The basics
values
1
The basic contract: Government works for the people.
2
Responsive cities. Residents should not be faced with lack of interest when they bring their concerns to the City.
3
Right-sized cities. Consider whether consolidation with a neighboring city could be the best fiscal decision.
4
Women’s rights. Human rights. Democratic values.
5
Refuse exclusionary bias. No tax dollars without accountability. Reconsider the block coordinator program.
The block coordinator program is the successor to the Neighborhood Watch. Block coordinators are not elected and not responsible to their neighborhoods.
6
Cities are for living. No carte blanche for investors. Educate residents about predatory real estate scams. Improve oversight to reduce harassment and slow gentrification.
Speculation heightens housing costs. Cities should support all residents, whether home owner or tenant. We’re not just taxpayers—it takes all of us to make a community.
7
Housing affordability that goes beyond large-building rentals and supports those who come next. Follow a recognized model that works all the levers to constrain costs while increasing supply. A coherent plan could create land trusts and resale-restricted housing alongside inclusionary housing and ADUs. The plan should be property tax-aware and include protections against displacement.
8
Review any surveillance systems in use.
Consider costs, data privacy, and ethical policing. Talk about privacy law. Discuss police access to neighborhood doorbell cameras.
9
Update codes for the digital era. Consider noise and encroachment. Review for performance, privacy, and security.
Discuss the impact of EV chargers (high-power switching systems) on the shared grid and on the older house next door. Talk about the impact of wireless tech on the residential “noise floor.” For the sake of network and grid security, support the installation of Ethernet.
10
Town hall meetings—virtual or otherwise.
11
Separation of church and state. Equal rights for all. No one above the law.
Observance of these core American values supports a multicultural, pluralistic society and democracy.
12
Community piano.
About the candidate
About me
I’m a Bay Area native who grew up in Albany and attended Albany schools. I graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in American History, studying film theory and practice at SFSU after that. I spent most of my time as a Berkeley student living and working in the houses of the University Students Cooperative Association and remain a proponent of self-governing cooperatives. I believe in democratic government, generosity of spirit and anti-authoritarian governance. I believe in open government, freedom of choice, and separation of church and state. I am the founder of Context By Signal (contextbysignal.com), a new web service whose primary goal is to give people greater visibility into the use of wireless services in their neighborhoods.
Contact: katherineforcouncil@pm.me