Gilmore reluctant to cut services

Friday, September 24, 2004 By Susan Fuller, Alameda Journal

Attorney Marie Gilmore, 43, has been a City Councilwoman since September 2003, when she was appointed to fill the term of late Councilman Al DeWitt. She served on the Planning Board from 1994 to 2003, two years as president, and on the Recreation Commission in 1992 and 1994. She has degrees from Stanford University and Boalt Hall School of Law.

What do you think about what the city's done on work/live lofts? Should there be more work/live?

Work/live is a good idea but you have to remember the genesis of it is preservation. You have to give an economic incentive to preserve old commercial buildings, otherwise they will go to the wrecking ball. Just because buildings are old doesn't mean they are historic and worth saving.

We need to take a look at the ordinance to be sure we don't extend it beyond the redevelopment areas and that it applies to buildings intended for it. I've asked city staff how many buildings the ordinance would apply to.

Do you want retail at FISC? Why or why not.

I'm very leery about adding retail that could hurt revitalization efforts on Park and Webster streets and South Shore Center.

There's a lot of retail space in Alameda that's underutilized. We shouldn't add more until it's filled.

I'm inclined to put the retail proposal on hold. I'm a little more lenient toward retail at Alameda Point to reuse the historic buildings in the civic core.

What do you think about the budget cutting decisions the council made? What else would you have supported?

The City Council needs to keep a close eye on the budget and bring it back for frequent review and updating.

We need to close the gap left when the 911 fee was dropped. It's hard to talk about cuts without talking about public safety, the largest user of city dollars.

What's appealing about the 911 fee is that it would go to public safety. The consensus of the council is to put it on the ballot. If the voters aren't willing to pass it, it tells us the community doesn't value public safety as much as the council does.

I don't like a 5 percent across-the-board cut; it would affect public services. We may need to look at personnel cuts.

Should the city continue helping the schools financially?

Yes. The city's mission is to provide services to its citizens. Kids are our citizens and will be the people running the city in the future.

What would you have advocated for Harbor Island tenants that is different from what the council is doing?

I very much support what the City Council is doing.

You can plan and think you know how things will go. It never fails, somebody comes out of the blue and blindsides you and you have to deal with it. Nobody saw this coming.

How would you use the barracks at Alameda Point, considering their historical status, challenging layout and Measure A?

I'd like something similar to the proposed plans for the Del Monte building: mixed retail, maybe some housing.

You have to give a developer some incentive to come in there, otherwise that bit of our history will be lost or the buildings will sit as white elephants while the rest of the base is developed around them.

I would want it proven to me that we can't reuse them before we discuss whether or not to tear them down. Once you tear them down you can't get them back.

What could the City Council do to break down the perceived or real East/West Alameda divide?

Once the base gets going the geographical center of the Island will shift, creating more reasons to go to the West End. The city needs to use redevelopment and grant money to make improvements talked about for years.

New homes (at Bayport) will do a lot to break down the divide.

What actions has the council taken in the past four years that you strongly support or oppose?

I support filing the suit against Harbor Island, getting going on the Northern Waterfront Specific Plan, the help the council has given to Park and Webster streets and holding the line on South Shore in terms of what the community wants to see on the waterfront.

I can't think of anything I oppose.

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Last Modified: September 24, 2004

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