Monday, August 4, 2014

Victor Spano candidate for city council, "Let's Go Pacifica!"


"Let's Go Pacifica!"
Victor Alfred Spano
Victor Spano for City Council
"Pacifica is a great community that is blessed with a spectacular oceanside and hillside environment. We have attracted many to our neighborhoods over the years, with our proximity to San Francisco and Silicon Valley, however, there are still serious challenges ahead of us.  We must continue to take the appropriate steps to secure our city’s financial future.  We must also address such critical issues as the availability of community services, economic development.
 
With my strong background in local government, as a Pacifica Chamber of Commerce Member, and as former Chair of Pacifica’s Economic Development Committee, I have the experience needed to successfully guide our city through the challenges ahead. As a long-time resident of Pacifica, I also understand that as we act to keep our city fiscally strong, attracting the right mix of businesses and ensuring responsible growth, we cannot allow these decisions to impact the lifestyle that we all enjoy in Pacifica today.  



I’m running for Pacifica City Council because my background makes me uniquely qualified to meet these challenges. ...

Victor Spano About.  One of my first jobs was Planning Intern with City of Pacifica.   I was project planner on several projects, all still standing today!  I then went to work for City of Daly City, working as Assistant Planner, Community Development Specialist, Public Works Management Analyst and lastly Economic Development Coordinator, where I assisted businesses who wanted to get started in Daly City.  I recently retired after a 20 year career.  I am the only candidate who has worked full-time at a City Hall.   

Victor and family
Victor Spano Issues.  Millions of dollars in the RED, Pacifica ought to Sell City Owned Properties:  City of Pacifica has been holding on to three prime commercial properties:  1) Beach Boulvard - a hotel residential and restaurant site that might include a new library, 2) the Corp Yard...former Ed Cordero Chevrolet location, and 3) the seldom used Francisco Boulevard parking lot, also a hotel or retail site.    Revitalization of these sites will create jobs and property taxes.  
 
Smart Growth:  The Climate Action Plan defines "Smart Growth" as development near transit and near commercial areas.   Carefully planned environmentally sensitive new homes can invigorate the community with new families and spending power, without degrading our environment."

Related -  Linked in, "Victor Alfred Spano" Background Economic Development/Real Estate, Environmental Services.  Pacifica Riptide Questions Long Version, 5/14, published 8/3/14, Victor Spano for City Council, 2014, (You Tube), 9:55 minutes.

Note photographs.  From Victor Spano Candidate for City Council 2014, sign from Donate, family from About.  Victor from Linked in (related above).

Posted by Kathy Meeh

61 comments:

Anonymous said...

Check out the YouTube interview. He actually says something, whether we agree with it or not. That sets him apart from the political hacks in charge now.

Anonymous said...

Victor is sincere and truly cares about Pacifica. He will do the right thing. He's got my vote.

Anonymous said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKQNpZLPW1Q&feature=youtu.be#sthash.bfyZGD8i.dpuf

Anonymous said...

And the most important question that Bray had was,

How much did you make when you worked at the City Of Daly City?

Anonymous said...

Pacifica should improve with Victor on Council.Current Council is totally lost on what happened to $4,000,000 and everything else.

Anonymous said...

I repeat my question?

What has the current council did to better Pacifican's way of life and better the city?

Anonymous said...

Does Victor know what happened to the $4 mil?

Anonymous said...

Lost would be good.

Anonymous said...

1030 Victor is not on Council yet.Current council would like to bury this $4,000,000 issue,it is really embarassing.

Anonymous said...

702 A whopping $77,826 for the economic development coordinator of Daly City per the State Controller's report for 2012. It's not peanuts and the benies and pension are nice, but this is the Bay Area where SF cost of living and salaries set the standard. Too pricey? Move.

Anonymous said...

1059 Council embarrassed? This is Pacifica. They have no shame. The Mayor actually launched her Pride of Pacifica garbage on the heels of this council's epic oopsie. Misplaced 4 million and Nihart wants to slap stickers on stuff. It's positively therapeutic!

Anonymous said...

Find the $4 million? Ask Sue Digre. She was on council the entire time this money was shuffled around and lost. Ask sue: suedigre@gmail.com. Let us know if she responds

Anonymous said...

$77,000 seems cheap to me,when other public servants approach $200,000.$100,000 doesn't allow much fun in Pacifica.I notice that Council likes to consider cuts to social services when budget shortfalls occur.What help did Pacifica give poor people in mobile park on rent increases?None

Anonymous said...

1137 What help should the city give to people who can't pay their rent? It's going to be a temporary band-aid at best. The Resource Center is there, but if it's about landlord's raising rents how much help can they give? This city doesn't control the housing market or a private-property owner. Long term housing assistance is more than a small city can take on but it's available through the county, state, feds and partnerships with non-profs.

Anonymous said...

1133 What I want to know is how long has somebody been keeping this a secret and why. Sure looks like they just wanted to keep spending on pet projects. It grew from 2 mill in 2003 to 4 mill now. I do not believe this was just discovered by new CM. Not at all. She may have said let's get this out and now is an opportune time, but this was no secret. She may have had to explain the implications to some of the Five but certainly not to all of them. Are they still spending? Using inter-fund lending? Would we even know it?

