Mountain View must keep evolving to remain a welcoming environment for technological innovation and an inviting place to live and work.
- I helped transition Castro Street into a pedestrian mall creating an exciting place to gather, eat, stroll and shop.
- I supported increasing City staff to work directly with small businesses throughout the community to increase their success.
- I supported the creation of a new Economic Vitality department to create livable, sustainable neighborhoods, and a strong innovation-driven local economy.
- I support collaboration with our major employers to improve the community.
The city of Mountain View has been blessed with economic good fortune since its beginning. Hay and wheat growing gave way to the lucrative stone fruit industry. Mountain View was a vital part of the “Valley of Heart’s Delight”. Publishing, canning and seed production were strong industries before the introduction of new technologies of aircraft, transistors and computer components. The creation of the internet, faster computing and the information industry has provided a firm foundation for the city.
Two years ago, I supported the creation of a new Economic Vitality department “to create a thriving community where small businesses, innovation, entrepreneurship, and diversity are encouraged and flourish.” Dedicated staff, experts in planning, are guided by Mountain View’s Economic Vitality Strategy that recognizes the unique character of our businesses and community as well as identifies and addresses opportunities and challenges.
The Economic Vitality Strategy aligns the City’s vision for a welcoming, vibrant city that plans intentionally and leads regionally to create livable, sustainable neighborhoods, access to nature and open spaces, and a strong innovation-driven local economy. Our Economic Vitality Strategy identifies 25 implementation strategies and 164 actions the city and its partners can focus on for the next 10 years.
The vitality of Downtown Mountain View is a focus of city management and City Council. COVID gave us the opportunity to see how closing three blocks of Castro would affect its appearance, activities and dynamic. After much input from the community, a three-block pedestrian mall was designed on Castro Street. This will be a short-term and long-term process to create an exciting place to gather, eat, stroll and shop.
I serve on the Chamber of Commerce’s Business Issues & Public Policy Committee which educates me about issues that the City might assist with. I support programs at the Day Workers Center which teach skills and promote the opening of micro-businesses such as the Mompreneurs (Mom Entrepreneurs).
I support measures to help small businesses downtown and throughout our city because our small businesses provide needed goods, services, experiences and jobs. Small businesses that are started by local innovators may need a helping hand to be successful.