On Aug. 30, The Weekly submitted the following questions to District 4 candidates — Kevin Park, the incumbent, and challenger Teresa O’Neill. Candidates had until Sept. 13 to reply. Below are the answers The Weekly received from Park. O’Neill, who Park unseated to get on the council, replied that she was “swamped with campaign requirements” and didn’t “have time to answer” the questions given to her. Answers are presented verbatim.
What are the biggest resident concerns in your district?
Park: People without housing in encampments, parked vehicles within neighborhoods, and on public streets is the biggest complaint. If the problem is unexpected and often disorganized encampments where we do not want people to be, we should identify places with services where people without housing CAN go, taking into consideration neighborhoods, but also the safety and comfort of people who will live there.
Traffic, especially around schools, and safety for children are also big. We need better/more crosswalks, but also better ways to move that do not result in vehicles with only one rider, even if electric.
What ideas do you have for El Camino Real?
Park: While housing is an issue and the go-to answer for most, having a vibrant, walkable El Camino Real is important. We can no longer afford to look at parcels along the El Camino individually, but have to start looking at how the different projects work together to form a cohesive area. If we are going to try to put lots of people along El Camino, it has to be a place that supports lots of business and activities. See my next answer for more.
Do you support high-density housing on El Camino Real?
Park: High-density housing along El Camino has to come with enough retail and services to support not only new residents, but also to replace the resources projects may be displacing. El Camino needs to be walkable, and not just for the residents that live there. A walkable El Camino should be a draw for everyone, inside and outside Santa Clara. High-density housing needs to be seen as a bonus on top of that, not as the main objective. In high-density areas, there should be multiple choices to eat and shop without having to resort to transit, just by going downstairs.
What would you do to promote a collegial and respectful city council?
Park: You cannot legislate behavior, adopt codes of conduct or sign pledges to get collegiality and respect. The chair impacts the tenor of a meeting, and if the chair’s tendency is to belittle, restrict, or speak over the body, professionalism has already been lost. We must acknowledge the situation and correctly attribute causes; failure to do so does not fix the problem. For example, there are recent problems of leaks, but Santa Clara has a history of leaks starting before most of council was elected. Future may bring clarity. Until then, I will continue to be professional and help chair the chair.
What are your thoughts on negative campaigning? Unless you support such campaigning, how do you plan to address the inevitable campaigns targeting your opponents? If you support such campaigning, please explain why.
Park: Lies and omissions are worse, but calling them out can be seen as negative campaigning. People should verify statements everyone makes and call them out when they are mistaken. We need less negativity, but not with more lies and untruths. Not every statement against a candidate is negative campaigning.
For example, calling out someone for being the first person in history to run for a third term when we have two-term lifetime limits by using a loophole that they themselves hoped no one would use is not negative campaigning; it is holding people accountable for their words and actions.
What actions would you take with respect to the long-stalled Related project? What is your opinion of Related’s new plan?
Park: Related had most of a decade to complete their proposal to previous councils. Not only are they not paying for City land, but we lost a public golf course and profitable businesses. Plans should augment the entertainment district, working with the convention center, the stadium, and other points of interest to create places for people to go and things for people to do.
Restart Economic and Marketing subcommittee meetings so that we can publicly discuss possibilities, like a land swap that preserves Great America and allows projects to start near the stadium so that we have something in place for 2026.
How can Santa Clara benefit from hosting the Super Bowl and the World Cup? What do you plan to do to ensure this?
Park: We lose potential income at stadium events without enough retail and restaurants to entice attendees to stay. Parking and transit issues make people ask “How do I get out of here?” Places to go and things to do – especially late-night – like paseos people can walk and shop safely, would make the area a huge income source. Related may not be fully ready, but other nearby areas, like Kylli or maybe Mission College, can be. We should have synergistic events at the convention center, Great America, Mission College, Central Park, historic downtown, and others, but we need to start planning now.
What initiatives have you supported during your tenure on the council that demonstrate your priorities?
Park: As a housing advocate, I have tried to improve projects, including a supportive services shelter in my district. I have introduced safety programs to schools and have fought for livable wages and worker rights. I tried to acquire funding and support for athletics programs, like the Swim Club and the BMX track. I helped resolve lawsuits which improved the City’s long-term outlook and brought immediate money to our general fund. I work every day to fight the lies that plague government and prevent our City from moving forward. I fight to keep costs reasonable and people’s quality of life high.
Election day is Nov. 5, 2024. To register to vote, visit the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters website. The deadline to register to vote is 15 days before the election.
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