Many of the Ward 1 streets are in disrepair. Sidewalks are cracked and displaced by tree roots. Gutters do not drain properly and pooled water breeds mosquitoes. Dead and dying eucalyptus trees dot the landscape. Palm trees go untrimmed for years creating a substantial fire hazard.

These issues need to be a top priority, not at the bottom of the list. There are hundreds of millions of dollars in the Riverside Renaissance program. I believe we should take care of our existing infrastructure before embarking on major new spending programs. Would you rather be able to drive across the Main Street mall on Ninth Street (one of our recent downtown “improvements”) or have your own street repaired, your gutters fixed and your trees trimmed?

I think our current Council does not have its priorities in order. As your representative, I will make the maintenance and enhancement of our existing infrastructure a top priority.