MARY'S MATTERS

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Planning for Sea Level Rise

Sea Level Rise

Pacifica’s Local Coastal Plan Update has been released and it recommends what many of us have always known; in order to protect ourselves, our homes and our businesses we must armor and protect our coastline. While this remains a contentious issue in our town, you can be assured that Mary believes strongly that armoring and protecting our coast should be our top priority.

Additionally, Mary is committed to participating in regional planning that involves sea level rise. We cannot work in silos when addressing this issue. What Pacifica, Half Moon Bay and San Francisco do to protect their citizens and coastlines will affect us all. Mary knows that working regionally will help us acquire the information and funding that will bring our City to capacity and protect us from the effects of climate change. Working together will help to turn our plans into reality.

Protecting Our Local Environment

Water, Parks, Beaches, & Trails

Recently reports were released stating that San Pedro Creek is listed on the Clean Water Act 303(d) list of impaired water bodies due to high bacteria levels. Mary has always advocated for local solutions to local issues, which is why Mary supports the Pacifica Beach Coalition. PBC brings community members together to nurture and restore our ocean, beaches, wildlife, and coastal environments. When she is on the City Council, Mary will continue to work with and push for funding for our hometown advocates.

As chair of Pacifica’s Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission, Mary knows how important it is to support programs that enhance the health and vitality of our city. Our incredible open spaces and trails are imperative for sustaining the recreation, serenity and beauty of Pacifica. Working closely with the Open Space and Parkland Advisory Committee will ensure sustainable policies and protections for Pacifica.

Addressing Housing & Homelessness

Affordable Housing

Like many of us, Mary is a renter in Pacifica, paying more than 50% of her income for rent alone. This is not a healthy or sustainable way of life. Insufficient affordable housing has become a crisis in our city, throughout our county and all over the Bay Area. We have ignored this issue for too long; we can and we must begin developing low density mixed use buildings that include affordable units.

Furthermore, we must update our permit laws to reflect these changing times. Adding an accessory dwelling unit or converting a garage needs to be as easy as possible. We, as a community, must reassess all the ways we can create affordable housing so that our friends and neighbors can keep a roof over their heads and put food on their tables.

Finally, we can strengthen our outreach programs to help connect community resources to our citizens struggling to make ends meet. Easing financial burdens by providing housing assistance, groceries, formula, and/or diapers, can make all the difference between living in your home or being forced into your car or the shelter system.

Vehicularly Housed Residents

The number of people experiencing homelessness in Pacifica is increasing. Friends and neighbors are using their cars or RVs for temporary places to live. As a City Council member Mary will continue to work with local businesses, law enforcement, churches, and community members to help designate areas and set time frames that allow RV dwellers to rest safely and responsibly dispose of their waste.

Mary will also help to connect the vehicularly housed with local resources that can help them access basic necessities. Ticketing and towing these vehicles will only hurt our citizens who have fallen on hard times. Instead, we must focus our energy on helping these residents find permanent housing.

Rotating Shelter & Safe Parking Program

In the winter months it is imperative that our homeless population obtain safety and warmth indoors. We cannot continue to rely on other cities to shelter our homeless population; too often there are no available beds or the traveling distance is too far, leaving people stranded in the cold.

To address this need, Pacifica Resource Center and St. Peter’s Church recently conducted a pilot program using local churches as rotating shelters. As a City Council member, Mary will support efforts that bring additional resources into our city so this program will continue to grow.

Improving Transportation & Roads

Improving Transportation & Roads

Mary believes that Pacifica should focus on getting people out of their cars and onto public transportation. Right now Pacifica has limited bus service; our express bus line was removed, making it difficult for people to rely on public transportation and forcing them to wait up to an hour between buses. This lack of transportation affects the most vulnerable among us and hinders those who would prefer to leave their cars at home.

Mary believes that in order to create equitable public transportation we must partner with leaders in North County, the Coast Side, and people who have historically lacked political power yet depend on public transit. To do this, Mary has worked tirelessly to build transit oriented relationships by participating in regional transportation coalitions. With Mary on the City Council Pacifica will have a seat at the table when funding for transit projects becomes available throughout San Mateo County. Additionally, Mary will make sure that roughly 12.5% of any funding will be set aside to repair our roads, potholes and all.

Mary’s relationships with transportation coalitions will lead to future assessments, capacity building and transparent planning for transit related projects in Pacifica.

Smart Economic Growth

Main street

In order to boost tax revenue, Pacifica needs several large businesses to settle in our town.  However, this needs to be done responsibly.  Mary believes that the City Council must encourage development that includes community benefit agreements, such as creation of affordable housing units and development of green, communal spaces.  Mary will advocate that any and all development must be environmentally friendly, inclusive of low income residents and help boost tax revenue for our general fund. 

Creating mixed use buildings along Palmetto is a great place to start development.  Combining several large anchor stores with small businesses and adding affordable housing on top would create a thriving Main Street.  Furthermore, supporting local art projects will help to keep the charm of our city and additional signage will encourage people to come to Pacifica to shop and play.  

Additionally, recreational cannabis establishments in Pacifica are estimated to bring in roughly $360,000 annually in tax revenue.  Mary’s work with the Pacifica Prevention Partnership includes research and implementation of strategies to work with cannabis merchants to assure that they are participating in prevention work, compliant with regulations and local laws and can maintain a thriving, healthy business which will help Pacifica fund countless other economic endeavors.