Anonymous said...

1133 Do not expect to get any Councilperson explanation unless a hearing is held.

Anonymous said...

All of them didn't know any better? Didn't know to use real numbers or stop spending when they ran out of money? How quickly we forget all that business background they bragged about while campaigning. All of them didn't understand? My ass.

Anonymous said...

1224 Karen Ervin said she was for affordable housing as part of Pacifica general plan.What happened?Pacifica does not encourage housing in general plan.Karen said we have Pacifica rent control to protect people.What happened?Mayor Nihart said.How much is affordable?Council does not have a clue it appears.

Anonymous said...

Victor supports more housing in Pacifica to address community needs,along with economic development which will support social services.

Anonymous said...

122 Politics happened. It always happens. Safer to sit on the fence. IMO affordable housing (even the few token units offered by market-rate developers) is still housing, and it has foes. Low-income housing is almost guaranteed opposition from the neighbors. What's a poor Pacifica Politician to do? Stay on that fence, nodding along and wringing their hands, tsk tsk.

Anonymous said...

Karen also said she wanted to turn Palmetto into Pacifica's new downtown. It still looks like the same shithole it's always been.

Anonymous said...

With all due respect to Victor Spano for whom I may vote, it is odd how so many candidates have supported all this good stuff (or at least not openly opposed it) and yet the results never materialize. We vote and the next thing you know they've got a spot on the fence, nodding along, slapping smiley face stickers on stuff, duh I dunno what happened.

Anonymous said...

Save us San Bruno! Consolidate.

Anonymous said...

Big grass fire by Ortega School. Counted 9 firetrucks. Can anyone see it.

Anonymous said...

239 IMO,Too bad Karen isn't up for election ,as other political drones.If Mary Ann's outside positions necessitates her stepping down,we are stuck with wavering Karen.

Anonymous said...

1125 was Bray. He said the same lame crap over in riptide about Mary Ann's Pride awards. Compulsive much Todd?

Hutch said...

I back Victor Spano 100%. He'll be a breath of fresh air and hopefully he can replace Sue Digre. Donate if you can

http://vspano311.moonfruit.com/get-involved/4584478514

Anonymous said...

516 Paranoid obsessive just a tad? 1125 wasn't Bray.

Anonymous said...

Is Stone running?

Anonymous said...

509 Wishful thinking or are you saying there's an exit strategy being planned? Can total collapse be far behind?

Anonymous said...

I like Victor and I particularly appreciated his honest and insightful response in the YouTube interview to the question about the Purge of the Planning Commission. I bet he's seen a lot of the same kind of dog and pony shows in his job with Daly City. Hope he's developed a distaste for them. I'll vote for him.

Anonymous said...

1133 Do not expect to get any Councilperson explanation unless a hearing is held.

August 5, 2014 at 12:47 PM

We have congressional hearings and no one explains anything!

Anonymous said...

I like Vic Spano. I think the city screwed the pooch and should have hired him for economic development. He brought in a lot of business to Daly City.

Hutch said...

John Keener is saying he was against measure v. I don't recall John Keener doing anything to help us fight measure V. No letters, no donation, no volunteering, not even a request for a yard sign.

But some of Keeners biggest backers; Peter Loeb, Hal Bohner & Cynthia Kaufman were in fact on record as big supporters of measure v the phone tax.

Victor Spano on the other hand was THE hardest working volunteer we had on the no on v campaign. Victor not only donated his own money, but he spent more time than anyone handing out flyers door to door, putting up banners and talking to towns folk.

It's easy for Keener to say he was against the phone tax, But Victor Spano stepped up and did something about it.

Anonymous said...

826 Stone is waiting for the last minute to announce. Trying to minimize exposure? If he doesn't run then there will be an extension to put in papers.

Unemployed Amusement Park Character said...

Here is the city clerk's page on filing status. Stone never pulled papers. Digre did, but has not returned them, time is running out, as papers are due Friday.

http://www.cityofpacifica.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=6836

Anonymous said...

Digre shoud retire. How will she explain the millions mis-spent over her 12 years on council? She was asleep.

Unemployed Amusement Park Character said...

Update.
Sue Digre finished her paperwork. Therese Dyer has taken out papers. Therese has until Friday to get her signatures in, since she's in the nomination period.

Anonymous said...

It was a group nap. Hell, the whole
town slept.

Anonymous said...

Don't forget about Term Limits.

Anonymous said...

Please vote out Sue and Mike Oneal neither of them have done a damned thing. Oh wait, they increased debt, and raised fees and taxes.

Vote them both out!

Anonymous said...

@730 That's quite an odd couple! You're just funnin', right?

Anonymous said...

As much as I would want to see the City Council smack down between Mary Ann and Therese that will never happen.

BTW what in the hell has Karen Ervin, done? She only speaks when Mary Ann tells her it is ok.

Anonymous said...

Am I too late to vote out Vreeland and Lancelle? I had a dream about excessive spending and losing Mori Point to the feds. Nails. Coffin. They've got to be stopped.

