Election 2011: Council Candidates Meet With Senior Community

Eight candidates met with dozens of seniors Monday morning to talk about the future of Newark.

The key issues were similar to the topics that mayoral candidates Ana Apodaca, Al Nagy and Ray J. Rodriguez discussed in a , particularly public safety and economic development.

It was the first time the public got to hear from the five city council candidates: Rick Bensco, Mike Bucci, Sucy Collazo, Jack Dane and Luis Freitas — all of whom said they will work for the betterment of Newark if elected onto the council.

All eight of the candidates emphasized that keeping Newark safe by promoting community involvement and bringing and retaining businesses to improve the town’s economic development are important factors to focus on as Newark moves forward.

The mayoral candidates were also asked how they will work to bring more community events into town that would be in line with Newark’s image.

All candidates said they’d like to have more community events and Rodriguez announced his hope to transform the into a community performing arts center.

Nagy said he will work with anyone who would like to bring events to the community. Apodaca said she’d like to work with surrounding communities in offering community events. Both said the city must be careful, however, with its funds when it comes to hosting community events.

Apodaca and Nagy, along with council candidates Bensco and Dane, noted that the city must also focus on fiscal management and rebuilding its reserves.

In the past three years, Newark has made . In November 2010, voters passed , a 3.5 percent utility users tax that will generate an estimated $2.1 million annually for five years.

But in addition to the broader issues, Newark’s senior residents voiced concerns that are especially important to older residents and asked how the candidates will work for affordable housing for seniors and their stances on safe accessibility to medical marijuana.

Mayoral candidates Apodaca and Nagy and council candidate Freitas — all of whom currently sit on the city council — said they are opposed to cannabis collectives operating in the city at this time. Each of them noted that businesses must obtain the proper licenses and permits before they operate.

Their stance stems from the city’s longtime dispute with in both civil and criminal cases. City staff has said the pot club has and that another medical marijuana dispensary has opened in town without proper licenses, while an said the collective does not need a license because of its non-profit status.

But Rodriguez and the four other city council candidates all said they believe the city should work with such businesses to find a solution. Their argument centered around making sure those who need medicinal marijuana can obtain it safely as long as the businesses pay their taxes and have a business license.

Newark is currently home to only one senior citizen community, .

Candidates said they hope that will change and that, if elected, they will work toward ensuring affordable housing is available for senior citizens.

Bensco said it is important to address the issue within the city’s General Plan, which is currently in the process of being upgraded, while Dane said he would have to study the issue in more depth to see how the city would be involved.

Collazo said her hope is for the city to build another facility like Newark Gardens. Bucci and Freitas said they would work toward a program that will secure housing for first-time buyers and senior citizens.

The mayoral and city council candidates will appear at another community forum next week. That forum will be hosted by the League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark and Union City on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. inside Newark , 37101 Newark Blvd. 

For more information on the individuals running for mayor and city council, to read their candidate statements.