to be insufficient for our needs until we can agree on the improvements we want.

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Support for Education

As a former  PTA president and Honorary Life Member of the Lincoln PTA I have always been a strong supporter of schools and have helped on numerous school parcel tax campaigns, including many nights of phone banking.

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Emergency Preparedness & Crime Prevention

The Neighborhood Network program encourages citizens to work cooperatively in neighborhood teams to prepare for disasters. In the process of getting better acquainted, neighbors are inspired to plan other events such as block parties and holiday get-togethers. Their sense of community fosters a “Neighborhood Watch” awareness that helps prevent crime.

To learn more, click on "more" or contact Terry at terry@terrynagel.com or (650) 347-3576.

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The Greening of Burlingame

There is overwhelming evidence that our planet is undergoing significant changes that may compromise the future welfare of our children and grandchildren. We need to begin acting immediately to reduce carbon emissions and implement more sustainable practices.

Burlingame has already taken significant steps to “go green.” You can read more about the city’s progress to date on the city’s website and see why Burlingame was awarded a national environmental award in 2011. There is much more to be done.

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Civic Engagement

Here’s what I learned at a civic engagement seminar called “Focus on Community Engagement." It was presented by FOCUS (a partnership of four regional agencies in the Bay Area) with Common Sense California and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group

You can read what Burlingame is doing to foster civic engagement here.

Carl Guardino of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group pointed out the value of community participation by asking, “Do you feel more ownership if you build it or you buy it?”

Public engagement enhances government’s effectiveness and improves the quality of its decisions

• There is a lower chance of “blowback”
• Decisions are more creative, with better ideas incorporated
• Residents are more informed

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