Candidates Questionnaire - Bill Hees

1. Many residents feel that their property taxes are too high, and that because of this they cannot afford to buy a house or rent an apartment to stay in Cambridge. How can we make sure that property taxes keep the city affordable while providing the city with the tax base it needs?

The city already had the tax base it needed before the recent run-up in home values and tax revenues. The housing bubble only helps owners who sell. It shouldn’t be used to gouge homeowners who want to remain in Cambridge. Likewise, we shouldn’t penalize small landlords for renting by taxing them as though they sold their units at condo prices, or that's what they'll end up doing. Do we *need* extra programs and services just because there is an accidental increase in tax revenues? No. Roll back the rates. If someone does have to make cutbacks it should be the city, not the residents.

2. How can we make public transportation better in Cambridge and what can the City Council do to encourage residents to use public transportation?

First, lead by example. End all tax-subsidized parking for privileged Cambridge government officials and employees. End all tax-funded transportation - no limos, no drivers, no private vehicles - for Cambridge

government officials and employees. Also, better cab service means more people can live without a car of their own. Open up cab competition, add more taxi stands, and improve traffic flow through Cambridge with sane lane markings and better signage. Buses and cabs sit in the same traffic jams that private cars do. Once that is done we can consider other possibilities, such as pursuing the state’s obligation to extend the Green Line from Lechmere.

3. What can the city do to make sure that future negotiations with the city's unions are fair to workers?

Progressive Democrats may not like to hear this, but the city government is supposed to represent the residents and taxpayers of Cambridge, getting the best value for every dollar of the city budget. I call for

full transparency and open books for all Cambridge government spending, especially compensation and benefits for unionized government employees. Any accusation of unfairness must be backed up with facts. In addition to wage levels, a complete picture includes the hours the employees are working, the results produced, performance standards, and benefits. How young can city employees retire? How much is their retirement pay? How much are we paying for their medical insurance? Do they have more

vacation days than workers in the private sector? Taxpayers have a right to know.

4. Cambridge is one of the centers of high-tech innovation in the country. What can the City Council do to encourage innovation and take advantage of new technology while keeping the city affordable for its residents?)

Just as honey attracts bears, an affordable low-tax Cambridge will attract and keep innovative high-tech businesses.

5. What will you do to take advantage of the city's universities while preventing university development that threatens working families?)

No eminent domain for university building or expansion. No government seizing private homes and businesses. No government seizure of private property. The universities are a great asset by being here, but we don't have to help them expand.

6. What can City Council do to ensure that future development is not environmentally harmful?)

Lead by example. A huge amount of the property in Cambridge is owned or occupied by government or tax-funded organizations. Government has the biggest potential harmful impact on the environment. Limit government and tax-funded construction to the minimum possible. That immediately cuts the problem in half.

Bill Hees
elect@BillHees.org