Dear Friends,
I am so excited and grateful to be home and to return to the place where I started my journey in public service 44 years ago. Thank you to the residents of District 1 for electing me to be their county supervisor. As many of you may know, I served on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, in the California Assembly and Senate, and in Congress. I believe that public service is the foundation of our democracy.
I’m more convinced than ever that all politics is local. Congress is paralyzed and will only limp along for the foreseeable future. I return to where I began my public service life with the hope to make San Mateo County the best place to live and work.
To accomplish that, we have to address our high cost of living. We have to create more affordable housing, affordable childcare, and better local job opportunities I look forward to working with my colleagues on the board to achieve these goals.
Swearing In
On January 7th my dear friend and former colleague, retired Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, swore me into office. This was particularly fitting because she and I served on the Board of Supervisors together in the 1980s and that is where we honed our legislative skills. During my remarks, I laid out my ideas to make San Mateo County the best place to live and work. You can watch the video or read a summary below.
Workforce Housing
I propose that the County construct 5,000 units of workforce housing on public lands over the next ten years. We can learn from successful projects by the Community College District and Stanford. They built housing where teachers and staff live for reduced rent, sometimes almost 50% below the average. The result is reduced turnover, greater success in recruitment, and a more affordable life. The county can do the same for first responders, hospital workers, childcare providers, and other public service providers.
Childcare
We can’t create a fair economy for all without solving our childcare crisis. Too many families aren’t able to afford $3,000-4,000 per child per month and there are waiting lists for spots. I propose to create childcare centers in public buildings and other county-assisted locations. The childcare providers should live in workforce housing, close to their place of work. I believe that investing in our children is the smartest and most moral investment in our future.
Local Job Opportunities
People are San Mateo County’s greatest asset. I see untapped opportunities to make public service more attractive to our young people. Look no further than our own county departments. We have significant vacancies in the courts, law enforcement, and the assessor’s office. The root cause, again, is the high cost of living. I propose to establish a County Corp program of paid interns ages 16 to 21. They would be trained in public service jobs. Imagine a 16-year-old coming up through the ranks and emerging as a fully qualified 9-1-1 dispatcher. I believe this is a way to create a workforce that can live and work locally. It would also reignite a passion for public service in our country.
Code Of Conduct
The public in our area has sent a clear message that they want respectful conduct by public officials. In my first full board meeting, I presented a code of conduct resolution that was passed unanimously. Boards of supervisors, city councils, and school boards in other communities already have such codes and report having benefitted from them by defining the standards for the conduct of elected officials. I view it as a tape measure the public can use to determine whether or not we measure up to their expectations to be professional, respectful and accountable. It's also a promise to encourage open dialogue no matter our differences. Democracy may well be tested throughout the United States in the years ahead but, here, we will make the promise to allow all to participate freely in the hope of finding the public's best interest using vigorous but respectful inquiry and debate.
As I assume my role as your County Supervisor, I want to hear from you and communicate with you. You can contact my office with any questions and concerns at (650) 363-4571 or SMCSupSpeier@smcgov.org. You can also subscribe to my newsletter, follow me on social media, request a meeting or send an invitation.
All the best,
Jackie