I'm Leaving the Race But Not the Cause

Many of you already know that I have withdrawn my candidacy for Arcata City Council. It was a sudden but not an easy decision to make. I consulted with many close friends and allies about it, and, in the end it was the right decision in order to best champion my ideas such as Round Up for Arcata, the car lending library and the economic revitalization of Arcata through environmental technology, which should have started years ago.

Those candidates who have a better chance of winning know my position and know that I have a growing enthusiastic group of supporters who want to see Arcata enter the 21st century of environmental innovation and take advantage of all of the economic prospects of alternate energy. Just today in the SF Chronicle there is an article ("Alternative Energy Lighting Up") about venture capital companies funding alternate fuel starts ups. Those start ups should be here in Arcata near HSU and the Schatz Energy Research Center. I am convinced some of those startups, even though sponsored by Bay Area money people, would have set up shop here had they known about our little secret, HSU and the Schatz Energy Center. We must not let go of this opportunity.

My only regret about leaving the race is that people will believe the two polls that placed me at the top of the second tier of candidates at around 5% of the votes. That number is very deceiving. I strongly believe had I stayed in the race I'd hit double digits, albeit, low double digits. Clearly there was last minute momentum gathering, particularly among the younger voters of Arcata. Had there been a month to go before the election and had I chosen to raise money to get the message out I would have stayed in the race.

But this was my first run at it and I learned a lot about how to campaign. These lessons will apply should I run again in two years. I promise you all I will run in two years if it looks like the Arcata City Council makes no progress toward the vital economy of conservation and alternate energy. The next time I will run as a more experienced candidate and will energize the majority of the voters who care about the future of Arcata, and wrestle from the old time voters who want to preserve their comfortable way of life at the expense of the younger generation.

I have an 18-month old daughter to think about and want to leave her a vibrant, progressive and environmentally forward acting city. There are other older voters who think that way as well, including Dave Meserve, which is why I ask you to support him. Vote for Dave Meserve.

The jury is still out on Alex and how forward thinking she is. I lend my support to her because I think she is open minded and willing to listen. She also has grandchildren she cares about who'll inherit our city. If she does come around, she'll have the ability to work with Dave to get it done. She keeps saying she is a "doer and a networker" I'm starting to believe her.

My job now is to keep on top of the new city council and let them know I'll be back if things don't move forward.

Thank you all so much for your kind words, criticism and support.

Jeffrey Schwartz

The New Economy

A New York Times editorial last week said more concisely what I've been saying since I declared my candidacy for Arcata City Council: "...there is a vital new economy to be found in conservation, and that is where the future lies."Arcata along with HSU has a small window of opportunity to seize this new economy and become a leading center of environmental innovation and implementation. But we must start now, we cannot wait any longer. If we do wait, then some other city/university town will snatch it from us.

Arcata is uniquely qualified to take the prize on this one if we form a new wholly different partnership with HSU. The school is already up and running with a perfect environmental mindset and academic programs to accommodate the new economy. HSU already has all of the departments necessary to nurture and train and educate the students who will become the entrepreneurs, inventors, researchers and perhaps the next Noble Prize winners in the new economy-- conservation and alternate energy. HSU will train the students and Arcata will make sure the students stay in our community because we will help them start their businesses, incubate their ideas for alternative energy and provide them a supportive environment to work on the next environmental breakthrough.

This is how I see Arcata in the near future if we seize the moment. Look what is happening in other industries in other college towns. Many of you heard me use the analogy, "what Silicon Valley is to microchips, Arcata can be to environmental technology." Let me give you some real examples of what other cities have done because of their direct involvement with their academic institutions.

We know about Stanford and Silicon Valley.

The University of California at San Francisco nurtured biomedical technology. Not only is the 3 billion-dollar funded stem cell research center headquartered in San Francisco, but there are dozens, if not more, start-up companies run by former students and researchers who are trying to cure cancer. They all have offices and staff and a lot of research money brought in from the outside that stays in San Francisco.

Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo is the closest example of what Arcata and HSU can do. The school focuses on engineering and agriculture. Cal Poly researchers literally turned the jug wine grape industry into dozens of first-class wine appellations with their research on growing a better grape. That happened in less than ten years. There are dozens of former students who started small companies throughout the city and surrounding areas based on finding even better ways to grow grapes.

Then there is the business of bio-pest control. The Ag students and their professors and researchers have been working on finding bugs that eat bugs that eat crops. Like the startups trying to find the cure for cancer, there are again many start up companies trying to find the perfect bug that will eat the bugs that eat the crops. Most will not find the cure-all for substituting toxic poisons with bug eating bugs, but with everyone working and sharing their findings, they will someday. Again, money stays in the city and comes to the city from research grants and established companies with a stake in protecting crops naturally.

And, in a more mundane observation, the school of engineering pumps out hundreds of students who stay in San Luis Obispo to start up architecture and engineering firms.

By the way, did you know Cal Poly, a state univeristy, is a go to school for agriculture and engineering? Students want to go to Cal Poly because of its reputation in those disciplines. We need to get students to want to go to HSU for environmental technology and environmental business. HSU needs to build its reputation.

