City of Mountain View
Pat Showalter
I've championed issues that impact children and families like housing, climate and parks. As a City, we prioritize kids with robust Library and Rec Programs. We strive to have a park near every home so all kids have a place to play. We run a nursery school, provide funding to schools for STEM, maintain fields & partner on an after school program.
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Over 80% of voters polled say they want elected officials to prioritize children and families. What are the top three issues affecting our children and families and how will you make our region a place where all families can thrive?
Housing- the cost of housing is too high and there isn't enough of it. We have a rent control program that provides certainty about rents. We have been recognized as the only "pro-housing" community in Santa Clara County and have built over 1700 Affordable Housing units. Transportation safety- we have adopted a Vision Zero Program to reduce pedestrian and bike deaths to zero. We have built miles of bike lanes and teach kids bike safety at every school every year. Climate Resilience- we are building a city that is resilient to impacts of climate change and reducing our climate footprint by reducing our GHGs to make a community that is ready for the future.
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High quality childcare improves school readiness and parents' workforce participation. What will you do to improve access to high quality childcare and preschool programs in our diverse communities?
Our children's Library program is designed to promote reading readiness and instill a love of reading in every child. We have story times designed for all ages. Our nursery school has been in demand for decades. Our Recreation Department hosts many art and sports classes for preschoolers. We believe that every child should be water-safe, so we offer inexpensive swimming lessons. Scholarship money is readily available. We are working with the County to promote and support daycare. We incentivize the building of Daycare Centers in new buildings.
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Much of the student achievement gap has been linked to the opportunity gap that children in low-income families and children of color confront (e.g., lack of access to healthy food, preschool, tutors, and enrichment activities). If elected, what will you do to increase equity of opportunity?
We support access to healthy food by contributing to the Community Services Agency which provides extensive food services. We also contribute to other non-profits in our community that assist with food and homeless services. As mentioned earlier we supply a rich program of activities through the Library and Recreation programs. We have 45 parks with more in the pipeline so that everyone will have a place to play close to their home.
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What steps will you take to improve inclusion and outcomes for children with disabilities and their families in our community?
-We are building a Magical Bridge Playground designed for all.
-All city streets are fitted with ADA-approved crossings. -
If elected, how will you use the resources of your new role to improve children's well-being and access to mental and behavioral health services?
Mountain View will continue to support mental health services for children and families through Pacific Clinics.
Our Teen program puts a lot of emphasis on supporting Teen Mental Health. We hold a full-day conference each fall for local teens. It is designed with their assistance to be as relevant and fun as possible.