Anonymous said...

A Therese, Tod and Roger slate would flush out the voters. Not saying they'd vote for them, but it would probably be a record turnout.

Anonymous said...

934 Ervin a puppet? Well, duh. And they just need one more obedient trusty little drone without a single! atom! of! independence!

Anonymous said...

Is Tod Schlesinger running?
That will be the best way to calm
him down. I really like Tod he's got good ideas and it's good about
saving and making money.

I am hoping to see his name in the ballot.
I am glad Teressa is running.She will do good and she know what are these clowns are doing.

Anonymous said...

Therese really researches facts & figures.A good investigator!Todd really picks on Councilmember weaknesses and his superiority over them is projected.He creates enemies, for sure.Roger is persistent and wants to wear down council on his one,too narrow issue.It is too obsessive issue.What about the rest?

Anonymous said...

Flood the field and you split the vote which helps the incumbents. This must be Pacifica! Ass. Backwards.

Hutch said...

730 You obviously have not been awake for the past 2 years. Mike ONeill has been working hard to bring more transparency to all city issues. He has held several meetings on his own all over town explaining what is going on with major projects. He is probly our hardest working councilmember and he always responds to citizens in need.

Who the hell would you replace him with anyway?

Crazy.

Anonymous said...

Mike ONeil supports the $30,000,000 library as a one only .He supports tapping sewer fund or "What services do you want cut?"He says Calera Parkway is regional planning,as if to avoid issue.Mary Ann said "What would I do without Mike?"I think we could do without him.

Kathy Meeh said...

650 twisted comment from little 'ol anonymous you? I'm planning to supporting both Mike O'Neill, and Victor Spano. Mike is a pragmatist, who I'm pretty sure supports improving this city through both economic development and highway widening. (He's a Realtor, duh). And BTW, highway 1 traffic flow through this city is a regional planning issue, and highway 1 is a State road, not a city road-- those are facts.

Of course the alternative to not "tapping the sewer fund" could have been further city financial deterioration, or city bankruptcy and a big parcel assessment from that-- or a variety of big taxes and fees (which are sounding better than the current status).

Referring to incumbent City Councilmember Mike O'Neill, Hutch 1108 ask YOU a question: "Who the hell would you replace him with anyway?" Please answer that question, so we will all have a better idea who you are, and your intention (including possible hidden agenda).

Anonymous said...

It's going to take either more taxes or severe cuts to keep this town afloat. There's nothing else out there for Pacifica. Economic development takes decades to pay off and that's with leadership taking us in that direction. Not happening yet. I'd like to clone Mike O'Neill.

Anonymous said...

834 I agree with you about cloning Mike ONeill.

But you're wrong about economic development taking decades to pay off. As we've seen adding just a few dozen hotel rooms adds 100's of thousands a year to our Gen Fund within a couple of years. We can easily add more rooms and approve the new hotel at the Dallas's site and elsewhere

Anonymous said...

I agee with 730am.I will vote for Spano,Keener,& Therese,if she gets on ballot.All NO on V's.Smart since 66% NO on V.Pacifica will have to stop Calera Parkway if Hwy 1 opponents petition for referendum.Better to compromise before its too late.$30,000,000 library,would not have much support from these candidates.

Anonymous said...

910 With this town's deficit and the expenses coming our way for salaries, pensions and infrastructure repair, it's going to take more than a few new small-med hotels to keep this town afloat, although I agree with you that adding hotels needs to be a priority. We've seen nothing else with that much bang for the buck. We need millions in new consistent revenue. There is nothing like that on the way.

Anonymous said...

@943 I'm voting for Spano because I think he sees through the bullshit and political posturing several members of council engage in on a daily basis. I liked the reason he gave in his YouTube interview for being against V, ie, if council didn't actively support the measure, how could he or the community? Given this town's precarious finances and lack of options, I think any candidate who claims he/she would oppose all new taxes is either stupid or lying. Haven't we had enough of stupidity and lies? I'll support someone who demands that elected officials make and support tough decisions together for the good of the community because tough decisions are going to have to be made.

Anonymous said...

A vote for Keener Sue and Mike ONeal are votes for bankruptcy!

Kathy Meeh said...

638 John Keener and Sue Digre are against highway widening and against development. Mike O'Neill, on the other hand, supports highway widening and supports development.

A vote for Mike O'Neill will allow him to continue work from his prior two year only term. And since you didn't open the 2012 Smart Voter link I posted prior, here it is again: Mike O'Neill.

638 its a long way to the November election. Please spare us all from such confused, falsely linked, nonsense comments.

Hutch said...

you are 2/3 right 638. Keener and Sue are anti economic development.

Mike ONeill has proven by his votes and actions that he favors economic development. He is probably our hardest working councilperson and spends his own time explaining various projects to citizens in many public meetings he alone organized and held.

Anonymous said...

Eric Ruchames has attended a bunch of the anti highway meetings. Is he with these people? Or is he trying to play both sides?

No matter, he is a leader for the 30M library and he was a big supporter of the phone tax. Being an X Pacifica cop and union leader seals his fate with me.