Kevin’s Letters

Throughout the campaign, Kevin will be sharing his views on various important issues affecting Alameda County. One way he will do so is through letters to the editor and op-eds in local newspapers.

Read Kevin’s latest letters below:

Op-Ed: Let’s Help Our Youth Celebrate Safely This Holiday Season

Tri-City Voice
December 30, 2009

Every year, an estimated 145,000 American teenagers wind up in hospital emergency rooms as a result of consuming too much alcohol. Just this month a 15 year old girl from Gilroy died at a slumber party from an apparent case of alcohol poisoning.

The holiday season is a time for family and celebration, but it can also be a time for reckless and dangerous partying among our youth. Recently, in my city of Hayward, a young person held a party while their parents were out of town. A fight broke out and several young people wound up in the hospital. Luckily nobody lost their life that evening.

But our youth aren’t the only ones affected by reckless partying. At the recent party in Hayward, our police department spent 19 hours of police time dealing with the fight and its aftermath. An entire beat of officers was removed from regular service for the evening to handle the situation.

When something like the recent party occurs, our police resources and personnel are stretched thin: thousands of dollars are spent on sending officers to arrest and process the fighting party-goers, and we have significantly less officers available to respond to the calls they should be answering.

In my role as a member of the Hayward City Council, and in my previous role as an aide to Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, I helped implement legislation to address the problem of out of control parties locally.

This law, which now exists in Hayward and Unincorporated Alameda County, is called a Social Host Ordinance. The law states that if underage kids attend a party where a parent, guardian, or adult allows for underage drinking, and police, fire or paramedic services are called to the scene that the adult will be fined up to $1,000 and bear the responsibility for the cost of the police, fire, or paramedic response.

Already in Hayward, the Social Host Ordinance has enabled our police department to recover over $7,500 that was spent on responding to out-of-control parties. During these times when our police department is stretched incredibly thin, recouping even a small amount can make a difference in the city’s ability to address violent crime and other serious problems.

I, and my fellow elected officials, don’t want to discourage young people from having fun and attending parties. I want the people of Hayward and Alameda County to be aware of this Ordinance, so they can plan safe and responsible parties this holiday season, and so our public safety officers can focus their time on violent crime and keeping our neighborhoods safe.

Kevin Dowling
Hayward City Councilmember

Stop Bus Cuts

Hayward Daily Review
October 22, 2009

In difficult times, elected officials must make tough budgetary decisions.

One area where we should minimize cuts is transportation.

The AC Transit board is considering 15 percent service cuts to its bus routes.

I have served on an AC Transit policy committee since 2000 and understand how public transit affects people’s daily lives.

When we cut transit, for many it’s an inconvenience, but for some, it’s devastating. For many youth, seniors on fixed incomes, and residents who cannot afford cars, a safe, reliable bus is their lifeline to the world.

Weakening this connection means weakening these residents’ connections to jobs, family and society.

While Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is hailed as the “green governor,” the state has cut $26 million per year from AC Transit.

The Hayward City Council, on which I serve, recently passed a Climate Action Plan that showed almost half of our emissions come from cars. By cutting funds from public transit, and thus creating more greenhouse gases, the state is making a mockery of its recently implemented laws to curb global warming.

I support the AC Transit board’s request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to use capital funds to prevent these bus service cuts.

Kevin Dowling

State Budget a Tragedy for Local Governments

San Francisco Chronicle
July 30, 2009

The state budget is a tragedy for local governments. It takes $3 billion in vital funds from city councils and county boards throughout California.

In Hayward, we are fighting to protect our economy. I was proud to help lead the recent, successful Measure A campaign, saving $13 million in vital services like police and fire, libraries and roads.

But now, this state budget means Hayward will lose another $4.6 million or more, including much of our redevelopment funds, which have financed vital projects like the new Burbank School and the Cannery Park expansion, and which could be used to create new jobs.

In addition to these losses, Hayward will have to make further cuts, as will all local school and special districts.

This madness must stop. It is the state’s job to live within its means, not dump its deficit into local government’s lap and tell us to deal with it. I urge the Hayward City Council, on which I’m honored to serve, to join hundreds of California cities in voting to sue the state. Our citizens are counting on us to fight for them.

Kevin Dowling