Why should someone vote for you? (i.e. – what’s your “elevator pitch” when talking to voters?)
I want to have more representation for Ward 8. It is clear that the needs and expectations of Ward 8 constituents are just as important as any other Ward in this city but political affiliations have drowned out our voices.
If elected, what steps would you endorse to address the issue of homelessness in the city?
Working with the homeless issue in this city is more than just a simple hot button issue that needs more attention and planning than treating it as a one shot remedy. I intend to seek not only solutions with other leaders but look at models of cities like ours throughout the nation to explore options that may offer forward thinking, time structured plan solutions that offer data as results for stakeholders.
If elected, what steps would you endorse to address the issue of housing costs?
Our city has been in the business of building collaborative partnerships for as long as I have been a citizen. Recognizing that there has been less of this in our most recent history. Efforts should be geared towards not just reforming zoning but also cutting through red tap that helps builders build faster and cheaper, cutting the cost for our constituents who’s children will want to purchase a home in the city they grew up in. There should also be efforts to strengthen rights for renters while building stronger relationships with landlords for equitable housing that allows landlords to build equity in their rental properties while maintaining a trusting relationship with tenants. Other opportunities involve building relationships with builders and reducing their costs. This allows us to incentivize builders to build lower cost housing units for accessible housing for our recent graduates who want to start building a life here in Manchester.
If elected, what steps would you endorse to address the issue of attracting and retaining quality city employees?
The relationship between housing and employment is far more important than many may assume. Assuring that housing in our city is a beacon to those considering employment can be a strong incentive for quality candidates. Looking also at benefits packages that push providers to compete with lower costs so that more is offered/covered to show that our city understands what it is to be elite as a destination.
What is your perspective on the city’s roads, transit system and parking? If you believe improvement is needed, how would you accomplish that?
It is imperative to be aware that the origins of our city came from a time of the horse and buggy. Therefore, as cars continue to evolve our road, transit systems and parking are going to be hard pressed to keep up with the demand. However, when thinking about how to make things better for our city there can be considerable consequences to business and residents if solutions are rushed or don’t have full scope, negative impact will be felt by those electing us to make their lives more comfortable not more difficult.
What is your opinion on the city’s parks, library and entertainment offerings/public events? If improvement is needed, what should be done?
As a former Youth Football Coach and Middle School Coach I can honestly say that the Parks and Rec Department do an amazing job with all that is offered in our city. I don’t know if they are given nearly the amount of recognition that they deserve. Yes there is an impact on our parks by those who may not value our city but that doesn’t lessen the resources we have. It does cause us to focus on what puts those resources in jeopardy. I stay in touch with the youth organizations and hear about the distasteful behavior in our parks that they have to deal with trying to protect our youth. I also have a neighbor who looks forward to movies in the park on Thursdays. She comes by to talk about it with such joy.
What is your opinion on the city’s policies regarding property taxes and other fees (i.e. – pet licenses, parking meters, etc.)
The parking meters pose a problem due to the QR code that can lead people to the wrong parking site that will have their information compromised. There is a tremendous weight on our community when it comes to property taxes and I know that there is no easy solution but it is clear we have yet to come to a collaborative one. There must be other models, resources, professionals that can look at the city’s needs assessment from different angles to offer us the most comprehensive assessment of how to best move forward in this area.
What are your thoughts on the city’s business climate and how would you attract more businesses to come to Manchester or convince more people to start businesses in Manchester?
Having been in Manchester and nearby, it has been quite a journey for Manchester over the last 25 years of my time here. The progressive growth of our city is what continues to draw both families and businesses to our city. However, It’s not just about attracting more business, I feel it’s about luring the businesses that contribute to the allure of our City. Our downtown has become a draw from Nashua’s and Concord’s. Now we want to lure businesses by providing the idea of getting in at a crucial time as our city is on the rise. We should be selective at some point knowing that what we offer is unique for those businesses that choose to make their home in our city.
What is your opinion of the state of education in Manchester and what should the relationship be between the Board of School Committee and Board of Mayor and Aldermen?
As a former teacher at Southside Middle School I have had first hand experience of working in and around the Manchester education system. In the forum of education the two boards are dependent on one another but it never seems to feel that way. I want to take an appreciative approach to this relationship that understands the work is less about the adults who are meeting at the table but that the ultimate impact of our decisions are felt by the students in our city that have no voice but will one day run it.
Anything else you’d like to add not mentioned here and what is the best way voters can reach you if they have more questions?
I would like and hope that this voter turn out could show that our constituents are not apathetic but have reason to be enthusiastic about knowing that someone is stepping up to say what they think in front of those making decisions for them. As an independent I can promise this. Politics of they vs. them requires they to vote with they and them to vote with them. This is unfair to us as the whole. I will not rush votes through for the sake of party politics, I will hold town halls for voter listening sessions and I will be available for our constituents as they need from our city. Until we do right by Manchester’s voters who put us in the position to make their lives more comfortable, we must lean into the process of building a committee that puts our constituents first. I can be reached at cjperezcastaneda@gmail.com.