There is no reason whatsoever why Arcata and HSU can't do the same thing with the new economy of environmental innovation. It would take a little tweaking of the curriculum at the school and a whole lot of public relations to let students know that HSU will train you in a curriculum that is the true future where there will always be a good and lucrative job in a socially responsible field.

It's time that HSU stop looking in the nooks and crannies all around the country trying to lure only die hard environmentalists to come to HSU, (which is their current recruitment strategy). That strategy was fine 20 years ago when the only people who cared about the environment were environmentalists. Now everyone cares about the environment whether they like it or not. Brilliant innovative students, even if they don't yet care much about the environment, will care when they realize they can make a career out of it. When they see which way the wind is blowing they will come to HSU.

We promote this, and "we" means Arcata and HSU, with a theme such as, "Do you want to become the next CEO of an oil company or the next CEO of an alternative energy company? Where do you think the future lies?" Then we say something like you go to school here and come up with some good ideas or promising research on alternative energy and conservation and we'll set you up so you can continue your research right here in Arcata.

Now back to tweaking HSU curriculum. The environmental professors and departments are already here. That is a huge advantage over any other university town. But, we must insist that HSU modify the classes in the various departments to reflect the new economy. And this does not just apply to the environmental departments; it should apply immediately to the business school.

Why would someone go to HSU business school and take basic business courses that he or she can take at another school close by? What's the lure? But, if the business school focused on the new economy, the environment, that is the hook that will cause students around the country and world to want to go to the HSU business school. They will be trained and educated in the new economy. Like it or not the most socially responsible product in the entire world won't get off the ground without business acumen.

The same goes with other departments, one comes to mind, journalism. The journalism department should start developing environmental journalism classes of all kinds to lure students to the school. One of the biggest events the journalism department has ever had was the presentation by two National Geographic environmental journalists showing their slides from a trip across Africa.

We have niche and we must not lose this opportunity. If we start narrow mindedly thinking, "back to basics" and limit ourselves to fixing pot holes (fixing pot holes is easy by the way, think “Round Up for Arcata”) and continue to reminisce about the 1980s, we'll miss the boat and ten years from now everyone will be ten years older with a lot more grey, and all of the students and children will be someplace else.

We can't wait any longer. In order to do this it takes a city council with a fresh perspective and an understanding and respect for the vital new economy that is our future.

Round Up for Arcata Fund

Under Round Up For Arcata every Arcatan as well as visitors to our town will have the opportunity to round up their bills, fees, and any purchases they make in Arcata to the next dollar. The money would go into a special city fund to be used for specific Arcata projects such as the City Car Share Lending library, zero-emission shuttle service, affordable housing, and the funding of environmental startups incubated at HSU. It could go to a new Arcata child care center, fixing a pothole or bikelane or a police substation at Valley West. The idea is to build a flexible fund for things that in the end benefit all residents of our town by making it a better place to live. Think of Round Up for Arcata as your rich uncle. You don't expect him to give you regular handouts but when you need him, he is there.

Here is how it would work. Every business and city department will be expected to ask their customers if they want to "Round Up for Arcata." For example, if you have a $23. 53 bill, the merchant will ask you if you want to "Round Up for Arcata" and pay $24.00. All the money collected would be put into a special fund. The farmer's markets and artisans will be asked to provide a fund jar that will be collected at the end of the event. Even contractors to the city will be asked to round down their bills, but pay the difference into the Round Up fund.

It's voluntary but I believe most Arcatans will participate and many others will as well. On the individual level it means just pennies per purchase, but together it would add up to perhaps the biggest single revenue source for Arcata.

Arcata Must Be There For HSU Students

The City of Arcata and the students at HSU have interests in common and should work together to promote their shared goals.

Proposition 215
If a person, and that includes a student, has a medical marijuana recommendation, then the state of California permits that person to possess marijuana for medical treatment. But the HSU administration does not recognize the state's medical marijuana law and punishes students who possess marijuana for any reason. As a state university, HSU should follow state law. The university administration claims that by following the state law it will jeopardize its federal funding. You know what? I don't believe it, and I won't believe it until the highest court in our country says so. HSU President Roland Richmond should not give in to the federal government without putting up a fight, a fight all the way to the US Supreme Court, if necessary. If elected I will sit down with the administration and urge them to follow California law as it applies to California universities and permit medical marijuana on campus. Perhaps the administration should be reminded that more than 70% of California voters supported medical marijuna use.

Energy Independence
Arcata is working on energy independence and so are the students of HSU. The students voted overwhelmingly to impose a $10 per student fee on them that would fund an energy independence program. Unfortunately, the HSU administration vetoed the fee. I propose to lobby the school and let them know how important energy independence is to the city of Arcata and give the students the support they need.

Local, Healthy Food
Arcata has some of the best fresh produce, fish and meat in the country yet you won't find much of it in the university cafeterias. Instead, the school contracts out food service to Houston-based Sysco. I would like our local businesses to supply food to HSU. Arcata and the students can work together toward that end.

