Since November 4th, I have been extremely touched by so many of you who have taken the time to personally extend messages of support and encouragement - and have asked me not to give up even though my inaugural attempt to secure a seat on the American Canyon City Council was not successful. Please know how appreciated your support, trust and friendship has been.
21% of the vote in a four way race, as a first time candidate, is nothing to be ashamed of- but unfortunately it wasn’t good enough. I could blame any number of factors for the loss, but that would be deferring responsibility for the mistakes that were mine and mine alone.
One thing I am very clear about however: even though the loss was disappointing, the campaign was well worth the experience. Over the past several months, I have had the opportunity to sit in many of my neighbors' living rooms, and stood on numerous door steps, and I got to learn firsthand the about the deepest worries, frustrations and desires of the American Canyon community. These were experiences that I won’t ever forget, and they are concerns that are worth continuing to fight for. I feel that I was entrusted with many of my neighbor’s hopes and dreams, and fears and anxieties, and regardless of the outcome of November 4th, I feel an obligation to keep talking about these things and carrying their message.
While we are all concerned about traffic and water- and yes, we have to engage County and regional partners in finding a solution- these are just some of our concerns; and far from the only things that are keeping American Canyon’s residents awake at night- and far from the only challenges that we need new solutions for. For instance:
We also need a new rent stabilization ordinance in American Canyon; one that actually protects seniors, mobile home park residents and low-income families. We must replace the flawed arbitration process with a community Rent Stabilization Board that will give residents a fighting chance to challenge capricious and excessive rent increases.
Congress approved $700 Billion to rescue huge banking conglomerates from excessive speculation and shoddy lending practices- in other words; Congress used our tax dollars to cover Wall Streets’ gambling addiction. Communities like American Canyon benefitted from the housing boom to be sure, but we also stepped up to assist the County with the thorny Regional Housing Needs Allocations (RUL negotiations notwithstanding), and on a greater scale, our managed growth offered hundreds of new housing and first-time home ownership opportunities to the labor force enticed and recruited to the Bay Area to support our by the previously booming technology, financial, commercial real estate and agriculture industries, while straining our infrastructure and public services. Now that we are absorbing 300 to 400 foreclosures- economic traumas that effect not only individual families, but also punch devastating holes in entire neighborhoods- it’s time to ask our county, state and Federal representatives where the aid for working families will be. American Canyon stepped up to ease the housing crunch when the market was crowded and Wall Street was making money hand over fist on risky loans- we should not be forgotten now as we struggle to cope with the fall out.
Childcare, family healthcare, crime prevention and diversion, a senior center and senior services, youth job training, Safe Routes to School, walk-able neighborhoods, and increased public transit are all concerns on the minds of our residents and neighbors- concerns that need concerted focus, attention and unambiguous direction from elected leaders to city staff to make priorities.
The land to the east of Newell Road up to the 15% slope line deserves to stay open and pristine. We don’t need anything there, and it will only frustrate our traffic mitigation efforts to build anything (beyond the High School) that would cause right turns as well as left turns. American Canyon deserves to be as well known for our open space as we have been for our growth.
As the most culturally diverse community in Napa County- and indeed one of the most diverse cities in California- it is vital that the faculty and staff for our future high school reflect the diversity of the community and the children whom they will be teaching. For too long- for generations- American Canyon’s children have been at the mercy of the Napa Valley Unified School District. For the sake of gaining our average daily attendance (ADA) numbers- and the commensurate state reimbursement- American Canyon’s children have had to endure excessive bus commutes and essential discrimination. Even today our high school- already years overdue- was only approved and bond financed only when it became necessary to ease school overcrowding for the communities of Napa and Yountville. It is way past the time for American Canyon’s educational needs to get the respect, appreciation and attention-to-detail that we deserve from NVUSD.
Of course, one doesn’t have to be an elected official to champion the issues that one believes in. One thing that I did learn in this race was that just by running I had an impact. I believe now more than ever that these are the important issues to be talking about and I look forward to learning more, being of service and finding other ways to use my voice to ensure that the things we need to do to keep our community open, vibrant, inclusive, sustainable and represented at the Regional Planning Table remain front-and-center as priorities for our decision makers.
Thank you again for your support- and God bless your families and you.
Matt Pope
Paid for by Pope for American Canyon, Committee Number: 1309212 | Web Services: Jennifer Thornton
