Issues
- Economy
- Neighborhood Businesses
- Education
- Public Safety
- Development
- Historic Preservation
- Mortgage Crisis
- Open Government
- Affordable Housing
- Transit and Transportation
- Good Government
- Environment
- Sustainability
- Protecting Choice
- Needle Exchange
- Marriage Equality
Stephen’s Plan for a Stronger Economy
more…
Stephen Stands Up To Protect Neighborhood Businesses
(Video Clip) Stephen believes we can live in a San Diego that measures success by how safe it is, how much opportunity we provide to all citizens to improve their quality of life, and how well we preserve the unique environment of the city. He supports more funding for public safety and has ideas on how to find the necessary revenues for enhanced police and fire services. He opposes big box stores when they destroy small neighborhood businesses and increase traffic with no mitigation by appropriate developer impact fees to pay for increased infrastructure needs. He knows this is particularly important for the older neighborhoods in this district.
more…
Stephen Promotes Partnership to Strengthen Schools
Working with incoming school board member Richard Barrera, Stephen is advocating a closer partnership between the City of San Diego and San Diego Unified School District to create stronger schools and stronger neighborhoods.
more…
Whitburn Proposes Public Safety Plan for District 3
Citing troubling new crime statistics for District 3, Stephen has unveiled a plan to protect residents by hiring more police officers, installing more street lighting, and creating a Mid-City Crime Stoppers reward fund.
more…
Assuring the Neighborhood Right to Know
Stephen will introduce the Neighborhood Right-to-Know Plan as one of his first acts after being sworn into office. He will work with both residents and community groups throughout District 3 and San Diego’s urban communities to identify additional areas where the development process at City Hall is broken and needs to be fixed.
more…
Preserving History and the Mills Act in San Diego’s Mid-City Neighborhoods
As a member of the North Park Planning Committee - and as a candidate for City Council - Stephen has stood up for neighborhood preservation in communities including Burlingame, Kensington, Talmadge, City Heights, University Heights, and Hillcrest. He has worked with members of the Neighborhood Historic Preservation Coalition and has supported their efforts to preserve our communities and protect the Mills Act.
more…
Whitburn Urges Coordinated Action on Mortgage Crisis
The loss of a home is more than just one family’s crisis; foreclosed homes provide problems for everyone involved. The family suffers the loss of its home, the homeowner suffers long-term damage to his/her credit score, the neighbors suffer a decrease in property value, the lender suffers a hit to its bottom line, and, ultimately, all of San Diego suffers. Stephen has introduced the Stronger Neighborhoods Initiative in response to the mortgage crisis in San Diego, particularly in district 3.
more…
Stephen Speaks Out on Open Government and Honest Budgeting
(Video Clip) Stephen will fight to get San Diego’s fiscal house in order. He will oppose more giveaways to big business and developers. He will insist that developers pay their fair share for the demands their projects place on City services. Stephen also believes we cannot afford to give sweetheart deals to sports teams or for city leases.
more…
Affordable Housing for Residents of District 3
Having a decent, safe, and comfortable home is key to a person’s quality of life. Unfortunately, the quality of life for many in San Diego is hindered by a profound lack of affordable housing. While experts say that the average American should pay about 30% of their income for rent, the typical San Diegan must pay $1,205 per month for a two-bedroom apartment – meaning that, on average, only households earning $48,200 per year or more are renting for that magical 30% of income. The Center for Policy Initiatives, a local progressive think tank, reported recently on Census figures showing that 57.5% of San Diegans are paying a rent considered unaffordable to them.
more…
An Advocate for Mass Transit, Walkable Communities, and Transportation Choices
Stephen will fight for residents who use mass-transit. He will work to rescind the fare increases that are hurting our limited-income families and senior citizens. He’ll insist that transit officials make a priority of providing improved and affordable public transit to Mid-City residents.
more…
Stephen Wants Government Accountability and Good Government Measures
(Video Clip) Stephen believes the city auditor should be independent and the executive branch should not be involved in selecting a city auditor. He also believes the mayor should have no role in choosing members of the audit committee. Many of our fiscal problems arose because internal controls on city finances were inadequate. We were promised a five-year trial of the strong-mayor system of government. The mayor and the city council should not renege on that promise. Stephen also supports the current veto override requiring a 5-3 council vote, if and until the strong-mayor system is the people’s choice and at least one council district is created in 2010.
more…
Preserving and Enhancing San Diego’s Unique Natural Environment
Stephen Whitburn is a consistent supporter of efforts to preserve San Diego’s unique natural environment. He has shown his commitment through participating in beach, canyon, and neighborhood cleanups, as well as taking a policy lead on emerging environmental policy issues.
more…
Working Toward a Sustainable San Diego
As a councilmember, Stephen will lead the effort to transform San Diego into a model for more sustainable cities on multiple fronts, including looking into renewable energy, water reuse, recycling, local agriculture, and promoting more sustainable policymaking.
more…
A Real Commitment to the Right to Choose
As president of the San Diego Democratic Club for three years, Stephen led an organization that is one of San Diego County’s strongest advocates for reproductive rights. Dedicated to preserving the right to choose guaranteed by the U.S. Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade, Stephen joined 1.15 million pro-choice Americans on the National Mall in Washington, DC for the National Organization for Women’s Lives in April 2004.
more…
Clean Syringe Exchange Program Report
(Video Clip) As a member of the North Park Planning Committee and as its Public Safety Liaison, Stephen supports clean syringe exchange as an effective public health strategy to reduce hepatitis C and HIV infections in injection drug users. He also supports getting the users into drug rehabilitation programs. The two programs operating in San Diego are financially supported by medical philanthropic organizations. Extensive biomedical research over more than a decade attests to the effectiveness of such programs, including getting used needles off playgrounds and the streets.
more…
Stephen’s Position on Discrimination, Including Marriage Equality
(Video Clip) District 3 consists of diverse neighborhoods and a rich mix of minorities, which gives it its unique character. Stephen believes we still have some way to go to achieve real equality women, minorities, seniors, and people with disabilities.
more…