City Car Share Library
Arcata should do everything possible to reduce the number of automobiles and in particular gas-powered autos in the city. I propose the establishment of a city-run car share program similar to the city's bicycle lending library. Any person living or working in the city, or students at HSU, could join the program for a low but sliding scale cost. The fee would entitle them to check out a zero or near-zero emission vehicle. If you need to go to go to Target you can take a small all electric vehicle. If you plan to travel to LA with friends for the holidays, you check out a larger plug-in hybrid. If you need to move or pick up furniture you check out a light truck. It's time for Arcata and HSU students to act progressively not just think progressively.

Environmental Innovation Local Implementation
There is so much to say about this and I do a lot of it in other postings. But the common link with my economic development program is always linking with HSU. If we develop the school develops. Arcata does not want just any industry or business in its city limits. We want socially responsible businesses. I will concentrate on our niche, which has been ignored way too long. The niche is the environment every which way. We have HSU with its brain trust of environmental, forestry, oceanography and fuel cell programs at our doorstep. We need to turn Arcata into the hub of all forward thinking ideas on the environment. Like Stanford is to Silicon Valley, why not HSU to environmental innovations. The conferences will be here, the think tanks will be here, the environmental entrepreneurs will be here.

Innovation then implementation. Imagine: people from around the world will come here to learn about environmental innovations and see first hand how entrepreneurs make those innovations work. Vegas is known for gambling, San Francisco for tourism, and LA for celluloid. Arcata will be known worldwide for cutting edge environmental innovation. That would be a proud, socially responsible and prosperous time.

Environmental Innovation Local Implementation

There is so much to say about this and I do a lot of it in other postings. But the common link with my economic development program is always linking with HSU. If we develop the school develops. Arcata does not want just any industry or business in its city limits. We want socially responsible businesses. I will concentrate on our niche, which has been ignored way too long.

The niche is the environment every which way. We have HSU with its brain trust of environmental, forestry, oceanography and fuel cell programs at our doorstep. We need to turn Arcata into the hub of all forward thinking ideas on the environment. Like Stanford is to Silicon Valley, why not HSU to environmental innovations.

The conferences will be here, the think tanks will be here, the environmental entrepeneurs will be here. Innovation then implementation. Imagine: people from around the world will come here to learn about environmental innovations and see first hand how entrepeneurs make those innovations work. Vegas is known for gambling, San Francisco for tourism, and LA for celluloid. Arcata will be known worldwide for cutting edge environmental innovation. That would be a proud and prosperous time.

Arcata City Car Share

I am learning a lot as I go through this campaign. The one criticism I get is that I am fairly new to Arcata and "what do I know." What I know is that being new to the community allows me to bring a fresh perspective to Arcata and to bring creative and innovative ideas to Arcata that have already been in practice elsewhere. San Francisco, Santa Monica and Berkeley, and elsewhere, have many programs we should be looking at.

In San Francisco, residents and workers can check out cars from city garages to use when they need a car.This program has drastically reduced the amount of cars and pollution in the city. Arcata is perfect to do the same but better. Arcata's program would include residents, workers and students and an inventory of zero or near-zero emission cars and light trucks. With this program we would remove thousands of vehicles from our streets because people will ditch their cars as unnecessary and save on insurance, maintenance and car payments.

You need to go to Target in Eureka or a weekend trip home? You check out a car. You need to pick up furniture or a bed? You check out a light truck. People will get rid of their cars if they can rely on the City to provide them with one when they need it. Good for the environment every which way. This will become even more attractive to even more people in Arcata when we start over with public transportation and replace it with a free zero or near-emission public shuttle service running every five to ten minutes and accessible by text messaging, cell phones, computers or just simply flagging it down.

National Global National Issues

What's my position on national and global issues? If a national or global issue comes before me and I believe in it, I'll vote for it. National and global issues are important and affect us all, we can't ignore them. What I don't want to do is spend a lot of Arcata City Council time on these issues if that time takes away from homelessness on the Plaza, fixing our roads, affordable housing, transportation, the environment, child care, art and technology and all of the other issues affecting the daily lives of Arcatans. There are other groups out there who are dealing with the national issues. I think we Arcatans can do more by supporting these other groups.

My favorite is "Truemajority.org" This is Ben Cohen's group, Ben of Ben and Jerry's. Go to the site. You'll see by joining that group, which is 300,000 plus strong, you have a voice in all of the progressive national and global issues we spend too much time on at Arcata City Council meetings. The premise of the group is to redistribute a portion of the defense budget to health, education and welfare, and the environment. We do that and many of our local problems will be solved because we'll have the money and resources to solve them.

I encourage Arcatans to join "truemajority.org". During this campaign and after I'll encourage all progressive Arcatans to join truemajority.org and then I'll get back to Arcata's local issues.

1 800 WE FIXIT

Okay. That number is taken but you get the idea. Arcata needs one centralized phone number for anyone to call when something needs fixing. Pot holes, broken down sidewalks, graffiti, smoking cars, garbage, and un-mowed lawns. You name it and the problem will go away fast either by our existing departments or by the Round Up For Arcata fund.Remember the Round Up For Arcata fund is your rich uncle. When you have to turn to him he'll be there.