As your next Mayor I promise I will do the following during my first term:
STOP THE SALE OF CITY OWNED LAND
PUT ALL NEW HIRES FOR CITY GOVERNMENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY
BUILD A “15 MINUTE CITY” AT HORTON PLAZA
Reducing The Cost Of Housing In San Diego And Solving The Homeless Problem:
For the last fifty years the Mayors working with the developers have been saying the way to solve the homeless problem is to build more housing.
The price of housing doubles every ten years, no matter how many houses are built and the homeless population continues to grow.
The solution to both problems is to stop the sale of City owned land and lease it like the Port District.
Using 1401 Market St. (the failed skydiving property,) I will put out an RFP to build a low income high rise senior citizen apartment complex on the site. I will require that the units have four bedrooms, 2 full baths and a kitchen. Three seniors and a caregiver will rent a bedroom. The lease payments will be predicated on a percentage of the gross rents over 60 years. The winning bid will have purchased the right to use the land at less than 25% of the cost of a comparable project. At the end of the sixty years the land comes back to San Diego and we can do it again.
This will not only provide a comparable sale for a leasehold estate. It will demonstrate the feasibility of building low income housing that pays for itself and creates future income for the City without using government subsidies.
Reducing The Cost Of Government:
Since Todd Gloria was elected, reported expenses for running our government have increased by one billion dollars. The pension fund is 30% of our budget. Personnel costs are the reason we have pot holes in our streets.
The San Diego pension fund is out of control. The solution for the pension program is to put all new employees for any City of San Diego job on Social security.
Todd Gloria is vested in the City pension fund and he will retire on a pension of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The solution for the pension program is to put all new employees for any City of San Diego job on Social security.
City employees and career politicians like Gloria would make social security better if they were subject to what 60% of this country has for a retirement plan.
Building for the Future:
My vision for the future of San Diego is to develop Horton Plaza as a “fifteen minute city.”
The idea of a “fifteen minute city” is all functions of a city should be accessible to the residents within 15 minutes of where they live. Building a high rise on Horton Plaza that is a “fifteen minute city” with each level devoted to different city needs allows a resident to access everything they need, jobs, retail, business, government and more without ever leaving the project. Parking would be retained for those shopping in the lower levels. The trolley and bus lines would obviate the need for residents to have cars on site.
About Dan Smiechowski
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Daniel Smiechowski was born on Christmas Eve 1953 in The City of Churches, Milwaukee, Wisconsin to an Italian Mother and Polish Father. Daniel has been a world traveler since birth having visited Europe at least twenty times
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Danny” has completed over one hundred triathlons’ worldwide including such remote locations as Reunion Island off the coast of Madagascar. “Danny” is a former elected member of The Clairemont Planning Commission and Clairemont Towne Council. He has initiated many improvements in Clairemont due to his local activism. “Danny is bilingual—French/English and has tutored under The No Child Left Behind Program. He has worked primarily with disadvantaged students. He also has worked in Real Estate under the direction of Dr. Joe Klatt of La Jolla. I love being alive.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Today is better than yesterday and tomorrow will be even better.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Working on behalf of my City to make it a better place for everyone.
Dan Smiechowski & Our Community
Q: What are a few of your favorite restaurants in our community?
French Gourmet, Bacci’s, Arelys, Pappas Pizza,
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
58 years
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
My mother, Libera.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Plant 19 Convair General Dynamics where my dad worked.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Mission Bay De Anza Cove it reminds me of when I was 14.
Q: If you could choose anyone alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you meet for this lunch?
Jimmy Carter, He brokered the Camp David Accords, La Valencia
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
“The fugitive”, “Kojack”, “equalizer”, movies “Les Enfants Du Paradis” “La Grande Ilusion” “The great Escape” “La Cage Aux Folles” “Love in the Afternoon”
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I read almost every book the great American Philosophy John Dewey has written.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
San Diego
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My mother
Q: What community organizations and/or local nonprofits do you admire/support?
Miracle Baby’s, Wounded Warrior, Clairmont Planning Group,
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Stay Calm
Q: What Neighborhood do you live in?
Bay Ho
What I love about my Neighborhood:
the quiet, the view, the catholic pastoral center, my neighbors,
Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend:
Running and training for a triathlon in Borrego Springs
Q: Finally, what three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Security, warmth, tranquility
