Pasadena Mayor Candidate: Major Williams
Major Williams is a lone registered Republican within the non-partisan Pasadena mayoral race, a city where Democratic registrations outnumber Republicans by more than 2:1. Williams was kind enough to respond to Bike The Vote’s questionnaire, but his aggressive response in opposition to safe routes for people on bikes makes it clear that he is not a candidate that Bike The Vote L.A. can support at this time.
Bike The Vote L.A. 2020 Primary Grade: C-
(See below for full candidate questionnaire response)
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1. Spending by the oil and gas industry on local races casts doubt on whether voters can trust their elected leaders to protect them from the impacts of pollution and climate change. Will you pledge to refuse any donations from the fossil fuel industry?
No (But, I highly doubt I am on their radar)
2. According to the most recent data from the California Office of Traffic Safety, in 2017 Pasadena had the second-highest number of senior pedestrians killed or injured in traffic collisions, and the fourth-highest number of people on bikes killed or injured, among 58 similarly sized cities across California. What can the City do to make our streets safer for everyone, especially older adults and children? Do you support a Vision Zero policy for Pasadena?
I would support a Vision Zero policy.
3. Pasadena streets around schools are frequently unsafe. This discourages parents from allowing their children to walk or bike to school, and makes the health benefits of active transportation inaccessible for many Pasadena youth. If elected, how would you prioritize student safety and mobility around schools?
This could be a 1st step in testing our own version of Vision Zero.
4. Pasadena Transit service is currently limited in many Pasadena neighborhoods, with service stopping at 7pm and not even provided to some neighborhoods on Sundays. In addition, many bus stops in Pasadena lack basic amenities like shade and seating. With so many older adults and other residents who cannot drive a vehicle, how can the City improve the comfort and convenience of its local bus service?
The city can improve by making an amenities assessment and begin adding comfort pieces where needed. If available this could be accomplished by using redirected cannabis tax dollars.
5. According to Pasadena’s Climate Action Plan, transportation is the number one source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the City of Pasadena, responsible for an estimated 52% of emissions. Gas-powered mobility is also the largest source of greenhouse gases in California, with GHGs increasing in recent years as more Californians purchase larger and less fuel-efficient SUVs and trucks (almost 60% of new car sales in California were SUVs in 2018), and drive more miles. Despite the growing popularity of electric vehicles statewide, these developments are now threatening to derail the state’s 2030 climate goals. What can the City do to support greater use of sustainable transportation and reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions?
One route is to educate drivers on the importance of being mindful of the GHG emissions data, secondly is to implement new travel alternatives like mobilized walk ways similar to what we utilize at airports. This project is said to boost physical travel throughout the city if it connects properly.
6. Pasadena lacks a safe network of separated lanes for bicycling, scooting, and other modes of micro-mobility. The few existing routes too often consist of narrow, unprotected striped lanes placed directly adjacent to fast-moving cars or shared use lanes marked with ‘sharrows’ in which people on bikes are put in direct conflict with drivers. The lack of safe space for these users often results in sidewalk riding, where conflicts with pedestrians are more likely to take place. Do you support building out a robust and connected bike/roll network with protected lanes to enable residents of all ages and abilities to get around safely, and if so, how will you work to make this a reality?
NO. That’s not a priority over putting all energy, effort and financial funds into addressing our homeless and affordable housing crisis locally. I would advocated for bolder painted lines, maybe blinking lights but it does depend on the cost to complete such a task.