Central Vallejo City Council candidates emphasize infrastructure, development during hour-long forum

VALLEJO – Four of the five candidates hoping to represent the new District 5 on the Vallejo City Council faced off in an hour-long forum held at the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church on Tuesday, emphasizing a need for better infrastructure and more economic development as they also weighed in on a proposed sales tax measure and police reform.

Those present explained why they would make a good fit representing the district, which encompasses Central Vallejo, on the seven-person council.

Special coverage: November 2022 Solano County election

A general election will be held on Nov. 8, 2022, with local elections for three Vallejo City Council seats, two Benicia city council seats, Vallejo school board and more.

The Vallejo SunJohn Glidden

“I am running for city council because there is a lot of work to do here. We really don’t have any more time to waste,” said local businesswoman Tara Beasley-Stansberry. “I am running to represent us all, and that is working families, that is seniors, that is veterans, our houseless neighbors, our youth, everyone who encompasses and lives here in Vallejo.”

Planning Commissioner Melissa Bowman said it was important to bring walkability and traffic safety to the district, adding that she would like to see an improved public transportation system, more bike lanes, and sidewalks that could accommodate those utilizing wheelchairs.

Bowman also touted her experience serving on the Architectural Heritage & Landmarks Commission and working as librarian for the Vallejo City Unified School District. She said that during her time on the planning commission, the body changed the zoning codes “to make it easier for affordable housing to be built,” easing restrictions.

“I can take all of that experience and bring that to the city council,” Bowman said. “I look forward to serving the city in that way.”

Tanya Hall, a college career advisor who works for the school district, said that as a Vallejo native she is “deeply rooted here. I say authentic, rooted and tenacious.”

“I’ve been a public servant [for] well over four decades here in the city and I’ve seen the city’s before-way and I see it now,” Hall said. “I’m passionate about the people, the community, and its unique culture. I just want to see it come back to what it used to be and I know we can do it.”

Businessman Dwight Monroe Jr.  said he was the right choice to serve on the council.

“When you’re talking about a candidate who's really in the community, boots on the ground, picking up trash [in] undesirable areas of our city, I’m looking to clean them up. I’m looking to create economic development,” Monroe said. “You’re looking at the future. I’m not going to play any games with anybody, I’m coming up there and I’m going to be working my butt off.”

A fifth candidate, healthcare administrator Peter Bregenzer, was absent from the forum.

Just like in other settings, the candidates were asked about their opinion on Measure P, a proposed seven-eighths-cent sales tax increase that will be decided by Vallejo voters this fall. City officials say the tax hike would generate $18 million annually for the city’s general fund and would be used  to address blight, illegal dumping, homelessness, roads, provide fire and police protection, and keep public spaces clean.

“Originally, I was not for Measure P, I’ll be very honest,” said Beasley-Stansberry. “I thought ‘what are we thinking, we can’t keep increasing taxes, we’re in a pandemic, people have lost their jobs.’ But the reality is, we are behind. We have to get up to speed, in order to do that, we need to reallocate funding, or we increase our tax base.”  

Monroe said he was in favor of the measure because he is “looking to see this city grow.”

“In 2020, we wasted an opportunity for $12 million annually to come to the city and help take care of some of the things that we’re complaining about,” Monroe said about Measure G, which was a proposed three-quarter-cent sales tax increase that barely failed, with 50.57% of voters opposed.

Monroe said that there was no citizens’ oversight committee attached with Measure G, like there is with Measure P.

“I would just encourage everybody to educate themselves on the tax and at the end of the day you need to do what’s best for you and what you believe is best for the city,” Monroe added. “Right now, if we’re looking to grow this city, we are going to have to push this tax through.”

Bowman said she was “fine” being charged more taxes if it “results in better city services, better streets.”  However, she expressed some concerns about the measure.

“What does concern me is that it goes to the general fund instead of a specific fund,” Bowman said. “I will support whatever the voters vote for, I will personally make sure that it is spent as it is intended.”

Hall said that while she supports Measure P, the city should look at using incentives to attract businesses to Vallejo.

“In order for us to thrive we need organizations,” Hall said. “We need the bigger businesses, companies, and corporate stuff.”

Hall said the possible incentives could be to offer housing or low interest rates for housing.

Beasley-Stansberry advocated for a revolving loan fund to “entice small businesses to relocate from wherever they are to Vallejo.” She said the loans could range from $5,000 to $100,000.

“We know a lot of our buildings they got some age on them, they’re still looking good, but they may need some tenant improvements and facade [improvements], and so hopefully we can help them with those types of incentives,” Beasley-Stansberry said.

The candidates were also asked their opinions about the Vallejo Police Department.

Bowman said it was crucial to retain officers.

“We do have money in the budget for training the officers,” she said. “The real trick is getting them to stay, a lot of times they go to the academy and then they go elsewhere.”

Bowman also said that police beat walking was in line with her push for more walkability. “One way we can improve relations between our police force and our citizens, is I’d like to see our police on street beat, walking the streets,” Bowman said.

Monroe praised the leadership of Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams, saying he was being accountable and transparent.

“He is being more open with the community, and those are all great things that I believe [are] benefiting the city of Vallejo right now,” Monroe said. “He brags about nobody being killed on his watch at this time, we gotta celebrate our victories. It’s not about bashing the police or ‘we don’t need them’ cause we are all going to need them when we need them.”

Hall brought up incentives again, saying that would address issues with the department.

“If we’re putting you through this training, we’re offering this to you, this is what you need to give us back,” Hall said.

The city switched from citywide council elections to district-based elections in 2019, and this is the first time District 5 will be represented on the council. Councilmember Hakeem Brown, who is an at-large member, lives in the district. Brown is not seeking re-election to the council after serving just one term.