Erik Howell, Pismo Beach City Council - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

Erik Howell, Pismo Beach City Council

Party/Affiliation: Democrat
Current Job: Lucia Mar Unified School District Trustee

Top 3 Priorities if Elected:

INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES 

Property values have plummeted over the past four or five years.  As a City, there are many things we can do to boost property values, including relatively simple things such as infrastructure improvements, fire safety in the heights and the bluffs, and street sweeping.  However, it also means not taxing City Resources by irresponsible annexations.

DOWTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENTS 

The commercial core of our City is deteriorating.  The state has eliminated redevelopment funds that could normally have been used for improving and enhancing business downtown.  In a city like Pismo Beach, we are all interconnected.  If our businesses are not supported, the City loses property taxes and sales tax revenue.  We lose a thriving commercially successful business district that serves locals and tourists.  The City needs to make an investment in our business core and help small business owners, which will increase city revenues in the long term.  

PARKING

We need to address our parking issues.  Downtown merchants accepted paid parking because they were promised a parking structure that would solve our parking problems once and for all.  Years later, we still don't have a plan.  Meanwhile, paid parking has driven local customers to other towns.  We need to work with business owners, property owners and friends in the tourism industry to arrive at a plan for a parking structure and other improvements to revitalize downtown.